Forbes Magazine Offers Agricultural Insight

When mainstream American media offer consumers enlightening articles about farming and food choices, it's a boost to family farms and agriculturalists everywhere. Let's face it. Non-farm voices offer more credibility to the farm and food debate, and Forbes deserves a hat tip from us farm folks.

FARMER TALK NOTE: A hat tip is a Western gesture of tipping the brim of your cowboy hat in respect of another person. It's often interpreted as a general hello, acknowledgement of respect or thank you for a job well done.

In the last two months, the magazine has published two great articles. One summarizes the food debate's effect on American agriculture. The other highlights healthy foods that don't have to break the bank. As a farm boy that is going back to college, you can understand why these articles caught my eye.

UPDATE -- HSUS is in Agriculture's Crosshairs

The Humane Society of the United States is finding out producers and consumers don't like being deceived. Farmers and ranchers have used social media to tell the anti-animal agriculture organization "we're mad as heck and not going to take it anymore!"

In a post earlier this week, I shared the progress being made in sharing the truth about the HSUS. Well, the efforts to expose this wolf in sheep's clothes continue to take on a life of their own.

Celebrity Spotlight - Shaun White Names Tricks After Steaks

When it comes to snowboarding, no one doubts Shaun White's ability. It turns out the extreme sports athlete also has an extreme appetite for steak.

The record setting Olympic athlete has a knack for beef and has named some of his most daring tricks after his favorite steaks. 

At the 2010 Winter Olympics, White already had the Half Pipe Final gold metal wrapped up with the score he recorded in the first run. With the second run serving as a victory lap, White landed the Double McTwist 1260, named the Tomahawk, with a record score of 48.4. The Tomahawk was inspired by an Aspen, Colorado, restaurant's signature steak.

The Blog -- My New Farm Chore

It's been over a week since my first post, and friends and family have asked why I started a blog, especially in the midst of a crazy graduate school schedule. The answer is simple, "Consumers want to know more about agriculture, and I am equipped to share its message."

Today, I was pointed to a great University of Illinois blog entry titled What If We Awaken and There Are No More Farmers to be Found. It highlights the challenge of replacing America's aging farmers and the motivations leading my generation back to the farm. It also touches on one of the reasons I started this blog.

I grew up on a pretty typical western Kansas farm where the seasons were defined by the farm work.

Food for Thought -- Neat Video from Monsanto's YouTube Page

HSUS is in Agriculture's Crosshairs

Farmers and ranchers served notice to the Humane Society of the United States in November 2009 when voters overwhelmingly supported Issue 2 in Ohio. It was the first election victory for farmers and ranchers since the HSUS put animal agriculture in its crosshairs through state ballot initiatives.

Keep in mind, HSUS is not a national organization representing your local humane society. That organization would be the American Humane Association. The HSUS operates on a number of fronts, but its largest effort is spent carrying out an anti-agriculture agenda, similar to that of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The Ohio election victory proved consumers would listen to grassroot producer efforts if they were in tune with consumer interests. In 2010, producers took the pursuit to the next level, and it appears the rest of America is receptive. For those of you out of the loop, here's a quick summary: