Daniel Laurent is a sophomore at Caldwell County High School, but he might as well be an instructor already when it comes to the breeding and showing of pigs.  He is just in his second year of the FFA, officially, but all of his four older siblings were in the FFA and he has been talking and getting FFA experiences for the past 13 years since his eldest sister joined.

Daniel has a passion for animal agriculture, which has been apparent his entire life.  When he was 8 years old he did his own research and told his father that he thought they should change their entire pig breeding operation from Yorkshires to Duroc's.  He has his argument well thought out and documented, and eventually, this happened.

Today Daniel gets more excitement out of seeing a 10 year old kid win in the show ring with a Laurent pig than he does actually winning himself.  He loves the process of matching up the correct pigs phenotypically and genotypically and then seeing the success it brings.  All of this, and he still does not even have a driver's license!

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.  Thisepisode 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.

On today's episode I am joined by Deana Core, an Assistant Dean in the College Of Agriculture as well as Caitlin Parks, a junior and College Of Agriculture Ambassador.  I am definitely excited for any student who is going to attend Kansas State University and study agriculture after this interview, and you will be too!

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Tip Of The Week

Planting season is coming, is your GPS equipment secure?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.wbtw.com/news/state-regional-news/horse-gambling-bill-beats-long-odds-passes-south-carolina-house/

https://apnews.com/article/technology-education-lotteries-journalism-893a47d6d48f08d013d9e9374ca11ea1

https://www.kwch.com/2023/04/06/sheridan-county-sheriff-says-80-cattle-missing-near-hoxie/

https://www.eunicetoday.com/public-safety/antique-tractor-stolen-palmetto-area-field

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/crime/fife-crime-kelty-farmer-devastated-after-16-lambs-killed-and-four-injured-in-dog-attack-on-blairadam-farm-4096208

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-65209163

https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/23439608.isle-wight-dog-attack-sees-sheep-killed-compensation-paid/

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/23421080.wrexham-family-distraught-goat-suspected-stolen/

https://www.suffolk.police.uk/news/latest-news/thefts-gps-farm-equipment

Africa

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/crime-police-arrest-three-men-with-16-stolen-sheep-7-april-2023/

https://www.namibian.com.na/22-sheep-stolen-at-otjimbingwe/

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2023-04-06-cattle-rustlers-face-life-imprisonment-in-new-senate-bill/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.tsln.com/news/two-ellis-county-men-charged-in-cattle-theft-case/

https://www.newsweek.com/man-steals-school-bus-dead-deer-naked-police-chase-pennsylvania-1793028

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Brian Simpson is the owner of Dirt Man X and RV Dump Bucket in Austin, Texas.  He moved from Michigan to Austin about 9 years ago.  As a previous owner of an excavation company in Michigan, he had the equipment and expertise to bring with him on the trip south.  But, he couldn't bring his reputation because nobody in Austin knew him.

In today's episode Brian and I talk about serving farmers in Michigan and ranchers in Texas.  We discuss going a little bit backwards in business from having loads of business through word of mouth to having to advertise and build trust and a reputation again.  We also discuss how to move a business with that much equipment.  What gets sold?  What comes along?

Brian has great advice for those just getting started, and there are some stories of digging stuff up that you never wanted to find and the lights and sirens that come with those moments.

On tomorrow's episode of the Off-Farm Income Podcast, we are featuring a gentleman who has spent his career running his own excavation business.  We will be highlighting what it took for him to move his business from Michigan to Texas.

This interview reminded me of another great guest who had come on the show back in 2018.  Back then, Jon McNees was an FFA student.  He had been working his father's excavation business for years, and he was progressively getting more and more responsibility.  What I loved about the interview with Jon, is that he did not just think it was his birthright to work in that company.  Even in high school he was doing whatever he could to add value to the company.  He was able to do this through his participation in the FFA and by learning as much as he could about soils.

Bringing back this interview with Jon is the perfect lead in, to tomorrow's ag business episode.

Austin Elam is a senior at Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School in Paxton, Illinois.  Prior to his sophomore year of high school Austin never envisioned himself as an FFA member, but because of Covid he was forced to choose one of two elective courses, introduction to agriculture or home economics.  He chose agriculture, and after being introduced to different discussions about livestock he was totally hooked and became very active in the FFA.  

Today Austin is preparing to graduate high school, and he has decided that he would like to return to the classroom in the future as an agriculture teacher.  He has found a program in Illinois that will allow him to attend a community college and take courses through the University Of Illinois leading to a bachelor's degree.  Through this method he will be able to obtain his degree without paying the high cost of tuition at Illinois.  Austin is a pragmatic thinker, and he plans to bring that back to the classroom for future agriculture students.  

There is a lot going on, on our farm and in our lives right now.  We have definitely broken into spring and are charging forward with our farming season.  Here is what is in our farm update today:

• A change in advertising
• College visits in Texas
• Kidding season is underway
• Our current stats on goats
• Hattie's SAE project and grant
• Afternoon feeding for afternoon kids and calves
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Isaac Hopke is the current Wisconsin State FFA Secretary.  He is also the owner of American Landscaping in Spooner, Wisconsin and a student at the Univeristy Of Wisconsin, River Falls.  Isaac's family purchased their farm when he was just four years old, but he can still remember the transition.  From that point forward he developed a passion for the agricultural life and began showing animals in the 4H.

When 7th Grade arrived, Isaac was eligible to sign up for the FFA in his middle school.  At the same time his older brother was slated to go the National Convention but had to drop out, so Isaac took his place.  After seeing his first National Convention, Isaac was hooked! He has been totally devoted to serving in the FFA ever since.

Isaac continues to run American Landscaping, even as a full-time college student.  And, he is currently changing his business status from sole proprietor to LLC.  He has all of his options for a future career open right now with self-employment remaining at the top of the list.

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.

Weatherford College is a junior college located about 30 miles from Fort Worth in Texas. WC boasts a very strong rodeo team as well as a very solid foundation for students who will eventually transfer to a university to finish their four year degree.  Joining us today is the Department Chair of Agriculture, Business & Communication, Vance Christie.  Vance is a product of the junior college system just like me, and he offers a lot of reasons that starting your agricultural college career at Weatherford College is the right choice!

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Tip Of The Week

Have you assessed the value of the timber on your land?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/7691064/legal-experts-break-laws-garden-without-knowing/

https://www.agdaily.com/news/kentucky-police-investigate-farm-stolen-walnut-trees-valued-at-30/

https://www.ptleader.com/stories/jefferson-county-sheriffs-log-gone-to-pot,110798

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/uk-world-news/rise-quad-thefts-leave-sheep-8276560

https://www.freepressseries.co.uk/news/23405044.quad-seized-becoming-stuck-mud-torfaen-farm/

https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/news/23412447.fuel-theft-doubled-2022-reports-insurer-nfu-mutual/

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/world/864657/spain-police-arrest-16-in-olive-heist/story/

Africa

https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/rubanda-farmer-arrested-over-murder-by-mob-156531

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/nyanza/article/2001469649/how-nyumba-kumi-has-helped-fight-violent-groups-in-kuria

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/03/24/miss-men-arrested-theft-ring-trucks-farm-equipment/

https://www.knoe.com/2023/03/22/ldaf-arrests-west-carroll-man-accused-felony-theft/

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