Tip Of The Week

“We’re Going To Need A Bigger Tractor”

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.nwestiowa.com/news/information-sought-on-cattle-gate-thefts/article_0d425d46-ec85-11ee-843e-c77398c33577.html

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/03/07/thieves-make-off-with-large-water-tanker-truck-another-ranch-burglary/

https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2024-03-01/farmers-advocate-for-legislative-action-on-agricultural-crimes#

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/news/staffordshire/news/2024/march/we-are-appealing-for-information-after-a-dead-sheep-was-found-by-a-dog-walker-in-horton/

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/crime/operation-recall-uk-police-and-charities-join-forces-to-launch-operation-to-tackle-livestock-attacks-4573330

https://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/24214969.two-tiny-lambs-stolen-small-family-farm-bridport/

Africa

https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=52207

https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/farm-guard-arrested-for-allegedly-shooting-woman-and-killing-her-male-friend-in-hail-of-bullets-ac89e6ee-a42b-4802-93ec-2db46a75847f

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.theadanews.com/news/local_news/ada-man-charged-with-cattle-theft/article_16cd4c22-ead7-11ee-914a-1f4afbbc263e.html

https://abc13.com/police-chase-with-stolen-tractor-man-pulling-trailer-leads-high-speed-gulf-freeway-activity-webster-pursuit/14577097/

https://www.ksn.com/news/dont-miss-this/watch-police-and-front-end-loader-chase-stolen-tractor/

Richard Fultz is the Land Survey Supervisor with the Modesto Irrigation District in Modesto, California.  I bumped into Richard while I was in Modesto in February and learned of his position.  He suggested doing an interview about his profession for a number of reasons.  One of the main reasons was how much he gets to work in agriculture through this career.  Also, because there are a shortage of land surveyors, he believes this can be a very lucrative career for an agriculture student.

In today's episode we talk about what it takes to become a land surveyor, who seems to fit the best in the career and what you get to do. Richard also talks about his pathway to doing this, and some internship opportunities to help students determine whether or not this is the correct fit for them.  It is my sincere hope that this helps a student find the pathway in agriculture that they are looking for.

Today's episode is a bit different than any normal, Off-Farm Income episode.  Today I am speaking with Kathleen Dowling.  Kathleen and I have a lot in common.  We both grew up in California, we both started our collegiate education at a community college, we both had a dream of moving to Montana, we both became Montana state residents and we both got ag degrees from Montana State University.

Recently I saw a post on the Facebook Group, My Job Depends On Ag, that Kathleen had put up.  She expressed a bit of frustration with finding a career in agriculture and was asking for recommendations from other people.  I reached out to her and offered to provide some career coaching if we could release the conversation as a podcast.  She agreed to that, and today's episode is that conversation.

Joleigh Nailor is the president of her FFA chapter and a very prolific livestock exhibitor.  Growing up with a father who is a full-time dairyman, Joleigh has been engrossed in the dairy industry.  When she is not milking dairy cattle, she is showing them.  Between the Holsteins she owns, as well as a string of Shorthorn cattle and even Jerseys, she has the ability to participate in the show arena in many different ways.  Also, she is very active showing pigs and market steers.  She just can't get enough.

There was something very telling about Joleigh's personality when I asked her about the return on investment from traveling up and down the East Coast to different livestock shows, fairs and jackpots.  One the most important things she named was the friendships she made being out there, showing livestock with others.  She also noted having the opportunity to be a part of younger exhibitor's journey as they develop their skills.

I have recently taken up the hobby of speaking on a GMRS Radio and using repeaters to connect with people outside the range of my handset.  On today's episode I want to expose you to the fun and the practical side of this activity.

Links Discussed On The Show:

My GMRS: https://mygmrs.com/

FCC Licensing: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs

Notarubicon YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNotaRubicon

Treasure Valley Linked GMS Repeater Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/889860782756239

GMRS Live: https://www.gmrslive.com/

Abbie Chase is a junior at McCook Central High School and is serving as the chapter's Vice-President of Building Community.  Abbie is also a very determined bee keeper, which you will figure out when you hear her story, and she is growing the number of hives she keeps as quickly as she can.  

This was a very interesting interview for me because it incorporated a story of a severe weather phenomena that I have never experienced.  Abbie did experience this, and it really changed her outlook on the service component of being in the FFA.  It also impacted her personally because of the impact that it had on her bee hives at the time when it occurred.  So, in today's episode not only is there a great story of an outstanding FFA student, but there is a great weather story that leads right into perseverance in agriculture!

Tip Of The Week

Find reputable legal training before you protect life or property with a gun

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.kcci.com/article/gun-theft-burglary-ames-iowa-theisens-brazen-smash-and-grab/60191829

https://www.kfvs12.com/2024/03/13/authorities-searching-theft-suspect-western-kentucky/

https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/calaveras-county-man-arrested-for-shooting-shotgun-toward-atv-rider-on-property/103-a1083e9c-5f26-4e42-a201-76243ba90fac

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/18/us/woman-shot-wrong-driveway-upstate-new-york/index.html

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-rules-white-man-will-stand-trial-for-shooting-black-teen-ralph-yarl-who-went-to-wrong-house

https://www.wtva.com/news/local/kids-accused-of-stealing-horses-in-clay-county/article_b43fedc2-e08f-11ee-8d4c-973a3c9e60d0.html

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/farming/2024/03/14/farmer-speaks-out-after-scores-of-lambs-butchered-in-field/

https://www.farmersguide.co.uk/rural/rural-crime/stop-me-stickers-given-to-farmers-to-protect-machinery-and-vehicles-against-thieves/

Africa

https://www.citizen.co.za/southlands-sun/lnn/article/two-men-arrested-allegedly-stealing-213-sheep/?amp

https://dy365.in/assam/assam-two-cows-stolen-from-cattle-shed-in-khetri-13875

https://www.citizen.digital/news/family-of-two-killed-over-chicken-theft-claims-wants-perpetrators-charged-n338288

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.agdaily.com/news/s-c-man-surrenders-in-suspected-120k-feed-corn-theft/

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nd/pr/buxton-man-sentenced-crop-insurance-violation-ending-series-four-cases-involving-potato

Lukas Hitchcock is 19 years old, has a passion for farming and has little to no farming background.....and he has a vision.  When Lukas was about seven years old he had some limited exposure to farming on one of his cousin's operations in Iowa.  He can remember that moment, and he cites it as the moment that he fell in love with farming.  However, life circumstances for Lukas were not conducive to him growing up learning about farming or working on a farm.  In fact, based on some bad choices of his parents, his attention had to be diverted away from higher level things like learning about farming to just day to day success.

Ultimately, Lukas was thrust in adulthood and independence earlier than most of us, at age sixteen.  As soon as this occurred he started working as a farmhand wherever he could, just to be part of the lifestyle and to learn.  He continues these efforts today, three years later.

Lukas has a vision of having his own farm at some point in the future, and like so many of us, young and old, he has no idea how to make that happen given the large financial obstacles that stand in his way. Lukas is doing what everyone in his position does.  He is seeking, researching and looking for information wherever he can find it.  That led him to reach out to me for advice.

Instead of having a private telephone conversation about ideas, we decided to record the conversation and publish it as a podcast episode if we both agreed.  At the end, neither of us said anything that we wanted kept confidential, and we decided go ahead with publishing it in the hopes it might help somebody else.

On tomorrow's ag business episode we are looking at the concept of farm transition again.  It has been several years since I have done this, but it is a topic that we should keep front of mind because it is a valid way to begin farming or ranching.  Back in 2017 I interviewed a young man who was a National Proficiency Finalist and a sophomore in college.  He was raising his own cattle and working for a neighbor on his ranch, and that neighbor was ready to retire.  The neighbor did not have a family member who wanted to farm the ground, and he was transitioning the operation to my guest, Stetson Dittmar.  On today's show we will revisit that conversation.

Our guest today is an inspiration to people everywhere who have said "how do I get the land that I need to farm?".  Tyler Worthey is showing everyone what can be done from your own back yard and kitchen.

Tyler is the Chapter Reporter at Neoga FFA in Illinois.  He was recruited by his FFA Advisor back in the 8th grade after being enrolled in an introduction to agriculture class, and he has not looked back.  That year he started making hot sauces in his kitchen at home just for fun, and he would share them with friends at school.  It wasn't long until people were requesting certain sauces and were even willing to pay for them.  Worthey Peppers was born.

Today, Tyler is growing his own supply of peppers in the back yard of his parents house in a neighborhood of Neoga.  He is taking those peppers and turning them into a variety of hot sauces, jams and jellies in the kitchen of his house.  And, he is fully licensed and certified through the State Of Illinois as a "cottage food producer".  He then markets those products at fairs, festivals and farmer's markets.  He is killing it, and has really got a great brand created and a great product to sell!

Today's episode was inspired by a Tuesday show I did back in 2019, #662.  I will be discussing getting yourself to a conference this year as a matter of pivotal importance to the growth and sustainability of your business and/or farm enterprise.

Ava Belanger is just finishing up her sophomore year of high school, but is well ahead of the pace when it comes to her knowledge of horticulture.  She and a partner are currently growing floating flowers in a kiddie pool at her school, and they have already rescued them from deterioration and death once only to see them come back flourish.

This all began when Ava decided she wanted to be a neurologist at the end of her 8th Grade year.  In Massachusetts some students can attend high schools dedicated to one main area of study.  At Norfolk County that is agriculture.  Ava saw this and thought that it might help her in the scientific pursuit that she had identified.  So, she enrolled at Norfolk.  However, she later determined that was not the direction she wanted to pursue and developed an interest in plants.

Today, Ava is serving as a Junior Officer in the Secretary position.  She hopes to advance to an upper level officer position next year and keep pursuing her interest in plants.

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.

I have more students from around the country tell me that they are going out of state, to Oklahoma State University, to study agriculture than to any other university.  On today's show I finally get to find out why this is!  OSU has something going on, and it is working.  The lineup of guests we have today do a great job of demonstrating what there is to love in Stillwater, and today will get to profile the Ferguson College Of Agriculture.

Tip Of The Week

Don’t pay for anything you don’t have in your possession without safety measures in place

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.wlbt.com/2024/03/08/hay-horse-scams-sweeping-internet-ms-ag-theft-bureau-says-be-cautious/

https://www.klfy.com/local/st-landry-parish/officials-ask-for-publics-help-in-locating-missing-livestock/

https://ktemnews.com/ixp/341/p/red-paint-tree-meaning/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.southwestfarmer.co.uk/news/24185243.gps-dome-stolen-tractor-west-dorset/

https://www.farmersguide.co.uk/rural/rural-crime/shropshire-farmers-warned-following-rise-in-diesel-thefts/

Africa

https://www.chronicle.co.zw/byo-police-recover-19-head-of-stolen-cattle/

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2024-03-13-state-opens-more-security-camps-in-baringo-to-tame-banditry/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.wdsu.com/article/community-rallies-around-slidell-women-who-discover-therapy-goats-dead-or-stolen/60192109

https://www.thedailystar.com/news/davenport-man-sentenced-for-insurance-fraud/article_76ed8290-e16b-11ee-beb7-eb6bd39a765d.html

John Price is 26 years old and has been running his own farm for 1/2 of his life.  Today, he runs Archlynn Farm with his wife, mother and step-father in Charlotte Courthouse, Virginia.  There they raise over 50 acres of produce for direct sales to customers and sales in grocery stores.

When John was in elementary school he, his sister and his two brothers were all in the 4H, and John never liked it!  He exited the 4H as soon as he was able and really was not enthusiastic about agriculture.  However, when he was around 13 years old his family planted a 1/2 acre garden, and he worked with the rest of the family on the plot.

At some point, friends and family started asking to purchase produce from them, and this led to the development of a CSA.  Something clicked for John at this point, and he has been loving farming ever since.  That was 13 years ago, and the time since then has spanned half of John's life.

Today, his siblings have moved onto to other pursuits, but he is farming with his folks and his wife.  They are now growing produce on 50 acres of land and selling to multiple outlets.  There was a pivotal moment in the development of the farm that led to a question - "do we scale back so the four of us can run this, or do he hire help so we can grow?".  The choice was to grow, and to develop a business that would sustain the four of them as full-time farmers.

This decision led to the problem of finding reliable labor on the farm.  Ultimately they chose to participate in the H2A Program and hire labor from Mexico during the growing season.  John and I spend the final 15 minutes of the interview discussing how this works and the decision process.

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am profiling a farmer from South Virginia with an impressive vegetable farm.  This made me think about the interview I did with the owners of Diemand Farm back in 2019 and how many different enterprises and value added products they had to keep going.  I thought this was a great tie in for tomorrow's ag business episode, and I am eager to play it for you again.

Quinton Berg has a passion for livestock judging, and he has carried that forward through his time in the FFA.  He has been judging livestock since he was in the 4H, and he travels to competitions all over the Mid-West to pursue this skill set.  Last year, he decided to share it with others the way it had been shared with him.  So, he set up a free livestock judging clinic to teach younger 4H members how they can participate.

Through his efforts, Quinton received donations of money, door prizes and livestock to be judged.  He also had a lot of help putting on the event, and he acknowledges those who assisted him in the interview today.  There is no doubt that his passion for this type of competition shines through wherever he goes.  At a competition at the Fort Scott Community College in Kansas last year the college's judging coach saw something in Quinton and offered him a scholarship to come be on the team.  And you guessed it, Quinton will be judging livestock for Fort Scott starting in the Fall of 2024!

Today is a regular farm update for you.  On the agenda is:

• March snows
• Building a heated room in my shop
• Taking up wood carving
• HenGear Nest Boxes

Ashlynn Lamp is her FFA Chapter's Reporter, she raises chickens and goats at her home and she is passionate about horticulture.  So much so, that her FFA Advisor knew she would be a great guest on the show.

In today's episode featuring Ashlynn we will talk about her journey into food production, and therefore into the FFA.  We will also talk sports, horticulture, becoming an FFA officer and where she plans to take this great experience in the future.

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.

[caption id="attachment_421797" align="alignleft" width="121"] Tyeson Gravenhof - Student Ambassador[/caption]

Northeast Oklahoma A&M is a community college very near the Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri borders with Oklahoma.  Students from throughout the U.S. come here to be on the livestock judging team, and many careers in agriculture are launched here with transfers to four year institutions in Oklahoma and surrounding states.

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

Tip Of The Week

Don’t give up on stolen horses

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://theprowersjournal.com/2024/03/livestock-theft-meeting-to-be-held-march-14-in-springfield/

https://www.ivpressonline.com/news/county-approves-funds-to-address-farm-theft-vandalism/article_61b9fa66-db35-11ee-9ce9-9f511f474061.html

https://bnnbreaking.com/breaking-news/crime/livestock-theft-in-georgetown-county-10-chickens-2-ducks-missing

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.farmersguide.co.uk/rural/rural-crime/hundreds-of-sheep-stolen-as-livestock-rustlers-target-uk-farms/

https://www.miragenews.com/nsw-police-hunt-for-leads-in-mid-north-coast-1188449/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-07/nobby-night-watchman-keeps-close-eye-on-cattle-high-country-sale/103546204

Africa

https://www.withinnigeria.com/news/2024/03/07/deadly-attack-claims-lives-of-herder-and-livestock-in-plateau-state/

https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=51799

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.ksbw.com/article/chp-recovers-two-tractors-stolen-in-santa-cruz-california/60115164

https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2024/03/06/indian-river-timber-harvester-jailed-45-days-for-embezzlement-from-landowners

https://www.kpua.net/2024/03/07/hpd-receives-donation-of-certified-agricultural-produce-scales-to-combat-theft/

https://fox40jackson.com/local-news/mississippi-authorities-recover-stolen-racehorse-in-kentucky/

Avery Shoffner has her own flock of sheep, is a senior in high school, lives on her family's Century Farm and makes a great income over the summer showing the sheep that she raises.

Avery has been involved in raising and showing sheep, largely influenced by her grandfather, since she was very young.  Today, she manages her own flock, exchanges labor on her grandfather's farm for feed and pasture and is at a show every weekend of the summer.  She has become hyper-focused on this supervised agricultural experience, stepping away from school sports and the FFA officer team for dual reasons.  First, is her devotion to this project and showmanship, which takes priority over everything else.  Second is the wisdom and integrity of knowing that she wasn't giving what she believed to be necessary attention to those other things when there was somebody waiting in the wings who would.

Avery loves her family, her farm and her sheep.  She also has a heart for service.  So, after graduation she is starting her collegiate career at a nearby community college.  This will allow her continue living at home, save money and work on the farm.  She will be pursuing a career as an elementary school teacher.  She knows she wants to help people and to make a difference, and that is where she believes she can do it best!

On tomorrow's episode I am interviewing a young lady who raises sheep.  Also, this is the time of year that students are going to be pursuing the chance of a lifetime to be State FFA Officers.  So, I thought for today's re-cap this interview with Renee Stillwell from back in 2016 was perfect.  Not only was she raising sheep, but I titled this episode "How To Become A State Officer".

Greyson Applebee is his chapter and section's secretary in just his junior year of high school, and this follows a history of not wanting to join the FFA.  Greyson has twin, older brothers, and they were both in the FFA and both officers.  And, his father believes that it is important to have a background in farming and agriculture.  So, when it was time to start high school the only person that didn't want Greyson to join the FFA was Greyson.  However, his father registered him for the introduction to agriculture class, and things took off from there.  Greyson said that once his FFA Advisor had the opportunity to start exposing him to activities he got hooked.  

Greyson's ascension into fish farming was just as quick.  He was able to go to the National FFA Convention his 9th Grade year, and on that trip the chapter did a number of tours.  One of those was a facility where fish were being raised.  Greyson was fascinated, and by the spring of his 9th grade year, he and a friend, had rounded up the necessary equipment and were raising fish.

Greyson is continuing to grow his supervised agricultural experience and has identified a career area that he is interested in for the future.  Sales for John Deere is the dream job that he named when I asked him.  Based on the track record he already has, I suspect that he is going to accomplish this goal also!

A while back I spoke with you about setting your New Year's Resolutions later in the year, rather than on January 1st.  There was a good rationale for that, and I am find that to be proven true.  On today's show I'll share with you what my two resolutions for 2024 are.

Lilly Cappitte is her chapter's president, a business owner and a gregarious agriculturist, but it wasn't always this way.  Growing up in her blended household, Lilly did not have anyone expressing any agricultural influence on her.  Nobody in the family worked in agriculture or was trying to move back to a farm or anything like that.

When Lilly was in her second semester of her sophomore year of high school she took a veterinary science course because she was interested in animals.  This was taught by one of the FFA advisors, and it automatically enrolled her in the chapter.  One day, her teacher approached her and asked her if she would be willing to be on a plant science team to help out.  They were one person short, and without a full team they could not compete.  Lilly said yes, went to the competition and ended up doing very well on the individual level.

Since that competition, Lilly has caught fire in the FFA and has served as an officer twice.  She has also started her own flower business, selling flowers at the farmer's market as well as to friends and classmates for dances.  She also took a job on a farm helping to teach children about agriculture.  She is planning on getting a degree in agriculture, and she is totally in on agriculture!

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 Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a niched agricultural college with specialties in forestry, horticulture and diesel technology.  Offering associates, bachelors and master's degrees, upwards of 90% of the forestry students study for an associates degree and then get to work.  The hands on learning is impressive with 3 hours of lab work, in the forest, for every one hour of classroom instruction.

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

Tip Of The Week

How can you help with threat assessment?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://salinapost.com/posts/d8120ba2-e53e-4785-b9ad-5deb4f882340

https://www.greenriverstar.com/story/2024/02/29/news/recent-sentencing-from-the-us-attorneys-office-district-of-wyoming/11404.html

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/miniature-horse-shot-killed-maple-valley/P2ZSZDBNGFFKLDCREBSO56ZYJE/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/n-s-rcmp-charge-four-following-alleged-copper-theft-1.6788080

https://www.iheartradio.ca/virginradio/winnipeg/news-trending/it-s-frightening-rural-manitoba-residents-take-action-to-curb-crime-1.21933772

https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2024-03-01/merriwa-farmer-reward-black-angus-cattle-rustlers-police/103532808

Africa

https://www.chronicle.co.zw/6-arrests-58-stolen-cattle-recovered/

https://gna.org.gh/2024/02/man-convicted-over-water-meter-theft/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://hpj.com/2024/02/29/south-dakota-bans-home-equity-theft/

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/farm-watch-used-to-bust-agricultural-theft-crew-in-southern-california/

When school started again the following year, he moved back to his parent's home where he would attend school in person.  Taking care of the rabbits became more of a challenge considering the travel required and the level of attention required.  As a result, the enterprise failed.

Nate was not done, but he knew that he needed to try something different than rabbits.  Through a series of examples, contemplations and research Nate and his grandfather decided to have Nate try raising Dorper Sheep.  This is where Nate found his niche and his passion.  Today he is the owner of Cartwright Dorpers and is operating both a purebred and commercial sheep enterprise.