The Year of the Farmer...

I absolutely loved the Dodge Ram fourth quarter commercial tonight. Literally AS it was playing, I could see my Facebook newsfeed filling and filling with links, praises and just general joy. I spent the duration of the two minute ad bawling my eyes out. Of course, I'd already cried over the Budweiser ad (and I'd had prior knowledge of it!) so this one of course came as a surprise. And then to find out that my FAVORITE ORGANIZATION IN THE WHOLE WORLD was actually going to be benefitting?  Excellent! (National FFA is receiving up to a million dollars from Ram depending on how many people view/share the video... I'm going to take a stab and say it'll be the full million.)

Over the next couple hours, I watched as it blew up first Facebook, then Twitter (trending!) and the internet in general as "one of the best commercials of the Super Bowl". Beautiful. A huge audience, a huge message and the best part is, it wasn't stereotypical, it wasn't arrogant and it was simple. Ram helped do some major good tonight on improving the face of modern agriculture. I'm so proud to be a part of the largest industry in America <3

Here's the link to the ad so you too can help out the National FFA Organization! http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/keepplowing/

Today, I ate Chipotle.

I have a confession to make. Today, I committed a "cardinal sin". I did something I don't usually ever do. It made me feel so guilty I looked around to make sure no one I knew was watching me. 



I ate Chipotle for lunch.  


"Oh my gosh!" "Why would you do such a thing?" "Don't you love agriculture?!?!"


I have been anti-Chipotle for about five years now. It all started with some ill-worded billboards and a few nasty messages on the sides of take out bags. When Chipotle started touting the slogan "Pork from Farms, not Pharms", they lost this consumer. And honestly, Chipotle can say whatever the heck they want. But then again, I can choose not to purchase from them either because of what they say. 

Remember these puppies? 

I don't appreciate the fact that Chipotle tries to slander the agriculture community by saying that the majority of us are "factory farmers". I understand that this sells food, but it sure doesn't help public perception of modern ag. For that reason, I've made it a point not to eat there. 

So now we come back to today... 

Why are you so good?!?!?!

I had a craving! For chicken soft tacos. And it was a strong one. Usually I just make lunch at home. Not today. Today I drove into town feeling guilty as heck and went inside the new (I say it's new... I guess it's been there a year or so. First time I'd been inside!) Chipotle. I ordered three chicken soft tacos, an order of chips and a soft drink. I paid a ridiculous amount of money for those three items and I then I walked over to fill up my cup. 

Here's where it gets cool: 

I happened to be wearing my "I Dig the Pig" t-shirt. The one that I have like twenty of because of working the Ohio Pork Producers stand at the Ohio State Fair. And this is for real. Some guy saw the shirt and came up to me. He asked if I was a hog farmer. We started talking a little bit and ended up having a great discussion about public perception of modern farms. He said he'd never really understood how they worked and that the only "facts" he had about them were from companies like Chipotle. He just liked the idea of animals being happy and comfortable. 

The t-shirt :)

Conversations like these always boggle my mind because in my small town of Canal Winchester, I like to assume that everyone knows about modern ag. I don't like to think that many people are so far removed from the farm. I like to think everyone in my town knows where their food comes from. At least today I know that one more person does know. And maybe he'll tell his family. And they'll tell theirs. And so on and so forth... 

I guess maybe what I'm trying to say is, I'm a big believer in things happening for a reason. Last week I had the opportunity to attend the AgChat Foundation Agvocacy 2.0 conference where reaching consumers and learning to speak their language was a huge point. And today I did something I never do and ended up reaching out to someone. Maybe Chipotle is evil. Maybe I broke the "code". But by being in that restaurant today, I got to share my story of agriculture and now that story can be passed on. 

And honestly, the tacos were delicious :)  

Faith and Patience

A simple verse and yet it's a farmer's whole life. There is always a time to plant and always a time to harvest, it can change from year to year, but it always happens. Faith and patience go a long way in the agriculturist's world...

Happy National Agriculture Day!

Please thank a farmer for feeding, clothing and fueling your vehicle for you today <3 

Haters be Hatin'

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway." ~Eleanor Roosevelt 

Just because farmers face opposition, doesn't mean they're going to stop feeding, clothing and fueling our cars for us. They take that criticism, face it, and move on. 

Kicking Off National Ag Week...

Celebrate National Agriculture Week! Check outhttp://www.agday.org/ for ways you can incorporate ag facts into your daily routine and be sure to share Fact or Hogwash? with your FB friends as well... we'll be sharing lots of facts this week to raise awareness of America's number one industry!

Here's a video to get you started: 

Is There a Difference?

Pork Producers (and all other livestock farmers as well!) work hard to provide safe, efficient and cost effective housing for their animals. When something is your livelihood, you want it to be 

the best if can be!

No Other Life I'd Rather Live...

Four years ago today, I lost my father, one of the most humble, passionate, hardworking agriculturists I've ever known. Today, I got up, put on my boots and charged my camera, got in my car and just drove. My heart took me to Pickaway County, to fields and fields filled with the promise of a good harvest. Working these fields, as I could tell they'd be itching to do, were the farmers. The green tractors, the red tractors, even a yellow tractor, diligently preparing the land for this spring's planting. I don't know about you, but this is one of my favorite views in the whole world. Dad used to be a grumpy old bear all winter, always complaining and yearning to get back out the fields as soon as God would let him. But as soon as He did, that old bear cheered up like no other. I know that now when I pass those farmers, my dad isn't in that tractor, but I like to imagine he is. The best kind of calm and peace comes over me and it fills me with such joy. Missing someone is never easy, but the peace that comes with the years makes it's much more bearable and for that, I have to thank God. 

A New Era in Agriculture...

Do you believe in the future of agriculture? Past, present or future members, we are all FFA! 

Alphabatography Agriculture

“Agriculture…is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.” – President Thomas Jefferson

That Triangle Sign...

Ever wonder where a symbol that has become synonymous with tractors and other farm machinery
came from? Look no further than Ohio's own OSU Agricultural Engineering department! Signs aren't
their only specialty; check out what students in the ASABE (American Society for Agricultural and
Biological Engineers) program at Ohio State are doing this year!

Celebrating National FFA Week

To kick off Day 1 of National FFA Week, I thought I'd put out a few facts about an Association near and dear to my heart- the Ohio FFA Association. I spent 7 years in the program and I can honestly say that it is the one organization that has most made me the person I am today. Take a few minutes to check it out, see what's going on, and why it's not "just about farmers" anymore!

 Learn about the Ohio FFA Association!

Catch up with the National FFA Organization!

Day 2

Soybeans are Ohio's number one agricultural commodity... and actually account for 6.8% of the total US crop. Here are some ways we use soy everyday.

Spoiling My Ponies

Good morning everyone! 

So I am not the world's best cook... anyone who knows me will tell you that. There are horror stories of my chocolate chip cookies and don't get me started on macaroni and cheese. However, there is an audience that doesn't mind my cooking- and that is my horses.

I got the urge to make some Valentine's treats for my boys the other day and here's what ensued. Feel free to make them for your equine friends! 

First, finely chop up equal parts carrots and apples. I used green Granny Smiths, but I'm sure any would work.

What a nice depth of field. Love my 50 mm 1.8!

Pour those into a food processor/blender and add about 2 cups of applesauce and half a cup of water to blend easier.  Now would be a good time to set your oven to 375 degrees so it's ready!

Mmmmm! Orange goop. Try it, it's really kind of good.

Gather up some molasses, corn syrup, breakfast oats and flour. These will be the base of the cookies. 

 Here's the ratio I used: 

1 part carrot/apple puree 

1 1/2 parts oats

1 1/2 parts flour 

1/2 cup corn syrup 

1/2 cup molasses 

  

Don't forget the molasses!

Mix this up until you get a sticky, semi solid concoction. If it's too wet, add more flour and oats. Too dry? More apple/carrot. 

The plus side to mixing this by hand is you smell nice and sweet all day.

Grease a cookie sheet and get ready to get messy! Since it was Valentine's day, I shaped my cookies into hearts, but for everyday cookies a round ball about the size of a fifty cent piece would work well. Spread your cookies out evenly on the sheet and sprinkle sugar over the top. 

LIGHTLY dust with sugar! You don't need to give your horses a sugar rush.

Bake at 375 degrees (F) for about 15-20 minutes, depending on how big your cookies are. Ideally, they're done when they are solid and slightly browner. 

Awww. Hearts!

Let them cool and then prepare to be adored by every horse you come in contact with!

Maverick thoroughly enjoyed his cookies. 

... And then Falf decided he wanted Mav's as well.

Day 1

Almost 98% of Ohio's farms are family owned and operated, not factory corporations that some groups have led us to believe. Meet one of Ohio's farm families here!

What It's All About

As the daughter of an Ohio hog and grain farmer, I've always been passionate about my family's work. I never could understand how people could be so stereotypical about something they've never encountered, like agriculture. From a young age, I was taught that the best way to help people learn about farming and livestock, was to be proactive about it. For many years, the easiest way to do that was to tell my classmates about the animals I showed at the fair, or to give them a tour of our farm. As I got older, the challenge got harder however. Three huge things happened in February of 2008 that I will elaborate on on a little. 

In the early part of February, my dad sat us all down and told us that the hog farm we'd been used to was going to change. Instead of having a 300 sow (mother pig) farrow to wean operation, we'd be converting to a wean to finish farm. The amount of hands on work, the birth of the piglets, and the monthly weaning that I'd grown so used to over 17 years was about to end. When the semi came to take away our sows, I felt like a part of me had died. It may not seem like much to you, but not waking up to sows screeching every morning for feed was heartrending. 

The second major event that changed my life, happened during the morning of February 28. My agriculture education class was hosting representatives from Chipotle restaurant. In a series of presentations and questions and answers, we were able to share our opinions on Chipotle's stance on agriculture. Basically, unless our animals were kept outside and fed grass, we were considered "factory farmers". This attack was personal. That morning changed the way I looked at my life. No longer was I going to be able to skate by on assuming people knew the truth about farming; I was going to have to fight for it. 

At 3:30 in the afternoon on that same day, February 28th, we got a call. My 53 year old father, the rock of my life and the inspiration for my love of farming, had collapsed while grinding feed. 2 hours later, he was gone. In the months that followed, my mom sold off her half of the partnership to my uncle for security reasons. While we still live at the farm, most of the time it seems like a shell of it's former self. After that, I've felt sometimes like a poser in the agriculture world. I no longer have the direct contact I'd grown up with and for some reason, this made me feel like I had no authority to speak about ag. Obviously, this isn't true, but for four years, I've had difficulty speaking up. 

The time for that is over; I was born a farm girl and I will always be a farm girl. I'm finally stepping up to use my God given talents to spread the word and the truth. I plan on creating a daily photoblog filled with photos I've taken and facts I've gathered to share the truth about America's number one industry. The posts will be from my heart and from the perspective of someone who has lived the agriculture life. I hope you'll come on this journey with me!