Friday Farm Photo, FFA Week Edition

I'm very proud to be a former FFA member. I have great respect for any organization that can give kids direction and real-life experience as well as FFA can. So, for today, I'll show you one of the great ways that FFA chapters are getting some publicity.

This picture may raise questions for some people. First off, it's very colorful. Secondly, it's beaten up to no end.

That's because it's a demolition derby bus. Retired from the task of moving people, it's been dedicated to the task of entertaining them. The River Valley FFA decorated this bus following their first year of existence, in hopes of raising awareness for their chapter. I don't believe they won any awards the year this bus was featured. (The next year, the chapter's bus went on to win both the paint-job design contest AND the demolition derby.)

This bus is a perfect example of the creativity and enthusiasm with which FFA advisors and their students put into getting the good word on ag now.

Have a good weekend, everyone! I hope everyone had a great National FFA Week!

Good Neighbors Make a Good Community

I spend a lot of time with farmers. I've spent long, hot days under the summer sun with broken down tractors, helped shovel animal poo in below-0 weather, and (tried) to carry my weight when it came to moving bags of seed or feed.

I love farmers. I live among them. I've shared the pains and the joys of these people in some very personal ways. They're real, breathing, working people. They aren't murderers or thieves or tree-killers or politicians. They're real, true people. They're good people.

Watch a close farming community closely. You'll see a wide variety of interactions. The Chevy man will tease the Ford man, and they'll go back and forth over whose three-quarter-ton pickup truck is better. The John Deere farmer might make a poke at a Case IH guy, and mention that he wouldn't even drive a red truck because he "hates" the color so much. They'll turn around and end up meeting for lunch or grabbing coffee together. They're a community of friendly competition and playful bickering. They're also a community of good neighbors.

Two years ago, I experienced first-hand what true community means. I found myself deep into a chilly Illinois harvest, helping with the everyday tasks this tractors from one spot to another, that pickup truck from the back acres to the this or that field. The family I was working with, one that's incredibly close to me, finished the current field and told me we were moving to a different one.

I'd been to every field this family owned, and I didn't recognize the one we ended up at.

Come to find out, we were helping a friend with this field. A local farmer was undergoing treatment for cancer, and his fields were left to stand unharvested until his negative side-effects wore off. His friends rallied around him. We went to work on this massive field, chipping away at it row-by-row. In other locations around the county, others were doing the same. In the end, the sick farmer ended up getting all of his fields harvested in time. He never would have been able to pay his bills or replant the next spring if the close community of farmers in our area hadn't been willing to spend their time, fuel, energy, and money on the task of getting his crops out and to the elevator. If any of the farmers stopped to think about monetary loss from their volunteer work, it didn't stop them.

We stayed out late harvesting that night. In fact, I think it was the latest I've ever stayed out during harvest. It was all worth it, though. I had a chance to see what a real community can do for its members. I sat in a field with true neighbors that night.

The only thing that mattered was making sure that this friend's needs could be filled. Now, a grateful survivor, that gentleman continues to farm and will never forget the good will of his friends and neighbors.

Experiences like that make me proud to be a member of the farming community.

Those of us who are associated with farming need to maintain this community. Our neighborhood isn't just local anymore. It's national; it's worldwide. Because of the Internet, we are able to connect more than ever. Take a look at the farmers you interact with each day, whether it's in person or via computer. Be sure to treat them like a good neighbor ought to, because I'm sure they'd be the first to offer help, should the need arise.

A River Runs Through It

Yes, that's a very obvious reference to a classic novel written by Norman Maclean. However, there's a literal reason for it being the title of this post. Rivers are a major source of transport, commerce, and culture. As far as agriculture goes, a river runs through it. Without a complex and well-maintained river and channel system, America's farmers are in a pickle. Everyone else in America, and millions of people outside of it, would also be in a bit of a pickle.

The Mississippi River is the lifeblood of the Midwest. It's the primary connection between the Midwest - corn country - and the rest of the world.

So, why is this timely? Why this blog post, and why now?

Currently, the locks and dams that maintain the Mississippi River are in near of work. Designed to handle riverboats back in the days of Tom Sawyer, these structures are unable to deal with the strain put on them by large barges. Some environmental groups are entreating legislators to leave them as be; however, without maintenance, and ultimately an upgrade, the river will be compromised as a major means of transportion.

If the river can no longer support large barges, it can no longer transport grain. Without the Mississippi to move the grain from the Midwest, access to the Atlantic is limited. This means that the rest of the world will not be able to get these valuable resources in a timely fashion, if at all.

Look at it from the perspective of emissions. Without barges, grain transport would rely heavily on rail and road. Both trains and trucks emit significantly higher rates of air pollution. These alternatives also use a much higher rate of fuel per ton per mile.

The Mississippi River is incredibly valuable to the livelihood of the Midwest, for several reasons. These locks and dams need to be properly updated. Without the right systems in place, agriculture in the Midwest, as well as food distribution to the entire world, will suffer.

Is SM the Future of Ag Comm?

Social media has, since it's start in the early 2000's, been a tool for casual interactions. What began as teenage girls hashing out their drama on the Internet as blossomed into so much more. While social media is still that - social - it seems to bear more professional uses these days, too.

Scholarly journals, newspapers, magazines, press releases...hundreds, maybe even thousands, of these all suggest one thing: social media is the communication tool of the future.

After all, in a world where consumers seek information about the products and services they utilize, it makes sense to go where the consumers are. It's an obvious choice to connect with them where they'd normally be "hanging out" anyways.

Press releases, product launches...these things are all changing in light of social media's rise. Where companies used to call press conferences and television news spots, they're using their blogs to announce a new product or service. They'll use Twitter and Facebook to send traffic to their blog. They're use Twitter to promote Facebook, and vice-versa. They'll use all three to direct users to their site. They'll use their site to aim people towards their online store, or give directions to a local location. They're encourage people to ask about their services.

It's a tangled web, but it's an effective, efficient, highly-useful web.

Internet marketing and retail seems to be the first big industry to strike out on the social media trail. The second notable industrial movement? Farming.

Farmers, farm organizations, farm clubs, farm companies...they're all out there. They have Facebook fan pages, MySpace profiles, and they've gotten quite adept at Tweeting. Just check out our previous post about Twitter and you'll see what I mean.

It's not just about communicating within the industry anymore. It's about drawing others in to understand it better. It's about efficiency and speed. It's about up-to-the-minute updates and statuses. If you're not familiar with any of the tools listed here, research them. You may find it's your new ticket to information in the farm community.

National FFA Week!

FFA (formerly known as Future Farmers of America) is the largest student organization in the world. It has members in all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico. Every November at the National Convention, the hosting city (of late, Indianapolis) is overcome by the "Blue Tide." It's an endearing term used to describe a wave of thousands upon thousands upon thousands of FFA members that flood the streets and convention centers. The blue jacket is an icon. It's a promise.

FFA is still here. It's still strong. And this week is National FFA Week.

Are you well-versed in your local FFA chapter's activities? Look into it. These kids are getting into the world and leaving a mark. One of the cornerstone ideals of FFA is the importance of community service. Chapters are raising money for charitable causes. They're beautifying communities. They're holding toy and clothing and coat and food drives. They're working for the betterment of their communities.

The students who are active in FFA are also learning valuable life skills. An SAE (supervised educational experience) takes the shape of a business venture; students take on a project (livestock, arts and crafts, communications, hobbies, anything) and must keep records of money spent, money earned, procedures, methods, and much more. These record books are intensive, detailed, and are audited for correctness. For students who intend to go into agriculture, these experiences are a chance to work with their livestock or crops. For students who may not be directly connected to ag, it's a chance to do some career searching and experimentation. In short, these SAE's are major lessons in career development, responsibility, and economic stability.

There are also CDE's (career development events). These are "competitions." They range over just about every subject. Marketing and advertising, farm trivia, mechanics, livestock judging, crops judging, agronomy, dairy judging, parliamentary procedure, business, debate, speech...for every career, there is an FFA CDE that can somehow teach valuable skills.

All of these experiences, everything these children do, is aimed towards creating better people. It's not just about farming; it's about the future. It's about skills and careers and integrity and strength of character. A perfect explanation of this is the FFA motto:

"Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve."

Maybe I'm just biased. Maybe some people won't understand my passion and respect for the organization. I spent my senior year of high school as a founding chapter president. That one academic year of involvement changed my entire outlook. The skills I learned went deeper than knowing about crops or livestock. I learned people skills, I made countless professional phone calls, I learned about my professional goals and my personal views. To put it plainly, I learned about myself.

There is my pitch, my official pro-FFA post. There may be more FFA-related posts this week, as I continue to research the activities of groups at the local, regional, state, and national levels.

As I said before, if you've never gotten involved in FFA, look into it. Check out local chapters and see what the group is up to in your community. For more information on National FFA Week, check out the website here.

Happy National FFA Week, everyone! Go Blue and Gold!

Farm Photo Friday!

With spring quickly approaching, I thought it'd be nice to remember how the winter began. (Badly.) The day before Thanksgiving, when Illinois is often seeing snow, farmers were still struggling to get the corn out. There are still several fields around the state that still have corn standing.

This picture, another from the Kankakee, Illinois area, shows what it's like to admit defeated. Taken from the inside of a machine shop, looking out, it shows how dismal the final stretch of harvest really was.

Despite what a bad year it was, though, Illinois farmers continue to work hard and persevere. Farmers all over America continue to do more with less, for the benefit of the world.

Instead of looking at this picture and seeing the defeat that comes with being forced out of the field, see the will-power it takes to go back out there once the mud has solidified.

Thanks, farmers. You rock. And here's hoping this year is significantly different from last.

"I'm Mike Rowe, and this is my job."

If you're an average American, you've heard that term as least once. If you're part of a large portion of Americans who follow Dirty Jobs avidly (like myself), then you know it by heart. Mike Rowe travels all over the country trying out the obscure, filthy, unconventional, and/or unpleasant jobs that most people aren't even willing to think about. No one knows hard work and the meaning of "dirty" quite like Mike does. He's seen more in a few years of filming his television series than most people will have experienced in a lifetime.

Because of this, Mike Rowe empathizes with working America.

More and more, Mike's fame takes him travelling around the U.S. as a public speaker and advocate. What does he advocate? Hard work, mud, some animal poo, and dignity.

He's willing to put his money where his mouth is. He's shown that over and over again by standing up and supporting agriculture. Many celebrities have fallen short in this sector. (Let's not discuss the Carrie Underwood debacle.) Mike, however, has no fear.

He firmly asserts that third parties who have never even been on a farm should not have a right to tell farmers how to run theirs. He strongly affirms that some paper-pusher in an animal rights organization's office on the east or west coast shouldn't tell a farmer in South Dakota how to raise his animals. He knows that the farmers who grow crops try their hardest to do it in the best interest of the environment and the population.

Mike Rowe knows agriculture. He supports it. And in return, we support him. It's not every day that some highly-successful celebrity knows how to meaningfully convey opinions over something so controversial. Mike, however, manages to do it. He does it with a smile, an unusual flare, and a deep-rooted respect.

Next time you're watching Discovery, and you hear, "I'm Mike Rowe, and this is my job," you don't change the channel. You turn that television's volume up and you sit. And you watch, because Mike is one of the few big pop culture celebrities that isn't afraid to stand up for agriculture.

Watching an hour (or six, if it's a marathon) of him wading through poo and muck and sludge and grease...well, it's the least we can do to say thank you.

(For more information on Mike Rowe and how he helps working America, visit his site mikeroweWorks.com)

A Bushel of Surprises

Okay, the title is cheesy. In fact, I'm a little disgusted by it. However, it's fitting. Many people don't realize it, but corn really is full of surprises. Products containing corn surround you. You couldn't begin to guess all the random things corn is used to create. Today, I'm going to list off a few of the lesser-known items containing corn.

Firecrackers

Yup, corn is a common ingredient of explosives. Just about any 4th of July firecracker you find some how has corn involved.

Wallpaper

Corn is used in the adhesives of wall-paper, and some even contain corn in the paper itself.

Cosmetics

Corn cobs can serve as a plant-based, low-powder base for cosmetics.

Paint

The resin that serves as a base for many types of paints is actually created by processing of corn cobs.

Toothpaste

A corn-derived substance is used to thicken toothpaste.

Packing Peanuts

Any bio-degradable packing peanuts (or other bio-degradable "styrofoam" goods) are made with corn.

Obviously, corn is valuable for many reasons. While it's a staple crop for the worldwide food industry, it has several valuable uses outside of edible goods. Many of the things we take for granted in day-to-day life are available because of corn.

So, next time you walk through your room with beautiful wall-paper, brush your teeth, send a package, do your make-up, or celebrate Independence Day, thank a farmer. Just like so many other things in life, they helped make these simple joys possible.

Everyone Loves a Classic

Usually, if something "classic," it's old-school, iconic, nostalgic, and recognizable. A "classic" is something that everyone knows, and that often has personal meaning to many people. Every year in March, there's a different kind of classic that's equally important: the Commodity Classic.

This year's Commodity Classic in Anaheim, California, is March 4 - 6. The theme this year is "Cruising for Success." Each day has something fabulous to offer, from speakers to socials to optional tours and beyond.

This year, the Classic has a great line-up of speakers and presentations. Presenters include scientists, communicators, educators, marketers, researchers, and more. (Well-known Twitter and blogging personality and Cause Matters founder, Michele Payn-Knoper is actually presenting twice.) Agricultural attractions also include moderated discussions and daily learning sessions. One of the largest attractions of the Commodity Classic is it's well-known trade-show. This will include product demonstrations, booths run by leading industry figures, and chances to win prizes or get free stuff. (Let's face it, everyone likes free stuff.)

While the main idea of this classic is definitely education and idea-sharing, there are plenty of social opportunities as well. You could possibly enjoy musical performances by Kelly Rae and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, for instance.

If you're interested in American agriculture, the Commodity Classic is the place to be in early March. There is so much to learn, and so many wonderful people to meet. Pre-registration runs until February 19th, so don't miss your chance to sign up early. On-site registration is also permitted.

For more information, check out this year's site here. Good luck, have fun, and safe travels if you end up heading towards Anaheim this March!

Internships Abound

Internship are kind of a big deal, at least to me. I've had some great career breaks because of them, and have learned a lot from them. What a lot of people don't stop to think about is that internships happen in just about every industry.

People look at a farm kid going to college, and wonder why you'd need a degree to do something that's been around for thousands of years. Most can't even comprehend the concept of agriculture internships.

Well, surprise. They exist.

Degrees in agriculture range over a wide array, from sciences (agronomy, animal sciences, ecology, horticulture, veterinarian sciences, etc.) to management, to communications...and all of these subjects have available internships within them.

A quick Google search can open up many doors! Also, checking into local, state, and national organizations (Farm Bureaus, grower organizations, etc.) can open up great doors. Agriculture consultant companies also offer a lot of great learning experiences for students. Research and development companies, marketing/communications/PR firms, farm service companies, and a mariad of other businesses small and large are on the hunt for good interns.

Someone once told me (on Twitter) that today's interns are tomorrow's CEO's. Now, I'm sure most agriculture students don't want to be CEO's. Most of them just want to inherit the family operation, which is no easy feat these days. However, these career opportunities can open up doors. They can help with networking. In today's culture and economy, networking and unique experiences can set you apart from the competition...even if the competition is someone else making a bid to your landlord.

So, to all you young agriculturalists out there, or even just concerned parties, do your research. Look around. Find the people who can help you get a foot in the door. Pursue those early professional experiences. They can make all the difference in the long run.

Advocating: Some Do's and Don't's

If you're going to support a cause, and attempt to stand as a symbol of that cause, you have to do it right. Whatever it is you're supporting, what you do and say will always influence the way others view your cause.

I had a bit of a reminder of this today, and it took some time for me to step back and think about it. I usually don't post on here on Sunday nights (the weekend is "me" time), but I feel like this is much too valuable to pass up on while it's still fresh in my mind.

Don't ever, ever lose your cool. If someone is up against you, chances are they would love for you to lose your temper. Getting angry can hurt credibility; so can underhanded remarks and personal jabs. You have to remember that the cause you stand up for is worth whatever emotional abuse you may end up taking it. It's hard, there's no doubt about it. Hopefully, your commitment to whatever it is you stand for it enough to keep you strong.

Keep in mind, this is for ANY cause. While my experiences generally have to do with agriculture, any advocate of anything should understand that.

Think of it this way: PETA is well-known for angry, in-your-face attention gimmicks. The Animal Liberation Front has actually resorted to violence in the past. Neither of these groups have very much credibility with the public. HSUS, however, takes a more grounded approach, and has millions of Americans eating right out of their palms.

A few things to make sure you stick to when you're debating or advocating:

• Remain polite. No one likes a jerk, and jerks are harder to identify with. Even if you're rude for a few moments, that can be enough to turn people off.
• Find a "happy place." If someone is really, really grinding your gears, figure out a way to cool yourself down.
• Know when to back down. Some people just can't be argued with, or can't take criticism. These are often the people who could get you in trouble. If you don't think you can calmly handle the situation, perhaps you should just remove yourself from it.
• Have your facts lined up, with good back-up. A common "move" for anyone trying to refute you is to ask for proof of facts. If you can provide it, your credibility can often be solidified. Sometimes, the people who ask for proof often can't provide their own.

A wise woman recently said, "Don't feed the bears." The last thing your cause needs is for you to encourage more attacks on it.

Keep a cool head on your shoulders, keep the goal in mind, and don't ever let anyone break you. Good luck, and keep on agvocating!

Friday Farm Photo #3

Each Friday, I post an interesting, fun, or just random farm-related picture, to break up the work-week monotony and introduce the weekend. This week's photo was (unknowingly) submitted by Mike Haley of Ohio. (@farmerhaley on Twitter) The tagline under this photo on his Twitpic account was "we got a troublemaker in our barn!"

Thanks to Mike (in advance) for not minding that I "borrowed" this adorable picture. Nothing like a cute, mischievous calf to kick off your weekend's tomfoolery.

Everyone have a happy Valentine's Day, and a safe weekend. Midwesterners, stay safe and warm. There's supposed to be scattered snow showers this weekend, so use common sense.

Have a good one!

What Can Pork Do For You?

Apparently, a lot.

According to the President of Argentina's wife, it improves your sex life...or something along those lines.

To see more information, check out this article.

If this is the case, then, by all means, improve your sex life. Go get 'em tiger.

I feel alright saying that, as controversial as it might be, because a higher demand for pork in America could lead to a stimulation of the crop-growing economy. The more pork people eat, the more farmers produce pork. More pork production means more pigs. More pigs means a higher demand for the things that commercial pigs eat.

If you haven't made the connection yet, well...yeah, corn is a part of swine nutrition.

With the economy on unsteady ground, pork can be an affordable and healthy protein source. Lean pork can go a long way and can fit into just about any recipes. But since I told you about what Argentina's First Lady had to say, you're not really worried about that, are you?

Think of it this way: the corn growers of America want you to get your groove on. Go for it, eat some pork. And thank a farmer! Because the farmers raise the pigs. Farmers also raise the grains that feed the pigs that will end up on your place and possibly make your life a whole lot more exciting!

Doesn't eating pork sound like a good idea now?

Ag Gets Tech Savvy

I've posted before about agriculture's introduction into social media. It's something I'm passionate about, and that everyone else should be educated in. It's a valuable tool for farmers to use, to reach out to the rest of the world. It can also be a way for growers to become truly connected.

Recently, in my New Media class, I had to write about an online community. My automatic choice was the prominent farming community that's built itself on Twitter.

For a look at the website on which the article is posted, click here.

I could go on and on about it here, but it's said so much better in the article already written. If this isn't enough to send you right to the Twitter account registration page, then I don't know what will get you to join!

Happy reading, and happy tweeting!

Sour Grapes Over YellowTail?

Recently, [Yellow Tail] Wines committed to donating a hefty sum of money to the Humane Society of the United States. It has a lot of people taking sides, and a lot of consumers finding new favorite brands of wine. It's a hot topic these days, but what does it have to do with corn?

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) seems to be a big mystery to a lot of people. Their advertising claim they help rescue puppies and kitties, yet only a small percentage of their income actually go to the animals flaunted in their commercials. To make it even clearer, the HSUS has no affiliation with any local chapters of the Humane Society...you know, the people that actually rescue animals. A much larger portion of their millions of dollars goes towards lobbying and pushing legislation to fight "cruelty." Their views of cruelty are quite extreme, though. These views, in most cases, include most conventional means for animal agriculture.

In fact, in many ways, HSUS is often considered an "anti-agriculture" organization. Anything anti-agriculture is bad for the corn industry, but HSUS has already influenced changes that could hurt the corn industry in the long run.

"Cage-Free Cali" is a reality now. Egg-producers in California must make a mandatory switch to cage-free within the next few years. Not only does this hurt the egg industry and the family farmers who relied on eggs for their income, it will drastically cut the amount of corn going to feed chickens in California. Changes like this are being pushed all over the nation by the HSUS. They want animal agriculture to change entirely, or, according to some, disappear.

Such a large demographic of people are up at arms about this that a Facebook group, Yellow Fail, has emerged to show protest against the company's animal rights donation.

So, if you love a farmer, or like to eat eggs, or enjoy a good pork chop now and then, or understand economics, you'll reconsider buying that [Yellow Tail] wine. There are plenty of other options out there, why not have a tasting party to find your new favorite?

Corn and Quarterbacks: Super Bowl XLIV

When you think football, what do you see? Crazy, body-painted fans? Tailgating? The "Big Game?" I bet you don't think "corn." Maybe you should.

Think about all the ways corn was a part of Super Bowl XLIV.

One of the largest investors in advertising this year was Frito-Lay, whose Dorito commercials were hit or miss. What is the primary ingredient in Dortios? Think about it...I'll give you a second. Yup, it's corn. White corn.

Another big advertising campaign this year? Anheuser-Busch, with their Budweiser and Bud Light products. While Bud isn't generally marketed as a corn-based beer, the brews DO contain quite a bit of corn.

Denny's and their screaming chickens had a bit of a corn influence, too. Corn is often a large part of the poultry diet, whether it's a bird for meat or for laying. Many of the items sold at Denny's also contain corn products.

(Also note, the runner-ups, the Colts, come from Indiana, which has a successful corn industry. I'm sure without agriculture, the economy of Indiana would suffer greatly, and the Colts would probably be directly influenced by it!)

Think about the numbers. Millions of households in America were enjoying chips and salsa, or Doritos, or corn-dogs, or candy, or soda pop, or beer. Step back and look at your favorite Super Bowl ads, and the food you enjoyed. Thank a farmer, because those hard-working people played a part in keeping your Super Bowl traditions alive.

The Earth Issue/Friday Farm Photo

One of the big, major, super-important, defining factors of success in agriculture is soil. Each farmer has to understand his soils well and know what crops and methods work best in those conditions. With some TLC, an area whose soil is slightly sandy can support a decent corn crop. Got clay? There's ways to work with that, too.

The simple fact is that farmers need to know the land their crops sit on. They need to know the nature around it, and the human lives that surround it. Many people may not realize this, but farmers actually DO care about the Earth. Their livelihoods depend on it.

To put it plainly, if the Earth dies, if we run out of nutrients and usable ground, the farmers suffer more than anyone.

What bothers me the most, however, is the fact that so many environmental problems are blamed on the very people who need the Earth to thrive. You don't see anyone pointing blame at the subdivisions that continue to spread outwards into fertile farmland. The farmers use machinery that apparently has a significant carbon footprint, but what about all the houses replacing the farm land that used to house crops that created oxygen?

It's an awful cycle. Consumers spread outwards from the cities and suburbs, shunning existing homes for new developments and subdivisions. These subdivisions devour land that used to be the income of farmers; often, small family farmers.

(Consider that the "big commercial farmers" have the financial stability to keep their land. They own most of their land, therefore run less risk of losing it. Smaller family farms, however, usually rent and least some of their land, and are always at risk of having their leases pulled for the sake of profitable development.)

The end result? Urban sprawl continues, farmland disappears, more and more small farmers are squeezed into tighter spaces, and more research and technology has to go into feeding the world with less space. The cities and suburbs create, often obliviously, plenty of pollution and unsolved problems, yet green groups continue to harp agriculture for it's need of fossil fuels.

For this reason, Friday Farm Photo is another picture I've personally taken, which has to do with protecting the Earth.

Friday Farm Photo

This photo is from a wind farm outside of Dwight, Illinois. The farmers who willingly host these turbines in their fields receive respectable rent money without the loss of large amounts of crop land. These turbines are magnificent sources of power. Many people find them visually appealing, many people find them ugly. Love them or hate them, they may help serve as a part of the future of energy in this country.

So guys, next time you want to talk about the energy crisis, or the ozone layer, or the levels of methane and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere, don't jump to conclusions. Don't blame agriculture. When it comes down to needs, farmers rely on the Earth more than most.

It's Not as Simple as Just Staying "Local"

There's been a lot of social movements lately. Some of them have to do with the Earth. Some of them have to do with things from the Earth that we eat. All of them have led to some disgruntled people, since there seems to be an "us or them" mentality in regards to these things. Either you're organic, or conventional. You're local, or you send your food far, far away.

First of all, I'd like to reference a song by a band known as "War." "Why can't we be friends?" It's a good question to ask, really. Why does it have to be so black-and-white, big-or-small, organic-or-conventional?

The local movement may help serve as a bridge between these two vastly-separated groups. (These groups really aren't that far-displaced from another, honestly.) Think of it this way: whether you sell your crops to restaurants in your region, or at farmers markets, or to the world market, you're all farmers. You're all feeding the world. You just have different methods.

How does local play into it?

True, the world market needs crops for many reasons. But it's also possible to tap into your region and research ways to keep at least a small portion of your product local. A local beef raiser here has found an interesting way to do this. While the majority of his herd is aimed for feedlots, he also sells club calves to local 4-H and FFA members. He lets the kids pick the calves, meaning that the savvier beef kids have the option to take the highest-quality calves. These calves are then raised by the kids, make the show circuits, and often end up in the 4-H meat auctions. Not only does the farmer keep his product in the area, he gives kids a great chance to learn, succeed in showing (I believe the cattle are Herefords, although he sometimes has Hereford-Angus mixes), and earn back their money. (Note: This is all second-hand through a 4-Her who has worked with him. She bought a heifer calf from him one year to show, and is now using her Grand Champion Hereford to make more little show calves.)

This is, obviously, an unusual example of "keeping it local." There are plenty of other ways, though. It takes a lot of networking and creativity. Do you raise grain? Check into your local feed stores. Look into the farmers markets. They're always a chance to go local. The biggest obstacle to it is breaking the mentality that "big farms" aren't meant to sell locally.

It doesn't have to be "us versus them" anymore. We can share customers. We can share home turf. We can share markets. We can start bridging the gap to work together. Unless all growers, no matter their products or methods, work together, there will always be an Agriculture War.

This issue goes much deeper than just "where your product goes." It's about the stigma's surrounding the idea of it. "Local" isn't just for small organic farms. There is a gap that needs to be bridged, a rift that needs to be closed. Take the first steps, look into your choices, and maybe all of us can become a unified front.

Is "Documentary" an Objective Term?

Documentaries have been a major part of public education for years. We watch them in school, we hold special events to see them in colleges. They're played on television, they're promoted at movie theaters. Their budgets can be huge, or miniscule. But what really qualifies a production as a "documentary?"

The term gets used rather loosely nowadays; documentaries, more than ever, have varying degrees of lean to them. Some are still somewhere within the realm of being unbiased, but more often than not, there's an ulterior motive to documentaries. They aren't always to educate anymore; often, they're to persuade.

A good example of this "leaning documentary" trend is "Food, Inc." This sensational production focuses on the agricultural practices of large food and agribusiness companies including Smithfield Foods, Tyson, Perdue, and Monsanto.

Just like all other aspects of mass media, the documentary sect has lost its neutrality.

If it's alright for consumers to question the sincerity of American farmers, isn't it then alright to question the authority of media sources?

Another good example of challenging the media can be seen on Wikipedia. Wiki's imply that all users have the right to change or challenge information. This article, however, has a carefully-build bibliography structure that makes changing it difficult. However, a quick look at the top of the page points out that it's been challenged.

This needs to happen more, people.

You're expected to wonder about where your food comes from, and how it's made...but do you ever stop to question your information in the same way?

Give it a good hard thinkin'. Get your information from a variety of sources. Decide what to believe or not. A well-rounded understanding and awareness is key to combating the lean of present-day media, like documentaries.

County Corn Growers Shake Things Up

If you aren't familiar with the intricacies of agriculture, you probably don't realize how many different organizations and clubs revolve around ag. Every type of livestock has at least one national registration or club. Break it down, and you have groups devoted to breeds. Further, you have state and regional versions of all these organizations, as well. Crops are similar. Corn or maize of some variety is raised in each and every state of the U.S. This means there are national, state, regional, county, and community levels of corn organizations.

These organizations seem to open up room for creativity in communication, especially on the local level.

In my home county, I've had the pleasure of being directly involved in some of the better PR movements. The county Corn Growers Association there is pretty active, and have some pretty crafty characters behind the scenes.

Their most flashy promotion? An E85-powered pro-stock pulling truck. If you don't know what that is, it's a souped-up pickup truck that competes in weight-pulling competitions. This truck is so heavily modified that it's illegal to drive on roads. Yeah, I think it's pretty awesome too.

The unveiling of the Kankakee County Corn Growers Association truck, driven/owned by Dan Dandurand, was a proud moment for the organization. It was also a proud one for me, as I was the lucky girl who got to design the wrap.

Another activity that this county chapter partakes in is Kids' Day on the Farm. This program, run by the Kankakee Soil and Water Conservation District, the Kankakee County Farm Bureau, the local University of Illinois Extension, WKAN radio, and the Kankakee County Fair and Exposition, allows fourth graders of the county to learn about the agriculture industry that goes on around them. Without fail, the Corn Growers have a representative or two there. Usually a father-son team (Keith and Tim Yohnka of Momence, IL), the duo approach it from a different standpoint. Corn isn't just food, it's a material. They let kids stick their hands into a bushel basket to feel the grain. They let volunteers drop corn-based, bio-degradable packing peanuts into water to watch them disintegrate. They sometimes even drive around an ethanol-powered remote-control car.

This a prime example of creativity in "agvocacy." Other activities include scholarship programs, sponsorship and donating to 4-H, FFA, and school programs, and driving big machinery on roads during different times of the year to "remind people that we're working hard." (They like to joke that clogging up rural traffic in March and October is a mode of PR.)

Kankakee County isn't the only Illinois chapter that's shaking things up. In fact, local organizations all over America are getting the word out on agriculture every day. Since it's my home chapter, I know it well, and I admire the enthusiasm and creativity they exhibit in their work. My personal bias aside, every ag organization should strive to keep originality and inspiration in their programs. Agriculture needs it!