growing in the heartland
TRANSCRIPT
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FEBRUARY 20
DENNIS AND TIM ZEHNER TALK CONSERVATION FARMING
SHAMANFORESTR
Ray Chattin replacetree hugging wit
tree lovin
WINTER SATURDAYSJohn Stoll remembers grinding corn
milking by han
FROM AG MECHANICS TO
ANIMAL SCIENCEDoug Mayfields range of classes atLoogootee Jr/Sr High School
LOSING THE BUMPKIN IDEAAgricultures image is no joke
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Vincennes, IN:
101 N. 3rd Street 1700 Willow Street 2814 N. 6th Street (812)882-4528
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201 E. Main Street Cherry Tree Plaza (812)254-4630
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7721 N. 900 E. (812)636-8300
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WWELCOME TO THE start of yet another Growing season. With the mild
weather wed experienced until the last few weeks, I thought we might skip wint
and head right to spring. Surprisingly, I wasnt super excited about that. I loved th
warm weather but that meant the fields didnt have much time to recuperate from
a bumper (quadruple maybe even) crop of fall goodies I just couldnt let Rabbit (m
grandpa) plow under until they were completely done producing.
Now that the snow has hit, and the seed catalogs laysprawled across the kitchen floor, Im getting excited. I pro
ably get far more enjoyment from searching through doze
of catalogs than I should, but when your family raises ten
thousands of vegetable plants to sell and to plant ourselve
in addition to all the flowers, its important to look for the b
price possible. What may be even more important though
making sure I can sneak in all the seeds Rabbit and my m
tell me I dont need (that may be the REAL reason I volunt
to help Mom with the ordering).
What makes me even more excited than flipping through those catalogs is
realizing that farmers market is getting closer and closer as each day passes. Ive
the same customers for years (not that Im old, I just started really young) and eve
year, we share stories, talk about the crops and inquire about issues with their plaI know the name of the furry friends who accompany them to the market. I know
how many radishes, tomatoes or marigolds they typically buy. I dont always know
their names, but they know me. They know my story. They know I can tell them m
about what they are buying than they could ever imagine. Maybe most important
though, they know Im proud to be able to be doing what Im doing, both on the f
and in print.
EDITORS PAGE
STAFF
Melody Brunson
General Manager
(812) 254-0480, Ext. 127
Lindsay Owens
Editor
(812) 254-0480, Ext. 123
Natalie Reidford
Design Editor
(812) 568-8991
Rick Zeller
Advertising Sales
(812) 254-0480, Ext. 111
Kim Schoelkopf
Advertising Sales
(812) 254-0480, Ext. 116
Wanita Tetreault
Advertising Sales
(812) 254-0480, Ext. 121
Alice Schwartz
Graphic ArtistPHOTOGRAPHY
Matt Griffith, Terri Talarek King
Angie J. Mayfield, Mike Myers
Lindsay Owens, Bill Richardson
and John Stoll
WRITERS
Tom Held, Terri Talarek King,
Damian Mason, Angie J. Mayfiel
J. Scott Monroe,
Dennis Nowaskie, Lindsay Owen
Bill Richardson, Victor Shelton
Rama Sobhani and John Stoll
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Growing in the Heartlandis publish
five times a year, serving primarily th
Daviess and Knox county areas. T
subscription price of $20 per year c
be mailed to P.O. Box 471, Washingto
IN 47501.
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3 EDITORS PAGEThe start of another growing
season
By Lindsay Owens
7 RAY CHATTIN,CONSERVATION
FORESTER
Chattin uses responsibility in
his hardwood business
By Rama Sobhani
11 THE FUNNIER SIDEOF FARMINGAgricultures image is no
laughing matter
By Damian Mason
12 COEXISTING WITHNATURE
Dennis and Tim Zehner, 2015
Illinois Conservation Farmers
of the Year
By Bill Richardson
16 THE NATURAL SIDE OF THINGS
Keeping a nature journal
By Terri Talarek King
17 SOUTHERN INDIANAGRAZING
CONFERENCE
MARCH 2
WestGate Academy in Odon
hosting speakers
By Victor Shelton
18 CALENDARDaviess County Soil and
Water Conservation District
meeting, Winter Farm
Workshop
20 AG EDUCATIONThe Southwest Purdue
Agricultural Center: A Knox
County gemBy J. Scott Monroe and
Dennis Nowaskie
21 IN SEASONGreenhouse goodies
By Lindsay Owens
22 MY RURAL ROOTSGuns and hunting: A norm
part of rural life
By Angie J. Mayfield
23 DOWN ON THEFARM
Winter Saturdays
By John H. Stoll
24 TEACHING LIFESKILLS AND AN
APPRECIATION FO AGRICULTURE
Doug Mayfields diverse
classes range from ag
mechanics to animal scien
By Angie J. Mayfield
27 GOOD TO THE
EARTHArea FFA activities
30 HEALTHY SOIL,HEALTHY PEOPLE
Make every acre sustaina
By Tom Held
ON THE COVER: A calm w
gently turns the windmill at this
Daviess County farm near Epsom
| PHOTO BY MIKE MYERS
CONTENTSFEBRUARY 2016 | VOL. 3, ISS
27
24
22
Photo by Lindsay Owens
Photo by Angie J.
Mayfield
Photo by Ang
May
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R
By Rama Sobhani
RAY CHATTIN IS a shaman a
man connected through spirit to thosehe heals, a man who from the ether
can bring peace, recovery and contin-
ued health.
The trees on Chattins small, but
maintained, woodlands can attest to
his ability to bring healing and peace.
As a forester who harvests some of his
trees for lumber, Chattin walks what
some may see as a fine line, but to him,
healing his land and its inhabitants is
not laissez-faire.
I like growing trees, taking care
of them, watching them grow, he
said. To many (people) any timberharvest is a rape and pillage because
they dont recognize the good from the
bad.
Chattin didnt immediately find his
calling in trees. In college, he majored
first in chemistry, then in medical
technology. When he was drafted
right after finishing, Chattin decided
to serve in the Coast Guard to avoid
being sent to fight in the Vietnam War.
When he returned from that, he first
started farming grain.
Tree lover, not treehugger
Chattin started his life as a lover
and caregiver to trees in 1980 when he
inherited some land that had a small
90-acre plot of woodland, which he
said was in bad shape. The woods had
never been managed and though there
were many large, seemingly healthy
trees in it, many of those turned out to
be hollow and only about 30 percent of
the woods was suitable for harvest.
It was a big surprise to Chattin,
who was under a different impressionof what he had at first.
I thought I had dynamite woods,
he said. But when I started harvest-
ing, I found I had hollow trees because
the land had been pastured at some
point. I began to understand what I
had and the dynamic at work there.
Thats when, as Chattin put it, he
became a tree lover, not a tree hugger.
After about 10 years of careful,
intensive management, Chattin was
in business as a timber supplier, albeita small-scale one. The most popular
types of wood he raises and sells are
red oak and poplar as well as some
exotics, like catalpa and sassafras.
When it became clear to outside
observers that Chattin was doing
something noteworthy, he got some
attention from conservation groups.
In 2001, he was named Indiana Tre
Farmer of the Year by the State Tre
Farm Committee, and the same yea
was a state finalist for the Charles
Dean Stewardship Award, which
recognizes Indiana woodland own
who have demonstrated exception
management of their woodlands.
Preparing for a harvest
Being strongly conservation-mi
ed has led to Chattin becominginvolved in local efforts to combat t
phenomenon of diminishing wood-
lands in the area. The biggest threa
to woodlands, aside from them bein
intentionally cut down, is from inva
plant species, which upset the natu
balance of the ecosystems.
Several non-native
Ray Chattin,conservat ion forester
Background, a 90-foot-high, 40-inch -round tulip poplar tree, estimated at 150 years old, stands in the 85 acres of forest that Ray Chattin owns. Using mof his own trees for wood, he also gives back by planting them as well. | PHOTOS BY MATT GRIFFITH
4
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plant species are of particular con-
cern and the effect of them getting
a foothold in a stand of woods is
that, eventually, the native plants,
big magnificent trees included, will
be crowded out of existence as the
invasive species outcompete them.This will have a huge ripple effect
of the ecosystem as other plants
and animals which have evolved
alongside the native ones are im-
pacted by their disappearance.
The main problem is prevent-
ing them from taking over. Any
time theres a harvest that lets light
in, (the invasive plants) explode
Chattin said. If you dont prepa
for a harvest, they will take ove
and then birds and logging equ
ment spread the seeds.
For tree growers and harve
ers, it will turn into a big probleone day. Thats why Chattins b
involved in starting and expand
a local group that goes by SICI
the Southern Indiana Cooperat
Invasive weed Management. A
part of that group, Chattin has
been making rounds doing pub
events and private consults wit
To be a good foresteryou have to have a sense of awe and wonder .
anyone that plants a tree
isnt thinking of himself; hes thinking of the
next generation.Ray Chattin
Ray Chattin outside his business.
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7/25/2019 GROWING in the Heartland
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farmers. When he finds that someone
has invasive plants in his woods, Chat-
tin said the reactions of landowners
varies.
From Ill get right on it to total
apathy, he said. I call it integrity, not
good versus bad people. To me, integ-
rity means how integrated you are to
everything.
More integrated landowners will
feel connected to the problems of
invasive species of plants threateningthe health of their woods, Chattin said.
Others, he said, arent as conscious or
concerned with the health of their land.
They just want some extra money
and they can abuse a forest in a hurry
and make a lot of money, he said.
Were just not beating the drum loudly
enough.
Trees have implications beyond the
lifespans of those alive today and it is a
constant struggle against various forces
to ensure that future generations will
have healthy ecosystems hallmarked bybeautiful stands of trees.
Theres a great sense of accom-
plishment in saving a tree, Chattin said.
To be a good forester, you have to have
a sense of awe and wonder and were
losing that, but anyone that plants a
tree isnt thinking of himself, hes think-
ing of the next generation.
Ray Chattin sits on a stock of poplar, ash, cherry, maple and walnut. Chattin sells to cabinetmakers and hobbyists, to name a few.
444
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Ray Chattin, left, looks over the saw blade prior to making a cut on a log at his shop. Top right, Chattin drives the blade of the saw across the top of thlog. Bottom right, stacked railroad ties wait to be picked up.
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S
By Damian Mason
STANFORD UNIVERSITYS
BANDused halftime of this yearsRose Bowl to insult the Midwest and
agriculture.
Stanfords routine included mu-
sic from the FarmersOnly.com com-
mercials and a romantically dejected
bumpkin tipping over a pretend black
and white cow.
It was classless, not funny, and
frankly, inaccurate. Iowa (Stanfords
opponent) isnt even the ag school,
Iowa State is, and California (Stan-
fords home state) has more Holsteins
than Iowa. I might also add, the skit
was as original as a Hee Haw rerun.
As an Indiana farm boy, I detest
the portrayal of anyone engaged in
agriculture as a backward rube.
Farmers I know manage millions
of dollars of capital. Many have
college degrees. They apply science
and technology to their operations
that would baffle the average
suburbanite.
Nevertheless, the old, tired arche-
type of the Hick Farmer persists.
Why?
One reason is the math. Only 1
percent of our population farms and
ust 7 percent work in the business
of food, fuel and fiber. Our urban
and suburban populace is so far
removed from agriculture they accept
medias portrayal of farmers and rural
America.
A more troubling reason: We allow
ourselves to be portrayed this way.
Heres how we can all polish ags
image:
Stop playing the poorfarmer
Theres a joke that used to be a
staple at ag functions. Did you hear
about the farmer who won a million
dollars in the lottery? the joke goes.
When they asked the farmer what
hes gonna do, he said hed keep farm-ing til the million dollars runs out.
Laugh if you want, but Ive never
found it funny. Would you laugh if this
were the CEO of General Electric jok-
ing about going broke? Agriculture is a
business. Please stop playing the poor
dirt farmer routine.
People DO judge a bookby the cover
I once had a role as a farmer in a
seed commercial. (This is the sort of
acting prowess that got me my Screen
Actors Guild card!)
When I showed up for the shoot,
the wardrobe people handed me tat-
tered clothing to wear as I stood in a
corn field. I asked the production crew
if I was supposed to be a farmer for
this commercial or a scarecrow. They
laughed. I didnt, because I dont find
derogatory images of farmers to be
funny.
I understand. We work outside in
Carhartt overalls. We handle livestock.
We get dirty. But when the media
dresses farmers as vagrants, our im
takes a hit. Remember, theres a tim
to dress for chores and a time to dr
for an interview.
We ALL speak foragriculture
Who decided people in the bus
ness of food, fuel and fiber are sup-
posed to talk like the cast from Th
Beverly Hillbillies?
Like it or not, people judge us b
the words we use. In the era of soc
media, we all have the opportunity
portray ourselves and our industry
itively. Proper grammar and effectiv
communication garners respect fro
our consumers.
Be proud, beprofessional, pass it on
Humor is a big part of my busi-ness. However, when it comes to
agriculture the worlds most imp
ant industry our image is no jokin
matter.
Be proud of the work we do in
producing Americas bounty. Be pr
sional in how you represent yourse
Above all, pass on a positive messa
for agriculture.
Damian Mason is an agriculturalist
speaker and Stanford band hater. F
him at www.daimanmason.com
Agricultures image is no joke
THE FUNNIER SIDE OF FARMING
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B
By Bill Richardson
BROTHERS DENNIS AND TIM
Zehner arent the biggest farmers in
Lawrence County, Illinois, but they are
certainly among the best.
Dennis, 60, and Tim, 58, work
about 250 acres of their own and
manage about 200 more, mostly in
Lawrence County. They harvest all of
the usual crops such as corn, soybeans
and hay, plus look after a small herd of
Black Angus cattle.
The brothers are conscious of the
land, and do all they can to take good
care of it. People have noticed, and last
year Zehner Farms received the Gov-
ernors Award as the Illinois Conserva-
tion Farming Family of the Year. The
presentation was made at the Illinois
State Fair in August, and the brothersalso met with Philip Nelson, who was
then the director of the Illinois Depart-
ment of Agriculture.
Both Dennis, married to Debbie,
a former secretary at Parkview Junior
High School in Lawrenceville, and
Tim, whose wife, Cecilia, is a cook at
Lawrencevilles Parkside Elementary,
are retired from Marathon Petroleum
in Robinson. They both say farming is
a hobby, albeit one thats often times
full-time or more.
All good farmers are concerned
about their land, but the Zehners go
the extra mile, from the time the cro
planted until it is harvested. Wildlifepriority on their property, and the br
ers choose not to farm every availab
acre, to let the animals thrive in thei
natural environment.
Were coexisting with nature,
said Dennis, who retired from Mar-
athon in 2010. Weve all heard the
saying that you should leave a plac
better than you found it. Thats kind
of what conservation farming is. W
want to leave the land better than w
Dennis and Tim Zehner are the 2015 Illinois Conservation Farmers of the year. | PHOTO BY BILL RICHARDSON
Dennis and Tim Zehner, 2015 Illinois Conservation Farmers of the Ye
COEXISTING WITH NATURE
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found it.
They have dedicated their lives
to constantly improving and protecting
the natural resources on their farms,
Gary Zwilling, USDA District Conser-
vationist for Lawrence County, said.
In 2013, Zehner Farms sought help
from the Natural Resources Conser-
vation Service for assistance with the
construction of a waterway to reduce
soil erosion on an especially trouble-
some area of a farm. That project is
what led to them receiving the Gover-nors Award last summer.
We wanted to do the right thing
for the ground, Dennis said. We had
one specific field that drained a lot
of acres, even off other people, and
came down across us. It was starting
to erode pretty badly. We worked with
the USDA, and they helped us put a
waterway into the field.
The Zehners say the Lawrence
County Natural Resources Conserva-
tion Service is partly responsible for
winning the Governors Award. Before
being considered, the Zehners had to
win at the county and regional level.
Some of the districts dont work
as hard as the Lawrence County Dis-trict does to promote a family, Dennis
said. They did a terrific job, and were
thankful.
Eventually the entrants were
whittled to four families, with the
Zehners being one of them. All fou
families were invited to Springfield
a banquet.
We were shocked when they
picked us, Tim said.
We were doing this because its
right thing to do, added Dennis. Bu
nice to be recognized for that, too.
Its the result of something that
started in the late 1950s, when the b
were toddlers. Their parents, Jim an
Mary, moved the family to a 12-acrefarm north of Lawrenceville, with th
sisters, Janet and Julie.
We had a few pigs and a few
cows, and we grew a few crops,
THE ZEHNER FILES
DENNIS ZEHNER TIM ZEHNER
Residence: Lawrenceville, Ill.
High school: Lawrenceville
High School, 1973
Retired: Marathon
Petroleum, Robinson, Ill.
Wife: Debbie
Children: Tracy Corn, Mindy
Borden
Grandchildren: Mayson
Corn, Grifn Corn, Kennedy
Borden, Mallory Borden
Chairman: Board of Elders,
Highland Church of Christ,
Robinson, Ill
Member: Farm Bureau
President: Lawrence County
United Fund, 1988-1990
Residence: Lawrenceville, Ill.
High school: Lawrenceville
High School, 1975
Retired: Marathon
Petroleum, Robinson, Ill.
Wife: Cecilia
Children: Andrew Zehner,Kristi Morron
Grandchildren: Avery
Zehner, Emery Zehner,
Bracey Morron
Deacon: Central Christian
Church, Lawrenceville, Ill.
Member: Farm Bureau
Volunteer: Lawrence County
Kids Shopping Day
4
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Dennis said. It was nothing on a big
scale, because Dad had a full-time job
at Texaco.
Thats kind of where things got
started, says Tim. From then on I
knew farming is something I always
wanted to do.
After high school, the brothers
went to work, but also continued to
farm, each on his own. About 20 years
ago, they realized theyd do betterworking together, and the partnership
was formed.
About that same time, it dawned
on Dennis and Tim that there was a
better way to do things.
Wed always been flat-land farm-
ers, Tim said. Erosion wasnt a prob-
lem on flat ground, we didnt think.
Then, the partnership bought
some land that was highly erodible.
Whenever we started farming
it, we saw right off the bat that we
couldnt continue farming the way
had been farming, said Tim. That
when we started no-till farming, or
conservation farming.
Zwilling says the Zehners have
been valuable, because they sprea
the word about the success their a
proach has led to.
The Zehner family has been
valuable in spreading the news aboconservation and the conservation
practices on their farms with other
landowners and fellow farmers, he
said. This approach and attitude h
our office in accomplishing the mis
of Helping People Help the Land.
The Zehners take a conservativ
approach when it comes to equipm
as well.
While the duo has purchased a
no-till planter and some other mod
Dennis and Tim Zehner fell in love withfarming at an early age, above. The Zehnerbrothers, right, stand with just one ofseveral older tractors used on the farm.
This Massey Ferguson 1100 is a 1966model.
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ern machinery, the tractors they use
for the most part are antique. That
includes a 1962 Farmall 560, a 1966
Massey Ferguson 1100 and a 1972
International 966.
We keep some older equipment.
Were kind of into that, Dennis said.
We just like the older stuff.
Its kind of like the guy who
buys an old muscle car because
thats from when he grew up. Those
are the kinds of tractors we always
wanted to have. Weve got sever-
al old tractors and we use most of
them, said Tim.
Both brothers are in good health,
and there are no plans to change
anything about the way they operate
Zehner Farms. But both know that
time is coming.
I feel like as long as we feel good,
well continue to farm, Dennis said.
When the time comes, well let some-
body else farm it for us.
His younger brother envisions a
time when it will be passed on. Be-
tween them, the Zehners have four
children and seven grandchildren.It could be down the road that our
grandkids would want to take over,
he said. I cant ever see us disposing
of the farm ground. This is for our
generations.
Above left, the Zehners use no-till methods to help prevent erosion. The brothers farm a variety of crops on many types of soil. Above right, a pond onthe Zehner property helps sustain wildlife, as the brothers choose not to farm every acre, but to leave some natural resources intact.
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A
By Terri Talarek King
ARE YOU KEEPING your NewYears resolutions?
Heres an easy one to try- keepa nature journal. Now is a good time
to start observing, as winter turns
to the budding activity of spring. Its
fun to do, whether you just observe
your back yard, farm or bird feeders,
or if you take a
journal on trips
elsewhere. Its a
good way to keep
a record, learn
more, or just see
things differently,
plus its relaxing.
Keeping anature journal
is a highly individual project you
can choose any materials or methods
that suit you. A few things are good to
remember for any person or situation,
though. Keep your journal in an easy-
to-find spot where you can grab it as
you leave. Before each journal entry, jot
down important facts such as the date,
time of day, location, and weather con-
ditions. Observe the scene in general
first, then focus on specific things. If
you are on a walk, take time to stay
quietly in one spot for a while (this is
how I saw the weirdest little bug ever!)
Try drawing or describing something
you see through a hand lens. Observe
with all of your senses.
Jot down things that are happen-
ing: a branch falls, a bug jumps, a bird
sings, rain starts falling. Try observing
during different times of day, when
wildlife activity and quality of light are
different.
Types of journals vary a lot. Some
people use sketchbooks. Others use
notebooks of lined pages, and others
create their own just be sure it is
small enough to carry around. Be sure
to bring pencils, sharpener (if needed),
pen, and a magnifying lens, which
opens up whole new worlds. You
might also bring binoculars, ruler, field
guides, portable watercolors, colored
pencils, or something to sit on.
Some people include much art-
work. This is a chance to learn and
practice new skills or expand old ones.
Some prefer to keep brief notes and
sketches, while others fill a journal
with writing only. You might be the
kind of person who likes detail, or you
might use flowing description. Any of
these will help you notice things you
may have otherwise passed up.Keeping a nature journal can be as
simple or involved as you would like,
but its not the place to be critical of
your writing or art. Go with the flow.
Observation is the most important fac-
tor. It is fun to look back on journals to
re-live experiences or see how things
have changed. Your nature journals
can even become keepsakes for future
generations. It could even lead to a
blog or book.
Get started this winter. Keep a
nature journal whenever you can. Do
a little or a lot. Try new things. Most ofall, enjoy seeing the natural world in
new ways.
Resources: How to Keep a Naturalists Note-
book; Susan Leigh Tomlinson;
Stackpole Books; 2010.
Keeping a Nature Journal:
Discover a New Way of Seeing the
World Around You; Clare Walker
Leslie and Charles E. Roth; Storey
Publishing; 2000
The Country Diary of an Edward-
ian Lady; Edith Blackwell Holden
www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Nature-Journal
vault.sierraclub.org/education/
nature_journal.asp
Terri Talarek King lives in Knox Coun-
ty and is a naturalist and organic
gardener, educator and writer. She is
certified as an advanced master nat-
uralist and grow organic educator.
THE NATURAL SIDE OF THINGS
Keeping a nature journal
Top, examples of student journals froa workshop at Thomas JeffersonsMonticello. Above, some ways to keea journal: brief notes and sketches,or descriptive writing. Below, teacheand students during a nature journaworkshop at Thomas JeffersonsMonticello.| PHOTOS BY TERRI TALAREK KING
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7/25/2019 GROWING in the Heartland
17/32GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND x FEBRUARY 2015
IBy Victor Shelton
I GREW UPwith black and white
television, newspapers, a dial-up party
line and the local gas station as the
main source of news. Several Saturday
afternoons were spent at one particular
gas station, with an uncle who often
let me tag along, sitting on a wooden
bench in a cigar smoke filled room
drinking a cheap glass bottle of Moun-
tain Dew and listening to all the prob-
lems of the day being solved.
I still frequent this same location
today when possible and the news is
still flowing, even though it is a differ-
ent crowd and the atmosphere nothing
like the past.
Grazing information and technol-
ogy continues to change even though
the basics of good grazing manage-ment really never did. The means on
how we now receive much of this
information and news has sprinted fast
ahead into almost instant information
right at our fingertips. The biggest
problem with this growing amount
of accessible information is, what do
you believe? Quite often, I find myself
spending time explaining why some-
thing wont work here that was found
on the internet somewhere else in the
country or world. Just because it was
successful in Argentina, doesnt mean itwill work the same here!
How can we keep ourselves up to
date with all the latest grazing manage-
ment trends? My first line of defense is
always reading. My easy chair is nor-
mally surrounded by numerous mag-
azines and books. I really dont think
that a person can read too much. I will
admit too often having printed internet
articles in my reading material still
preferring a printed version over staring
at a computer screen. I find it easier
to make notes or highlight something
printed, though Im doing better about
skimming more articles online.
Allan Nations The Stockman Grass
Farmeris a must-read for me and for
the most part is based on active actual
farms and ranches. Archived issues
are always kept for future references.
Numerous beef and other livestock
forums and message boards are great
sources of present grazing and livestock
issues. These range from a state or smallarea to several that get messages and
comments from around the world. The
broader the audience, the more diverse
the conversation, and the more relevant
sorting you have to do!
Watching the market
If you are in the cattle business,
Im sure you have kept your eye on
the market. It has certainly dropped
quite a bit since last spring, but it is
still better than it has been in the past.
Each livestock producer has to look athis operation and determine where he
stands with the current market. Lots
of cattle were bought at high prices,
anticipating that they would stay high.
How can we make those high priced
cows profitable now? I do think it is
possible, but it is going to take some
management changes for some people.
Inputs are going to have to be reduced.
Feed, especially hay, is one the largest
expenses against cow calf producers.
A good grazing system and letting the
cows graze more days can be a huge
benefit to the bottom line.
SIGC information
The Southern Indiana Grazing
Conference is one of those conferences
to get good information and get you fed
pretty well too! It is being held March 2
at the WestGate Academy in Odon.
Allan Nation, editor of theStockman
Grass Farmer, will be one of the key
speakers. Allan will be speaking about
Creating, Managing, and Profiting from
Quality Pasture and Lowering the Risk
of Stocker Cattle. It is a rare opportunity
to hear Nation in person.
Doug Peterson will also be one of
the speakers. Doug is an enthusiastic
speaker and loves talking about his
cattle operation and soil health. Pete
grew up on a crop and livestock farm
near Newtown in northern Missouri.
day he operates a cow/calf and cont
grazing operation with his father, Ste
Currently they run about 350 cows. Tutilize management-intensive grazin
and holistic high density grazing (mo
grazing) to improve soil health, elimi
the need for most purchased fertilize
and limit hay needs to about one bal
per cow per winter. Peterson will be
speaking about High Density Grazin
and Soil Health and Making Money
with Contract Grazing.
Wesley Tucker, an Agriculture
Business Specialist for University of
Missouri Extension will be speaking
Expanding the Beef Operation. Tuc
specializes in financial management
forage and beef production, rotation
grazing, budgeting, fence law, farm
leases, livestock marketing, and pass
ing the farm to the next generation. A
southwest Missouri native, Tucker g
up on the family beef operation whe
he continues to farm today. He and h
wife, Heather, a local veterinarian, an
their daughter, Jordan, operate a cro
bred cow-calf operation in Dallas Cou
ty. As a University of Missouri Extenspecialist, Tuckers primary educatio
role is helping producers become be
managers and improve the profitabi
of their farming operation.
Come to the conference to hear
ways to prepare for the next stage o
this market.
For more information, call the Davie
County Soil and Water Conservation
office at 812-254-4780, Ext 3, email T
Allison [email protected], or visi
http://www.daviesscoswcd.org/in
php/sigc or https://www.facebook
com/SouthernIndianaGrazingConfe
ence. There is also still room for mor
vendors; contact Allison.
Southern Indiana Grazing Conference March
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FEB. 6
Daviess County Businessand Lifestyle Expo
Washington National GuardArmory 9 a.m. 1 p.m. Call theDaviess County Chamber at 812-254-5262 for more information.
FEB. 14
16th Annual Old PostBluegrass Jam
Vincennes University StudentUnion 10 a.m. 5 p.m.
FEB. 22
Winter Farm Workshop
Gibson Southern High School,Fort Branch. Visit extension.purdue.edu/Gibson/Pages formore info or call 812-385-3491 formore information.
FEB. 24Knox County ChamberBandwagon sponsored byGerman American
Fort Sackville Room atVincennes University noon.
MARCH 3-5
Indiana Small FarmsConference (Danville)
Call 888-398-4636 to register.Visit ag.purdue.edu/extension/smallfarms for more info.
MARCH 5
Sullivan County Ag DayPancake Breakfast
Sullivan County 4-H grounds.Pedal tractor pull and more6:30 a.m. 11 a.m.
MARCH 10
Knox County Ag DaySupper
VU P.E. Complex
MARCH 12
Ohio Valley Small Farmand Garden Conference
Henderson, Kentucky. For moreinfo visit Henderson.ca.uky.edu.
MARCH 23
Knox County ChamberBandwagon sponsoredby BoomerMagazine aGrundman Shoes
Fort Sackville Room atVincennes University, noon.
APRIL 2
Sullivan High School FFAlumni Auction
Sullivan County 4-H Fair grouAll day.
Daviess County SWCD SAnnual Meeting Date
The AnnuMeeting othe DaviesCounty So
and WaterConservatDistrict habeen set foFeb. 25 at p.m. at theWashingto
Community Building, locatedthe Washington Eastside CitPark. The meeting will beginwith a delicious meal cateredby M&M Catering, followed the election of a supervisor apresentation of ConservationFarmer of the Year Award. Tentertainment this year is Da
Cullen, Magician Mentalist
Tickets for the evening are osale for $8 per person and mbe purchased from districtsupervisors, Philip Flint, TodAllison, Marvin Holstine, RobSullender and Steve Halter opurchase at the Daviess CouSWCD Office located at 2526East National Highway inWashington. For informationthe office at 812-254-4780, ExNo ticket sales at the door.
CALENDAR
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Photo by Mike Myers
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7/25/2019 GROWING in the Heartland
19/32
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7/25/2019 GROWING in the Heartland
20/3220| FEBRUARY 2016 x GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND
NBy J. Scott Monroe and DennisNowaskie
NESTLED BETWEEN U.S. 41and the Wabash River just north of
Vincennes lies the Southwest Pur-
due Agricultural Center. One of eight
regional Purdue Agricultural Centers
across the state, SWPAC was estab-
lished in 1979 and consists of 220
acres. Of that acreage, 140 acres are
tillable and about 90 acres are used for
research purposes. Dennis Nowaskieis the centers superintendent, and
oversees the day-to-day operations and
all other activities at the center.
As part of the Purdue University
College of Agriculture, the purpose
of the Ag Center is to provide space
and resources for field research and to
serve as places where new ideas and
techniques can start the process of
being moved out of the laboratories,
off campus, and tested in a real-world
environment.
Fruit and vegetableresearchWhile the smallest of the Purdue
agricultural centers in acreage, SWPAC
is known for being one of the most
active in fruit and vegetable research.
Experiments examining new vegeta-
ble varieties, testing new pest man-
agement strategies, and evaluations
of new pesticide products (many still
years away from the marketplace) all
take place at SWPAC. The center also
conducts research on agronomic crops,
such as corn, wheat and soybeans, and
is the Indiana site for the National Cano-
la Variety Testing Program. SWPACs
location, along with its sandy soil and
access to irrigation, allow scientists to
conduct their work in an environment
that very closely mimics actual produc-
tion conditions in the Southwestern
Indiana Vegetable Industry.
In 2015, 17 researchers conducted
42 separate projects at SWPAC. Many
well-known agricultural companies
partner with SWPAC to provide fund-
ing for many of these projects.
Expansion over 26 yearsIn 1990, the Southwest Purdue
Agricultural Program was established
at SWPAC. Originally, this program
consisted of a building, lab and office
space, and regional extension special-
ists who were tasked with addressing
production issues within Southwestern
Indianas fruit and vegetable industry.
The program building currently houses
a horticulturist, plant pathologist, and
food safety educator. Additionally, anAgronomy Specialist is housed at Vin-
cennes University. Programming has
grown over the years to address issues
across the entire state.
In addition to providing space for
researchers and extension personnel,
SWPAC also provides a unique venue
for educational programs. In an aver-
age year, more than 2,500 people visit
the farm. Diagnostic training clinics,
coordinated through the Knox Coun-
ty Extension Office, are held every
other year. These clinics offer seed
industry representatives a chance tosharpen their diagnostic skills, as they
view crops that frequently have been
intentionally mismanaged to highlight
specific problems.
Field days are also frequently held
at SWPAC. Field days may highlight
the entire center, or specific research.
The facility is also used by industry for
field days, training, and other programs.
Day-on-the-Farm and Pumpkin Day pro-
grams in the spring and fall bring every
first- and third-grader in Knox County to
the center each year. Space at SWPAC
also provides a convenient location foreducational programs and is used by
organizations such as the Illiana Water-
melon Association, the Southwestern
Indiana Melon Association, and NRCS
to hold meetings.
Diesel technologyprogram added
Through the years, SWPAC has
continued to evolve. In 2009, Purdue
University partnered with Vincennes
University to locate the John Deere
Diesel Technology Program at SWP
The resulting building, finished in2010, also houses the Diesel and He
Equipment Technology Program fo
Vincennes University and the Knox
County Extension Office. In additio
to that construction, most recently
in 2010, high tunnel facilities, which
allow research on high value crops
a protected environment, were con
structed.
Throughout its history, the goa
of the Southwest Purdue Agricultu
Center has been to enhance produ
tion and efficiency for farmers in
Southwestern Indiana and to provi
location and expertise for the deve
ment of research and ideas which w
benefit producers and others involv
in agriculture and land use issues.
While the center has changed and
grown over the years, these goals h
remained, and continue to remain,
constant focus.
Scott Monroe is a food safety educa
with Purdue Extension at the South
west Purdue Agricultural Center an
can be reached at 812-886-0198. Sco
lives in Sullivan County with his withree kids, three horses, one dog, an
an odd assortment of barn cats.
Dennis Nowaskie is the superinten
dent at the Southwest Purdue Agr
cultural Center. A Knox County Na
who grew up on a melon farm in t
southern part of the county, Denni
now resides at SWPAC with his wi
and son and has a daughter, son-
in-law and two grandsons living in
Gibson County. He can be reached
812-886-9661.
The Southwest PurdueAgricultural Center: A Knox
County gem
AG EDUCATION
2015 Illiana Watermelon Queen LindsHampton, left. The Illiana WatermelonAssociation is one organization thatuses space at SWPAC facilities. | PHOSUBMITTED BY LORRINDA ELLERMAN
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7/25/2019 GROWING in the Heartland
21/32GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND x FEBRUARY 2016
IBy Lindsay Owens
IF YOU HAVENT pulled out theseed catalogs already, now is the time to
get ready to plant if you are planning to
start seedlings. Ive found several new
varieties to plant this year, including sev-
eral varieties of Asian vegetables I cant
wait to share with customers.
February is usually a tricky time
to grow fruits and vegetables unless
you are lucky and have a greenhouse.
Typically, this time of year, the fresh
goodies from the garden have been gone
for months but this year, I was lucky
enough to pick broccoli, daikon, looseleaf lettuce, mustard greens and cab-
bage up until the temperatures dropped
to nearly zero and the snow came. I love
having fresh veggies to eat but after
a while, theres only so much you can
eat fresh or freeze. It seems my broccoli
mass produced or maybe it was just that
I had well over 200 plants to harvest.
Looking for a great way to use up someof broccoli, I stumbled across this tasty
and easy broccoli casserole recipe.
Easy and Cheesy BroccoliCasserole
3 large heads fresh chopped and
cooked broccoli (or 30 ounces of
frozen drained broccoli)
lb. (12 oz.) Velveeta cheese, cut
into cubes
36 butter crackers (like Ritz),
coarsely crushed (about 1
cups), divided
cup ( stick) butter or marga-
rine, melted
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix
broccoli, cheese and half the cracker
crumbs until well blended. Spoon into
2-qt. baking dish. Mix remaining cracker
crumbs and butter; sprinkle over brocco-
li mixture. Bake 45 min. or until heated
through.
Now, I know this isnt something
that is typically grown in Indiana but
Im patiently waiting for the grapefru
on my tree to ripen. I found this recip
online and cant wait to try it.
Grapefruit Cake
cup butter, softened
1 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated grapefruit zes cup fresh grapefruit juice
cup milk
3 cups sifted cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Gre
and flour two 9-inch pans. Sift togeth
the flour, baking powder and salt. Se
aside. In a large bowl, cream togethe
the butter and sugar until light and fl
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then s
in the vanilla and grapefruit zest. Bea
in the flour mixture alternately with
grapefruit juice and milk. Pour batter
into prepared pans. Bake in the prehe
ed oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until
toothpick inserted into the center of
cakes comes out clean. Let cool in pa
for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a w
rack and cool completely.
IN SEASON
Greenhouse goodiesRecipes to try while waiting for springPHOTO BY LINDSAY OWENS
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D
By Angie J. Mayfield
DID ANYONE ELSE have a gunrack in the back window of their truck
growing up? Usually, there was a .22
rifle or 12-gauge shotgun in ours, or
at least behind the seat, at all times
loaded. No one thought anything of it
because it was just a
normal part of rural
life. Guns were only
tools, and we were
taught how to use
them properly and
safely. The top prizes
for the FFA fund-
raiser in high schoolwere a rifle, a shotgun, and a bowie
knife and the competition was fierce.
Can you imagine the outcry if we tried
that in todays paranoid society?
Our society seems to care more
about animals than children these days.
We never hear how hunting helps pre-
serve skills and traditions, sustains ani-
mal populations, feeds families, protects
crops, and decreases property damage.
My husband and I trap and hunt to
protect our farm and feed our family. The
beaver flood our corn fields, and the deereat our crops. The compromise is they
are both lean, healthy meat that tastes
great, and by eating two or three a year,
everyone benefits. We butcher and pack-
age our own meat, and the scraps go to
the dogs.
My grandparents, great-grandpar-
ents, and great-great grandparents were
farmers who lived off the land, raised
their own beef, pork, and vegetables,
and hunted for food when times were
tough. During the Depression, even pos-
sums were considered a delicacy. They
were poor, but no one in our family hasever been on a social program or asked
for assistance. I think that kind of pride,
work ethic, and love of the land are more
rare these days, and the reason some
cant possibly understand or agree with
rural ideologies.
We teach our children indepen-
dence and gun safety early in life how
to shoot, how to hunt legally and take
only what we need, and to use what we
take. We love animals, but were also
practical. The only animals we kill but
dont eat are coyotes because they
kill our cats, baby goats, and calves. My
husband and oldest son squirrel hunttoo, but the younger kids and I do not.
Theyre just too little and cute, and we
cant and thats okay. However, I admit
they are very tasty. Theres no pressure
in our family to hunt or to use guns, b
the kids are taught in case it is neede
One son prefers a bow to a gun. We k
a few guns handy for protection, but
most are kept in a locked safe. My ki
know they are tools, not toys.
Angie J. Mayfield is an AssociateProfessor at Vincennes University, au
equestrian, and organic farmer who l
near Loogootee, Indiana. She can be
contacted at [email protected]
Guns and hunting: A normal part
of rural life
MY RURAL ROOTS
Angies husband, Doug, teaches their son, Tucker, how to shoot.| PHOTO BY ANGIE J.MAYFIELD
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T
By John H. Stoll
THE FARM IS a glorious place to
grow up. We had barns, woods, and
ponds to explore and acres of open
pasture to roam in. Teepees and tree-
houses sprang up from time to time,
mainly because of the ingenuity of my
older brother. Cowboys and Indians
ran wild and free in our imaginations.
The occasional
arrowheads and
tomahawks we
found while farm-
ing just fed our
imaginations. Life
was grand.But then Old
Man North Wind
would come
howling across
the land, making it
miserable for man
and beast alike. And life became a bit
less grand. Our roaming and exploring
was confined to the house and our
minds were occupied by the small
amount of books we had or by any
magazines or newspapers that showed
up in our mailbox.
And so the animals were allowedto stay in the barn during the night as
warm shelter from the elements. And
where animals are, they leave remains.
And the longer they stay in the barn,
the more remains they leave.
Saturdays, without fail, we would
hitch Jim and Dick to the manure
spreader and clean out the horse barn
first, which usually wasnt too bad.
It had a concrete floor, so it cleaned
out fairly quickly. Three to four loads
spread out over the land to be plant-
ed next spring and we were ready to
move on to the dairy barn.
We had 16 Holstein cows which
all had young calves coupled with
yearlings and older ones that we were
either feeding out to sell or keeping
to use as future milk cows. All in all,
it was a significant herd to care for by
hand. Milked by hand, fed by hand,
and cleaned-up after by hand. No skid
loader for the Stolls.
My mother was a saint. Even
though we left our boots and coats
in the entry way when she called to
come for lunch Im sure the distinct
aroma of our chores found their way
into her kitchen. I never rememberhearing her complain about it.
If you are a faithful reader of this
column, you will know that, as a boy,
I hated certain types of farm work.
Winter Saturdays were squarely in
that category. In fact, the last time my
dad paddled me was because he and
I disagreed what willingness to haul
manure actually looked like. This was
after I was old enough to know what
a cheerful, willing worker was, but on
that particular day I did not meet the
criteria. I am a Stoll; and the stubborn-ness that is a strong Stoll family trait
was not lost in me.
After that dirty farm chore was
done, we moved on to our old red Far-
mall tractor. It was hooked to a New
Holland grinder-mixer and pulled o
to the barn where the ear corn was
stored and my brother and I would
climb into the second story and thr
ear corn into the grinder until enou
corn was ground to feed our anima
for another week.
Of course we had silage for the
cows and the haymows in both bar
were filled to the top each summer
The animals on our farm ate well. A
the heaping mounds of thanks th
left behind to be hauled away the
next Saturday by two growing farm
boys and their dad was just the wa
the world turned at that time in tha
season.
While not employed on the family
farm, John does enjoy helping outbrothers during planting and harv
seasons. He is very appreciative o
his heritage and is thankful he wa
given the oppor tunity to be raised
farm boy.
DOWN ON THE FARM
Winter Saturdays
Our Farmall tractor was hooked to a New Holland grinder-mixer and pulled tothe barn where the ear corn was stored. My brother and I threw ear corn into thegrinder until enough corn was ground to feed our animals for another week.| PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JOHN STOLL
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24/3224| FEBRUARY 2016 x GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND
By Angie J. Mayfield
THE PHRASE JACK of alltrades certainly applies to Loogootee
Jr./Sr. High School teacher Doug
Mayfield. He teaches Intro to
Agriculture, Animal Science, Plant
and Soil Science, Agriculture Power
Mechanics, Metals/Welding, Principles
of Engineering, and Intro and
Advanced Woods/Construction at the
Martin County school.
Mayfields dedication to his stu-
dents and the field of agriculture, as
well as his belief in preparing stu-
dents for real life and the workforce
are evident not only in the classroom
but also in student projects that litter
the wood and metal shops, the FFA
emblem and posters decorating the
classroom that say Because some-
one has to do the work and If you
grind your welds, youre a grinder, nota welder, and even in the 12-point
whitetail buck that watches over the
glorious chaos that he takes pride in
overseeing.
He doesnt put up with any crap,
laughs Reuben Ritchey, a senior who
has taken almost every class Mayfield
has taught, but hes funny and he
cares. We learn how to do a little bit of
everything in here.
Mayfield has been teaching for
more than 22 years, but this is only his
second year at Loogootee. He taught
Agriculture in Grayville, Illinois for 16years and Biology and Anatomy and
Physiology at Union High School in
Dugger for 2 years before it closed.
Hes happy to be close to home now
and teach in the same school as
his boys, who are in first and sixth
grades.
Mayfield graduated from Southern
Illinois University in Carbondale with
a Bachelor in Agriculture Science
Education and a Masters degree in
Agriculture Mechanics.
I still enjoy working with youth
and seeing them learn new concepts,
he said.
Mayfields experience is not
limited to teaching, however. He has
been a livestock farmer most of his life,
built pole barns for a few years, and
sold livestock feed for Vigortone. In
the summers, he drives a dump trufor Bear Run Coal Mine in Dugger a
also helps some Amish friends with
construction projects. Mayfield say
prefers the hands-on instruction tha
his classes allow and enjoys watch
students gain skills and knowledge
they can use in all aspects of their
lives.
In one classroom day, he taugh
students how to weld, lay brick, wi
a house, build a birdhouse, identify
Teaching life skills and anappreciation for agriculture
Doug Mayfields Animal Science students at Loogootee High School met Susie the mule andArkansas the puppy. | PHOTOS BY ANGIE MAYFIELD
Doug Mayfields diverse classes range fromag mechanics to animal science
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7/25/2019 GROWING in the Heartland
25/32GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND x FEBRUARY 2016
weeds, care for animals, and fertilize a
garden.
Mayfield started an FFA Chapter
this year, with 20 members so far, and
students competed in Crops judging,
Entomology, and Forestry contests in
the fall. He also takes his students on
field trips to North American Livestock
Show and the Farm Machinery Sho
in Louisville, Kentucky.
For some students, this was a
whole new world, and watching th
learn, laugh, and have those wow m
ments was incredible, he said.
For one Amish student, these
eighth grade classes and trips wer
last and Mayfield said he tried to cr
as many skills and experiences as h
could for him because he knew he
would need and use them more thamost.
In his Intro to Agriculture class
students raise a garden each spring
and fall with different vegetables, d
pending on the season.
I feel gardening is a project th
allows the students to have a veste
interest in the class. Many students
have great pride in their section of
garden. The skills in the garden pro
allow students to be more self-suffi
cient later in life and have control o
their food sources, he said.Sophomore Estralia Brewer adm
shed never seen turnips before. Bu
theyre good and it was fun growin
them, she said.
Students also harvested cabba
broccoli, cauliflower, squash, zucch
and kale from their fall garden.
I hope that what I teach them
helps pass on and preserve our rur
heritage and traditions, said Mayfi
Agriculture is still the base industr
our community and without it our l
economy would suffer greatly. Grow
ing up on a small farm in the Midw
is something I am proud of and hop
pass on my appreciation for agricu
to the next generation. 4
Loogootee Intro to Ag students Jarrett Arvin and Estralia Brewer harvest turnips from the fallgarden.
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Loogootee teacher Doug Mayfield, left, talks about predators and trapping with Ag Sciencestudents. Students in the Intro to Ag class at Loogootee High School, above, show off vegetableharvested from their garden.
FOR SOME STUDENTS,
THIS WAS A WHOLE NEW
WORLD, AND WATCHINGTHEM LEARN, LAUGH,
AND HAVE THOSE
WOW MOMENTS WAS
INCREDIBLE.
Doug Mayfield
6695 E. Gasthof Village Rd., Montgomery, IN 1/2 Mile N. US Hwy. 50 812-486-4900 www.gasthofamishvillage.com
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INDIANAS FIRST COLLEGE
AGRIBUSINESS the industries servicing
agriculture or providing value-adding processes toagricultural productsaccounts for one in six jobs
and nearly one-fifth of the U.S. gross national
product. Multinational corporations to new input
supply and emerging food manufacturers continue
their strong demand for more employees with
increased skills in agribusiness.
Building on VUs widely recognized
AS degree in Agribusiness, the
new baccalaureate concentration
prepares graduates for Ag industry
careers, including:
Farm Manager
Livestock Manager
Sales Representative
Grain Specialist
Pesticide Professional
Production Manager Service Specialist
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Agribusiness ConcentrationBS Technology Degree
800.742.9198 www.vinu.edu/agribusiness
A new concentration, AGRIBUSINESS, isbeing offered by Vincennes University!
Contact Susan Brocksmith for information
Shoals FFA program
off to good startSubmitted by Danielle Turpin
SHOALS HIGH SCHOOLS agriculture and FFA progra
may still be in the early stages, but the students involved are
excited about the programs. Students recently conducted exp
iments to determine which type of soil plants grow best in anwhich plant grows the fastest.
The plant activity is where we are seeing what type of so
plants grow best in and we are also doing an experiment see
which plant grows the fastest.
Above, Brian and Brady work on planting seeds to determine whichtype of soil they will grow best in. Below, members of the Shoals HighSchool FFA, front row from left, are Alex, Phillip, Dylan and Dylan. Bacrow from left are Brian, Brady, Sam and Dalton. | PHOTOS SUBMITTED BYDANIELLE TURPIN
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Submitted by Jennifer Steffy
MEMBERS OF THE South KnoxFFA have been busy. The students
attended District 10 Kickoff, went to Na-
tionals in Louisville, Kentucky, compet-
ed in livestock judging and participated
in the Vincennes Christmas Parade
among other things.
The students will also be helpingwith Knox County Ag Day on March 10
at Vincennes University.
South Knox FFA activities
Right, some FFA members took partin the Livestock Judging competition.Below, South Knox FFA hosted the FFAstate officers. Bottom, members of theFFA went to the National Conventionin Louisville. | PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY
JENNIFER STEFFY
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I
By Tom Held
IT DOESNT MATTER if you are
part of the Baby Boomer Generation,
Generation X or the Millennial Gener-
ation, we all are leaving behind things
that our children
and their children
will be impacted
by the good and
bad decisions that
each of us make.
All of us would
like to think that
we are indeed leaving our world a bet-
ter place than what we had growingup, but I wonder if it is really true.
When I think back 30 years ago,
I can remember a forest on the back-
side of town that had a creek running
through it. This special place encom-
passes some of my fondest childhood
memories; escapades of frog hunting,
cowboy and Indian wars with my
friends and many adventures that I
had in the woods with my dog.
My best times were always out-
doors, enjoying our natural resources,
walking through the woods, a day on
the lake or even working on the farm.
I hope that my children and yours
have those same opportunities, but I
wonder. Most of the forestlands that
I remember as a child have now been
cleared, and most of the ponds andlakes that I fished as a child have been
filled up with sediment.
Its time that each of us really think
about our natural resources and how
we are truly influencing our soil, water,
animals, plants, and even the air we
breathe. As landowners and farmers,
we have the ability to influence our
resources like no other!
Todays farmers are more pro-
ductive, more efficient than ever. Our
farms are getting bigger, supported by
better agricultural technologies. But
are we farming in a sustainable way?
In Ethiopia, the soil has been
farmed for more than 2,000 years and
is now a desert. In our country we
have been farming our soils for just a
little more than 200 years. What will
our future generations have once we
pass on our legacy?
By focusing on the health of ou
soil, we are making a paramount
decision that impact our environm
in astonishing ways that positively
affect our water, air, plants, anima
and yes, eventually us. A forest an
a clean stream are things each of u
treasure, but it is even more impor
to leave behind a soil that is rich a
fertile. As time passes, we will disc
er that our soil resource is irreplac
able and indeed the most importa
resource of all!
So as farmers, producers, lando
ers, consumers and a society, will w
all take on the responsibility of taki
care of our soil by looking at what i
really takes to keep our soil healthySoil Health Management involves f
key conservation principles/practi
1) Disturb the Soil Less (Never Till)
Diversify Soil Biota with Plant Diver
sity, 3) Keep Living Roots Growing
Throughout the Year, and 4) Keep t
Soil Covered as Much as Possible.
If we pollute the air, water and
soil that keep us alive and well, and
destroy the biodiversity that allows
natural systems to function, no am
of money will save us. David
Suzuki
Tom Held is the district conservatio
ist for Knox County and is based in
Vincennes.
HEALTHY SOIL, HEALTHY PEOPLE
Make every acre sustainable
ENJOY THE LITTLETHINGS IN LIFE, FORONE DAY YOULL LOOKBACK AND REALIZETHEY WERE THE BIG
THINGS.Robert Brault
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