There is a college fit for everyone, and I can confidently say I found mine. Because I’ll be graduating in May, I find myself appreciating my experiences at Iowa State University a little bit more every day.
Looking back on the last four years, there are a few things I wish I would have known earlier:
Buy proper attire for ALL seasons.
There are countless joys to living in Iowa, including the weather. There’s no denying that Iowa experiences weather as hot as Texas and as cold as Alaska. You’ll be a lot more comfortable if you prepare for it all! Buy a winter coat, boots, umbrella and comfortable walking shoes. With those options in your closet, you will be set!
The Parking Division is pitiless.
Nothing is more disappointing than walking to your car and finding a little yellow envelope with a ticket in it. The parking division is fierce! Parking on campus is very limited, and the parking division offers no pity when writing tickets. My best advice is to take advantage of the CyRide Service, and avoid parking on campus.
Study abroad early.
Because you get busier each year, study abroad during your first two years of college. I will be studying abroad for the first time in May after graduation! I couldn’t be more excited to do so. So many times I’ve wished that I had given it a chance in my first year of college. Time goes quickly, so live in the moment.
ISU Campus is not as big as it appears.
Attending a school that is 4.5 times bigger than my hometown was most intimidating! Once you know your way around campus, it makes the experience a lot more comfortable. This year ISU has a record enrollment of 36,001. View this number as an opportunity instead of a scare; that is 36,000 other people you can interact with and learn from! Once your major is declared, you’ll meet more people who share your same interests. Campus clubs are another great way to create a smaller environment.
Campus dining is the ticket to quick and tasty meals.
There is a smorgasbord of both dining centers to choose from, as well as options inside each dining center. My favorite dining hall is Conversations. It is a smaller scale dining center that usually features meals that are made right in front of you! Even with the smallest dining package, I still had ample amount of meals left over! After freshman year, you’ll have the chance to cook for yourself. Think about simple meals you and your roommates could make together!
My time at Iowa State has served me well. I’ve formed so many relationships and have had so many great experiences. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, and I’m especially grateful that attending ISU helped me find my career path. I’m really looking forward to starting full-time in May with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds!
Pig farmers from across the U.S. met March 3-5 in Indianapolis for the Pork Industry Forum. Elected representatives for our grassroots organization get together annually to make pig farming better. Like any organization, not everyone agrees all the time. Last week, however, there absolute agreement by all delegates on one issue.
Let me first provide a little background information…
When you hear, “pork,” chances are that you think, “The Other White Meat.” A study conducted by Northwestern University found The Other White Meat to be the fifth most memorable promotional tagline in the history of contemporary marketing. This tagline successfully positioned pork as a healthy, lean protein that is versatile and easy to prepare. Six common cuts of fresh pork are leaner today than they were 15 years ago. In fact, a 3-ounce serving of pork tenderloin contains only 2.98 grams of fat and a 3-ounce serving of skinless chicken breast contains 3.03 grams of fat.
This sounds like a great success story that should be included in textbooks, right? Unfortunately, the success of this marketing campaign drew unwanted attention from the Humane Society of the United States. HSUS announced in September 2012 that it was suing the USDA over the payments the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) receives via the national pork checkoff.
Why sue? Checkoff money is collected by a board, and the USDA oversees the collection and spending of checkoff funds to provide programs that will increase demand for farmers’ products. Checkoff monies can fund marketing tools such as promotion, research and new product development.
Increasing pork consumption is just the opposite of what HSUS wants to see happen. Truth be known, HSUS would like to end animal agriculture. HSUS also wants to end hunting and animal circus acts, as well as close zoos. Anyone who thinks the $18 per month he or she donates will help save cute little puppies or kitties is sadly mistaken. Only one half of one percent of HSUS funds raised go toward animal care! (Donate to local pet shelters instead.) Most HSUS donations are used to influence political agendas and the media, and HSUS is trying to trap the pork industry in a web of activities.
You see, the National Pork Board (NPB) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) used to be one entity. Checkoff dollars were being used for “The Other White Meat” campaign, so the NPB leased the other white meat tagline to NPPC. After several years, it was agreed that NPPC should buy the tagline instead of leasing it. Appraisals were done. The necessary approvals – including from the USDA – were granted. This arrangement worked well until HSUS filed a lawsuit against the USDA.
Instead of defending what it had approved, the USDA appears to be caving to a special interest group. Sec. Vilsack, during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee held last week, said the decision to settle the lawsuit was made with pork industry officials. During the annual pork industry forum, however, not one pork industry representative says he or she was contacted by the USDA about the settlement. As a result, pork industry officials cried foul over the USDA’s move.
Every delegate to the Pork Forum wants this lawsuit fought to the fullest extent of the government’s power. Not one single delegate agreed with Sec. Vilsack!
“In an action for the record books, delegates of the NPB — appointed by the USDA — not only unanimously approved the advisement but also unanimously co-sponsored the petition [of Secretary Vilsack to preserve and defend National Pork Board statutory authority and independence]. One strong voice with true grit signaled the industry is prepared to fight against any entity trying to damage the ability to exercise its judgment in marketing pork.” writes Cheryl Day on the National Hog Farmer blog.
We must keep an eye on government agencies, even if they’ve been given the power to oversee us! As with all government agencies, look for connections. Connect the dots. Follow the money. Consider the source. Find the motive.
There is an election on the horizon. Read. Learn the issues. Talk to people who actually farm and learn how they take care of livestock. We want to share what we do every day, and we can explain why we care!
West Central Iowans Revisit Scandinavian Roots in Uganda
When Steven and Charlene Sandven of Humboldt got married in 1982 and moved onto a West Central Iowa farm, they had no idea its history would lead them to Uganda as they celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. Their story is one that weaves together two families across three different continents.
Steven’s great grandfather, Magnus, borrowed money from Lars Mandsager to emigrate to the United States from Norway. Magnus helped Lars farm, plus he worked as a tailor’s apprentice in Fort Dodge to earn additional money to pay back the loan. This tract of land transfers back and forth between the Mandsager and Sandven families throughout the years.
Fast forward to Fall Harvest 2015. Steven and Charlene are in the midst of harvesting soybeans
when they received a call from Conrad Mandsager, CEO and Founder of ChildVoice. Conrad and his younger brother, Neil, were born in Cameroon where their father was a medical missionary. Conrad graduated from Marshalltown High School and played football at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Conrad returned to his family’s Humboldt County farm, but his entrepreneurial drive led him to explore farms in the Northeast. He’s now a consultant in New Hampshire, and the Sandvens rent the Mandsager family’s Iowa farm land.
Regardless of where Conrad is hanging his hat, his heart is with people in Africa. He was moved by the women and children whose voices were silenced by war in Uganda. “The Lord’s Resistance Army began kidnapping children to become soldiers and women to be used as sex slaves. For 20 years, the rebels abducted an estimated 30,000 children from their homes in Northern Uganda and forced them to commit violent acts upon villagers.”
In 2006, ChildVoice pioneered a unique community model to provide hope and opportunity for adolescent girls in northern Uganda because returning child soldiers and sex slaves were not welcome in their home villages. Years of war had left their home communities traumatized and facing abject poverty. “The second generation impact of war remains,” read the organizations website, “and our young students today still face many challenges.”
One challenge is making the model community self-sustaining. Several fields, or large gardens, have been tilled and planted. The women primarily grow peanuts and vegetable crops like white sweet potatoes, beans, potatoes, okra and white, waxy corn that they call maize. They also grow watermelon. A few local men are hired to raise some chickens and a few pigs to supply ChildVoice with meat and eggs. A fish pond also has been built to raise tilapia, so they can raise their own fish as well as sell some.
Another challenge is teaching these women and children life skills, so they can become self-supportive. Women living in the village become apprentices in one of these areas: cooking for a restaurant, which is referred to as a hotel there, hairstyling or tailoring (seamstress). The Sandvens hope farming may be added, so the women may choose grain or livestock farming as a life skill. (As a sidebar, click here to read how one Iowa farm women has helped female farmers in Uganda.)
During their two-week stay last October, the Sandvens helped make physical improvements to facilities around the mission. Steven and Charlene also used their farming skills to evaluate the maize program. They learned the maize is yielding only about 10 bushels per acres! The maize is being planted in hills at a plant population of about 18,000 per acre (although the local measurement is hectares).
To demonstrate how more plants – and higher yield – could be achieved, the Sandvens taught the women how to plant in rows. They demonstrated with sweet corn, planted at a population of 32,500 plants per acre. They formed one measuring stick that was about 8 inches long for seed spacing and a 20-inch stick for row spacing.
Soil fertility is also key to improving yield, so soils have been tested on the ChildVoice farm. The next step in achieving higher production is going to be adding nutrients to the soil. Plans are in the works to begin using nutrients from the rabbit hutch and fish pond as fertilizer.
Of course, higher yield also means the villagers need to look at developing infrastructure. All labor is manual at this point. Should they consider oxen and equipment or purchase small farm machinery? Should they expand their land base? These are questions being pondered now by the ChildVoice board of directors, four of whom traveled with the Sandvens in October to Uganda along with five representatives from Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines.
This group also traveled to nearby villages to see how well graduates of ChildVoice were doing on their own. One graduate had opened her own bakery next to another woman, who sells beans and rice that is delivered by a farmer in bulk bags. Then locals use measuring cups to buy what they want from the roadside market. Another ChildVoice aluma works as a cook in a hotel, or what Americans would call a restaurant. A third graduate has her own salon, and a fourth graduate married a farmer from another tribe.
“It was so rewarding to teach them things they could use to improve their lives,” says Charlene. “We hear the expression, ‘Another day, another dollar.” We’ll it’s true for these ladies! They earn so little, but they’re learning how to take care of themselves and their children.”
In honor of the Norwegian heritage that brought together the Mandsager and Sandven families three generations ago, today we’re sharing a recipe for Kringla. Kringla seem to magically appear on the tables of those with Scandinavian heritage either on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Sandvan family enjoys these pretzel-like pastries so much that Charlene freezes them to have on hand throughout the winter.
As empty nesters with four adult children, Charlene says having casseroles and desserts in the freezer is a real life saver. Their oldest daughter, Brandy, lives nearby with her husband, Cody, who farms with Steven and Charlene. Brandy and Cody have two children. Brittany and her husband, Reed, have one son. The Sandven’s daughter Chelsea is a senior at the University of Northern Iowa, majoring in in Criminology and Psychology. Their youngest son, Skyler, is freshman in Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University.
Both Steven and Charlene’s families come from Norway, so today their sharing their recipe for one of their favorite comfort foods with us!
Industry Visits Emphasize Importance of Networking
By Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seed’s Marketing Intern
If you don’t live for the here & now, what are you living for?
Last week I had the opportunity visit the Twin Cities with fellow members of the ISU National Agri-Marketing Association club. After the vans were packed and we had our Casey’s breakfast pizza, we were off! In addition to traveling with a fun group of people, I got the chance to meet people in the industry who have interests similar to mine.
We started off Thursday by visiting CHS Inc. in St. Paul. CHS encompasses all parts of agriculture: energy, grains and food. I enjoyed hearing about the coordination between these three area and CHS’ strategies to serve its members while increasing stakeholder value. The importance of thorough communication was highly emphasized as the millennial generation finds it too easy to stay behind a screen. Communicating virtually often times relates in simplicity, but it lacks the irreplaceable value of face-to-face communication.
Next up was a General Mills Inc. tour and presentation. A former ISU NAMA member hosted us at General Mills, which was great! He kept the conservation relatable and light hearted. Plus he’s a Marketing Associate for the baking division, so we got to take home some baking treats. J I was amazed by the General Mills facility, as every floor was a different division: baking, cereal, yogurt, etc. We also toured General Mills’ in-house kitchen spaces for testing and photography.
Friday kicked off with a visit to Martin Williams Advertising in Minneapolis. There was a panel of about six employees from different departments. It was interesting to see how an agency runs, as well as experience the creative thinking environment! We connected with the Martin Williams Adverting agency through a member of the ISU NAMA, which confirms the importance of networking.
Our last stop was a USBank Stadium Marketing tour. Our tour guide worked with SMG, a worldwide entertainment and convention management business. I was amazed by the infrastructure of the new USBank Stadium; I had never seen anything like it! Secondly, it was intriguing to hear about SMG’s role in managing events and marketing the space.
As a senior in college, this trip to Minneapolis was a fulfilling experience because of the applicable advice I received from all business professionals. I am looking forward my full-time position with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds and being on the other end of the table!
Collaboration, not a Courtroom will Ensure Clean Water for Iowa
Yesterday I drove from North Central Iowa to southern Illinois where I’m overseeing a major remodel of a sow farm. As I drove, I couldn’t help but think about the calendar changing to March, which brings the countdown to spring and of course, a new planting season.
I took notice of farm fields as they passed by, fresh field tile being installed, spring tillage beginning as farmers ready their seed beds for new seed. I am always intrigued by the different methods of conservation in place as the landscape changes from our prairie pothole region of North Central Iowa to the rolling hills and river bluffs of Eastern Iowa and Illinois.
I could also see riverbeds in need of attention after a winter season of freezing, melting and erosion had taken its toll. Is it livestock or tillage causing this erosion? No. The same erosion cycles can be found on the grounds of the Des Moines Water Works facilities in Des Moines. It’s none other than the power of Mother Nature herself. Water has incredible power. After all, it created the Grand Canyon over time! Water itself can dissolve rock and mineral.
Water quality is no new concern for Iowans and farmers alike. But recent headline news stories in our state make it seem as though farming practices have altered in recent years causing more nutrients are ending up in our water system. When in reality, the converse is true.
Spokespeople involved in the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit believe a permitting process is the way to regulate nutrient runoff into water, but what they’re failing to take into account is the very nature in which Iowa soil and nitrogen co-exist. Soils here in Iowa are naturally nitrogen-rich. Snow melt and large rain events cause water-soluable nitrates to move throughout the soil and collect in our water. Studies conducted by the Clean Water Alliance help support the fact that this natural process is a primary contributor to our water quality issues and it’s simply a function of Mother Nature!
The research shows:
Corn acreage increased from 1994-2014, which meant the need for fertilizers to grow these acres increased.
No correlation was shown between this increased fertilizer use and the amount of nitrate in the Raccoon River.
Study supported that nutrient levels were best during the drought of 2012
Also showed that nutrient levels were worse during the wet Spring of 2013 (I remember this one, over 30 inches of rain fell on my farm that month!)
The Des Moines Waterworks discharges their nitrate waste from the water treatment plant back into the river from a point source. They hold a permit to do so and it’s easy to measure compliance. Drainage districts collect water from miles and miles of farm fields. Nitrates that end up in these drainage districts are a function of Mother Nature moving them. So if farmers must comply with a permit, do regulators have a way of turning off the rain?
A headline I read a couple months back said it best “Farmers are cooperating even when nature isn’t.” Billions of dollars have been spent on conservation research, and billions more will be spent. Ag technology is moving fast: saturated buffers, cover crops, wetlands, no-till, seed technologies… new ways are being dreamed up every day to combat water!
We are blessed with an abundance of innovation in agriculture than allows us to continually produce more food, fiber and fuel with less resources. Farmers have done this job so well that food is just expected to be abundant, readily available, and cheap! It’s the disconnect between food production on the farm and food preparation in the kitchen that causes confusion. Have questions about water quality or what farmers do or could do to care for our environment? Talk with a farmer! It’s collaboration that will ensure clean water for the future of Iowa, not a courtroom.
Young Farmer Asks Iowa Senate to Do the Right Thing for Iowans
As farmers, we hear over and over how important it is to be involved in the political process, talk to legislators and tell our story. Finding the time to commit to that effort is the hard part with livestock, day jobs and families to care for. If you own a business, farm, or teach in the classroom the time has come for you to join in the conversation!
At the close of December 2015, small business owners and farmers across the nation breathed a sigh of relief as the federal government passed a bill to permanently provide for Section 179 small business expensing and Bonus Depreciation. We now had certainty in two key planning tools for making capital improvements to our businesses. Step two of the process when the feds finish their work, is to wait for Iowa to follow suit and “couple” those tax provisions into the Iowa code.
What nobody saw coming was our state leader, a long-time supporter of small business and agriculture, recommending that Iowa leave these essential tools out of the Iowa code for 2015 taxes. (Yes- 2015. The fiscal year that’s already passed!) That means a year of consistently monitoring financials, carefully planning purchases and doing all we could to keep our business in the black on a down year was for naught. I felt like the rug had been pulled right out from under me. A bit dramatic? Here’s why it matters to me this year in particular:
In 2014 we suffered a fire on the farm. Our grain dryer went up in flames totaling the entire unit. We waited months for the insurance company to make their evaluation and deem the fire an accident. Meaning our purchase for this critical piece of equipment had to fall in the 2015 crop year whether it was a good year to purchase it or not. (If you haven’t been following ag economy lately- the answer is NOT!) Our purchase and rebuild of our grain dryer is done, but now we must figure out how to come up with funds to cover an extra $60,000 in tax liability. Yes, with the exclusion of this tax code, the governor just asked us to write a check to the state of Iowa for just over that amount. This means we either take out a loan to pay Iowa, OR sell stored grain at an extremely depressed price just to cover this bill. Neither of which we had planned to do at this point in 2016! (Did I mention we just rebuilt the dryer that prepares our grain to be stored until we ARE ready to sell it?)
So why am I asking my Senator to help? Let’s first rewind to January 28th. The House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee put together a proposal to get Section 179 expensing back into Iowa’s Tax Code- House File 2092. On January 28th the Iowa House of Representatives passed the plan with overwhelming BI-PARTISON vote of 82-14. This bill is important to Iowa Farmers, but also includes provisions of support to other groups including:
Deductions up to $250 for out-of-pocket expenses for teachers
Tuition and Fees deductions for high education expenses
Nontaxable IRA transfers to eligible charities
Last week I was asked to take part in a press conference to share my story about how Section 179 affects my small (farm) business. On the panel alongside me was a CPA, owner of a few Des Moines based fitness franchises and a teacher. During that press conference, several key points were brought up:
The house bill only extends these provisions to January 1, 2017. Responsible business owners plan their finances (including fulfilling tax liabilities) at the beginning of each new year. If our state leadership believes decoupling is a critical part of maintaining a balanced budget, compromise on the year Iowan’s were already planning on and make your decision NOW for 2017 so we have a chance to put proper plans in place. Don’t pull the rug out on a year that’s already come to a close!
This code is important for SMALL business. It’s easy to assume that tax codes only benefit huge farmers and big business. Research shows that those business owners and teachers utilizing Section 179 fall in lower tax brackets (lower net income levels). The very groups that these codes were created to help are the same that will be hurt the most if our Senate doesn’t move on this legislation.
The governor is now on board! The same day as the press conference, our own Governor who first proposed a budget without coupling, voiced his favor for the House Bill. This combined with his willingness to delay the March 1 filing deadline shows all hands on board for Coupling, just waiting for our Senate’s answer.
Education, Small Business and Agriculture are some of the most important assets we have in rural Iowa communities. This is legislation that affects 177,000+ people. Senators, the ball is in your court. We’re asking you, please to do what’s Right for rural Iowa and move on House File 2092!
Half marathon, check. Workout 45 minutes everyday, check. Eat healthy, check. No family history of heart disease, check. Heart attack, check!
If you are like me, you would scratch your head to hear someone in her early 40’s suffered a heart attack. That, of course, happens to people that are much older or who have risk factors like smoking, obesity or high cholesterol. I’m proud to say that I don’t fall into any of those categories, but the truth is, I now will live with heart disease the rest of my life.
Here is an excerpt of a blog I wrote about my heart attack:
It started as a normal day. I exercised in the moring, got the kids to school and went to work. After school we ran around and did our normal daily routines. I took [my daughter] Brenna to Irish dance lessons. We had supper and all went to bed. At 2:00 am I woke up with crushing chest pain. First thought, “I gave up caffeine today for Lent. Could that be the cause? What if I’m having indigestion?!”
I got up and walked to the coach and sat in the dark for a minute. By now, I’m noticing the pain is in my jaw. I finally start to acknowledge that this is something bigger than I could possibly imagine. I have a Bachelors in Nursing and remember from my training that women present differently than men. (You can read more about the night I suffered a hearth attack and follow my road to recovery here: http://pinnie40.blogspot.com)
February ushers in National “Go Red for Women,” which brings awareness of heart disease and stroke by asking people to wear red and get more informed. The one thing I would like readers to know is how women’s symptoms can be completely different from men’s symptoms.
In my case, years of estrogen supplements from birth control pills caused a rare dissection in
my right coronary artery. I had two stents placed to reinforce the wall of my artery. Those stents will be a part of me for life, and I even received a serial number certificate (to show to doctors during procedures) as a reminder. I’ve also gone from one daily medication to a daily pill box with four medications. These medications will be my lifeline for the rest of my life, helping to guard against cholesterol and blood clots that could cause another heart attack.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is where it gets real. It – Can – Happen – To – You!!! Even though I’m a nurse and should’ve known better, I spent precious time googling my symptoms thinking it had to be something else. Don’t let death be the result of being embarrassed to call an ambulance. I delayed in making the 911 call and my vitals crashed in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Below are a list of symptoms that you should take seriously:
Chest pain or discomfort (may not be on left side)
Pain in your arm, back, neck and jaw
Stomach pain
Shortness of breath, nausea and light headedness
Sweating
Fatigue
Many women will experience vague or silent symptoms that might simply go unnoticed. Flu, indigestion, jaw pain, chest pain and shortness of breath are all signs of a heart attack. I had chest pain, jaw pain and felt nauseated. But I was still able to have a conversation, Google symptoms and doubt what was really going on. Sadly, all the symptoms aren’t always present. Be aware and take multiple symptoms seriously.
My other advice is to have discussions with your doctors. If you fall in the risk groups, work with your care providers and family members to improve your health. It might seem like hard work now, but the reward will be many years ahead with loved ones.
by Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern
Packing lunch before heading out the door in the morning involves either throwing a few granola bars into my bag or arriving five minutes late to class because I took time to pack a real lunch. Thankfully, my dilemma was solved when I went home last weekend!
My mom had been telling me about a new trend called “Mason Jar Salads in a Jar.” I was a bit skeptical on how long they would stay fresh, but they lived up to the test! On Day 10, the salad was just as crisp and fresh as they were on Day 1.
After a trip to the grocery store and three hours of labor, we had 40 pints of salad in jars! We made 10 of each kind: Ranch Rotini, Tortellini and Artichoke, Taco Salad and Strawberry Vinaigrette. These recipes can be found here, along with 27 others!
Those three intensive hours of cooking, chopping and packing led me to develop a list of ways to speed up this process in the future. Here are my top three takeaways:
First cook the ingredients that must be cooled. Each recipe either called for noodles, quinoa or salad dressings that had to be cooled before being packed into the jars. Cooking these first minimizes downtown because you can be preparing other items while these are cooling.
Cut up your veggies at the same time. There A LOT of veggies to cut, especially if you make four kinds of salad! Cutting all veggies at the same time reduces the need to continuously clean up plus results in fewer dishes to wash in the end.
Make an assembly line. With multiple ingredients going into each jar, it’s easier to
have everything laid out nicely. This is also a great way to create an assembly line if multiple hands are there to help!
Depending on the ingredients of your salad, you may want to prioritize the order in which you eat them. For example, I don’t want to save the taco salads for last because of the fresh avocado.
A quick, easy and healthy lunch option is now doable with the Mason Jar Salads. Give it a shot and switch up your lunch!
Many Americans cannot even describe a GMO, or genetically modified organism, yet a vocal minority wants them banned. Last week GMO Free USA singled out four female members of the Senate Agricultural Committee, urging them “as mothers” to stop any legislation that would pre-empt Vermont’s mandatory labeling law. Fear is pre-empting common sense and science!
Now Congress is once again considering GMO labeling. I’d like to help our elected officials get the facts…
As a farmer, I’m very familiar with genetics. My farming career has spanned more than 40 years, so I have seen how the genetics of my crops and livestock have continually improved. When I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s, we were constantly battling insects and weeds in our crops. We used pesticides that were tremendously helpful but not environmentally friendly.
New seed technology and plant genetics allow farmers to use safer pesticides at greatly reduced rates. I use much less fertilizer per pound of grain raised today as compared to when I started farming on my own in the 1970s. We now measure our pesticides in ounces instead of gallons. I also use much less water and energy to raise a crop, so production agriculture today makes fewer demands on our environment.
The livestock I raise have been feed GMO feed for 20+ years, and my pigs have made spectacular improvements in how they grow! If there was a problem with GMOs, it would surely been evident in my operation. We eat the meat we produce because I know that GMOs are extremely safe! In fact, there has not been one illness or death anywhere attributed to GMOs!
Labels are to warn us of a danger, or the nutrition in our food. I personally would like to see a ban on all food labels, which have really turned into a marketing ploy. (Have you seen Dirck Steimel’s recent article about consumers’ food confusion? Consumers are seeking foods labeled with the word “natural,” even though it’s one of the most ambiguous food marketing terms. Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly pondering whether to define the word “natural” as it applies to food.)
U.S. Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts has introduced a commonsense food-labeling proposal that will bring consistency and transparency to the marketplace. Food labels affect both farmers and consumers, so I urge you to take action today! Please contact your elected representatives in support of Senator Roberts’ proposal that would preempt state GMO food and seed labeling efforts and require USDA to set a standard for voluntary on-package disclosure.
Do you enjoy eating nutritious, affordable food? Then I strongly urge you to take action to enact a fair and reasonable standard for GMO labeling! American farmers and consumers need Congress to bring transparency and consistency to the marketplace while protecting consumers’ food choice.
The lush, green hills where Red Angus cows and calves graze today in the Salinas Valley is a stark contrast to the picture here at the height of the California megadrought. Zero rain fell in January 2014, making it the driest in 135 years of recordkeeping. January is typically California’s wettest month of the year, and about eight inches fell in Salina last month.
“Each day I truly feel blessed that we have gotten moisture,” says Celeste Settrini, a fourth generation rancher who raises cattle with her brother, John. “We’re far from out of the woods in our drought situation, but it’s such a comfort knowing there is water in our ponds and green grass growing. If rains continue to come, then we will be in decent shape for the year ahead.”
There’s nothing like scarcity to make a person appreciate what they have. Two years ago rain was so scarce that Celeste asked friends to join her for a day of reflection, prayer and fasting during a virtual event called “Havesting Faith.” Farmers, ranchers and non-farming friends from across the nation came together to pray for rain in California.
“I truly could not believe the response from the Harvesting Faith event!” says Celeste. “Hundreds upon hundreds of people ‘liked’ our event on Facebook. We all came together to share stories and to pray for relief. I was on radio segments. There were stories written about it – this event was bigger than anything I ever imagined. It made me feel so good that farmers and ranchers from across America came together to pray for relief.”
Prayers were answered shortly thereafter. Celeste remembers being on a walk when dark clouds formed. “It looked really stormy and I thought, ‘Wow. I think God is listening to all of us,” she said. “It rained that day, although not a lot. It gave me the hope needed to realize that, yes, prayers are answered. God will take care of us in His time, so we must remain patient and hopeful.”
Through the “Harvesting Faith” event, people from all walks of life focused on the bigger picture. Many times those of us in agriculture get crossways over different production methods or are worn down by others who don’t farm but want to influence the way we do.
“We are all a part of a very large family of wonderful people,” says Celeste. “I personally believe there are no better people on the planet than farmers and ranchers. We need to reach out and ask for help when we need it, not be afraid to share our thoughts with our off-farm friends, stand up for what we do and celebrate the good of American Agriculture. No matter what method you use to produce food for this growing nation YOU are an important part of that, big or small. Take pride in that and realize that you are a part of the bigger picture.”
Celeste and her brother, John, have worked side-by-side daily since 2013 when a series of life events prompted her to leave a 20-year career as an ag commodities broker. They share day-to-day responsibilities for everything from feeding and working cattle to fixing fence and selecting breeding stock.
“We’re always together. Where one is strong, the other assists and vice versus. As the ‘chatter box’ of the family, I enjoy being involved in cattlemen’s groups and anything pertaining to promoting or preserving our way of life,” says Celeste.
Promoting agriculture and the people engaged in this industry is so much of a passion for Celeste that she started CS Connections. This boutique agency serves clients in the rodeo, stock show and agricultural industries. Services include social media management, website creation, as well as collateral and print ad design.
A typical day for Celeste means waking up at 5 am and firing up her laptop. After answering emails and updating social media for about two hours, she leaves the home ranch and travels about 10 minutes away to the hills where she will either feed or take stock of the cattle.
These days Celeste is riding through the fields, checking on mamas and their babies, She also keeps her eyes open for troughs or fences that must be mended. Around noon, she returns home and settles into her office where she resumes work for CS Connections.
“A series of events led me to start my promotions business and run cattle. This is exactly where I want to be!” says Celeste. “It took a while to get here, so my advice to others is, ‘Don’t ever give up!’ Keep following your bliss.”