When asked if he would consider being a “spokesperson” for agriculture, Mike “Dirty Jobs” Rowe said, “I don’t think American agriculture needs a spokesman, I think they need an advocate. And the advocates I believe they need are people like me who have shown a long term addiction to chewing and swallowing.”
Mike was kind enough to meet with the farm media in a press conference prior to his appearance before thousands of farmers and ranchers at the American Farm Bureau Federation 92nd annual meeting closing session. His admiration for agriculture was evident as he talked about the many farm families he has met in the course of filming the Discovery Channel program “Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe.”
“I want the show to be a series of examples that show farmers as they are and that just quietly celebrates the business of getting the job done,” he said. “The more opportunities I have just to show farmers being farmers, that’s the best way that I can think of to help move the needle.” Mike has been doing the show for seven years and says he’s worked on most types of farms.
During his address, Mike talked about some of his favorite farming episodes, like the Colorado sheep farm where he learned to castrate lambs with his teeth, and found out why it is better for the animal than the HSUS-recommended method of using a rubber band. He struck chords with the nation’s farm and ranch families when he talked about letters he has received from groups like PETA and federal agencies like EPA over programs that featured agriculture jobs.
Enjoy Mike Rowe’s AFBF press conference comments here: Mike Rowe AFBF press conference
The organization’s highest honor, the 
The 
Colin Johnson of Iowa was the top winner in this year’s Discussion Meet. The three runners-up are Daniel Martin of Mississippi, Charlee Doom of New York and Loni H. Rikard of South Carolina. Each runner-up received a $6,000 Savings Bond and a STIHL Farm Boss chainsaw, both courtesy of STIHL.
Chris and Jennie Simms of Virginia won the Excellence in Agriculture Award, which recognizes young farmers and ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an agricultural operation, but who actively contribute and grow through their involvement in agriculture, their leadership ability and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations. The three runners-up in the competition are Brian and Dacia Brown of Illinois, Ken and Malissa Schentzel of Minnesota and Shawn and Vanessa Duren of Tennessee, who also received a savings bond and chainsaw from STIHL.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressed the 2011 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting this afternoon. He made a couple of comments that drew applause from the audience. One of those dealt with concerns over USDA’s pending decision on regulating GM alfalfa. He said, “We’re trying to figure out, as difficult as it might be, is there a way in which we can assure that we have less interference with the capacity for folks to do what they want to do on their land? If you want to grow GMO crops you ought to be able to do that. If you want to grow identity preserved conventional you ought to be able to do that. If you want to be an organic farmer you ought to be able to do that.”
The chairman of the management committee for AG CONNECT Expo is Martin Richenhagen, AGCO President/CEO. I spoke with him about this year’s show which is now winding down to its last hour.
The 2011 
Neither freezing rain, nor snow, nor sleet has stopped the 
What do consumers think about food? Betsy Freese, 
One very well attended education session at