utah farm bureau countryside magazine

COUNTRYSIDERockin’ R Ranch

Transforms City SlickersFarmers Market

EtiquetteIt’s Grilling Season!

Tips for Taste & Safety

U T A H F A R M B U R E A U N E W S • S P E C I A L E D I T I O N

Vol. 62 No. 6

SUMMER 2016

A Summer of Optimism for Utah Farmers

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Vol. 62 No. 6

Summer 2016 | COUNTRYSIDE | Utah Farm Bureau News Special Edition 1

1230288, 19COLUMNS

3 FIELD NOTES The Wise Use of Natural Resources by Ron Gibson

4 BEYOND THE FENCEROWS Tide Beginning to Turn on EPA by Zippy Duvall

7 FIELD NOTES Justice Scalia’s Legacy Lives On by Randy Parker

32 ON THE EDGE OF COMMON SENSE Wanted: Cowboy by Baxter Black

DEPARTMENTS

8 SAFETY & WELLNESS Start the Fire! Grilling Safety Tips for Your Backyard Fun by A.J. Ferguson

11 UTAH FARM BUREAU 2016 PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

19 SEASONAL TIPS Welcome to Grilling Season!

24 MONEY MATTERS Zero-Percent Financing— Is It Really? by Teresa Hunsaker

27 AGENT SPOTLIGHT Tate Secrist

28 FARM BUREAU NEWS Role of Government by Sterling C. Brown

30 NUTRITION In Defense of Milk—Part 1 by Marlene Israelsen Graf

FEATURES

12 ROCKIN’ R RANCH TRANSFORMS GUESTS FROM CITY SLICKERS TO EXPERIENCED COWHANDS by Matt Hargreaves

16 BEARS EARS CONFLICT HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGES OVER PUBLIC LANDS by Matt Hargreaves

20 FARMERS MARKET ETIQUETTE by Julia Misiego

22 THE IMPACT OF NATURAL LAW by Susan Furner

CONTENTSS U M M E R 2 0 1 6

Note: For classified ads, please visit utahfarmbureau.org and click on the newsroom section.

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2 Utah Farm Bureau News Special Edition | COUNTRYSIDE | Summer 2016

Vol. 62, No. 6

(ISSN 1068-5960)

Matt Hargreaves, Editor

Business Address:9865 South State

Sandy UT 84070-3205

Contact: General Inquiries: (801) 233-3000Address Changes: (801) 233-3009Farm Bureau News: (801) 233-3003Classified Ads: (801) 233-3010Fax: (801) 233-3030

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UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION OFFICERS

Chairman and President:Ron Gibson*, West Weber

Vice President:Stephen A. Osguthorpe*, Park City

CEO and Secretary/Treasurer:Randy N. Parker, Riverton

*Denotes member of the Board of Directors

Board of Directors:District 1: John Ferry, CorinneDistrict 2: Jim Wayment, OgdenDistrict 3: Ken Patterson, SyracuseDistrict 4: Rex Larsen, Spanish ForkDistrict 5: Joël Hatch, HuntingtonDistrict 6: Edwin Sunderland, ChesterDistrict 7: Craig Laub, Beryl

Farm Bureau Women’s Chair:Belva Parr, Lindon

Young Farmer and Rancher Chair:Brett Madsen, Chester

Cover Photoby Ron Francis

Magazine Design & ProductionHales Creative, LLC

Design DirectorKelly Nield

Periodicals Postage Paid at Sandy Utah and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, 9865 South State, Sandy UT 84070-3205.

Published quarterly for all Farm Bureau members (April/Spring, July/Summer, October/Fall. December/Winter). Published expressly for farmer/rancher Farm Bureau members and others who specifically request copies. February, March, May, June, August, September and November. All eleven issues published by the Utah Farm Bureau Federation ln Sandy, Utah. Editorial and Business Office, 9865 South State, Sandy UT 84070-3205.


FIELD NOTES

that Utahns would need to significantly reduce the amount of agricultural water being converted to urban areas.

Water is a challenging issue in Utah. As the second driest state in the nation, farmers and ranchers may understand more than most the precarious nature our state is in—especially during the drought periods of recent years. But while we measure and analyze the impacts of water use in Utah, it’s important to get a full and accurate pic-ture of our state’s water resources, and the contributions of local agriculture.

The first item to consider is at the very beginning, more than 88 percent of Utah’s precipitation is returned to the natural environment and groundwater recharge without ever being touched by man. Of that remaining amount, 4.5 percent is used in agriculture and a little less than one percent is used in the traditional municipal and industrial uses most of us are familiar with.

It’s also important to remember that plants are the most efficient users of water. Of the water used in agricul-ture, approximately half is returned to the environment to recharge ground-water or be cycled again to another user. In municipal uses, none of that water is reused.

Life grows where water flows. There may be no truer statement in

agriculture, but the same applies to all segments of our free market society. With an open market, goods come and go through a system of exchanges. This applies to agriculture, where water is used to grow crops that are used both locally and around the globe. But this is true whether we are shipping alfalfa or the computer chips that many are proud to say come from Utah. Rather than vilifying the use of water, let’s rejoice in the wonderful food system that lets us get products to market around the world and enjoy a quality of life unparalleled in time.

Do we want to eliminate the open spaces afforded to us by both rural and urban agriculture? What of the air quality in the state when irrigated fields and meadows are traded for more blacktop? Are Utah’s precious, and limited growing regions to be con-verted from multi-generational family farms to marketing slogans of the latest housing development?

Instead of pinning agriculture as the scapegoat, let’s focus on what we all can do to make the wise use—not the non-use—of our resources.

“There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.” —Aldo Leopold

It was frustrating to read a recent article that focused on the impor-

tant contributions of the Great Salt Lake to population, economic growth and recreational opportunities in Utah, and yet ignored or devalued the contributions of agriculture. While all are entitled to an opinion, the article lacked the balance needed for readers to properly make conclusions regard-ing an industry that has such a rich history in our county, and that we all rely on daily.

In the article, a University of Utah professor touted the importance of the Great Salt Lake, while devaluing its contributions of local food produc-tion. Are his opinions in line with the majority of Utahns? Consider recent data from the massive Envision Utah survey regarding Utah’s future. Nearly 80 percent of those surveyed said local food production was important to them and were willing to make sacrifices to protect it.

The survey results from a cross-section of Utahns, revealed that rather than cutting off water for agriculture, Utahns want to “provide enough water for agriculture to allow farms to thrive and increase food production” and

“dramatically increase production of fruits, vegetables and dairy products in Utah.” To do this, Envision Utah found

The Wise Use of Natural ResourcesBy Ron Gibson | President, Utah Farm Bureau Federation


of dollars in consultant and legal fees. Many permit applications die on the vine—neither rejected nor denied by the Corps, but abandoned by frustrated landowners after years of delay and requests for more data. It wasn’t hard for the Justices to see the injustice and abuse in the government’s approach. Justices Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito did not mince words about the Clean Water Act, either. They warned it

“continues to raise troubling questions regarding the Government’s power to cast doubt on the full use and enjoy-ment of private property throughout the Nation.”

This isn’t news to Farm Bureau. For more than a decade, we have been battling overreach by both the Corps and the Environmental Protection Agency, which share limited jurisdic-tion under the Clean Water Act. We weighed in several years ago in the so-called SWANCC case when the Corps claimed jurisdiction over any water body (no matter how small and

isolated) where migratory birds might land. The Supreme Court said no to that scheme. EPA also tried to impose federal permitting on any livestock farm with the “potential” to discharge pollution, even if the farm never had a discharge and even though the law only regulates “discharges” to waters. Farm Bureau filed suit together with the pork industry. The court ruled against the EPA: livestock farms don’t need a federal permit to operate. But both EPA and the Corps keep trying to push the boundaries—to regulate by any means possible, no matter how they have to stretch logic and the law.

Again, Hawkes isn’t the first time EPA has been caught overstepping its bounds. Take, for example, the case of Andy Johnson, a Wyoming farmer who recently won a long battle with EPA over an environmentally friendly stock pond for cattle on his property. Besides watering Johnson’s cattle, the pond fostered wetland grasses and provided

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps

of Engineers are finally getting a much-needed check on their runaway overreach. A unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court in May means farm-ers and ranchers can take the federal government to court immediately after an agency determines it can regulate part of their property.

This ruling—United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes—is among the most important court opinions we have seen. Along with other groups, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, AFBF was proud to contribute a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the Hawkes family and the Pacific Legal Foundation.

Before this ruling, the Army Corps would tell farmers they had no right to challenge its decision that it had legal authority over what it had determined to be “navigable waters” on their land. Landowners would have to apply for a permit to work their land, or they could farm without a permit and wait for the government to sue them.

Either of the government’s approaches could bankrupt many farmers. Just applying for a permit takes months or even years, piles of technical studies and many thousands

Tide Beginning to Turn on EPABy Zippy Duvall | President, American Farm Bureau Federation

BEYOND THE FENCEROWS

The Justices warned it “continues to raise troubling questions regarding the Government’s power to cast doubt on the full use and enjoyment of private property throughout the Nation.”


again, the Army Corps of Engineers threatened fines of $37,500 a day if she didn’t comply. It defied common sense. The courts agreed and sent the EPA packing.

Farmers shouldn’t be left in limbo wondering if regulators can shut down our farms over an everyday farming activity. It shouldn’t take a Ph.D. in hydrology to determine if there’s

“navigable water” on our land. Opaque, confusing and shockingly expensive regulation by the Army Corps of

Engineers and EPA has hamstrung farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to work with and care for the land.

Hawkes, SWANCC, Johnson, and Alt—these legal battles have won real victories for private landowners across the country and for agriculture. We will continue to work through the courts and with Congress to control unlawful overreach by agencies that seem incapable of self-control.

habitat for herons and a stopping place for the local population of eagles.

Johnson had a state permit to construct the pond on his property. But the EPA later claimed that pond violated federal law. They threatened him with a daily fine of $37,500 for failure to follow their order to remove the pond. Johnson wasn’t having any of it. He and attorneys eventually wore down the EPA. The agency settled out of court and let the pond stay as it was, rather than face certain defeat.

Lois Alt, together with the Farm Bureau, also beat back the EPA. Regulators insisted she apply for a Clean Water Act permit for nothing more than the stormwater that ran off her well-tended farmyard. And

Farmers shouldn’t be left in limbo wondering if regulators can shut down our farms over an everyday farming activity.


FIELD NOTES

Constitution. Scalia boldly looked at the history and usage of a word as originally intended to ultimately acquire its meaning.

The Framers knew what they wanted for their new United States of America. They presented timeless rights and liberties in the Constitution; not only for their generation, but for their posterity. The Framers believed those elected to govern have an absolute obligation of accountability to the governed. Because of the tyranni-cal history of the English Crown, the Framers sought assurance of a limited national government coupled with independent, self-governing sovereign states. Thomas Jefferson’s warning may be even more poignant today: “When the people are afraid of the government, there is tyranny; when the government is afraid of the people, there is liberty.”

The antagonists quickly point out what the Framers wanted more than 200 years ago is not a simple thing to determine. They reference Brown vs. Board of Education 1954, which reversed the 1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson ruling that found “separate but equal” to be constitutional. SCOTUS unani-mous reversed Plessy based on the Equal Protection Clause.

Originalists point to the 2008 District of Columbia vs. Heller case

challenging citizens’ right to “bear arms” as protected by the Second Amendment. Scalia, in a 5-4 decision, pointed out that the Second Amendment was not exclusively military in meaning. History shows “the right to have arms for personal use for self-defense was regarded as one of the fundamental rights of Englishmen.” That historical view, or originalist perspective of the Second Amendment, is valuable when one considers the English Crown destroyed the people’s militia by disarming those whom it disfavored.

Noah Webster said, that “next to the Holy Bible, America’s Constitution is the most important document ever written for the benefit of mankind.” Many believe the Constitution to be divinely inspired with values and princi-ples that are timeless. The Constitution limits the powers of government to only those granted by the governed. It provides the foundation for our liberty, justice and prosperity. Could living, or liberal interpretation, ultimately erode these fundamental freedoms?

Justice Scalia said, “The Constitution that I interpret and apply is not living but dead, or as I prefer to call it, enduring. It means today not what current society, much less this court, thinks it ought to mean, but what it meant when it was adopted.”

With the untimely passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin

Scalia this last February, much atten-tion has been drawn to his legacy and the ideals of an originalist interpreta-tion of the United States Constitution. Some argue Justice Scalia did more to move the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) toward originalism than any judge of his generation.

The originalist perspective of our Constitution implies that those who make, interpret or enforce the supreme law of the land should be guided as it was originally written. Over the past century, that perspective has been eroded by the rise of the theory of our Constitution as a “living document,” without a fixed meaning and subject to interpretation and the changing times.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Scalia to the important District of Columbia Appeals Court, where most federal regulatory appeals are heard. In 1986, Reagan appointed Scalia to the Supreme Court, where he was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate—the first Italian-American Supreme Court justice.

Thanks to Scalia, originalism now dominates constitutional debate on both the political right and left. Historically, constitutional scholars looked to philosophy to interpret the

Justice Scalia’s Legacy Lives OnBy Randy Parker | CEO, Utah Farm Bureau Federation


any cooking method at very high temperatures.”

To help consumers feed confi-dent using grills and to learn the proper temperatures for cooking, the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association share these simple and safe tips:

TRIM, IF NECESSARY. Prevent fire flare-ups and excess smoke formation while grilling by trimming any excess fat from meat and poultry.

SAVOR THE FLAVOR. Marinades add flavor to meat and poultry and can tenderize less tender cuts of meat. In addition, marinades with little or no sugar may help protect meat from charring and have also been shown to reduce HCA formation.

Before cooking, remove meat from marinade and pat dry with a paper

towel to promote even browning and prevent steaming.

Sugary sauces and glazes can burn easily and cause charring. If using these types of products, baste during the last few minutes of grilling and avoiding charring.

THE HEAT IS ON . . . MEDIUM! Use medium heat while cooking to ensure less charring.

COOK THOROUGHLY. Cook food to a safe minimum internal temperature to destroy harmful bacte-ria. Meat and poultry cooked on a grill often browns very fast on the outside. Use a food thermometer to be sure the food has reached a safe minimum internal temperature.

We hope that these tips will help make your grilling experience a part of your summer fun.

Can you smell it? Have you already smelled it? Most likely by now

you have noticed the tantalizing aroma of summer grilling taking place in a backyard near you. Possibly you are the one wafting that great smell through your neighborhood, making friends wish they were having dinner at your place. Grilling can be fun, challenging, and a great opportunity for the family to get together, visit, and play.

In recent years there have been some fears about food safety when grilling. So here are some tips that will hopefully help clarify how to make grilling safe. The Cattlemen’s Beef Board and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association explain that, “Cooking protein-rich foods like meat, poultry, and fish at very high temperatures can create chemicals that some scientists hypothesize may increase cancer risk. However, the potential risks to human health are inconclusive. Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are compounds of protein that form on charred meats. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds of fat drip-pings that form when meat is cooked over open flames and produces smoke. HCA and PAH formation can occur in any protein (poultry, meat, or fish) that is charred or overcooked with

START THE FIRE!GRILLING SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR BACKYARD FUNBy A.J. Ferguson | Vice President—Farm Safety, Utah Farm Bureau Federation

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Calling all shutterbugs! It’s time once again for the annual Utah Farm

Bureau photography contest, when you or someone you know can share your best pictures with the entire Beehive State and possibly win a cash prize.

So get those fresh batteries in the camera and get your artistic eye ready for a great season of picture taking! As always, rural settings and rural lifestyles are the preferred themes for all submissions, and contestants are limited to one winning entry.

As in years past, we’ll have three categories, but with a few wrinkles. Utah Farm Bureau’s panel of judges will select the winners of two catego-ries: “Kids in the Country” and “100 Years of Farming & Ranching.”

“Kids in the Country” is for photos involving youth, children, or families.

“100 Years of Farming” will cel-ebrate the Utah Farm Bureau’s 100th

UTAH FARM BUREAU 2016 PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

PHOTO CONTEST

anniversary. This category will include modern or historical photos showcas-ing the work of producing food and fiber in Utah.

A third, new category, will be “Iconic Agricultural Scenes of Utah.” This will include iconic photos of the best-known landscapes or buildings that could be considered “the” image of Utah agriculture. The winner of this category will be decided by a fan vote online. Readers may vote for the most iconic image of Utah agriculture from a group of 5 finalists, as chosen by the Utah Farm Bureau panel of judges. The finalists will be announced in the October magazine, and fan voting will take place on our Facebook page, facebook.com/UtahFarmBureau. Voting will begin October 1, 2016. Winners will be announced in the December 2016 Countryside magazine.

DETAILS & INSTRUCTIONSAre you ready to submit your photos? This year’s deadline is September 1, 2016, and is limited to Utah Farm Bureau members and their immediate families. Photography contest rules:

1. Digital entries should be e-mailed to [email protected]. For publication purposes, photos must be at least 1021µ768 pixels or higher.

2. Print entries may be mailed to: Utah Farm Bureau Attn: Matt Hargreaves/Photo Contest 9865 S. State Street, Sandy, UT 84070

A stamped, self-addressed envelope needs to accompany your print photo entry if you want your photograph returned.

3. Include a brief description regarding the entry, plus the par-ticipant’s name, address, telephone number and valid Utah Farm Bureau membership number.

Prize winners agree to hold harmless and release Utah Farm Bureau Federation (UFBF) staff, officers, and affiliated entities from loss, claim, injury, damage or expense. UFBF may, without offering any consideration to or obtaining permission of its submitter, use any such photograph for any purpose, such as publishing it in Countryside magazine, Utah Farm Bureau News, use on UFBF’s website, or reproducing it for other UFBF use.

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ROCKIN’ R RANCH TRANSFORMS GUESTS FROM CITY SLICKERS TO EXPERIENCED COWHANDSBy Matt Hargreaves | Editor, Utah Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine


Picture this marketing for your upcoming vacation plans— no cell phone coverage, little use of electronics, dust, aches

and sore muscles, daily chores, and hard work. Interested? What, not rushing to book your reservations now?

You could also add incredible bonding opportunities, plenty of sunshine, fresh air, and country-style cooking. Oh, and time travel . . . well, kind of. For families, corporate teams, and adventure seekers, booking a stay at the Rockin’ R Ranch in Antimony, Utah, is like taking a trip back in time to the cattle drive days of the mid-1800s, only with a few more modern-day comforts.

“There aren’t a lot of distractions here. It’s a lot different than the electronic, city life many of our guests come from,” said Camille Ovard, director of sales & reservations for the Rockin’ R Ranch. “People come because they want a real vacation. They want the horses and other activities. It’s a great opportunity for families to come and do activities together, not separated off by age group, and it’s why we’ve been successful over the years.”

But the Rockin’ R isn’t a made-for-TV tourist attraction; rather, it got its start as a traditional cattle ranch for Burns Black and his family. The food grown and raised on the ranch helped the family through the difficult years of the Great Depression, and helped provide for Burns’ family after he married his wife, Mona.

A GOOD IDEA THAT KEPT ON GROWINGThrough the years of working on the ranch, Burns had a love of the lifestyle and learned the values of hard work, optimism, honesty, perseverance, and trust. He felt strongly that others could benefit from these principles as well, and sought a way to influence young boys and girls. This came to be in 1971 when Burns and two friends opened the Rockin’ R Ranch as a boys’ and girls’ summer camp.

The Rockin’ R continued as a summer camp for about a decade, until Burns bought out his two partners. In 1985, Burns and his family decided to build a lodge on the property and expand its market to youth groups and family reunions. The family built the facility themselves by bringing in a sawmill from nearby Escalante and using local mountain timber. With the help of his four sons, Burns and the family built a three-story lodge that had 18 private guest rooms, two bunkrooms, a gathering place, kitchen, and dining facilities. Only three years later, the lodge was expanded again to include a large recreation room, conference room, guest rooms, and more.

Even with this expansion, the lodge was constantly busy during the summer months. This was due in part to the authentic nature of the experience offered at the lodge, but also because of the beneficial proximity to popular


recreation areas and Bryce Canyon National Park. The popularity of the national parks for international visitors prompted the Black family to expand the lodge yet again in 1995, converting the bunkrooms into 12 additional private rooms. They also added a game room, gift shop, laundry room, and other amenities.

“We really started marketing to European clients, and we got a lot more visitors from Germany and Great Britain, as well as France and Belgium,” Ovard said. “Many of the Europeans have a fascination with the ‘Old West,’ so we’re a good fit. We bring in a lot of couples, families, and groups from overseas.”

THE IMPACT OF ICELAND ON GARFIELD COUNTYOperating the guest lodge has been a good way for the family to share the family’s core values of hard work and country life, but it has also been a good way to spread out financial risk and diversify the family business.

“It’s hard to make a living in rural Utah with just one [business idea],” Ovard said. “Sometimes each end of the business supplemented the other. Some years, the cattle business was good and propped up the lodge. Other years, it was the opposite.”

The business continues to be a family affair, with various siblings handling different parts of the business. Ovard focuses most of her time in marketing, reservations, and sales for the lodge, while her brother Creston Black manages the cattle and farm operation, and oversees the cattle drives offered to guests four times a year. Another brother, Lance Black, manages the website and internet marketing. The Black family brought in Brandon and Brandi Hanks in 2009 to manage all the guest operations at the ranch.

Ovard mentioned the variety of economic forces that have an impact on the lodging business, which can be common in the tourism industry, including recent economic downturns and a high U.S. dollar.

“We even had an impact from when the volcano erupted in Iceland back in 2010, because of the flights from Europe that had to be cancelled,” Ovard said.

AN AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCEThe Rockin’ R has also been a hit for television programs and media personalities seeking to leave the glitz and glamour in search of authentic experiences. Over the years, the ranch has hosted the likes of ‘Ross the Intern’ on Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show and the Roloff Family of TLC television’s Little People, Big World, as well as media visits from PBS, the Chicago Tribune, and BYUtv’s The Food Nanny.

While the Ranch has benefitted from the attention of media personalities and large tour groups, some of its great-est success stories have come from individual families and the experiences they’ve had.

“It is great to see families come to the ranch, and watch on the first day as people try to see where they can get the best cell phone signal. On the second day, they end up putting their devices away and just enjoy their time,” Ovard said.

“We had one family come and love their experience so much, that they ended up selling their home in California and moved to Antimony permanently!”

In addition to the great location and accommodations, the Rockin’ R provides all sorts of activities for their guests, including trail riding, rodeos, canoeing, river tubing, line dancing, cattle roping, hiking, and more. For the less adventurous, downtime can be enjoyed just reading a book or enjoying the carefree environment.

Looking to engage more and leave your “city slicker” experiences behind? The Rockin’ R also provides opportu-nities to participate in 3–4 day cattle drive adventures, as guests help the staff move cattle from Johns Valley to Griffin Top on the Boulder Mountain.

The ranch also provides more extensive for guests to participate in. For youth who want to get into the day-to-day activities of working on a ranch, they can participate in a weeklong Cowboy Camp, learning the basics of trail riding, roping, irrigating, corral repair, and more. Want to invest even further? Young adults ages 18–25 can enroll in the ranch’s Cowboy College, which aims to teach skills needed for success in any field of work through principles learned on the ranch.

Whether you’re looking for just a little downtime away from the noises of the city, want a family bonding experience, or want to live a childhood dream of being a cowboy, the Rockin’ R Ranch and their staff are ready to deliver. Though advanced planning is best for large groups wanting to come to the ranch, Ovard said there is often space for smaller families to come at the spur of the moment if they call ahead for reservations. For more information on the ranch and its activities, visit rockinrranch.com or call 801-382-8840.

“We had one family come and love their experience so much, that they ended up selling their home moving back here permanently!”

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BEARS EARS CONFLICT

HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGES OVER

PUBLIC LANDSBy Matt Hargreaves | Editor, Utah Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine


Much has been written and said about the escalating tensions regarding public land issues in Utah and

much of the West. Some of the frustrations stem from the inability for local government officials—including at the local, county, and state levels—to have input into how lands are managed.

The issue has come to the forefront again amid discus-sion of a potential Bears Ears National Monument. The possible monument would include 1.9 million acres—roughly 40 percent of San Juan County in southeastern Utah. The area contains several sites that carry spiritual and cultural significance for Native American tribes in the region.

While the land is already public land managed by a variety of agencies, the creation of a monument would place further land use restrictions.

San Juan County Farm Bureau member Kenny Black is a rancher grazing permits in the Bears Ears area. Black shared that his ranching business could be impacted by a proposed monument, including restrictions on when and where his cattle could graze and improvements Black would like to make to the land. He’s already faced restrictions on grazing, and he’s unsure how further limitations will enable him to continue in the area.

Utah Farm Bureau is concerned about the impact designat-ing a monument would have on ranchers in San Juan County.

“We support a recently passed resolution from the Utah Legislature reiterating the longtime position of the State of Utah, which is for the State to protect, preserve, and maintain health, access, and productivity of our lands,” said Sterling Brown, Vice President of Public Policy for the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. “The Farm Bureau supports

congressional review and evaluation to determine the neces-sity of all national monument designations. We also support amending the federal Antiquities Act to require legislative approval of any state that houses a proposed national park or monument.”

There is also concern the traditional practices of local Native Americans may not be guaranteed, despite petitioning the federal government to do so. Readers need only remem-ber that grazing has often been guaranteed to remain on public land during presidential proclamations, and yet ranch-ers have frequently been met with reductions and limitations.

The impacts related to the land use could be challenging enough—both for ranchers who graze livestock in the area, recreators, and for local Native Americans—but the process by which this monument is being considered could set a dangerous precedent for the future.

Many Utahns remember the creation of Utah’s Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument—which President Bill Clinton designated from the rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona—as an affront to local input on public land issues. At issue with a potential Bears Ears monument is that none of the elected officials at the local, County, State level sup-port the creation of the monument—nor do any of Utah’s Congressional delegation.

The Utah legislature met in May, during a Special Legislative Session called by Utah Governor Gary Herbert, and approved a concurrent resolution opposing a potential Bears Ears monument. In his letter to the legislature, Utah Governor Gary Herbert expressed his view on the monument.

“It is absolutely irresponsible for the Obama Administration to consider a new national monument that is over two and a


half times the size of Rhode Island without input from Utahns from across the state who will be significantly impacted by this decision,” Gov. Herbert said. “As governor of the State of Utah, I have stated repeatedly that I oppose such a declaration.”

Cabinet members from the Obama Administration have told Gov. Herbert that no national monument will be desig-nated in Utah without an open, public process occurring first.

“I call on President Obama to adhere to the commitments made by his staff and engage directly with Utah’s elected officials and the general public on any proposed national monument in the state of Utah,” Gov. Herbert said.

The Utah Congressional delegation also sent a letter to President Barack Obama on the possibility of a monument designation.

“Federal land-use policy has a major impact on the lives of those residing within and near federal lands. We believe the wisest land-use decisions are made with community involve-ment and local support. This principle is true whether skyscrapers or sagebrush surround the community.

“Use of the Antiquities Act will be met with fierce local opposition and will further polarize federal land-use discus-sions for years, if not decades.

“Make no mistake, both the State of Utah and San Juan County value our public lands. With that said, public par-ticipation in land-use decisions is critical to their long-term acceptance and success; the most effective land management policy is inclusive and engaging, not veiled and unilateral,” read portions of the letter.

In remarks made in a committee hearing with the White House, Congressman Rob Bishop expressed his concern with how a monument designation would be viewed.

“In every national monument, you’ve at least had someone in the local delegation dumb enough to support it. If you are doing something in Bears Ears—I want to be very clear—there is no one in the Utah delegation in the Senate or the house that supports it,” Bishop said. “There is no one in the Governor’s administration that supports it. You can’t find a state legislator in that area who supports it. You can’t even find a commis-sioner who supports it. Even though the only elected Navajo we have in the state—on the state or county level—is in that particular county, she is opposed to it. The Chapters in that area are opposed to it. . . . You don’t have that local support.”

Bishop and Representative Jason Chaffetz released their Public Lands Initiative (PLI) earlier this year as a comprehen-sive way of conserving sensitive lands worthy of protection, and yet allowing greater flexibility for local land uses.

“The Utah delegation’s proposed Bears Ears National Conservation Area ensures that cultural and historical sites receive the protection they deserve while also safeguarding active-uses, such as livestock grazing,” said Fred Ferguson, Chief of Staff for Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT). “This proposal has been developed through an exhaustive, locally driven public process. The entire Utah Congressional delega-tion, Governor of Utah, and the San Juan County Commission, including Navajo Commissioner Rebecca Benally, oppose the creation of a national monument. President Obama should listen to Utahns, take the Antiquities Act off the table, and work in good-faith with the Utah delegation in advancing the Public Lands Initiative through Congress.”

San Juan County Commissioner Rebecca Benally, has expressed her concern in the media that those Native Americans supporting the monument are not those who will have to live with the repercussions.

In an interview with the Deseret News, Benally expressed her concern that members of Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition who’ve advocated for the monument don’t live in the area. Of those that do, they are more in favor of the National Conservation Area that San Juan County put together, in Rep. Bishop’s Public Lands Initiative.

“Whatever the decision may be, the coalition are not the ones who have to live here on a day-to-day basis. We are the ones who have to live with whatever the decision is,” Commissioner Benally said.

Some polls have shown a majority of Native Americans and others in favor of the designation, while others have shown a large majority opposing it.

“It’s hard to really know who’s in favor of what,” rancher Kenny Black said. “It has been hard to sift through all the information—and misinformation—being sent out about the potential monument.”

Without exact details on a potential monument, only time will tell if one is designated prior to President Obama leaving office. Farm Bureau members are encouraged to contact their congressional delegation to express their feel-ings on the issue.

“I call on President Obama to adhere to the commitments made by his staff and engage directly with Utah’s elected officials and the general public on any proposed national monument in the state of Utah.”


and tenderloin— usually cost more per pound, but you can also find tender steaks that are a good choice for family meals such as ranch (shoulder center), top sirloin, flat iron (shoulder top blade), chuck eye, and round tip.

PORKModern-day production has reduced pork’s fat content, with many cuts of pork as lean as or leaner than chicken. Spare ribs come from the belly of the hog and are the least meaty variety of ribs, but are known for their delicious, full flavor. Spare ribs are typically larger and heavier than back ribs. Country-style ribs are cut from the sir-loin or rib end of the pork loin. These are the meatiest variety of ribs. You can cook these wet or dry, applying rubs or sauces. When cooking pork, insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the cut, and it should reach at least 145º Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest time.

LAMBThe rack is where you’ll find rib roasts and rib chops, perfect for grilling. The loins are where you’ll find your loin chops. The shoulder has a blade chop and arm chop good for grilling. The foreshank & breast have riblets, spare-ribs, and cubed lamb used for kabobs. Lastly, the leg is where you’ll find sirloin chops. Tender cuts of lamb, like the rack, loin, and some parts of the leg are best done with dry heat methods, like grilling. Lamb should be cooked with a meat thermometer; 145º for medium-rare, 160º for medium, and 170º for well done. Lamb should stand about 5–10 minutes before slicing, but keep in mind that temperatures will continue to rise upon standing.

RECIPESFor recipes and additional information, visit www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com, www.porkbeinspired.com, or www.americanlamb.com.

Summertime in America is a time of family gatherings, celebrations, and

hosting parties. Often, these meetings take place outdoors and they often involve food—particularly grilling. Here are a few tips and suggestions to help you at the local butcher shop or grocery store as you select some of America’s fine meats. Enjoy!

BEEFThe USDA grades beef at three levels: Prime, Choice, and Select. Prime is the highest quality meet you can get and is most expensive. It is graded by having 11% of more intramuscular fat or “marbling.” Choice beef has similar guidelines to Prime, but lower fat content (4–8%). Select grade is the most common meat on the grocery store shelves. The fat content is the lowest (2–4%). This is quite accept-able for ground beef and cube steak. Premium steaks—such as strip (top loin), T-Bone, porterhouse, ribeye, rib,

WELCOME TO GRILLING SEASON!

SEASONAL TIPS


• If you’re going to sample fruit, only sample it in front of your spot. Sometimes people think the fruit is from the vendor you’re in front of when it’s from somewhere else.

CUSTOMERS• We understand a stroll through the farmers market on

a Saturday morning wouldn’t be the same without your furry friend by your side. However, if you choose to bring your dog to the market you are responsible for his actions. Please keep all pets on a tight leash, and do not allow them to do “business” on tents, low-laying produce, tables, etc.

“Unless you plan on buying it, please don’t let your pet eat or inspect the produce,” McMullin said. “We also ask that you not let your animal take care of its business on our produce.”

• Bring cash and your own bags. Most vendors don’t accept credit/debit cards, and many don’t provide bags.

• Barter responsibly. Usually farmers are willing to make a deal if you’re buying in bulk. But be courteous and respect-ful of their small margins, need to make a living, and the effort that went into growing the produce.

There are many advantages to shopping at a farmers market. You can build relationships with the men and

women who grow your food, and support locally grown food. But with farmers market season right around the corner, here is a brush-up on some basic farmers market etiquette:

VENDORS• Please be conscious of space limitations of your booth at

the market. Oftentimes thruways need to be kept open for vehicles and/or people. It is best to stay within the marked areas of your allotted booth.

• Be courteous of other vendors. Refrain from talking badly about other vendors and/or discouraging customers from buying from them. If you know another vendor is break-ing a rule or acting unfairly feel free to report them to the market manager.

• “Just use the Golden Rule,” said Matt McMullin, of McMullin Orchards. “Treat others like you want to be treated.”

• Send informed employees. Make sure all employees know the market rules, and where their booth space is located. Also, if you are a vendor that accepts returns/exchanges/special discounts, please be sure to inform all your employees.

FARMERS MARKET ETIQUETTE By Julia Misiego | Director of Member Services, Utah Farm Bureau Federation


“We are willing to barter if you buy a large quantity,” said Cari Tagge owner of Tagge’s Famous Fruit & Veggie Farms. “But if you buy a little amount we appreciate if you pay what we have priced.”

Vendors spend time and effort pricing their produce, they don’t price at random.

“We want it to be competitive with the stores,” Tagge said. “Sometimes we charge more because the produce might have been picked that same day so it’s fresher or better quality. We also consider supply and demand of the market.”

McMullin also said that loyalty goes a long way when it comes to bartering.

“If you are a consistent buyer and come to me every week you’re more likely to get a deal,” McMullin said.

This basic etiquette will make your experience at the market more enjoy-able this season. So get out there this summer and happy shopping!

The Utah Farm Bureau manages two farmers markets—in South Jordan and Murray. There are also dozens of additional markets throughout the state. For a good listing of markets in your area, visit UtahsOwn.org/Markets.

Usually farmers are willing to make a deal if you’re buying in bulk. But be courteous and respectful of their small margins, need to make a living, and the effort that went into growing the produce.


If water runs downhill and into the ocean, why isn’t the land dry and barren? The simplistic answer is that almost all air has moisture in it. Water in streams, lakes, and seas is constantly evaporating. When air is chilled water vapor condenses or changes back to water. The water vapor is moved over the earth by winds. When it strikes a cold current of air it condenses into clouds and forms rain or snow. The water from the ocean is returned to the land making it possible for plants and animals to grow and thrive.

There are natural laws that rule the earth and make it a pleasant environ-ment in which to live and grow, but natural laws also have consequences. Farmers understand there is a prime time to plant, and specific soil condi-tions and water requirements that are needed in order for a crop to thrive. If

those natural laws are disregarded and a crop is planted too late or not given enough water, the natural consequence is a poor yield or maybe even a crop failure. Consequences of breaking natural laws are fixed and predictable.

Cicero, the great Roman philoso-pher, defines natural law as “true law.” Said he, “True law is right reason in agreement with nature; it is of universal application, unchanging and everlasting; it summons to duty by its commands, and averts from wrongdoing by its prohibitions. . . . It is a sin to try to alter this law, nor is it allowable to repeal any part of it, and it is impossible to abolish it entirely. We cannot be freed from its obligations by senate or people, and we need not look outside ourselves for an expounder or interpreter of it. And there will not be different laws at Rome and at Athens,

I’ve always been a person that loves things that are constant—things I

can count on. Somehow it brings me a feeling of safety and comfort. Those things that remain constant follow natural law. One of the meanings of natural law is, “a sequence of events in nature or in human activities that occurs with unvarying uniformity under the same conditions.”1 Here is an example: fresh water will always turn to ice when it reaches 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Natural laws are fixed and dependable, working with no deviation.

Can you imagine a world where natural law was not fixed and depend-able? What would it be like if some days were 24 hours and some days were eight hours? What if the sun came up some days and not others? What if spring didn’t follow winter?

THE IMPACT OF NATURAL LAW By Susan Furner | Director of Administrative Services, Utah Farm Bureau Federation


or different laws now and in the future, but one eternal and unchangeable law will be valid for all nations and all times, and there will be one master and ruler, that is God, over us all, for he is the author of this law, its promulgator, and its enforcing judge.”2

None of us can create or modify natural law, but rather learn or discover the natural laws that operate in any specific field and work within those laws to make advancements.

Cicero believed that “the building of a society on principles of Natural Law was nothing more or less than recognizing and identifying the rules of ‘right conduct’ with the laws of the Supreme Creator of the universe.”3

It is this same law that America’s Founding Fathers referred to in The Declaration of Independence as The Law of Nature or of Nature’s God—a code of conduct given by God himself.

Henry Ward Beecher said: “There is no liberty to men who know not how to govern themselves.”4 Between 1775 and 1776 there were great discussions among the 13 colonies as to whether the people were ready to govern them-selves. Were they sufficiently virtuous? Virtue is conforming one’s life and conduct to moral and ethical principles and living with uprightness, goodness and righteousness.5

Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Only a virtuous people are capable of free-dom.”6 And that thought was echoed by Samuel Adams who said, “Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are univer-sally corrupt. He therefore is the truest

friend of the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue.”7

Principles of liberty found in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights are based in reliable Law of Nature. It was declared on July 4, 1776, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

The Constitution provides that only limited and carefully defined powers should be delegated to the government, all others should be retained by the people. The First Amendment states:

“Congress shall make no law respect-ing an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of griev-ances.” The Ninth Amendment in the Bill of Rights states, “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or dis-parage others retained by the people.” The Founding Fathers had a vision for this country and her people based in the truth of ever-constant laws.

Sometimes we take for granted what amazing laws are operating for our benefit. Natural laws are an expression of God’s love for us.

Time has proven the law of Nature’s God—true law. It is what helped trans-form those 13 fledgling colonies into a nation that became a beacon of free-dom and liberties, wealth and power. What can we expect if we abandon the law and forget our Creator?

Laws are fixed and dependable. We can expect that as we remember we are one nation under God and work within His laws, America remains, as Stephen M. McLean writes, “a nation with a boundless capacity for renewal.”8

1. yourdictionary.com

2. Quoted in Ebenstein, Great Political

Thinkers, p. 133.

3. Cicero’s Fundamental Principles, The 5000

Year Leap, Cleon Skousen, pg. 39

4. Quoted in “Seven Principles of Liberty” by

J. David Gowdy, 1996.

5. dictionary.com





8. “Lincoln and a Wartime Thanksgiving,”

Stephen M. McLean, The Wall Street

Journal, Nov. 26, 2014

Cicero believed that “the building of a society on principles of Natural Law was nothing more or less than recognizing and identifying the rules of ‘right conduct’ with the laws of the Supreme Creator of the universe.”


5. Some merchants require you to put the zero-percent item on your credit card.

6. Zero-percent financing may have ‘other’ fees. The point of a business is to make money, but because zero-percent financing offers no profit, companies may add fees. Annual fees can make the cheapest loan rate the most expensive in the long run. Also, some zero-percent offers have penalties for early repayment, which can even include retroactive interest or additional charges. (Source: Money Instructor)

7. Be aware of the credit limit. Some financers offer a credit limit just above the loan amount. Should you exceed this limit by even a penny, the credi-tor could renege on their agreement, which opens the door to increased interest rates.

8. Know the ramifications if you miss payments or are late on the last payment. In this case, you may be required to pay interest on the entire loan amount. This is true even if you have paid a significant portion of the loan. If you purchase new $5,000 carpeting with zero-percent interest/zero payments for a year, you could be strapped with accrued interest for the entire year on the full balance, even if you had paid back $4,999 of it! (Source: Money Instructor)

Before taking on any loan, especially a zero-percent loan, double-check details. Ask questions, read all docu-ments prior to signing, and be sure your budget can handle new debt.

While zero-percent financing may be a great way for businesses to

draw customers, many folks (about 90 percent) will not qualify. There may also be hidden fees, shorter terms of repayment or inflated pricing.

What is zero-percent financing? It is 100-percent financing with no interest for the term of the loan, if fully paid before the term ends. This is often used on furniture, cars, electronics, etc. Although it may be an option for some, consider these things before you sign:

1. Zero-percent loans are usually shorter term—usually from 24 to 36 months, so payments are higher. Consider carefully whether this works for your budget. Some promotions may require a down payment.

2. Most zero-percent financing loans require a flawless credit history. This may mean a credit score of at least 750 FICO. (Source: Experian)

3. Zero-percent financing may only apply to certain makes and models. Check before heading out to shop.

4. Know the standard pricing. Sometimes the purchase price is higher for products receiving zero-percent financing. This may mean there isn’t room for price negotiation.

Zero-Percent Financing—Is It Really?By Teresa Hunsaker, | Utah State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Educator

$MONEY MATTERS


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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A FARM BUREAU AGENT? HOW DID YOU BEGIN YOUR CAREER WITH FB? WHERE IS YOUR AGENCY LOCATED? I began my career with Farm Bureau in 2006 as a sales associate in Logan. I was attending Utah State University and was looking for something new when I found Farm Bureau at a career fair. I had always had an interest in the financial world and after interviewing with many different companies and much soul searching, Farm Bureau was the best fit for me. I started selling only auto, home, and business insurance and fell in love with the people and experience I was having. I continued as a sales associate as it took me through the rest of my time at Utah State where I graduated with a degree in manage-ment & human resources.

After graduation in 2009, I started my own agency and have never looked back. We have two locations: our main office in Layton, and our second in North Ogden.

TELL US ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.I met and married my wife of seven years while attending Utah State University. This was the single best deci-sion I have ever made, the second being our decision to have our children. We have been blessed with three children. They bring us so much joy and keep us really busy! We are a very active family,

and love most things outdoors. We enjoy camping, boating, sports, and gardening.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION?I have always supported the Utah Farm Bureau Federation and enjoy my association on a County and State level. I am an advocate of agriculture, with my heritage and roots tied to all things agriculture. My engagement with the County Farm Bureau has brought much joy and satisfaction as we work on the needs of agriculture throughout Utah. My goal is focused on bringing the Federation and Insurance side of the organization closer as we share a common goal of making agriculture more widely known.

HOW IS YOUR AGENCY DIFFERENT FROM THE COMPETITORS?I feel we are very different. Yes, we offer the same product, but my agency and Farm Bureau take a very different approach when it comes to protecting livelihoods and futures. We simply care more about the needs of our members! My staff and I work very hard every day fulfilling promises made on our clients’ behalf. Not only can we provide exceptional service, but Farm Bureau also covers more. We manage everyday risk by helping people avoid the two biggest financial mistakes.

WHAT SETS OUR FARM BUREAU PRODUCTS APART FROM THE COMPETITION?I will highlight a couple of my favorite examples of our products that set us apart from the competition:

One Policy, One Deductible. For example, we have strong winds each year. It is common that there will be multiple buildings/vehicles damaged in the same occurrence for an indi-vidual. With Farm Bureau, you pay one deductible for multiple items damaged. This is simply unheard of in the insur-ance world.

The next coverage that sets us apart is our New Car Replacement. If your car is 5 years old or newer you can add this to your policy. If your car is totaled, we will put you in a brand new car off the lot. It doesn’t matter how many miles your car has on it. I have seen this bless many families’ lives.

WHAT ELSE WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS?I would like to express how grateful I am to be part of the Farm Bureau Family. Farm Bureau has blessed my family’s life in so many ways. I appreci-ate the core roots of Farm Bureau and what we stand for, and am fortunate to represent a company with products that are second to none. I look forward to many more years with Farm Bureau.

FARM BUREAU FINANCIAL SERVICES AGENT SPOTLIGHT:

TATE SECRIST

AGENT SPOTLIGHT


government ownership. Why? Because when economic forces are unfettered, supply and demand determine the prices of goods and services. Such a system is called a market economy. A socialist economy, in contrast, is characterized by more government ownership and central planning. Farm Bureau believes a socialist economy is inherently less efficient because government, which relies on tax revenues, is far less likely than private businesses to heed price signals or to feel the discipline imposed by market forces. Farm Bureau believes in the American capitalistic, private, competi-tive enterprise system.

Government runs in ways that are intellectually and instinctually different from private enterprises. The core difference is embodied in one word: profit. Profit is not the motive of government (nor should it be). Equally

as important, profit is the primary focus of private enterprise (as it should be). Furthermore, the rules that govern the two different modes of enterprise are logically different.

Government derives its revenue from taxes and has no right to spend more of those revenues than is essential for the well-being of its con-stituents. On the other hand, capitalism is charged with providing the favorable returns on the capital it raises from its owners. Without a profit-based economy, capitalism turns into social-ism. Socialism has a miserable record of providing economic growth and prosperity.

While campaigning for his stimulus bill in 2009, Mr. Obama said his goal was to “create three million new jobs, more than 80 percent of them in the private sector.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) replied,

Election cycles, particularly state and national election cycles, elicit

personal introspection and public awareness as to the role of government. Government has a place, a purpose, and a role. This role can become blurred and unclear as Baby Boomers yield to Generations X, Y, and Z.

Is it government’s obligation to provide services, or to see that they are provided?

For example, is it government’s role to provide education, or to ensure education is provided? What about transportation? Should government provide transportation (bus, mass transit, taxi) or strive to create ways for the private sector to provide this service? Examples continue as we explore homeless services, medical or emergency care, and corrections. The goal or role for government, some would argue, isn’t to provide bus service but to ensure mobility for residents. It’s not to run schools, but to provide education.

Farm Bureau believes that an economy characterized by private ownership is likely to operate more efficiently than one with substantial

ROLE OF GOVERNMENTSterling C. Brown | Vice President—Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau Federation

FARM BUREAU NEWS

Farm Bureau believes that an economy characterized by private ownership is likely to operate more efficiently than one with substantial government ownership.


“Well, do we really want to create 20 percent of the jobs in the public sector? That would be 600,000 new govern-ment jobs. That’s about the size of the post office work force.”

So, how does government see that services are provided and not provide the service?

Perhaps a starting place is for government to consider if there are private or nonprofit providers that could extend their service if govern-ment would reduce market barriers. After all, government, in an effort to be all things to all people, cannot provide the basic services fundamental to its core mission. Above all, government is spread too thin, attempting to carry out activities best left to private enterprise.

Stephen Goldsmith, past Mayor of Indianapolis and Deputy Mayor of Operations for New York City recites an experience while serving with

Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City. He states, “Shortly after I began my work in New York City as deputy mayor, fiscal shortfalls forced painful cuts to bus services. The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) discontinued some routes, leaving struggling New Yorkers facing longer and more difficult commutes.

“In a creative response, Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed better utilization of privately operated commuter vans. In many cases, these van services had been pushed to the margins by legislation added over the years to preserve the MTA’s ‘franchise.’ But with the MTA having to back out of these routes, it only makes sense to allow private operators a shot at providing the needed services.”

Think of the private business owner who owns and manages a family farm. He or she flourishes

as they exercise independence and creativity. The farm or ranch advances to the next generation with limited government regulations. The American agriculture industry feeds and clothes its citizens and many others with a strong, anchored, and vibrant market economy. The role of government isn’t to provide our safe, abundant, and affordable food. Rather, the role of government is to ensure today’s family farmer can prepare, plant, cultivate, care, feed, harvest, and rest his fields and livestock in a manner that fosters independence, creativity, deregulation and freedom.

While writing to James Madison, George Washington said, “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”

The role of government is to create, instill and advance liberty.


so many consumers are eliminating cow’s milk and dairy products from their diet because of false information and sensational claims they read about. In defense of milk, I’d like to present some things to consider in a 3-part series. In this first article, I’ll focus on milk quality and safety. In a second article, I’ll talk more about the current recommendations and nutritional ben-efits of milk. A third article will focus on dairy products versus non-dairy milk alternatives.

SAFETY AND QUALITYMilk is one of the most regulated foods you’ll find at a grocery store. Standards set by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) require that all milk be carefully tested for antibiotics, bacteria, and foreign objects. Antibiotics are admin-istered only when necessary for the health of the animal. Milk produced by cattle that are being treated with antibiotics is held out and never enters our milk supply. Even after antibi-otic treatment, dairy farmers must continue to hold that milk out for a designated period of time. This ensures

that a drug is completely cleared from a cow’s system.

A recent study conducted by the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine collected milk samples from 2,000 dairy farms across the country. The samples were tested for residues of 31 different drugs, including all antibiot-ics used on U.S. dairies. The results showed that 99 percent of farms are in full compliance with the industry’s existing regulations. Keep in mind that samples of milk are always collected and tested before leaving a farm. Milk is tested again once it reaches a milk plant. Any milk that tests positive is thrown out and never reaches consumers.

There seems to be a lot of concern about hormones in milk. All milk from mammals (even human breast milk) has small amounts of naturally occur-ring hormones. This is not dangerous and does not have a negative impact on human health. The natural hormones in cow’s milk are species-specific (only affect cattle) and are typically protein-based. This means that they are dismantled into individual amino acid units when we digest them. While

I’m often asked about milk and dairy products—what I think about them,

if they’re safe, if they should really be included in the Dietary Guidelines, and if non-dairy alternatives are healthier or more sustainable. Maybe I should start with a disclaimer. I like milk—cow’s milk, that is. Maybe that’s because I grew up on a farm and spent so much time feeding calves, milking cows, riding horses, and hauling hay. Maybe it’s because I was involved in so many 4-H and FFA events that taught me about the dairy industry and the farm-to-table process. Maybe it’s because I still know and associate with many of the hard-working dairymen (and women) in Utah. Some people feel that my background makes me biased. Others believe that it makes me credible. Either way, when I talk about milk, it comes from a place of practical experience and formal education as a registered dietitian.

I realize that some people can’t tolerate dairy products because of a milk allergy. I also understand that certain medical conditions may limit dairy consumption or require modifica-tions. What I don’t understand is why

IN DEFENSE OF MILK (PART 1) By Marlene Israelsen Graf, MS, RD, CD | Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences, Utah State University

NUTRITION


it’s true that farmers have the option of using rBST (a synthetic form of bovine growth hormone) to increase milk production, most choose not to. This is typically a consumer demand issue and not a health or safety issue. The FDA has confirmed that rBST is safe and has no effect on humans. It does not cause obesity or early puberty, either. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Animal Science noted that after 20 years of use, no health concerns about supplemental hormone use have been proven.

Organic milk is also safe but not any safer than conventional milk. It is tested for antibiotics and contains the same naturally occurring hormones that conventional milk does. The nutrient profile and caloric content of conventional and organic milk is the same. The difference is the on-farm practices that determine if milk can be labeled as organic.

Some people continue to believe that pasteurization is unnecessary or harmful and that raw (unpasteurized) milk is a safe and healthier alternative. This is not true. During pasteurization,

chilled milk is heated to kill harmful bacteria and then quickly cooled back down to its original temperature. The heat from heated pasteurized milk warms the next batch of cold raw milk and cold milk is then used to cool the heated pasteurized milk—an efficient method that definitely saves energy. Vitamin C is the only nutrient that doesn’t survive the pasteurization process (but milk isn’t considered a good source of vitamin C anyway). The notion that raw milk is a source of ben-eficial bacteria like probiotics is also false. The reality is that raw milk can harbor dangerous micro-organisms like Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. These pathogens pose serious health risks and should be avoided as much as possible.

To be fair, I should mention that the sale of raw milk is legal in the State of Utah. It is also true that many dairy-men and their families consume raw milk that they produce and don’t seem to get sick. I agree that it’s possible for some people to develop a tolerance for raw milk and build up immunity to the pathogens that it contains. However, it

is hard to justify the risk in a general population.

The Foodsafety.gov website provides some great information on this subject and is worth looking at. It also mentions that pasteurizing milk does not reduce its nutritional value or cause lactose intolerance or allergic reactions. Also, pasteurized milk is not sterile—meaning that it’s perishable. It is not safe to leave milk out of the refrigerator for an extended period of time, especially after it has been opened. There are some milk plants (like Gossner Foods in Logan, Utah) that make shelf-stable milk that doesn’t require refrigeration until after opening. This is achieved via ultra-high-temperature (UHT) processing. This process is safe but does cause some minor nutrient loss of folate, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and thiamin. Caloric and calcium values remain the same. UHT milk is often flavored because UHT processing changes the taste somewhat. It is a great option for areas that lack cold storage and has been used by our military for years.

I’m thankful for the systems and regulations that are in place to keep milk and dairy products safe and for the many people who play a role in that process. Look for a future article with more information about the nutritional benefits of milk!

SOURCES1. Collier RJ and Bauman DE. Journal

of Animal Science. Available at https://www.animalsciencepublications.org/publications/jas/articles/92/4/1800.

2. DairyGood, Facts and Myths. Available at https://dairygood.org/

3. National Dairy Council. Available at https://www.nationaldairycouncil.org.


WANTED: Cowboy. No TV, No phone. If you don’t like dogs and can’t tough it in the mountains, don’t apply - Alamo, Nevada.

I’d like to meet the ol’ boy that wrote that ad. You can almost picture him in your mind. We’re all acquainted with somebody that fits his description. He might be willing to give you a month off to go see your ailin’ mother but better not ask for every Saturday and Sunday off to go ropin’! He’s not liable to set down and give you a two hour lecture on his range management theories but work beside him for a year or two and you’ll learn more about protecting the environ-ment and workin’ with nature than you’d read in thousand BLM pamphlets.

He probably wouldn’t have much sympathy if you bucked off one of his colts but if yer wife’s in the hospital he’ll make sure you have everything you need.

He’d look the other way if you got picked up by the deputy for gettin’ rowdy in town but if you don’t get the salt scattered in the right place there’ll be heck to pay!

The person that answers that ad ought to know better than to set down and start askin’ about paid holidays,

days off, cost of living escalators and a five-year contract. However, if I don’t miss my guess, he’ll get a day’s pay for a day’s work, good grub, a warm bunk and that kind of “family feelin’” that comes with cowboyin’.

There’s plenty of good hands that could answer that ad and fit right in. If he gits the job you can bet yer silver snuff can lid he’s a cowboy. A reporter asked me awhile back if I was a cowboy. I said no. That name is reserved for them that make their livin’ punchin’ cows. It didn’t bother me to be mistaken for a cowboy, matter of fact I’m proud of it. But that honor belongs to that particular feller who gits up everyday, puts on his spurs and goes to work.

Them that writes “COWBOY” in the blank space after ‘occupation’ on the IRS form; they’re what I’m talkin’ about. Real cowboys; the backbone of the cattle business.

www.baxterblack.com

Wanted: Cowboyby Baxter Black, DVM

ON THE EDGE OF COMMON SENSE

C

No matter the season, you can reap this benefit.To help members out and to show our appreciation, we’re extending a $500 private offer 1 toward the purchase or lease of any new 2014 Chevrolet vehicle. From Equinox to Traverse and more — a new vehicle can be exactly what a growing family needs to thrive.

1 Offer available through 4/1/17. Available on qualified 2014 and 2015 Chevrolet vehicles. This offer is not available with some other offers. Only customers who have been active members of an eligible Farm Bureau for a minimum of 30 days will be eligible to receive a certificate. Customers can obtain certificates at www.fbverify.com/gm. Farm Bureau and the FB logo are registered service marks of the American Farm Bureau Federation and are used herein under license by General Motors.

C

No matter the season, you can reap this benefit.To help members out and to show our appreciation, we’re extending a $500 private offer 1 toward the purchase or lease of any new 2014 Chevrolet vehicle. From Equinox to Traverse and more — a new vehicle can be exactly what a growing family needs to thrive.

1 Offer available through 4/1/17. Available on qualified 2014 and 2015 Chevrolet vehicles. This offer is not available with some other offers. Only customers who have been active members of an eligible Farm Bureau for a minimum of 30 days will be eligible to receive a certificate. Customers can obtain certificates at www.fbverify.com/gm. Farm Bureau and the FB logo are registered service marks of the American Farm Bureau Federation and are used herein under license by General Motors.

FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

MEMBERSHIPADVANTAGE

CHOICE HOTELS Members receive a 20% discount off the rack rates of participating hotels worldwide.

Remember to give your Utah Farm Bureau ID along with your Choice Privileges member

# to receive your discount while earning Choice Privileges points!

Discount subject to availability at participating hotels and is not for use in

conjunction with any other discount offer or promotional rate. Advance reservations

are required through 1-800-258-2847 or at choicehotels.com

SALT LAKE BEESSalt Lake Bees Farm Bureau Centennial Night: Join us in Celebrating the Utah Farm

Bureau Centennial night at the ballpark on July 22nd. Best available seating in sections

20–23. Tickets only $10–13 for a firework night! Also, receive 10% off “Bees Bucks”

food voucher.

Great for a family night outing—won’t break the bank! Call 801-233-3010 to

purchase vouchers.

DAYS OF ’47 CELEBRATION RODEODon’t miss your chance to see nationally ranked champions as they ride, rope and rough

it at the Days of ’47 Rodeo. This is a must-see Utah family tradition live at Vivint Smart

Home Arena. Lower bowl seats start at only $13 for adults and $7 for kids ages 2–12.

Tickets can be ordered by calling Caleb Caputo at 801-325-7214

LAGOONSeason Passes: $116 including tax, regardless of number purchased. Purchase less

than 4 at Lagoon for $125.95 each. Single Day Passes: $42 including tax. Ticket

window price, including tax, is $57.71. Farm Bureau members save $15.51 per ticket.

Call 801-233-3010 to purchase tickets.

SEVEN PEAKSAvailable now! Pass of all Passes: $30 each (regular $39.99) Day Passes: $15 (regular

$24.99). Call 801-233-3010 to purchase tickets.

CHERRY HILLSplash into savings at Cherry Hill. Access discount coupons for Cherry Hill attractions

by visiting https://www.utahfarmbureau.org/Member-Programs/Member-Benefits.

LES SCHWABAs a Farm Bureau member you will receive “Best Pricing” which will either be “Fleet”

pricing or the sale price on the tires of your choice. Be prepared to show your Farm

Bureau membership card to qualify for the discount.

utah farm bureau countryside magazine

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