Here’s a good reason to go to New York, althought you’ll have to wait until next summer. It’s the New York Wine & Culinary Center. Actually it would be a long way for a Missouri boy to go to get a good bottle of wine and learn how to fix a meal that will complement it. If I need to do that, it’s only about 2 blocks to Summit Lake Winery.
The board of directors of the highly anticipated, $7.5 million New York Wine & Culinary Center (NYWCC) has named Alexa Gifford as its Executive Director. Gifford joins the not-for- profit organization after more than five years with the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, most recently as the organization’s president. Under the direction of the NYWCC’s board of directors, Gifford will manage the Center’s operations and lead a staff of full- and part-time personnel.
The New York Wine & Culinary Center, a gateway to New York State food, wine, and agriculture, will open in Summer 2006 at 800 South Main Street in Canandaigua, N.Y. Constellation Brands, Inc., Wegmans, Rochester Institute of Technology, and the New York Wine & Grape Foundation partnered to establish the not-for-profit organization, which will be housed in the new 19,475 square-foot facility.
The 
A new crop has grown into 
Michael Berry has joined Osborn & Barr as an account coordinator. He will be putting his agricultural background to work for the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). Previously, he had been an account service intern for Osborn & Barr. Michael holds a bachelor of journalism with emphasis in advertising from the University of Missouri-Columbia. 
Osborn & Barr Communications has hired Julia Robbins as assistant account executive for public relations on the Gov-Link business, a team devoted to the outreach and education needs of government agencies. Previously, she was a public affairs specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, where her responsibilities included communications plan development, media relations and press conferences.
Sarah Rebholz has been hired as account coordinator in contact relations working on the United Soybean Board account on strategic promotions and state outreach activities. She has a diverse base of communications experience, ranging from work with the National MS Society to Fox Sports Midwest and British American Business in London. Sarah received a bachelor of journalism in advertising from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Jessica Muehling has joined as computer graphics specialist for the agency’s Monsanto, Michelin and United Soybean Board accounts. Prior to joining Osborn & Barr, Jessica was a senior production artist at JWT Communications. A 2004 graduate of Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg with a bachelor of science in graphic design, Jessica received the Regents Scholarship and was on the Dean’s List throughout her academic career.
I just found out about this website ranking tool from 
Biotechnology continues to be an issue that generates a high level of passion among farm policy observers as well as citizen voters both internationally and domestically.
CornTalk is the week’y interview program of the Missouri Corn Growers Association. This week MCGA President, Terry Hilgedick, talks about how the ethanol industry has already surpassed next year’s Renewable Fuels Standard production quota. He describes how grower-owned ethanol plant production is increasing in Missouri and looks forward to next spring’s legislative session and Missouri Governor Matt Blunt’s pledge to support a statewide 10% ethanol/gas blend requirement.
When we hear about new websites it always gets our attention. Today, the 
A new web-based FAO information service launched today, “
Similarly, FAO’s new “
There’s a new entry into the world of e-delivered farm news and this time it’s Farm Journal Media’s 
I wonder if they include blogging in the 
Branecky grew up in rural Texas, the daughter of a vocational agricultural educator. She attended Clarendon College where she was on the 2001 National Junior Collegiate Champion Meats Judging Team and was honored as the 2002 Female Agricultural Student of the Year. Branecky is a December 2005 graduate of Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications.
Loutzenhiser grew up on his family’s cow-calf operation near Flagler, Colo., with responsibilities that included animal husbandry, range management and dryland farming. He served in various officer positions in FFA including Colorado State FFA President. Loutzenhiser is a December 2005 graduate of Colorado State University (CSU) as an Honors Scholar with a bachelor’s degree in animal science & ag business. 
I knew I should have deep fried that Thanksgiving turkey in sunflower oil. Then I would have been lowering my cholesterol while chowing down. I wonder if you can use it as a dipping oil for bread with a little balsamic vinegar. Something to check on. Anyway, the