During the Commodity Classic I met April Hemmes, 2011 Midwest Region winner of the Monsanto Farm Mom of the Year contest. Thanks to Janice Person for taking the photo. April is the farmer in the family. Her husband works at a job in town. She was nominated by her daughter. Here’s an excerpt of the essay she wrote for the …
Know Your Farmer Know Your Food Compass
I couldn’t participate in today’s USDA webinar about their latest project but did get this information to share. Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan unveiled the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) Compass, an interactive web-based document and map highlighting USDA support for local and regional food projects and successful producer, business and community …
Submit Your Farm or Ranch To Agriculture’s Lasting Heritage
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is expanding the articles and videos featuring century farms via their interactive website, Agriculture’s Lasting Heritage. Century farms are those farms that have been in operation under the same family for more than 100 years. Appropriately named “Agriculture’s Lasting Heritage,” this website tells the story of American farm and ranch families who have …
Advocating for Agriculture 101
If you pass an Advocating for Agriculture class then you might be an Agvocate. The Kentucky Corn Growers Association posed the question, “You’re not a ‘factory farm.’ But how do you tell people?” to farmers at the National Farm Machinery Show. The idea was to challenge farmers to share agriculture’s story. “I wanted to do something different, something that would …
Illinois Farmer Has Only Missed One National Farm Machinery Show
Kenneth Fry has only missed one National Farm Machinery Show. That’s 46 out of the 47! He’s about to celebrate his 90th birthday and farms with his sons in central Illinois. He says that way back when he was a dealer for SuperB Grain Dryers he started coming to the show and he’s been coming ever since. The show has …
Promoting Farm Safety at NFMS
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Division of Ag Education, Farm Safety and Farmland Preservation teams up with several organizations to promote farm safety to National Farm Machinery Show attendees. I met Dale Dobson, Safety Administrator for the Department and Scott Cedarquist, Director of Standards & Technical Activities, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, who were working the exhibit. As …
Happy St. Valentine’s Day
Happy St. Valentine’s Day. Yes, there is an “St.” on the front of that or at least there used to be. Bottom line is that it’s a day for romance and to say “I love you.” I’ve always been big on flowers. Just ask Cindy. This is our 36th St. Valentine’s Day! I think I should have invested in a …
AFBF YF&R Winners
Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions were announced Monday at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 93rd Annual Meeting. Young farmers and ranchers from around the country competed for the awards by demonstrating knowledge of and achievement in agriculture, as well as commitment to promoting the agriculture industry. Ben and Jennifer …
Mid-Atlantic Farmers Feed US Reaches Out to Capitol Consumers
Farmers Feed US has come to the nation’s capitol. A coalition of agricultural commodity groups and farmers from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware are reaching out to consumers in Washington DC by launching the Mid-Atlantic Farmers Feed US. “The Mid-Atlantic Farmers Feed US program is a tremendous opportunity to introduce the region’s consumers to the hard-working men and women who raise …
MaxVisor Provides Personal Grain Market Consulting
It’s that time of the year when many of us are looking back at the past year and ahead to the new year, especially when it comes to our finances. Farmers who are making a New Years resolution to consider options for managing risk should check out MaxVisor for consulting with a personal touch. “It is sit down, one on …