Here is a totally hilarious, must-see video. It is a vintage promotional film produced by the American Angus Association in the early 1970s called “Your Best Beef Buy,” which shows the importance of selecting for quality when ensuring a satisfying eating experience. The advice is still solid but the 70s fashion and film production techniques make it just funny! Thanks to the American Angus Association for sharing!
The Derry Brownfield Show Tribute
Good ol’ Brown Derryfield will be remembered today at 10:00 central time as “The Derry Brownfield Show” will be a memorial to the man who was common sense personified. It’s planned to be the final episode of the talk show which started in 1994.
As Chuck already noted, we’ve known Derry for over 20 years now, having moved from Florida to Missouri to work for him in December of 1991. In fact, it was my idea – along with fellow Learfielder Mike Mayfield – that Derry start the talk show. I just talked with Mike, who is an engineer for Zimmer Radio Group, and found out that ZRG has been working with Derry for the past couple of months on the production and distribution of the talk show. There is still a possibility the show can continue as “The Common Sense Coalition” but that has yet to be decided.
You can listen to the show live from the link on the front page of the show website. Many people, including Chuck, are lined up to give short memories of Derry – as many as they can fit in a one hour show! Here is the embed code from the website – see if it works:
Post Update: It did and now you can listen to the tribute program from the DBS archives: Derry Brownfield Tribute Show
I know there are lots of folks out there who have fond memories of Derry and favorite “Derryisms.” If you would like to share – comment on this post or write on the wall of the DBS Facebook page. My personal favorite of Derry’s sayings was “ignorance gone to seed” but most appropriate now is the way he signed off on every DBS:
“May the good Lord bless and keep you whether near or far away. May the good you wish for others shine on you today. May your heart stay tuned to the music that will cheer the hearts of men. May the good Lord bless and keep you until we meet again.”
Derry’s funeral arrangements are still in the planning stages, but we will let you know as soon as we do.
Post Update:
The arrangements for Derry’s funeral are… Tuesday visitation 4-8 and funeral on Wednesday 11:00 a.m. Bowlin Cantriel Funeral Services in California, MO.
Zimfo Bytes
- Brownfield Ag News introduces Brownfield Mobile Smartphone applications for iPhone and Android platforms.
- Agri-Pulse Communications launches expanded information and features on the firm’s newly redesigned website.
- Syngenta is sponsoring the Syngenta Almond Scholarship program for the second year.
- Advanta US and Chromatin, Inc. have entered into a commercial license agreement for the development of sorghum.
Welcome To Ag Week
Welcome to Ag Week. The National Ag Day activities will be celebrated tomorrow in Washington, DC and all over the country. I will be in the nation’s Capitol to attend Ag Day activities with support from the Agriculture Council of America and the American Seed Trade Association. During the next couple of days I’ll be featuring interviews and photos from the events as well as getting to know my sponsors better.
Things will start off with an Agriculture Appreciation Reception hosted by Agri-Pulse this evening that features my friend and musical artist Michael Peterson. Then tomorrow morning we’ll have the National Ag Day Coffee followed by the National Ag Day Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon. At the luncheon we’ll have approximately 100 student delegates from FFA, 4-H, AFA and The Consortium in attendance, along with Outstanding Farmer of the Year honorees. Finally we’ll have the National Celebration of Agriculture Dinner, hosted by the Agriculture Council of America.
So, I’ll see you from Washington, DC after what I hope will be a pleasant drive to the airport. We got surprised this morning in central Missouri with 3-5 inches of snow!
AgWired coverage of National Ag Day is sponsored by:
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It’s a Family Affair
This column has caused quite a stir. Not only do I get the pleasure of writing about the farming history of my Grandfather and some of the “ways of yesteryear” from my Grandmother, but today, I have my Aunt to thank for “loaning” me a story idea. This truly has turned into fine family fun!
When you were younger, did you have one of those red GAF viewmasters? It was a version of a 3-D stereoscopic toy for viewing seven images on photo disks. I had one as a kid…in fact, it’s in the closet for my son when he gets older.
What I didn’t know was that 3-D was around long before the viewmaster. This is a stereoscope, which features two photos which are ever so slightly different, positioned side-by-side, one for the left eye and one for the right. When you look through the glass, these two flat images combine into one image that gives the illusion of depth, or 3-D. Stereoscopes were first made in 1840.
Between the 1840s and the 1920s, they were used for entertainment and education purposes, and virtual travel. They taught children about geography, natural history and many other subjects.
Today, we have transitioned to television and movies which are available in 3-D. This just goes to show that the technology was around long before we imagined. We’ve just adapted and grown those technologies into ideas on a much larger scale. Or maybe I should say, on a much larger screen.
Until we walk again …
Zimfo Bytes
- Jon Ferguson of Kensington, Kan., has been elected as the new president of CattleFax, and Kent Bamford, Haxtun, Colo., as its president-elect.
- Jeff Lautt was named President of POET.
- The National Pork Board announced a new branding position celebrating pork’s ability to offer a wide range of options in the kitchen: Pork® Be inspired.
- The Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council is looking to recognize dairy producers through their Reproduction Award Program for accomplishing reproductive efficiency with well-implemented management procedures. This year nominations can only be submitted online, and must be completed by May 1.
Remembering Derry Brownfield
I just received word that my very good friend Derry Brownfield has passed away. I’m kind of in shock and will update this post when I get more information. I’ve known Derry almost all of my professional career in agricultural communications and am finding it hard to imagine a world without him. This is a photo from a couple years ago when I was enjoying an afternoon with him at his little bit of Heaven on Earth (the cabin).
Wow, this is tough to write and there’s so much I can say about this man. He has been a self described rude, crude, mean-spirited, politically incorrect (many more words too) person and I loved him dearly. We did not ever see eye to eye on everything but we thought a lot a like on enough things to just plain enjoy each others company. Derry Brownfield quotes are legendary and I’m sure most are recorded and remembered by his fans and foes.
Derry was 79 years old and still in the studio and able to saddle and ride a horse. He taught me a lot about life. This fall would be the 20th year for me to deer hunt on his property. We spent many times checking cattle and fence on it too. This photo was provided by Learfield Communications and comes from the time he broadcast from his farm. I’ve got to stop for now. More to come when I learn it.
I thought I’d add the last interview I did with Derry in 2009. I think it gives you a good sense of the Derry Brownfield spirit: Interview with Derry
First Post Update: Here’s the notice that Clyde Lear, Derry’s original partner in Learfield Communications posted this morning.
Second Post Update: Thanks to Steve Mays, Learfield Communications, for putting together a slide show video with music that Derry loved:
Third Post Update: You can find a number of Derry photos on The Derry Brownfield Show Facebook page.
Fourth Post Update: Bob Priddy, News Director, Missourinet, has written an awesome recollection of Derry that is worth a read. And he also found a great video of Derry that I have to share with you.
Fifth Post Update:
The arrangements for Derry’s funeral are… Tuesday visitation 4-8 and funeral on Wednesday 11:00 a.m. Bowlin Cantriel Funeral Services in California, MO.
Precision Laboratories Mix Tank App
Need help mixing crop protection products? There’s an app for that from Precision Laboratories.
Want to know how to really get the attention of a new media reporter? Send your app pre-loaded on an iPod Touch! That’s just what Precision Laboratories did (thank you!).
And while you’re at it have an already prepared YouTube video with great music and a USB stick pre-loaded with your media kit. Then just to make it all come together have your staff strategically placed on a plane with the new media reporter. Just kidding. However, that’s what did happen when Cindy and I were traveling to Tampa for Commodity Classic. I just happened to overhear James Reiss, VP, Ag Chemistries Business and Daniel Ori, Marketing Specialist for Precision Laboratories talking about it behind me on the plane. So I introduced myself. They were going elsewhere but it was a nice coincidence.
By the way, there are a series of videos on water quality and compatibility in their YouTube Channel.
The new Mix Tank app is designed to support retailers, crop specialists, researchers and growers in providing accurate and efficient tank mix sequences that will enhance profitability and ease.
As mixing issues and interactions continue to cause more problems, the Mix Tank app will help reduce product and money lost from plugged sprayer equipment and cross contamination errors. The free Mix Tank app offers the first of its kind assistance in determining the accurate mixing sequence for herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, adjuvants and foliar nutrition products. With over 700 crop protection products from over 15 manufacturers, the new Mix Tank app can process mixtures to determine the correct mixing order.
“Evolving crop protection strategies lead to more tank mixing and the potential for more tank mixing errors. An improper mix can cause lost time and money, and even lower efficacy or failure of your crop protection products. By using the Mix Tank app, users can get the most out of every tank mix,” said Jim Reiss, vice president of Agricultural Chemistries at Precision Laboratories. “We’re excited to bring this new technology to the industry and offer another tool for growers, custom applicators and our retail partners.” Read More
Coufal-Prater Equipment Shows Green
Spending a day at a farm implement dealership is not only fun when you can drive brand new equipment but also an education. It’s also a way to get to meet new farm friends too!
That’s what I did earlier this week at Coufal-Prater Equipment’s John Deere Day which was held at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, TX. Pictured on the right is Tim Prater talking with one of his customers who came out to see new utility tractors and sub-compact tractors. Behind them is a new John Deere Gator XUV which is going to be given away at the end of this year’s Drive Green Challenge tour. You can see a lot of photos from the event in an online photo album.
Tim says Coufal-Prater Equipment is a five store operation that covers most of mid central Texas. He loves to have the John Deere Drive Green Challenge tour stop by since it adds excitement to a local promotion and brings in representatives who can interact on the lot with people who have questions. The day was divided into two parts with commercial operators in the morning and the landowners in the afternoon.
You can listen to my interview with Tim here: Tim Prater Interview
Recording Digital Audio With Apps
I keep you notified when new digital audio recorders become available and I have pointed out before that your iPod or iPhone can also handle digital audio recording duties. I thought it was time to point back to them as I see more and more ag journalists recording audio.
I currently have seven audio recording apps on my iPhone but the one I keep coming back to is the one that comes with the device and that’s Apple’s Voice Memo App. The latest versions of it do an excellent job of recording and even give you a nice microphone image to go along with it! Unless you’ve maxed your device memory you can record a lot of audio on these and just re-charge when necessary, saving you on batteries. You can trim audio with this app and then import into iTunes to convert to an mp3. If you don’t need to do major editing, that’s all you need! How easy is that? If you want to connect a hand held microphone to your device, or a mult box, consider an adapter like this one.
Here’s a list of the audio apps I’ve got on my iPhone:
Blue Fire
Castor
Recorder
Speakeasy
Tweetmic
iProRecorder
Voice Memo
What is your favorite audio recording app? Different one? How about on a device other than Apple?