On tomorrow's Agricultural Business Episode I will be speaking with the CEO of Harvest Hosts about how farmers can make extra money hosting people on their farms overnight.  This made me think back to the interview I did with Kuna's own, Brooklyn Lowe, formerly of the Kuna FFA Chapter.  Brooklyn and her family own and operate "The Farmstead" which is an agritourism destination about three miles from my own farm.

When I owned the gopher extermination business I did work for Brooklyn's father, Jim, at a previous location they operated at.  Later, I was able to interview Jim about their business, and then I eventually came to know Brooklyn through my and Hattie's involvement in the Kuna FFA.  The story of this family business, which Brooklyn will one day take over, is one of vision, patience, persistence and growth.  And I think it ties in perfectly with tomorrow's ag business episode.

Kristin Nesbitt is in her fourth year of medical school and will be beginning her residency in about 9 months. She first appeared on the Off-Farm Income Podcast in 2015 on episode #35, when she had just become the president of her FFA Chapter at Meridian High School.  I reconnected with her on Linkedin recently and saw that she was now in medical school, and I recalled that way back when she was a senior in high school she that that human or veterinary medicine is probably what she would ultimately end up studying in the future.

Kristin made the choice to treat humans towards the end of her sophomore year, and today it is my opportunity to catch up with this amazing young woman.  We will also talk about the journey that she has been on, learn what medical school is really like and get some tips and suggestions for other students who want to pursue becoming a medical doctor.

I've got more weather on the farm update show for you today.  It has been a wild 7 days of August weather here in Southwest Idaho.  August is historically our driest month, averaging just under a 1/4 inch of rain.  However, at our farm, in the past 7 days we have received 1.7 inches.  Do I have any culpability for the negative parts of rain like this since I am enjoying the storms?

Isaac Detty is just beginning his sophomore year of high school and his second year of FFA, but you wouldn't know it from the complexity and number of SAE's that he has.  When he is not collecting eggs to sell or feeding his meat birds for his meat chicken business, he is busy working with food that has already been grown but not consumed.

In addition to Isaac's entrepreneurial ventures, he has a benevolent venture taking food that would otherwise go to waste, like bananas, and turning them into something that will result in them being consumed and not thrown out.  On the top of the pyramid is making something like banana bread or dehydrating the bananas.  On the other end, the food is fed to chickens or livestock that will consume it, or it is being composted.  Either way, the food is not being wasted by sending it to the landfill.

Isaac is able to identify the multiple positive benefits that looking at food in this manner have.  For example, when they are dehydrating bananas, it give the food science class at his high school a project to work on that is right in line with what they are studying.  It is thinking like this that led Isaac to be awarded a $1,000 SAE Grant in 2022, which he will be applying for again this fall.

For Information Like Degrees Offered, Annual Costs, Etc., Please Click The Banner Below:

The Agricultural College Episode is designed to profile agricultural trade schools, junior colleges, colleges and universities around the U.S.  This

[caption id="attachment_420718" align="alignright" width="138"] Hope Stansell - Student Ambassador[/caption]

episode is an effort to replicate the conversation that prospective students, parents and ag teachers might have with agricultural schools at trade show like the National FFA Convention.

For a student focused on agriculture or natural resources there is no move diverse state in the country than Oregon.  From high desert rangelands in the east to Pacific fisheries on the coast in the west, the State Of Oregon has something for everyone, and Oregon State University is the place to study it.  On today's episode we will learn all about the unique and exciting opportunities available to agriculture students at Oregon's Land Grand University.

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Tip Of The Week

Learn from what the animal rights activists are willing to show you

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://nbc-2.com/news/crime/2023/08/15/search-continues-for-charlotte-county-cow-killer/

https://www.news8000.com/news/crime/animal-rights-activist-group-shares-anonymous-video-showing-minks-released-from-trempealeau-co-farm/article_2d692886-3c70-11ee-96c0-2f36b3ce3eef.html

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://fagenwasanni.com/ai/stoktake-facial-recognition-platform-aims-to-combat-livestock-theft/207237/

https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/23720637.powys-police-investigating-sheep-thefts-attacks/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/crime/taranaki-farm-equipment-dealer-christopher-carter-ripped-off-25-customers-360k/GBGQN22LNVHP5DDKKBZIZ5DAVY/

Africa

https://punchng.com/jigawa-police-nab-four-suspects-with-stolen-goat-bulls/

https://www.thegazellenews.com/investigations/four-in-police-net-for-allegedly-stealing-goats-bulls/#google_vignette

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.klkntv.com/lincoln-man-hid-among-hay-bales-after-chase-with-nebraska-troopers-patrol-says/

https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime/stolen-tractor-trucks-recovered-in-genesee-county-larry-keene/71-50bd22e1-2136-4df7-ab3d-6a2116a70a3c

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Dustin Toberman is the owner of Omni Ag Consulting and a veteran of the commercial ag world and a former VP for Bungee running their northern division.  After 20 years in this aspect of agriculture, Dustin has seen a lot of talented ag students come and go in internships and has done a lot of hiring.  He has also seen what is impressive on a resume and in an interview, and he has seen the unrealistic expectations of newly graduated students.

At the end of Dustin's corporate career, his company was once again merging, and he decided that he did not want to go through another merger.  So, he assessed what he was passionate about and realized that helping pair the right talent with the right opportunity was something that had always got him excited.  This led to the development of Omni Ag Consulting, and within two years he is amazed by the impact he has already been able to make.

On today's episode we are going talk about his path, and we are also going to discuss how students coming out of college and heading into the agricultural career field can best succeed!

Here is Dustin's podcast, Boot Pit To Boardroom for you to check out:

Dan Miller is a mentor and coach to me and has been since about 2009 when I first started dreaming of an entrepreneurial lifestyle.  Between 2009 and 2015 I was unknown to Dan, but I was consuming his books and his podcast in an effort to figure out how I was going to achieve my entrepreneurial lifestyle.  Then, in 2015, three years after I started my first business I was able to put away enough money to go to one of his courses in Tennessee.

I have been a huge fan of his since discovering him in 2009, and I continue to be one today.  On tomorrow's show we are featuring an agricultural career coach.  However, for many of us we will need to look at ideas outside of agriculture and then bring them back and apply them here.  So, in preparation for tomorrow's show I am replaying my very first interview with Dan Miller to give you the inspiration to do just that!

Brynn Karnes is a sophomore at Central Columbia High School in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania and a standout member of the FFA Chapter.  She has deep roots in the Keystone State with farming on one side of the family and a multi-generational hardware store that has been serving farmers for decades on the other.

Brynn has definitely had her eyes opened to all the different opportunities for careers already, due to her involvement in the FFA.  She first explored the option of being an agriculture teacher and thought she wanted to head that direction.  However, then she took plant science and worked in the greenhouse and found something that she thought she could do for the rest of her life.  And, who knows what else she will be exposed to over time that may even lead her in a different direction.

What I noticed in the interview was that as Brynn and I spoke about her future career prospects there was excitement in her voice.  To me, that is the most important thing.  No matter what she ultimately winds up doing for a career, her participation in the FFA has got her excited about her future!

Regarding the title of today's episode - you are going to have to listen to find out what that means.  If you don't already know, it is explained in our conversation!

One week ago I was talking about how odd a weather event the wildfires in Hawaii were.  And during that discussion (fact check me on this) I stated that it would be like having a hurricane strike Idaho (although wildfires in Hawaii are more common than that).  This was well before I had ever heard of Hurricane Hilary.

Well, like magic, the biggest news story became Hurricane Hilary as she set her eyes on Southern California with a projected pathway that would march her right up to, you guessed it, Idaho.  At the time I am writing this the news is reported that what is left of Hilary is 125 miles due west of Elko, Nevada and racing north.  Well that happens to be a straight arrow right to my farm!

Dalten Durrant is just about ready to start his sophomore year of high school and his second year in the Kuna FFA Chapter.  Dalten has a huge family in the community of Kuna with a deep farming legacy in my hometown.  Dalten's family farm's name is "Big D Ranch" and they run one of the largest agribusinesses in the Treasure Valley of Idaho.

Dalten has been working in the family business since he was 5 years old, and his responsibilities increase each and every year.  His first job was selling sweet corn from the retail sales area of the ranch, and since then he has progressed to some fun and some, not so fun, jobs on the farm.  Dalten states that his favorite job during the summer is running the loader since the cab has air conditioning.  His least favorite is cleaning out the grain pits because there is rotten grain in the bottom and it stinks.

Dalten is part of a long legacy of not only farming but FFA membership and community service here in Kuna, and he has goals for his FFA career over the next three years.  It will be fun to watch.

For Information Like Degrees Offered, Annual Costs, Etc., Please Click The Banner Below:

The Agricultural College Episode is designed to profile agricultural trade schools, junior colleges, colleges and universities around the U.S.  This episode is an effort to replicate the conversation that prospective students, parents and ag teachers might have with agricultural schools at trade show like the National FFA Convention.

The State of South Dakota, like many other states in the middle of the countries is dealing with the issue of shrinking rural communities and less qualified employees for agricultural companies in those areas.  While I am not happy this is the situation for these communities, it does create fantastic opportunities for students who want to work in agriculture and live rurally.

Mitchell Technical College is based in Mitchell, South Dakota and is part of the solution to this problem for the State of South Dakota.  Among the opportunities for agriculture students in South Dakota is learning the skills that lead into an agricultural career through Mitchell Tech. for free and having a guaranteed career position when your two year program is completed.  This is done through a program called Build Dakota, and there are other programs available as well.  Imagine landing your first career position while you are still in high school, having your college 100% paid for and having a job waiting for you when you finished.

Clayton Deuter, the Vice President of Enrollment Services at Mitchell Technical College, joins me on the show today.  We will discuss how this works, what the benefits to students are and how to get this done.  This is a very exciting opportunity for agricultural students from all across the U.S. to help them find their future.

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Tip Of The Week

Secure your horses

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/two-fillies-were-stolen-pasture-184400111.html

https://www.wtxl.com/someone-s-chopping-the-tails-off-horses-in-colorado

https://jcpost.com/posts/dbd47668-cfbd-4897-b164-eadea856dfe1

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.kent.police.uk/news/kent/latest/policing-news/burglar-who-stole-from-farms-across-kent-jailed/

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/sheffield-horse-theft-mum-offering-053652232.html

https://www.farmersguardian.com/news/4121724/police

Africa

https://ridgetimes.co.za/325501/stock-theft-on-rise-in-embalenhle/

https://theconversation.com/bandits-in-nigeria-how-protection-payments-to-militias-escalate-conflict-in-the-north-west-211224

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.newsbreak.com/miami-fl/3115971595777-stolen-farm-animals-discovered-crammed-into-back-of-van

https://www.agdaily.com/news/human-trafficking-suspected-at-utah-farm-bureau-presidents-operation/

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Mike Maxwell is the owner of Double M Ranch and a professional shearer of llamas, alpacas, sheep and even goats.  He also does dental work on alpacas and gives shots as well trims hooves.  Mike specializes in serving people on small farms with a few to many animals, but not enough to warrant hiring one of the big outfits.  Mike is taking care of folks who just cannot access the larger service providers.  

Mike's path into farming and working with animals came through his marriage to his wife, Kimberly, who had the property when they were married.   He was, and continued to, work in the corporate world while they were raising sheep and chickens.  Ultimately, he taught himself how to shear and take care of these livestock, and he started offering his services to others.  His business soon grew larger than he could handle since he kept his corporate job.  

Then, a twist came. Mike and Kim had planned on one day retiring to Costa Rica, and when Covid 19 ultimately resulted in a red hot housing market in the Treasure Valley of Idaho they realized that they could retire about 5 years earlier than they had planned.  So, they sold the farm and made it happen.  However, Mike did not want to abandon his customers in Idaho, so twice each year he flies back to Idaho and takes care of everyone's livestock for them.  

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am interviewing a gentleman with a livestock care business that includes shearing llamas.  That interview has a quite a twist that you are going to want to hear about.  For today's re-cap episode I decided to go back to the interview I did with Mike Huffman in 2015 in which we talked all about his llama care business.

Teah Vennes is an incoming sophomore at Shields Valley High School in Clyde Park, Montana and the newest of a Montana Ranching legacy that goes back to 1863!  Her ranch lies in a beautiful area to the east of the Bridger Mountains that I used to frequent when I was a student at Montana State University.  Teah is very involved in ranching, horses and cattle, but so much more.

In today's interview what really stood out is the relationship between the 4H and FFA.  They are not the same, and you don't need one to do the other.  However, the 4H certainly acts as a gateway into the FFA with similar activities such as livestock exhibitions.

With Teah being a 9th Grader at the time that I interviewed her, she is right in the midst of this transition.  She has been very active in the 4H, as well as the Girl Scouts, with some interesting projects that sparked ideas that she is carrying forward into the FFA.  One of those is raising rabbits and taking them to more municipal areas of Montana to give 4H, and now FFA, students ideas about how they can raise livestock even if they live in town.  The rabbits are also a great way to spark a conversation about agriculture, giving Teach the opportunity to dispel some myths about where our food comes from.

Teah has her eye on becoming a Montana State Officer in the future, and I think this is a great start.  But, as we learned in the episode, for right now she is concentrating on getting her driver's license as she was headed to driver's training as we finished this episode.

Today is a farm update episode, and we will be discussing the following:

• Cover crops are planted
• August cool down is over
• Coyote saga
• Grazing volunteer kochia

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Ashlin Havumaki is just getting ready to start her sophomore year of high school and her third year of FFA.  As a lover of animals, Ashlin and her family keep all sorts of livestock and fowl on her grandparents farm just a few minutes from her home.  And when she was going into the 8th Grade, a friend of her father's, who was also an FFA advisor, suggested the FFA for Ashlin.

Ashlin has definitely found her perfect place.  Her fascination with animals fits very well within the FFA, and it allows her to turn that passion into an academic pursuit with her supervised agricultural experience.  It also opens many other doors such as public speaking and career development events.

For Information Like Degrees Offered, Annual Costs, Etc., Please Click The Banner Below:

The Agricultural College Episode is designed to profile agricultural trade schools, junior colleges, colleges and universities around the U.S.  This episode is an effort to replicate the conversation that prospective students, parents and ag teachers might have with agricultural schools at trade show like the National FFA Convention.

North Dakota State University is located in Fargo, North Dakota and is part of the greater Fargo/Moorhead metro area.  NDSU is able to combine the opportunities that come with being a research based university with the feel of a small school that caters to students.  On today's episode, Professor Adam Marx joins me to discuss the diverse agriculture in North Dakota, life on campus at NDSU and why there are so many international agriculture students in Fargo.

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Tip Of The Week

Sometimes they haven’t been stolen

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.8newsnow.com/weird-news/ap-willy-the-texas-rodeo-goat-on-the-lam-for-weeks-has-been-found-safe/

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/state-police-investigating-theft-of-large-equipment-from-sheds-in-lawrence-county/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/man-arrested-apparent-theft-horse-074324772.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKxOLudzTwD2h_Xn68QbBSIBw8n6C-6SOD4uosr5rYwmvsKerDGBL89-bWMZlmgontO7MC1n5ul2UJa1w38s_5qcgI2fBxoMJJY2S0UUot3NIK09UJ4ykRp5BjyEvkZ7YS_ElhAvrW647fN_QUb09yhD-vgUqnyRLbwMsgsNuOBn

https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/ni-farmer-records-thefts-of-silage-bales-on-video-camera/

https://www.mountainviewtoday.ca/beyond-local/cattle-theft-victim-says-the-system-is-broken-7350304

Africa

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2023-07-31-teenage-farm-attackers-arrested-after-crashing-stolen-car/

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2023/07/police-recover-stolen-goats-in-isiolo/&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoUMTQzMDM3OTIzODYyMjU5NzA2NjYyGmRkNWM4ZGM4NzI2MzIxY2U6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AOvVaw2R3BkxHD9sBSrWCDQx6cV4&source=gmail&ust=1691195775057000&usg=AOvVaw2AD6nBIIaFfxjGBbUFcEqj

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.an17.com/crime/police_fire/31-year-old-from-springfield-arrested-in-atv-theft-case/article_f323e69e-2d91-11ee-ab86-7fc3c01adbad.html

https://www.wjhl.com/news/crime/wcso-2-indicted-in-farm-burglary-case/

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Michael "Mick" Hawkes has a storied military career followed by a storied corporate career in security from the U.K.  In the early days of his special forces work, he was part of the response to terrorism in Northern Ireland.  Part of his special forces duty included doing days worth of surveillance on farms, and then covertly entering the buildings of the farm to look for weapons and explosives.  During this surveillance he saw the weaknesses that farmers had when it came to security, and he later used that to his advantage.

Years later, after his corporate career, Mick has decided to try and help the people of the U.K. as well as people all over the world to increase their situational awareness and increase their personal safety.  This has led to the development of Hawkes And Co. and the training that he and his daughter are offering to everyone from elementary school children to corporate leaders.  Included in their target audience is farmers, which is how I found Mick.

On today's show we will talk about Mick's agricultural business, but we will also discuss how farmers can improve situational awareness and security on their farmsteads.

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On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am featuring an entrepreneur with a security awareness business that has a speciality in crime prevention on farms.  To tie in today's re-cap episode I am bringing back this interview with Dave Young, a co-founder of the Vistelar Security Group, that I did in 2020 about home invasions and self-defense on our farms.

Lauren Comes is a farmer and FFA student from Southwest Iowa.  She has just completed her first, full year of FFA and is preparing to launch into even more FFA activities as sophomore.  Lauren farms with her father and brothers on their multi-generational farm, primarily raising commercial cattle, but also growing some row crops.

In this interview Lauren and I spoke about the payoffs of farming.  As she talked about in the show, not every aspect of farming is pleasant or enjoyable, but they are necessary to keep the farm going.  And, eventually there is a payoff, and I don't mean money.  That payoff is different for all of us.  For Lauren it takes place in March when she gets to spend time with newborn calf and its mother in the barn.  For me, it is in mid-July at the end of a long day watching the sun go down and listening to the cattle graze.  Either way, there are those moments on the farm that make those unpleasant moments worth it.

Lauren is pouring all of her energy in the FFA and farming.  She doesn't know what she wants to study after high school yet, but she knows it will be in agriculture.  And certainly there is wisdom built into her father's choice to have the kids hand stack, heavy bails of hay in the hot, Iowa sun.  There will be a day in Lauren's future that test her, possibly even makes her wonder if pursuing her career goals are worth it, and then she will remember stacking those bales and her motivation will return.  It works the same for all of us who have ever done an unpleasant, physically taxing job.  It pushes us forward and helps us get to where we are supposed to end up.

You all know that I have been trying to solve a coyote problem for some time now.  Well, it still is not solved, and it has opened a pandora's box of how to do this and how to do that while not losing any more goats.  There has been one issue in particular that has plagued me, and that is how to pen up the goats at night in one particular pasture I'd like to graze them in.  Well, this weekend I got away for a couple of days and took some time to completely forget about the problems on the farm.  And poof!  Just like that I came up with a solution.  I'll talk about this method in today's episode.

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Lane Carter is going into his fourth year of the FFA, but just his sophomore year of high school in a couple of weeks.  He began his FFA journey in the 7th Grade with a vision of farming, full time after high school ever since.

Lane already has a great vision of what it is going to take.  He has already started a side business, doing custom bailing for customers in his area of Northeast Missouri.  He is trading labor on his families farm for the use of the equipment he needs to operate this business.  He also has identified other side hustles that he could pursue to create off-farm income when the time comes, such as selling seed.

Lane is not waiting around though.  He and his brother leased 50 acres and farmed it as partners last year.  This year they are leasing 80.  Lane's goal is to grow every year and to keep growing until all he has to do to survive is farm.  He will take the off-farm job if he needs to, but he is making all the right moves right now to avoid that, or at least to minimize that.

For Information Like Degrees Offered, Annual Costs, Etc., Please Click The Banner Below:

The Agricultural College Episode is designed to profile agricultural trade schools, junior colleges, colleges and universities around the U.S.  This episode is an effort to replicate the conversation that prospective students, parents and ag teachers might have with agricultural schools at trade show like the National FFA Convention.

The College Of Southern Idaho is a community college located in Twin Falls, Idaho.  They have a fantastic reputation as an agricultural college going back to when my in-laws were farming fish in Buhl, Idaho and having interns from CSI work on their fish farm.  The Idaho State FFA Convention is held at CSI every year, and it sits in the heart of the rich agricultural Magic Valley of Southern Idaho.

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Tip Of The Week

Do you keep track of metal prices?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.countryherald.com/news/local/towns/will-county/beecher/faa-seeks-publics-help-in-identifying-reckless-crop-dusters/

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article277796823.html

https://advertiser-tribune.com/news/472193/have-you-seen-this-tractor/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://aboutregional.com.au/police-search-for-alpacas-allegedly-stolen-from-michelago-property/430836/

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/?post_type=fp&p=6002605

https://www.farmersguardian.com/news/4121476/dog-caught

Africa

https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-suspected-goat-thief-loses-voice-in-court

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/business/article/2001478566/wamuchomba-urges-state-to-set-up-anti-coffee-theft-police-unit

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.btw21.com/post/sheriff-couple-charged-in-connection-with-stolen-tractor-and-bush-hog

https://www.wqow.com/news/crime/charges-settled-after-horses-found-dead-on-farm-2-accused-of-mistreatment-of-animals/article_f7981864-2d76-11ee-b295-af1b4157dd3c.html

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One thing the FFA is great at is giving all students, regardless of the size or scope of their operation, an equal chance of recognition.  Today's Guest, Olivia Rossi, really demonstrates that.

Olivia has grown up on her families cattle ranch in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.  She exchanges labor for the feed and housing of her her beef SAE, which consists of two steers.  Even though Olivia lives on an expansive cow/calf operation and could put together a placement SAE with a large scope, she chooses to put together an entrepreneurship SAE consisting of just these two steers.  And, she has taken this project all the way.

Olivia won grand champion with one of her steers, and she won a state proficiency award with her project of raising and showing her two steers.  Two steers, that is all, and now she is entering her project for consideration at the national level!  Olivia never stressed over the size of her project, but she pays close attention to the quality.  And, in her application she focused on explaining how raising two steers could still give her insight into the beef industry and beef business, and she didn't allow anyone to look at the size of her operation as a limiting factor.

On tomorrow's episode I am featuring another student from Soroco FFA in Northwest Colorado.  The stories that come out of this mountainous cattle country are so interesting.  And our guest happens to be cousins with and have the same last name as previous OFI guest, Kayla Rossi.  So, it seemed like a natural fit for today's re-cap episode to replay the interview I did with Kayla, talking all about how predators were a challenge for her SAE project in this wild area.

Ty Oyen has already been on the big stage at the National FFA Convention for he and his partner, Gage's, Agrisicence Research Project regarding water quality on part of Ty's farm in South Dakota.  This happened in Ty and Gage's 9th Grade year of high school!  It is amazing to see photos of those two receiving their awards in Indianapolis and to know that they have just begun their high school and FFA journeys.

However, after speaking with Ty for a few minutes you realize that being surprised that he accomplished this already is just underestimating him.  Ty is devoted to farming, and his schedule reflects that.  He is having very much a normal high school experience for an athletic person.  He plays three sports - football, basketball and track - and of course, he is in the FFA.  But all of that is book ended by farming.

Ty gets up in the morning at about 6am, and before he heads to school he bottle feeds about 30 calves.  Then he has school all day, practice for whatever sport is in season after school and he finally heads home.  But, when he gets home he changes clothes, heads out to the shop and works on whatever project his father and grandfather have given he and his brother.

When school is out for the summer, Ty is working in the family business custom bailing hay for folks or custom chopping hay and corn for other people's livestock feed needs.  Looking into the future, Ty is focused on farming.  He and his older brother are going to study to become diesel technicians, specializing in John Deere Equipment.  They use a lot of John Deere equipment on the farm already, but it becomes increasingly more complex to work on.  However, by becoming experts they will be able to solve a lot of these problems themselves, without the need to pay expensive shop rates and taken equipment back to the dealership.

Well, since we last spoke I have been in a sniper's next every morning by o500 waiting for my chance to exterminate this coyote that has cost us 7 goats.  So far, no luck.  However, I did catch it on the game camera and confirm that it is a coyote.  This discussion will dominate today's farm update episode, but we will also talk about August weather, monsoonal moisture, the Canyon County Fair and corn, corn, corn.....

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