Happy Easter!! Easter is traditionally the time of new beginnings and signifies the true start of the spring season. Warmer weather is finally upon us, grass has greened, flowers are begining to grow, and farmers are antsy about getting into the field. This year is different for me. I’m graduating college and am standing on the edge of leaving everything I know.…
Adventures in England
March 26, 2014I’m nearing the end of my 10-day trip to England and I’ve learned a lot about the culture and history of the country during my brief stay. I’m working on updating my Travels page to include what I’ve learned and will be uploading pictures soon. In the meantime, here’s a little about the agriculture in England:…
14 Facts About Your Bacon
March 14, 2014Scrolling through BuzzFeed last week, I happened across an article “14 Things You Need To Know About Your Bacon” (You can read it here). I opened it because, well- bacon. Bacon is awesome. Needless to say, I was disappointed by the article. The HSUS, ASPCA, and PETA were all referenced, but no farmers. You know, the people that actually raise your bacon. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, if you have questions, please ask! Here are 14 interesting…
Warning: Ethanol Raises Gas Prices
March 10, 2014Last night, I was beginning to wonder what I was going to blog about next as I try to get over my writer’s block this week, and I happened to catch a clip on my local news station about ethanol causing higher gas prices. Really? The reporter blamed it on the unrest in Ukraine, because Ukraine exports corn. Seriously??…
Risky Business
March 3, 2014It’s that time of year again! March 1st rolls around and everyone begins to think spring. We’re ready to see that snow melt, green grass pop up from the ground, and tulips and daffodils in full bloom. It’s time for new growth.…
My Beef with Chipotle
February 27, 2014Chipotle makes delicious burritos, and I doubt that many will argue against that. But their marketing strategy is a little off. Is it effective for selling burritos? Yes, very effective. When I say that their marketing strategy is a little off, I mean that it seems to contradict their stated beliefs. They are all about supporting family farmers, local farms, sustainably-raised food, organic produce, and antibiotic-free meat. And there is nothing wrong with any of that. It is your choice…
The 10 Best Things About Being a Farm Kid
February 25, 2014Here’s 10 things that you’ve definitely experienced if you’re a farm kid: 10. The Stars. You won’t appreciate how big the sky is or how many stars there are until you move to a city full of streetlights. The quiet of the night and the pressing dark are something you’ll only feel outside city limits. It’s hard to describe, but it’s a feeling of actually being alone; being able to clear your mind and look at the great-big, dark expanse above you, full…
Farmed and….Dangerous??
February 20, 2014This month’s buzz in the agriculture industry has been about Chipotle’s new video series that has been launched on Hulu. This isn’t Chipotle’s first hit on the agriculture industry. Last fall, they launched a YouTube advertisement for their new app, entitled “The Scarecrow”. You can watch the video here. This video clip shows a world that has been ruined by “corporate agriculture”, and the only way out of this industrialized world of food production is by going back to the…
Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday with Cherry Pie in a Bag!
February 13, 2014Celebrate President’s Day in your classroom with this fun Cherry Pie in a Bag activity! Link it to a George Washington history lesson (there’s one included in the post) and tie it to agriculture (did you know George Washington was an innovative farmer for his time?), wrapping it all up with a yummy, easy-to-make snack.…
Ethanol: The American Fuel
February 13, 2014I wrote this editorial for my politics class tonight and figured I’d share. 🙂 You have heard of ethanol before, you have even used it regularly for the last several years in the form of a 10% blend into your regular gasoline. It is a fuel produced entirely in the United States and is supporting U.S. industries and contributing to our economy. What could be so bad about a home-grown fuel? The answer: not much.…