This week we have a special Rural Crime Episode for you.  I am speaking with Philip Clarke, the executive Editor of Farmer's Weekly.  Farmer's Weekly is a publication based in the United Kingdom.

I have been reading so many stories about rural crime in the U.K. that I wanted to speak with somebody who understood the scope and specifics of the issues there better than me.  It seems that three out of every four articles I read about rural crime in the U.K. are published by Farmer's Weekly, so that seemed like a good place to begin my search.

I was very fortunate that Philip was willing to take the time to come on the show.  In the interview we talk about whether or not there really is a large problem with rural crime in the U.K.  We also discuss the specific problems they are facing, we clarify some terms and we discuss the differences between the U.S. and U.K.

You are going to really enjoy this very interesting interview.

Merry Christmas everyone!  I always love creating and recording our Christmas episode for your each year.  However, this year is a little bit different.  This year I have a guest on the show for Christmas who is a person who has done something very compassionate for people who are unbelievably less fortunate than anyone born here in the United States Of America.

You may remember from our rural crime episode #1240 that the final story I covered was about a woman named Caroline Clarin in Fergus Falls, Minnesota who had been helping families to escape Afghanistan and come to the United States.  She has initially been introduced to these families through her work as an agricultural advisor, through the USDA, in Afghanistan.  And of course after being there, meeting these families and seeing the poverty, corruption and violence for herself she was compelled to help them leave.

After covering that first story, I decided to reach out to Caroline and see if she would do an interview to discuss the amazing humanitarian work she had done and was still doing as part of our Christmas episode.  It turned out that the original story I had read mis-represented what had actually happened a little bit.  Today, she is on our show to discuss some of what she learned in Afghanistan, how she helped to get families out, what it was like when she learned the U.S. was pulling out of Afghanistan in August of 2021 and what she is still striving to do.

I cannot imagine anything more Christmasy, regardless of your belief system, than what Caroline did between 2013 and 2021 in helping five families relocate to the U.S. from Afghanistan or what she is still striving to do.  So, Merry Christmas everyone, and her is a heart warming story to help you appreciate just how good we have it in the U.S.

Our guest today is very good at keeping a secret!  At almost the moment that we finished our interview, he ended the call and proposed to his girlfriend!  And, I would not be including this in the show notes if she had not said yes.  Congratulations to the happy couple!

Well, Landon Wenger is certainly laying the foundations for the rest of his life.  At age 19 he has been named as a state winner in Ohio for agricultural sales entrepreneurship proficiency.  This stemmed from him purchasing his own Christmas Tree farm when was just sixteen years of age!  It is called "Wenger's Winter Greens" and he has been steadily planting trees every year so that he has trees to sell every year.

I have always been curious about how this business works with the slow return on investment.  In today's episode Landon will help to break all of that down for us.  He will also talk about his vegetable production business and his time in the FFA.

Today's episode is a "best of" episode.  I interviewed FFA students from all over the U.S. last Christmas about the community service projects they were doing, and I wanted to bring it back to you this year.

Starting tomorrow and going through the 6th of January, I am running "best of" episodes.  I can do 7 episodes per week, but I need a break! And I am taking one.  I hope you enjoy the memories everyone!

Merry Christmas everyone...just a quick check in to say I appreciate you on this most special of holidays!

Christmas is a very special time of year, and it is really where the community service portion of the FFA can shine.  On today's episode we are going to profile a chapter, Northwestern FFA from West Salem, Ohio, that shines very bright at this time of year by helping to provide much needed supplies for people all around the world.

Joining us today to represent Northwestern FFA is Kade Tegtmeier, the chapter president, and Kate Johnson, a assistant officer.  Both of these students have a passion for agriculture that cannot be contained just by the FFA, so they both continue to be involved in the 4H as well.  Led by their great FFA Advisors Kade and Kate, along with the rest of their chapter, get to provide service every Christmas while at the same time being reminded of how fortunate we all are here in the U.S.

Tip Of The Week

Don’t lose money by saving electricity at Christmas

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://ruralradio.com/kneb-am/news/cheyenne-co-sheriffs-office-investigating-stolen-truck-and-firearm/

https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/former-officer-convicted-of-stealing-horse-lying-to-forest-service,110407

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/quads-worth-40-000-stolen-in-donegal-797290

https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/crime/equipment-and-tools-stolen-in-late-night-burglary-of-aylesbury-farm-4445889

Africa

https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/five-years-in-jail-for-limpopo-farm-manager-convicted-of-stealing-and-selling-cattle-evading-court-5039d8c1-8853-4880-958b-2cd68390deda

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/12/14/police-rescue-263-kidnap-victims-in-katsina-kill-12-suspected-terrorists-in-six-months/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://news.yahoo.com/isp-pursuit-suspect-found-under-045900054.html

https://marketrealist.com/how-did-this-farm-couple-steer-a-9-million-insurance-fraud/

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

Julia McCarthy is a farmer, rancher and freelance writer from Grangeville, Idaho.  Several months back I read an article of hers in a publication about agriculture in my state called Ag Proud Idaho.  The topic caught my eye and I liked the writing, so I invited Julia to be a guest on the show.  Finally, we got the interview done.  

Freelance writing is one of my favorite forms of off-farm income.  It can be done anywhere, and it significantly predates podcasting.  In today's episode Julia talks about her path to becoming a freelance writer, some of the hard lessons she has learned and some tips and tricks of the trade.  If this is something you are considering for your off-farm income, in any topic area, this episode is a must for you!

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am profiling a freelance, agricultural writer.  This is one of my favorite forms of off-farm income.  For today's re-cap episode I went back to episode #1233 and an interview I did with Rachel Gabel of the "The Fence Post Magazine".  In this interview we talked a lot about how freelance writers can get started and be successful, but we did it from the editor's perspective.  I thought this was the perfect tie in for tomorrow's show where we will hear this from a writer's perspective.

Lillie Cagle is a 2023 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Agricultural Education.  She is also a Tennessee State Officer and a previous guest on this show.  Lillie just appeared on Off-Farm Income in April of 2023 after becoming a state officer.  She had a phenomenal SAE and was doing a ton of good for agriculture.  In just the span of 6 months from being on the show she found herself on the big stage in Indianapolis receiving an National Proficiency Award for her efforts.  I wanted to have her back on the show to tell her congratulations and to hear all about it!

A quick farm update for all of you today, and a sure fire method for keeping any livestock or dogs from going under your fences.

Teak Barhaug is the past president of the Alaska FFA, a current student at the University Of Alaska - Fairbanks and a former resident of Wyoming.  When Teak's father transferred to Alaska to finish his career in the National Forest Service it came at a bit of a price.  Teak's mother, Kimberly, was a former FFA member, Teak's brother had been involved in the 4h and was progressing into the FFA and Teak had been involved in the 4H and was planning on progressing to the FFA.  However, there was no FFA Chapter in Seward, where they would be attending high school.

So, Teak and his family took it upon themselves to form an FFA Chapter.  This happened with the minimum number of 10 members, and it took off from there.  This escalated all the way to Teak serving as the state president of Alaska.  During Teak's time in high school he worked in the agri-tourism industry, taking groups of tourists into the wilderness to pan for gold and teaching the how.  Today, Teak is studying biology and botany in college and is loving the life he has found in Alaska.

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 University Of Missouri is a large university offering a robust agricultural program, and it also offers a non-resident tuition waiver to students coming from out of state.  I am always excited when I profile a college that makes this offer for out of state students, and Mizzou is on that list!  On today's interview I am speaking with the Director Of Student Recruitment, Kathleen Matz, as well as student ambassador, Grant Norfleet, who just happens to the newly elected, National FFA Secretary.

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

Tip Of The Week

What if you are attacked with pepper spray?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/philly-man-charged-with-using-bear-spray-on-victim-in-nj-robbery/3715884/

https://salinapost.com/posts/8d9358f2-1c94-465a-9ae2-f48418f92e8f

https://www.nwestiowa.com/news/info-sought-on-gate-theft-by-sioux-center/article_7cf974e2-93a9-11ee-bd36-2b76307bc7b3.html

https://www.wrtv.com/news/wrtv-investigates/attracting-law-students-to-rural-counties-is-key-to-addressing-statewide-attorney-shortage

https://kchanews.com/2023/12/06/floyd-county-rural-law-enforcement-rates-going-up/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://chatnewstoday.ca/2023/12/07/property-crime-unit-rounds-up-suspects-who-stole-ram-truck-cowboy-chaps-and-western-gear/

https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/nottinghamshire-farm-suffers-thousands-of-pounds-of-damage-to-crops-from-quads/

Africa

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2023-12-07-two-shot-killed-in-banditry-attack-in-igembe/

https://ewn.co.za/2023/12/06/stop-farm-murders-phala-phala-burglary-has-made-farmers-targets-for-money

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.drovers.com/news/industry/iowa-cattleman-faces-30-years-fraud-theft

https://mageenews.com/maltb-investigators-recover-stolen-tractor-in-yazoo-county/

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

Forrest Pritchard is a regenerative and multi-generational farmer from the Shenandoah Valley of Northern Virginia.  His families roots on the farm go to the mid-1800's, and today he has transformed the look and production of the farm back to something that might resemble how farmsteads operated in that time.

Forrest was not always interested in regenerative, direct to consumer farming.  However, after trying to make it as a commodity based farmer, he went looking for larger profit margins, and this is where he landed.  It helped that this was a manner of farming that offered him the ability to provide service and food to his surrounding community.  He has been at it since the mid 1990's.

Forrest is co-author of the outstanding book, "Start Your Farm", that he wrote with Ellen Polishuk.  I first found out about this book after seeing a quote from it on a social media post discussing the fact that small farmers still choose the commodity based farming model even though their small acreages could never possibly produce a profit on those low margins due to lack of production capability.  This led me to want to know more.  The book is full of great advice, and it is the book I would write if I were ever to sit down to actually do it.  Thankfully, Ellen and Forrest have done it for me, and I can concentrate on podcasting!

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am speaking with a farmer and author who has written a book about how to start your farm.  I thought this interview that I did with Mara Fielder could bring some real life to the interview I am playing tomorrow.  On tomorrow's show we will talk about timing and things to take into consideration when beginning.  But, in this interview with Mara, we hear it from somebody who was going through it at the time, and it adds a sense of a first hand witness to the situation.

Andrew Pingenot is the Chapter President of the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter, he is a distributor of high quality animal feeders and he is just a junior in high school.  Farming and raising cattle on his families multi-generational farm in Iowa, Andrew has embraced the family tradition.  As such, when he was 15 years old, he and his father attended the Iowa Beef Expo in an effort to learn more about the products and ideas out there for their beef business.

While at the expo, Andrew picked up a brochure from a company called Best Livestock Equipment because they had a round bale feeder on display that looked to be very high quality.  Andrew had been frustrated with the quick deterioration of the round bale feeder on their farm, so he followed up with a phone call days after the expo.  One thing led to another, and the manufacturer offered Andrew the opportunity to become a distributor for them in his region of Iowa.

Two years later, Andrew has purchased 0ver 10 semi-loads of livestock feeders and has sold them all.  As we conducted the interview he was just finishing selling his 11th semi load!  This is opened Andrew's eyes to the possibilities of business ownership coupled with a farming enterprise.  He is definitely benefiting from this advanced education!

Applying for, receiving and working in an Internship was one of the best things I did while I was in college.  And, even though it sounds like everyone does this when you listen to my Ag College Episodes, that is not true.  Many college students allow this opportunity to pass them right by.

On today's episode I really want to encourage students to get involved in internships during the time they are in post-secondary education, whether that be trade school, community college or a four year university.  There are so many reasons that this will benefit you, including:

• Exposure to industry
• Determining what career you want
• Determining what career you do not want
• Creating a network of industry people
• Building a resume
• Learning things and building skills for the future and opportunities that have not even been invented yet

Pepper Elmore is the Chapter Reporter for the Kremlin FFA in Kremlin, Oklahoma.  Knowing she wanted to be part of the FFA, when it came to join Pepper chose to go to school at Kremlin-Hillsdale, in spite of the fact that it is 45 minutes from her ranch, because her local school did not offer agriculture.  Pepper is well versed in fitting, showing and husbandry of cattle through her families business of raising purebred Simmental Cattle.

Pepper is clearly a goal setter and she thinks long term.  She has already identified the career that she wants to have after college of becoming a dual purpose chiropractor, working on both people and livestock.  She also knows that she wants to run track in college, and she wants that place to be Oklahoma State University.  With so many decisions already made, now it is just down to mapping out the path and following along.  I think Pepper is in perfect position to make this all happen!

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_421413" align="alignright" width="136"] Carragan Fields[/caption]

The University Of Tennessee is located in a medium sized city in East Tennessee and has a diverse agriculture program through the Herbert College Of Agriculture offering a diverse array of opportunities to students.  The University Of Tennessee participates in the Academic Common Market, giving non-resident students from 12 participating states the opportunity to study there at resident tuition rates.

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

Tip Of The Week

Should we throw rural crime prevention to the dogs?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://newschannel9.com/news/offbeat/great-pyrenees-casper-that-killed-8-coyotes-to-protect-sheep-nominated-for-farm-dog-of-the-year-american-farm-bureau-purina-georgia-john-wierwille-ewe-can-do-it-naturally-landscaping-pregnant-mate-daisy-lifeline-animal-project

https://drgnews.com/2023/12/07/203349/

https://www.skooknews.com/2023/12/farm-burglarized-near.html

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/rural-crime-rates-on-rise-federated-farmers-survey-finds/XOUQH42ASVB6TE2CYQQRQY4ERY/

https://www.farminguk.com/news/police-warn-kent-farmers-following-unexplained-sheep-deaths_63794.html

Africa

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Man-beaten-to-a-pulp-for-allegedly-stealing-a-goat-at-Sombo-1894640

https://www.namibian.com.na/forum-fights-for-no-bail-for-stock-theft-accused/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/12/right-to-rescue-could-be-advanced-by-california-felony-conviction/

https://thesungazette.com/article/news/2023/12/07/two-crime-fighting-canines-share-prize-as-californias-top-farm-dog/

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

Will Meadows is a multi-generational cattle rancher from Alabama and a very successful personality in agricultural social media, posting videos on TikTok, Youtube, Facebook and Instagram.  He is now generating revenue from his social media channels as well as selling bulls for his families farm through his video efforts.

On today's episode we are going to talk about how he has accomplished this in under two years, what his process is, what type of equipment he uses and how he chooses what to talk about.  This is a young man who loves to talk about the life he loves in agriculture, and he has turned that into a business using today's social media technology!

On today's re-cap episode I want to explore the idea of building your own agricultural communications business.  This is something that can literally be done from anywhere, and my previous guest did exactly that.  Tomorrow's ag business interview involves an young man who is an up and coming cattle rancher and who is making his off-farm income through posting about his farm on social media.

Developing your skills in this area as you advocate can lead to the skills that would allow you to start a communications business just like our re-cap guest, Lyndsey Murphy.

Vanessa Trotter is a 2023 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Nursery Operations.  This all began when she was 8 years old.  Her father had just recently purchased his families farm that had been auctioned off when his grandfather passed away 20+ years earlier.  After the purchase he approached Vanessa, the eldest of four children, and told her that she would be going to college in 10 years and it was time to start thinking about how to make some money to pay for that.

This is when TNT Farms was born with a small pumpkin patch that Vanessa tended.  She later sold the pumpkins to customers in her area, and she was hooked.  Since that time Vanessa has grown this business.  Today she has purchased three greenhouses, started selling products at a local farmers market and selling directly off of her farm.

Vanessa is now in college, studying agricultural business, with the hopes of being her own boss in the future.  However, she is going to pass TNT Farms to her siblings for multiple reasons.  Each of the will have an SAE they can move right into when their time in the FFA comes.  Also, it can serve as a revenue source for them to also save for college.  What a great family legacy that Vanessa begin with a simple pumpkin patch.

One of the ways that I deal with stress in my life is by writing.  I often write things that nobody ever sees, but it helps me when I get my thoughts on out on paper so having an audience for what I have written is not important.  Last night I had an experience that really made me give thought to things I have been observing in our society that have been bothering me.  It was still on my mind this morning, and I sat down and put it into words.  I have attached the text below for you to read if you wish.  And, aside from the introduction, today's episode is my reading of this article:

I am a consumer.  I buy things that I need, and I buy things that I want.  Sometimes the two overlap and sometimes they do not.

My wife and I recently purchased a new car.  Our stage of life enabled us, for the first time, to purchase exactly what we wanted within the boundaries of our self-imposed, upper limits.  It took 50 years of life and 25 years of marriage for me to reach this point.  Our parameters for this purchase had not changed, but a lifetime of living below our means and building wealth changed the numbers that fit within those parameters.

To us, this vehicle is “fancy”, as described by my wife.  For years she and I have driven what we believed we needed but in very stripped down, utilitarian versions, that reduced the cost of the vehicles.  And, more importantly, reduced the burden on our conscience.  The first ever, brand new pickup, I purchased was in 2003.  I intended to drive it for two decades, and I made it 15 years.

The knowledge that I would drive it for so long motivated me to purchase a version that was “stripped down” of electronic amenities that would surely break and require repair before I was ready to part with the vehicle.  Even in 2003, purchasing a new vehicle with manually controlled windows, a standard transmission and rubber flooring was not possible to do on the showroom floor.  Therefore, in order to get a less expensive and less complicated version of this pickup, I had to special order it and wait for a period of months to receive it.  15 years later, I could hardly remember that waiting period.

It was only when wind started whipping into the door seals and the internal, working components of the heating system failed, that I decided to move on from this pickup.  The sag of the body, and the inability to defrost my windshield created an imminent need for serious work on the pickup.  Looking at all available options, I realized that because of the engine in this vehicle the market for it was very strong in 2018.  Therefore, I chose to purchase another “stripped” down pickup, and to sell the other to a private party.  Today, I am still driving the second, brand new pickup, and second, stripped down pickup, that I have ever purchased.

My wife’s new car is a Subaru Outback with a moon roof, heated seats and the enticing “Wilderness Package” that includes a turbo engine, 9 inch lift and off-road capable “X-Mode”.  She would have been just as happy without the “Wilderness Package”.  Even though, this is the first time we have ever been able to purchase “exactly what we want”, I was still thinking long term.  My goal is to purchase her another vehicle in approximately 10 years, but keep this car for myself and my adventures on the rough and rocky dirt roads of Idaho’s public lands where we live.  Therefore, I had it outfitted as capable as possible from the factory.

We will be driving to the mountains soon in search of the perfect Christmas tree.  In idaho, with a little initiative, exercise and sweat you can obtain a beautiful tree for the cost of around $15, and you can make it a family outing at the same time.  I have been cutting my own Christmas Tree from the National Forest since I was in college, and the thought of purchasing one for upwards of $100 from a lot unsettles me.

Of course, our plan is to use the new car to go retrieve this tree, and we will be hauling it back on the roof.  Ironically, this led me to more consumption.  The “Wilderness Package” does not include cross beams for the luggage rack.  So, I had to order them for the car.  After studying prices and reading reviews I went with a set that cost approximately $120 and placed the order.

The location we would travel to for the tree is about a 320 mile round trip from our home.  There are places we could go to that are closer, but after years of hunting Christmas Trees closer to the sprawling metropolis of Boise, we have decided it is worth the drive to go to this area.

We could easily drive my stripped down pickup and never need to purchase the cross beams for the top of the car.  However, at today’s gas prices, we would save approximately $53 by driving the car, which is almost 50% the cost of the cross beams.  Assuming that there will be another use for the crossbeams in the future, possibly one that keeps us from driving the pickup, the purchase seems sensible and likely to ultimately save us money.

Ironically, my own consumption is what led me to give consumption and materialism in the U.S. deeper thought.  On a Sunday evening of the weekend preceding our Christmas Tree hunt I unboxed the cross rails and went about the task of putting them together and fitting them on top of the car.

An issue that can arise with such hardware is a violent wind noise when the vehicle is at speed.  So, after these were mounted, I decided to test drive the vehicle and determine whether not my purchase of an inexpensive set of cross rails was going to lead to this unfortunate side effect.  It did not.

My family and I live on a small farm about three miles from town, and my test drive route took me in that direction.  Ultimately, I wound up on the edge of the small city and noticed our one and only McDonald’s restaurant, open for business.  An iced tea sounded good to me, and I had the $1.69 needed to get one.  So, I proceeded to the drive through.

There were other cars in the drive through line, but there was just one car in front of me, waiting to move up to the ordering console.  I had not gone through a drive through line in a significant amount of time, so I assumed that rewarding my diligent work with this small treat would be a quick affair.

In no time at all there were multiple vehicles in line behind me, and I was trapped and fully committed to this endeavor.  That did not cause me concern.  Having patronized this drive through in the past, I still believed I would be on my way home with the beverage in short order.

After some time of sitting there some sort of internal clock started to alert me to the fact that I should be proceeding through the line but was not.  I began to pay attention to things and saw that nobody was moving.  Not only was I trapped, but I was making no progress and more and more vehicles were lining up behind me.

Sitting there, reluctantly accepting my fate, I looked over at the banner that hangs on the back of the building facing the drive through.  This desperate attempt to procure employees had been there since 2020 when Covid reduced available employees all over the U.S.  This McDonald’s was paying $15/hour as a starting wage to come and work here.  At a standard 40 hour work week, that was a salary of over $30,000/year to cook and serve food at this facility.  Yet the line did not move, and the sign did not come down.

I finally made it to the kiosk where I was not greeted with a “welcome to McDonald’s” or any other such kindness.  No appreciation for my business was given by the voice on the other end, for it was straight to the matter at hand.  “Are you ordering using the app” sternly came out of the speaker.  I replied that I had no such app.  “Okay, what will you have” was the disappointed reply.

Understanding that I was a fortunate person in my vocation, and that this person was likely stressed due to low staffing and in a life stage that caused financial stress, I replied with my friendliest tone, “a large unsweet iced tea please”.  “Is that it” came the reply.  “Yes” I answered.  The voice said “Okay, that will be $1.69” and I sensed a hint of sarcasm in the voice.  He knew what I did not know.  It was going to be a long wait for that iced tea.

For the next 20 minutes I slowly inched forward by only one car length as I watched the car that was at the delivery window sit and idle with no exchange happening between the driver and the McDonald’s employee on the other side.  To pass the time I listened to an audio book and played with the features and technology in this new car, attempting to learn about all of its capabilities.

After an abundance of time had passed the vehicle at the window finally departed.  I never did witness the transaction, so I cannot say whether or not they were served.  Even after its departure there were two vehicles between the window and myself, and I quickly did the math.  The reason behind the employees sarcastic tone of voice suddenly dawned on me.  An iced tea was not worth all this.  Nothing was worth all this.

To my great fortune, when the two vehicles in front of me moved forward, it exposed an escape from the drive through.  A second lane to the right of the vehicles was exposed, and I had access that was not impeded in any way.  The decision was quick and involved no debate in my mind.  I pulled into that lane and literally escaped.  I would not enjoy a delicious McDonald’s iced tea that evening, but the taste of freedom more than compensated for the loss as I again listened for wind noise on my way back to the farm.

Within days of the attacks of September 11th, 2001 President George W Bush told Americans to get out and spend money in one of his several addresses to the nation.  He advocated for shopping, going to restaurants and going to movies.

At the time, all I could hear were the instructions to spend, spend, spend and I resented that our elected leader was giving such instructions.  However, looking back today, I can see that our economy is built on consumption and it is like a train speeding down the tracks that has lost its breaks.  All you can do is ride it and try to control it because stopping is impossible.  Ultimately, this train will stop and that stop is likely to be catastrophic.  Nobody wants to be sitting in the engineers seat when that catastrophe occurs.   

George W Bush didn’t want that for our country, and he certainly didn’t want it as we were preparing to go to war or while he was in office.  A catastrophe of that magnitude would have given the terrorists an even larger victory, and the ripple effects could have inspired more terrorist attacks for decades to come.  Our president was a man with no other course of action, and “spend, spend, spend” was the patriotic thing for Americans to do.

As for me and my family, we failed to do our patriot duty as requested by the president.  My wife and I were in our third year of marriage, had owned our first home for under a year and were just building our careers.  We stayed the course of our values, lived below our means and tried to build our future by not panicking and withdrawing our meager retirement savings from the stock market after its free fall, following the attacks.

It has been over 22 years since that event and that request by our president.  It has become apparent to me that we were in the minority, and the bulk of Americans were very willing to “spend, spend, spend”.

I see my experience last night at that McDonald’s drive through as the culmination of this economic philosophy and the willingness of free Americans to participate.  The dozens of people trapped in that drive through, me included, have become numb to the ramifications of this “spend, spend, spend” policy.  We tolerate long lines, poor customer service and mediocre products just for the illusion of convenience or the small dopamine hit that accompanies spending money.

In my 50 years, I have had the misfortune of seeing our society abandon the practice of being discerning consumers for the chaos of “spend, spend, spend.”  And I have seen a complete shift in the balance of power from consumer to producer.  Our people today are so eager to buy, that they tolerate poor customer service and a poor buying experience as merely a source of strain that must be dealt with to get the next material possession.  This is normal for my daughter, but it is detestable to me.

Ironically, this is leading to disaster for the working class that rely on customer service positions for their wages.  Managers and owners of retail establishments once devoted a much larger portion of their time to insuring that the customer experience was pleasurable.  Either intuitively or after careful research, it is apparent that retailers realized that this was no longer necessary.  Customers will still purchase no matter how they are treated, so customer service standards have been abandoned, and those energies have been directed elsewhere.   

This has given rise to self-checkout in grocery stores and restaurants like the very McDonald’s I attempted to patronize.  It has given rise to apps that are transforming food service employees from customer service providers to merely arms length delivery people.  And, it will eventually eliminate these jobs altogether.  If tacit permission is given to businesses to exchange service for efficiency by consumers, they will, of course, make that transition.  What’s worse, the employees who are participating in this transition are actually justifying the elimination of their own positions when they have the power to make themselves more valuable.

Before proceeding I will admit a bias that I have that harkens back to the “good o’l days”.  In the late 1980’s and very early 1990’s I worked at a grocery store for a stretch of just over 3 years.  This was for a local grocery chain that had served the community for several decades.  Side conversations between checkers and baggers at the checkout were prohibited and monitored, and ignoring customers or treating them like a burden could result in your termination.

When I was a bagger speed and efficiency were values that pervaded the store.  We ran from check stand to check stand, bagging groceries in the prescribed manner with great speed.  All the while we made conversation with the customers and showed our gratitude for them shopping there.  For a customer to walk out of the store without a bagger pushing their cart for them, talking with them the entire way and then loading the groceries into their car for them there would almost have to be an argument before the bagger would relent and allow the customer to leave unassisted.

Today, every grocery store has a growing number of self-checkout stations.  I almost always go through self-checkout in order to avoid the irritation that I experience when I am treated poorly at a check stand.  This decision has not been made haphazardly, as I feel a kinship with grocery store employees.  However, the bad experiences now outweigh the positive, and I do my best to not allow my time at the grocery to impact my day in a negative manner.

What abhors me the most about this abandonment of customer service is watching employees contribute to the destruction of their jobs while it happens right in front of them.  And, to some extent, damaging their futures.  After all, when you apply for a better job in the future and you highlight three years of “customer service experience” at a retail establishment on your resume with the hopes that it will tip the scales in your favor, it will do no good for you if your interviewer finds this meaningless because actual customer service has been abandoned in exchange for customers who serve employees by trying to reduce the irritation the employees feel when having to actually serve.

Take the juxtaposition of my grocery store employee experience in the 1980’s to my grocery store consumer experience in the 2010’s.  Sometime in the past decade or so, my wife and I began fully participating in consumer rewards programs at places that we must patronize, such as grocery stores.  We don’t allow rewards programs to get us to purchase goods that we do not need, but we take advantage of them at the grocery store because we will be shopping there at some level, no matter what.  With these rewards programs generally comes the requirement that at checkout you enter your phone number so that the purchase is counted towards your balance.

Sometime in 2018 or 2019 I went to our local grocery store which has a program such as this.  This particular location had a bit of construction going on at the front end.  Four self-checkouts had been installed, and two more check stands had been removed to make way for four more.  I was still of the mindset that I should purchase my groceries from an actual person in order to vote with my dollars to preserve the jobs of these folks.

On this day I approached an open check stand and waited in line for a few moments to purchase from and support an employee who needed this job for income.  The checker at this station was a young lady that I estimated to be in her early 20’s, and the bagger (we now call them courtesy clerks) was a young man that I estimated to be in his late teens.  They were fully engaged in a side conversation about a later get together involving co-workers, and I received the overwhelming impression that the young man was hoping to spend time with the cashier away from work.

I only needed one item, and as it made its way down the conveyor belt towards the cashier, I walked up to credit card reader where I would pay for the purchase and enter my rewards number.  I was never greeted by either of the employees, and I was talked to only three times.  The first address I received was from the cashier who asked in an annoyed voice if I had a rewards number.  I diligently entered the number and swiped my credit card like a child trying to please a domineering parent and hoping to avoid an escalation in household tensions.

The side conversation between the cashier and her hopeful suitor went on, and was broken only by the irritating duty to tell me how much money I was required to provide the store in exchange for the item I wanted to purchase.  I made a mental note of that fact nobody was bothering to pay attention to me, ask how my day was going or provide any other standard of customer service.

The third communication was from the “courtesy clerk” who simply asked “do you want a bag?”  By this time I was boiling up inside.  However, I had been verbally abused when I was a grocery clerk, and I certainly did not want to allow my temper to transform me from the once abused to the abuser.  So, I calmly asked “you guys don’t say hello or how is your day anymore?”  Both of them could not have been more shocked at the nerve of a customer to be critical of their performance, and I received a quick, disingenuous “sorry about that”.  For his money, I never did see the courtesy clerk do a bit of work.  The extent of what I witnessed was the question “do you want a bag?”   

Far be it from me to think that I never engaged in a side conversation or got distracted when I held either of these positions as a teenager.  However, as I walked towards the exit door I passed the existing self-checkout machines and the area that was being prepared for even more robots.

The irony of the situation dawned on me at that moment.  There is one thing, and one thing only, that robots will never able to do, and that is provide genuine customer service.  No matter how good the human to machine interface becomes in the future, customers speaking with a robot will always know that the robot is responding to a set of stimuli and what comes back is the product of a computer program or algorithm, i.e. it is not genuine and really means nothing.

The employees at grocery stores or fast food restaurants have the power to put an end to robots replacing their jobs.  If they become so indispensable to customers through the service, conversation and genuineness, customers will not tolerate purchasing from robots.  Then companies would be forced to cease this new direction because customers would demand this by either complaining verbally or shifting their dollars to places that provide excellent customer service.

Until consumers actually prioritize the service they receive when making buying decisions, companies will have no incentive to change directions.  And, employees at this level of the service industry are likely not looking at their jobs as a career.  Rather, they believe that these jobs are merely a means to an end until they move onto something better.  Therefore, whether or not they actually ever do move one, they are not interested in looking at what they do holistically and making changes that will improve their position.  And, their immediate supervisors are not interested in pushing them in this direction because the companies are moving in the direction of automation and it is not in their best interests.  Therefore, there will never be any organizing force that will push employees to improve customer service, at their own best interest, en mass.

As the available working pool that comes up through these jobs is not required to provide customer service, the options for hiring at the next level becomes smaller and smaller.  Soon, this degrading of customer service spreads into more sophisticated postings and it just keeps repeating itself.

The root cause or causes of this degradation goes by many names - consumerism, materialism, consumption, etc.  The causes of this shift to consumerism could be debated for decades with fingers of blame being pointed in all directions.

What is clear, is that this is the world that we now live in.  The days of businesses, “earning your business” have passed us by.  Of course you can find businesses that still do earn your dollars, but we all know that they are the exception, not the rule.  And, we all should pay a little more and put up with a little more inconvenience to support them, lest our world turn exclusively to self-checkout stands and streets clogged with delivery vans from internet purchases.

Americans are no longer discerning consumers.  We want it now, we want it cheap and we want a lot of it.  For that, we are willing to tolerate poor to no customer service, clutter in our homes, debt and a lack of savings as we approach our retirement years.

These are just the manifestations that can be outwardly observed or measured.  Larger and more important than this is the further degradation of our society.  Anger, detachment and irritation are all cumulative.  Americans once came home from their day in aggrieved moods from some major conflict in society only rarely.  Because this did not happen very often, the overall mood of our country was more positive, friendly and helpful.

Today, we still may not experience a major conflict in our day, but we come home in horribly negative and angry moods more often than ever.  Instead of the cause being a major conflict, it is the cumulative effect of multiple small conflicts or irritations that we experience through the day or the week.  It is the colloquial “death by a thousand cuts”.

This is an increasingly negative cycle.  In the past if you provided service all day at work, you were rewarded by receiving service when you transitioned from service provider to consumer later in the day.  We rewarded each other for our hard work with gratefulness.  However, today we are providing service all day at work only to be made to feel like we must provide service or at least minimize irritation in order to be consumers.  And this can only go on so long before the very same consumer decides to stop providing service in their job, and the cycle repeats itself.

And this is all caused by our incessant need to consume and purchase.  We want “things” so badly, that we are willing to tolerate almost anything to obtain them.  Therefore, as consumers we have removed the incentive of companies to provide customer service.  Gone are the days of speaking with the manager and telling them that you came to spend money but are taking your business elsewhere because of the way you were treated.  Today we just expect the bad service as something we must tolerate to get the thing we want to purchase.

“Spend, spend, spend”, “buy, buy, buy” and “bye-bye-bye” to our quality of life, society and the bonds that hold us all together.

Kendra Downing is a 2023 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Ag Sales - Entrepreneurship.  Growing up as the 4th generation on her families farm she, her sister and her parents were sitting on the front porch one day contemplating what enterprise the kids could start to generate revenue.  The idea of a pumpkin patch was proposed, and it was decided to purse that endeavor.  That was the beginning of the Downing Daughters Pumpkin Patch.

Over time, Kendra and her sister have grown this enterprise to include a corn maze, which started out under an acre and is now 5 acres, all designed by hand with no technological assistance.  In addition to this, they started purchasing products from other farmers in the area to sell in a farm stand that they operate out of an old barn on their grandmother's property.

This all has evolved into a national proficiency award today, but its beginnings were Kendra's FFA Advisor looking at what she was doing and telling her that she was going enter the competition.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Kendra is now in college, studying everything she can get her hands on in the hopes of one day farming full-time with even more, direct to consumer enterprises to share with her community.

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

[caption id="attachment_421342" align="alignright" width="150"] Wyatt Deemer[/caption][caption id="attachment_421341" align="alignright" width="120"] Morel Jurado[/caption]

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 Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) is a 2 year college that is part of the University Of Nebraska system.  Focusing exclusively on agriculture and veterinary sciences, this college pulls students from all over the U.S. who have found what they are looking for right in Curtis, Nebraska.

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

Tip Of The Week

No cameras? Use the snow.

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.facebook.com/share/yHRUEctgywjRVnWC/?mibextid=K35XfP

https://www.agdaily.com/livestock/charges-dismissed-in-bizarre-bleaching-of-wyoming-cows/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.clarelive.ie/news/home/1358651/theft-from-a-clare-farm-sees-gardai-appeal-for-information.html

https://www.farmersguide.co.uk/rural/rural-crime/dozens-of-stolen-gps-units-recovered-as-thieves-jailed/

https://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/23958310.horse-riding-equipment-stolen-stables-emneth/

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-67566857

Africa

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/animal-theft-failing-govt-projects-says-leaders-4450528

https://farmersreviewafrica.com/saai-to-stop-livestock-thieves-in-their-tracks/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/crime/tcso-deputies-arrest-serial-ag-thief-in-porterville/#:~:text=Through their investigation, detectives identified,trailers from the same victim

https://www.agdaily.com/livestock/poultry/s-c-truck-driver-suspected-of-stealing-pilgrims-pride-chicken-delivery/

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

Lexi Wright is the host of the Farming On Purpose Podcast as well as the owner of the agricultural marketing firm, Wright At The Moment.  She, her husband and their four children are cattle and row crop farmers in Kansas who are finding their way down the winding path of the ultimate lifestyle business.

In today's interview with Lexi we talk a lot about entrepreneurship in agriculture and how she found her pathway.  Lexi also puts out a couple of nuggets of valuable information, such as how to make the social media algorithms work on your behalf to connect you with like minded people and to learn information that will help you in your pursuits.

I found a lot of cross over with this talented podcaster, farmer and entrepreneur.  And, you will too!

Machinery Pete, Greg Peterson, has become a household name on farms throughout the U.S.  His passion for tractors and auctions coupled with his vision of a resource for farmers that want to buy and sell used tractors have led him to great heights in agriculture.  He was first on the show back in 2015, and I am running his episode again today to tie in with tomorrow's Ag Business Episode in which I will be profiling an up and coming agricultural podcaster who I have no doubt will rise to great heights as well.

Davis Howell is a 2023 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Swine Production - Entrepreneurship.  He has been raising and showing pigs for the bulk of his life, starting in the 4H and continuing into the FFA while staying dually enrolled in the 4H.  He is also in his senior year of high school and is serving as his chapter's president.

The farm that Davis lives on has been producing show pigs for three generations, starting with his grandfather and passing down all the way to he and his brother.  Today, Davis and his brother are taking over the business with plans to start selling pigs to other exhibitors in the future.  For the moment Davis' goals in the FFA include finishing out his senior year of high school, getting his American Degree after he starts college and pursuing a career in the animal science/ag business field.  Davis has been exposed to a lot of career fields in agriculture already through a 4H competition that he talks about in the interview, and it definitely has given him a head start.

For the last time, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.  We certainly did!

On today's farm update show I'll talk about our two new kittens and why we got them.  Also, a brief synopsis of what Thanksgiving looked like on our farm.  The new census of agriculture will be coming out in 2024, and I bet the average age of farmers goes up.  Finally, what is it like to feed and do chores on Thanksgiving?  I'll give you my perspective today!

Madilynn Campbell is a 2023 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Equine Science - Entrepreneurship.  She raises and trains "halter quarter horses" at her families property near Adair, Oklahoma and has developed a passion for horses and in particular, Quarter Horses.  Madilynn has a deep, family history in the horse breeding business, as her grandfather has been doing this for over 40 years.  Madilynn has her sights set on following in his footsteps in the horse business.

Currently Madilynn is purchase 2-3 weanlings per year, holding them for a year and training them for the halter, lead and trailering during that time.  Then, she starts showing them and is able to sell them at a nice profit.  In addition to the horse business, Madilynn has identified becoming a veterinarian and having her own, mixed practice in her future.  She is currently attending college at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and will eventually transfer to Oklahoma State University.  She is focusing on horse judging in addition to her studies right now, and is also considering getting certified as an equine judge so that she can judge professionally.

Tip Of The Week

Do you know what is going on in your “neighborhood”?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.yourbasin.com/news/big-spring-pd-looking-for-power-tool-theft-suspect/

https://www.wdbj7.com/2023/11/21/have-you-seen-this-stolen-trailer/

https://www.wibw.com/2023/11/20/3-sent-hospital-after-teen-driver-side-swipes-cattle-trailer-near-salina/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/gang-used-rural-airbnb-as-hub-to-carry-out-20-burglaries-in-five-days/a45388720.html

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8434070/ewe-what-hundreds-of-sheep-stolen-from-regional-farm/

https://www.airdriecityview.com/local-news/stolen-horses-recovered-near-acme-rcmp-still-seeking-information-7873945

Africa

https://diggers.news/opinion/2023/11/23/kudos-to-hh-upnd-for-not-shielding-members-stealing-fertilizer/

https://www.dispatch.ug/2023/11/22/thieves-raid-musevenis-heavily-guarded-farm-stealing-10-prized-cattle/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://qctimes.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/northwest-iowa-tree-thief-found-guilty-of-51-charges/article_aff0eaf0-c029-53c3-9719-de8fb630d124.html

https://wtov9.com/news/nation-world/georgia-mayor-arrested-four-days-after-election-accused-of-vandalizing-chicken-farm-scott-harpold-bowman-atlanta-elbert-county-aubrey-lunsford

Les Schwab Tire Centers is a sponsor of the Off-Farm Income Podcast, and I have been one of their customers for many years.  When Autumm and I first moved to Kuna after purchasing our farm, Les Schwab Tire Centers did too.  This was well before Kuna started to explode with houses and it became obvious that there was money to be made in our community.  This move was about providing service into what was still a small, farming community, and I have always appreciated that.

I have spoke about Les Schwab Tire Centers on the show many times over the years, even though their sponsorship just began in 2023.  The reason has been Hattie's involvement in 4H and later in the FFA.  Every exhibitor livestock auction I have attended at our local county fair has always had a contingent of managers from all the different Les Schwab Tire Centers in our valley present in the stands.  They are there in great numbers, they are there all day and they are bidding on every species of livestock.  

Les Schwab Tire Centers is single handedly responsible for making sure that all of these projects get sold and for raising the average price of these projects.  I truly believe that without the contribution of this great company that many of our exhibitors would have a difficult time getting their money back, let along making a profit.  However, year after year, species after species, Les Schwab Tire Centers are there to make sure that this does not happen.  

I am fortunate to have this company that I am such a big fan of as a sponsor, and I am thrilled to feature them on today's episode.  Joining me is Chris Baker.  He is the Area Manager of all the Southern Idaho Les Schwab Tire Centers, stretching from Oregon to Wyoming.  He is also really passionate about this company and what he does.  In today's episode we will discuss a lot of specifics of the tire business as well as what Les Schwab Tire Centers provides, how they got there and the philosophy behind that.  

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you this year.  2023 has been unbelievable.  I wanted to revisit George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation with you on this wonderful holiday.  I am so thankful and grateful for all of you in this audience, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday with friends and family.

Matthew Gossett is the 2023 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Fiber and Oil Crop Production.  This all began in the 9th grade when he leased his first 12 (dozen) acres from his family and started his own enterprise.  This correlated with his beginning in the FFA, and he has been growing his own farming operation ever since.

Matthew just graduated from high school last spring, and he is pursuing his CDL so that he can create his off-farm income from driving truck and hauling crops while farming on the side and continuing to grow as a producer.  At the same time he continues to learn about agronomy, soils, agribusiness and the fickleness of Mother Nature when you are depending on her or farming in spite of her.

Matthew is just beginning his pursuit of a lifetime of production agriculture and sees himself as well as his brother carrying on the family farming legacy as the 5th generation in the future.  Until then, he is building his own collection of leased ground, learning by taking his own risks and enjoying the moment of being the first ever National Proficiency winner from his chapter.

Hi everyone...I am having a light week, enjoying the holiday with my family.  We hope you are as well, and please enjoy this brief farm update.

Clancey Krahn is a 2023 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Dairy Production Entrepreneurship, but there is a lot more going on with this story.  She is also an Oregon State Dairy Princess Ambassador and the National Jersey Queen!  And, she is the daughter of two incredible parents!

Clancey's story goes way back to when her older sister had been in the 4H for a couple of years and Clancey was just getting ready to start.  Their parents, both with dairy backgrounds, decided that they wanted their daughters to grow up like they had.  Having no farm, they moved to the small town of Scio, Oregon and purchased 5 acres.  Soon, Clancey and her sister were directing the procurement of more and more cattle, and getting ever deeper into dairy cattle showing and the industry as a whole.

A few years later Clancey's parents sat them down and said that if they were going to keep buying cattle for their small farm there would have be some profit motive.  Royal Riverside Dairy was born.  Today, the four of them milk 25 head of cattle, bottle their own milk and make their own flavored milks to sell to over 50 retail establishments as well as in their own farm stand.  Their 4H project exploded into a big time, niched business in their local community and it set the family on a pathway into direct marketing and value adding the milk they produce at their home.

What a fantastic story!

Tip Of The Week

Ever heard of a face social media account?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/a-cargo-plane-returns-to-jfk-airport-after-a-18493722.php

https://manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-announces-charges-against-driver-of-nyc-carriage-horse-ryder/

https://www.ksnt.com/news/reward-increased-to-11000-for-cattle-rustlers-in-wabaunsee-co/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-67425640

https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/23921874.powys-family-left-devastated-midnight-farm-robbery/

Africa

https://www.georgeherald.com/News/Article/General/horse-owners-warned-to-be-vigilant-202311160935

https://www.tori.ng/news/253667/police-recover-three-stolen-cows-from-suspected-ca.html

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2023/11/15/jmr-enoch-police-arrest-suspect-after-horse-trailer-owner-spots-stolen-saddle-for-sale-online/

https://www.newportdispatch.com/2023/11/15/east-haven-man-charged-with-possession-of-stolen-tractor-grand-larceny/

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

Jim Griffith and Jim Maples are the creators and hosts of the Revolutionary War Rarities Podcast - the official podcast of the National Society Of The Sons Of The American Revolution.  I recently discovered this show and was immediately drawn to it because of my love for Revolutionary War History as well as my membership in the Sons Of The American Revolution.  

I kept coming back and listening to the podcast because it is so interesting and entertaining.  Jim and Jim do a great job coming up with stories, putting together the episodes and then presenting them.  They are a really good broadcasting team, and their voices are already synonymous with the American Revolution for me.  

On today's episode I get to speak with them both, talks about the origins of this show and where it is going.  We will even touch on some interesting facts about the Revolutionary War as talk a little bit about agriculture and farming was used as a tactic to defeat the British!

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am thrilled to be profiling a very entertaining, informative and patriotic podcast called Revolutionary War Rarities.  Yes, this is one of those opportunities in which I get to use my platform to share information that is personally important to me.

So, for today's re-cap episode I am going back to an episode that I originally released on the 4th of July in 2018 talking about how the Revolutionary War impacted farmers.  It is just another example of how agrarian our country was at the time of the Revolution as well as another example of the sacrifices our patriot ancestors made for the cause of freedom.

Nash McKenzie is a 2023 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Diversified Horticulture.  This all started with shooting sporting clays if you can believe that.  Nash did not grow up farming or with an agricultural background, but he did grow up participating in shooting clay competitions through the 4H.  As he got to high school he discovered that he could continue this through the FFA, and he joined.

While Nash was able to continue shooting clays, he had other responsibilities in the FFA, including developing an SAE.  During his 9th Grade year he had started to mow a few lawns in an effort towards satisfying this requirement.  And when Covid shut everything else down the following year, he had the time and the inclination to really dive in to the business. That is when "Home Exterior Services" was born and it took off.

Today, Nash is just getting ready to wrap up his Associate's Degree in business.  He has expanded her services in the business from just lawns to all forms of landscaping, pressure washing and for the second year - Christmas Light hanging.

The other day I noticed that a steer had got through a fence and caused a little damage that could have been fixed really quickly and easily.  I meant to get it done right away, but one thing led to another and I did not.  Well, all the steers started using that hole, and now I have a major fix to do.  What's worse?  This is not the first time I've ever had this happen.  I knew exactly what was going to occur, but I let it happen anyway!  When will I ever learn?

Emilee Munchrath is a 2023 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Diversified Livestock.  She started her own herd of cattle and her own flock of sheep about 7 years ago with an agricultural youth loan, and she has been growing both ever since.  This has not been by accident!  Emilee had her sights set on star and proficiency awards very early, and with the guidance of her mom (also her FFA advisor) she knew that growth would be a feather in her cap pursuing her awards.  So, she set out to demonstrate growth, and she certainly has!

Emilee will be graduating from Graford High School this spring, and then it is on to Texas Tech State University.  It was interesting to hear her story of selecting Texas Tech.  She actually had her eyes fixed upon Oklahoma State University.  However, she still did a visit at Texas Tech, and she just felt like it was right.  She did not ignore the inner voice telling her that was where she belonged, and now she is heading that way in August.

Tip Of The Week

Would a big sign that says “NOT A ROAD” work?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.wfmj.com/story/49912599/mercer-man-accused-of-driving-trucks-over-farmland-road-signs-mailboxes

https://www.facebook.com/100076447704733/posts/pfbid02BsVk1CaGWn2Ymzw1xpYTvU1Kau9KNiTT9N2Gr1JXqNYaUtuRULYKSgQ7PuvUQ8c7l/?mibextid=cr9u03

https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/reward-offered-for-cattle-rustling-scumbags-in-wabaunsee-co/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/staffordshire/2023/11/09/investigation-launched-after-three-cows-stolen-from-staffordshire-farm/

https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/09/man-bites-crocodile-australia-cattle-farmer-survives-attack/

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/gang-mutilate-kill-calves-amerton-8895411

Africa

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/11/08/troops-neutralise-bandits-arrest-19-suspected-kidnappers-in-plateau

https://platformtimes.com.ng/brothers-in-hot-water-ekiti-siblings-face-charges-for-stealing-chicken-worth-n45000/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.wjjm.com/agricultural-crime-unit-adds-three-special-agents/

https://ktvo.com/news/local/northeast-missouri-man-faces-multiple-charges-for-stolen-property-and-drug-possession

https://www.brunswicktimes-gazette.com/article_dc7e5412-73fd-11ee-a839-b7d8ae4ba147.html

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Kade Cole and his wife are health conscious individuals, raising and family and working in a health related field.  They both also have a family history and legacy of farming and raising cattle.  Being health conscious and raising two young children is what initially led them to start trying to make their own balms, tooth powder and soaps.  However, it was the combination of these two things that led them to the development of Cattle Driver Apothecary.

They strongly believe in the products they are making specifically because of what they can leave out of them.  They use their own products and have been receiving rave reviews since they launched their business a few months ago.  There is an interesting twist on this story as well.  Kade states that in the future they would like to purchase their own land and raise their own cattle.  However, he is the sole bread winner and is teaching strength and fitness at a local high school.  So, that salary will not get it done.  Therefore, they looked at the beginning of Cattle Driver Apothecary and small business as they vessel that will take them to that destination.

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On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am profiling a gentleman making value added products from cattle bi-products.  This got me searching for other interviews that were doing the same, and I remembered this interview with Dexter and Kayla Dedora.  So, for today's re-cap show I am bringing back this episode about their Longhorn value added business.

Hattie Brechwald is the Boise Valley District President as well as the Kuna FFA Chapter President, and she happens to live in the same house as me!  Yes, she is my daughter, and she has been accomplishing a ton in the FFA.  We both just got back from the National FFA Convention, and I invited her into the studio today to give us all a member's perspective on the national convention as well as some other FFA topics.

We will be covering:

• Non-Traditional SAE's
• SAE Grants
• Taking the long way to Indianapolis
• Skills learned through parliamentary procedure

Hattie and my recent trip to Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention dominates today's show, but there is still a bit of a farm update in here for you.  We will be covering:

• Congratulations to the American Star Winners
• Finishing the World Series in a hotel restaurant
• Ag Colleges at the convention
• Meeting Laken Troup
• A great hike in the Owyhee Mountains
• Low goat prices and a bad year

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Laken Troup is an National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Agricultural Communications. She is also a former Florida State Officer and a second year delegate to the National FFA Convention.  With all of her accomplishments you might think she was born on third base, but that could not be further from the truth.

Since Laken was in 1st Grade she has seen something, known instantly that she wanted to do a thing and found herself achieving her goals.  Of course, she didn't do this all by herself.  Her parents and FFA advisors, even a judge at a pig show, have been pivotal in her development.  In today's episode she will talk all about this story, her journey and her future goals.  Prepare to be inspired!

Tip Of The Week

Too good of a deal is exactly that…

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.tampafp.com/train-crashes-into-stolen-mosaic-zephyrhills/

https://www.sjgov.org/press-releases/press-release-detail/2023/10/23/sheriff-s-office-accepts-att-grant

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/cows-calves-meat-beheaded-black-market-b2435935.html

https://www.police.sa.gov.au/sa-police-news-assets/limestone-coast-local-service-area/diesel-stolen-from-moyhall-farm

Africa

https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/farmers-push-for-10-year-jail-terms-for-fish-theft

https://www.thecable.ng/troops-kill-four-bandits-arrest-over-100-suspects-in-plateau-kaduna

https://letabaherald.co.za/132975/mango-farmers-hampered-by-theft-of-fruit/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/50717-tulare-county-detectives-arrest-three-suspects-and-recover-100-000-of-farm-equipment-from-two-day-crime-spree

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/meat-heist-400000-worth-of-stolen-beef-found-at-florida-veggie-farm-arrests-made/

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Molly Clark is a National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Ag Communications.  At the age of 16, encouraged by her mom and her aunt, she took a job at a local radio station reading commodity bids, overnight weather, a farm story and obituaries.  At the outset she was very nervous, and she says that you could tell by her voice that she did not want to be there.

That was over two years ago however, and over time she got used to being on the radio.  This has led her to multiple accolades including being a national proficiency finalist this year.  She is no longer at the radio station since she has moved to Kentucky to begin her college career at Morehead State University.  She is studying Ag Business with a minor in Agronomy, and has her sights set on working in the crop insurance industry at the moment.

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am featuring an FFA student up for a National Proficiency Award in Ag Communications.  She has accomplished this by being an ag broadcaster at a radio station in Ohio.  Well, it just so happens that she was trained and mentored by last year's National Proficiency Winner in Ag Communications, Laura Wuebker, who was a guest on this show almost exactly one year ago.  I thought playing Laura's interview again today would be the perfect tie-in with tomorrow's National Proficiency Finalist interview.

Aubrey Mahon is a National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication.  She is also a college student at Northwestern Oklahoma State University studying Agricultural Business.

Aubrey has been showing pigs for several years, and during this time an innovation in the show pig industry has been to tan pigs that already have black, blue or brown pigment in their skin.  It is believed that this enhances their appearance and ultimately helps them to get picked in the show ring.

This new trend in the show arena gave Aubrey, who her mom calls a natural entrepreneur, an idea for a product.  She started producing and selling tanning lights for pigs.  A business called Champion Tanning Lights was born, and she has been running with it ever since.  Aubrey is currently running her business from college and returning home on the weekends to put together product.  As soon as she finishes with college she will be right back to building her business and turning this into her full-time career.

Happy Halloween to all of you, if you celebrate this night of ghosts and goblins.  On today's farm update I touch on a Halloween memory as well as selling goats this weekend and the bad year of goat production that we have had.  Oh, and why I am sleep deprived!

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Kynlee Bright is a 2023 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Ag Communications, and she has a very interesting FFA origin story.  During her sophomore year of high school, she left her high school volleyball team, and the result was an open period that needed to be filled.  The only available class for her was an agriculture class.  Kynlee knew nothing about agriculture, had no aspirations in agriculture but she also had.....no choice.

Despite Kynlee's lack of background and unhappiness with her plight, her agriculture teacher saw something in her and encouraged her to participate in an LDE.  This competition sparked something in Kynlee, and she has been a motivated and energetic FFA student ever since.  She is currently a senior in high school, serving as the chapter reporter and has been selected as one of four national finalists in her category.

On today's show Kynlee will tell us all about his very non-traditional pathway, what in the world a "Shelbizlee Sustainability Blog" is and how becoming an FFA member is influencing her 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.

The College Of Western Idaho is a community college located in the Treasure Valley of Idaho, which happens to be where I live and farm. I taught criminal justice courses at CWI for several years, and was able to teach one agriculture class while I was there as well.  CWI first started offering courses in 2009, and first started offering agriculture courses in 2016.  They are a growing agriculture program that is sorely needed in the Treasure Valley of Idaho, and today we will learn about how they are filling that void.

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Tip Of The Week

Support your local sheriff’s office

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/10/26/shootings-spotlight-alarming-jump-in-violence-against-minnesota-rural-officers

https://www.kiiitv.com/article/news/jim-wells-county/jim-wells-countys-rural-property-and-livestock-theft-prevention-program-helps-track-stolen-lost-property/503-e8734d7e-3bdd-4546-880a-4b0be1aef9b8

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2023/10/27/wolverhampton-businessman-facing-jail-over-259000-payment-for-cut-price-stolen-chicken-meat/

https://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/news/north-yorkshire/news/appeals/2023/10-october/appeal-following-sheep-theft-near-harrogate/

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-67235631

Africa

https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/11870/news/agriculture/eastern-province-police-foil-theft-of-over-1000-metric-tonnes-of-seeds-and-fertilisers

https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/police-recover-stolen-livestock-valued-at-r200000-in-limpopo-fe4ea69f-2b1e-4b8b-b1dd-e2e55749084e

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/man-arrested-in-connection-to-widespread-rural-fuel-and-copper-wire-thefts-crime-kern-county-bakersfield-drugs-chp

https://www.knoe.com/2023/10/25/man-arrested-livestock-theft-madison-richland-parish/

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Abigaile Wolfe is a current Senior at the Indiana Agriculture & Technology School. She is also the 2x current FFA President for the Indiana Ag & Tech chapter, as well as serving for the 2nd year as her local 4-H club President. She won the district and state level proficiencies as a Junior last year in Agricultural Services. Her entrepreneurship SAE is called The Barn Babysitter, and she started it when she was 12 years old. She has an LLC, a strong social media presence, and is working on trademarking her business name. She has increased her client base to over 40 clients and books out nearly a year in advance for her services.

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode we are featuring a high school senior who has developed a very active farm sitting business and has actually trade marked her business name.  I love the idea of a farm sitting business for a person who does not have their own farm or livestock yet, but who wants to work in this field.  But, when are you ready to take care of other people's livestock, and how do you make the business successful?  Well, I previously interviewed a farm sitter who gave us the run down on this business, and I thought it would be perfect to bring this interview with Lauren Dixon back for you today.

George Frees is an American Star Finalist in the category of Agriscience Research.  He is currently a junior at the University Of Missouri, and he has a long educational road ahead of him.

George has had a passion for plants and for research since he was 5 years old when he asked his parents for an "elephant ear" plant for his birthday and began measuring its growth rates.  Over the past 16 years he has continued to develop this passion and to add to it.  He has traveled internationally due to these interests multiple times, which ultimately led him to his SAE studying growth rates of sugar cane and the practical applications for biofuel.

George has his sights set on receiving both a Phd and MD allowing him to go to places like the Amazon or jungles of Vietnam and see how plants are being used medicinally, both as cures and treatments for different ailments.  George has a wonderful mind for research, and he talks all about it in today's episode.

Back in March I did an episode about farmers being the scapegoats for water shortages in the Arid West, when municipalities were continuing to allow urban sprawl and new subdivision that required water that they did not have rights to.  In that episode I ended by asking the question of whether or not this should be topic of conversation at all, as I believed that this problem would eventually be solved through innovation with the introduction of water from other sources into these areas.

In today's episode I want to read an article to you that I came across discussing a city in Arizona that is looking at innovation to solve this water problem so that they can continue to sprawl.  I am not in favor of sprawl, but I am in favor of innovation to deal with water shortages, and it appears that some of these ideas may be gaining traction.

Jaxson Collier is an American Star Finalist in the category of Agricultural Placement.  He has been working on his families dairy farm in Snyder, Texas since he was 11 or 12 years old, and he is the third generation to do so.

Jax is one for setting specific and long term goals.  When he was a freshman in high school he set his sights on being a 1st Vice-President at the area level in Texas.  Three years later, he accomplished that.  He also knew that he wanted to keep pushing with his supervised agricultural experience, and today he finds himself poised to be named an American Star winner.

Jax will be graduating college in May, but he plans to stay and get his masters in business administration.  Then, he has his eyes set on becoming a land broker and selling ranches and dairies.  Something tells me that it is just a matter of time.

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.

Iowa State University sits in the heart of the Corn Belt and some of the most advanced production agriculture in the nation.  With that said, Ames is the epitome of a college town, with a community that leaves and breathes with the university.  To get a great start in agriculture, Iowa State University is there waiting for you.  On today's show we will talk all about it.

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Tip Of The Week

To be really secure, gates need to be chained on both sides

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/50603-madera-county-sheriff-s-office-partners-with-valley-crime-stoppers-to-crack-down-on-agricultural-theft-and-vandalism

https://starherald.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/rural-north-platte-man-pleads-guilty-to-felony-neglect-of-livestock/article_b172b923-627f-5ea3-8985-7080414be446.html

https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/sioux-county-sheriff-seeking-information-after-john-deere-gator-stolen-from-farm/

https://www.theoakleafnews.com/news/srjc-district-police/2023/10/15/hemp-plants-stolen-from-shone-farm/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23863762.police-appeal-horsebox-stolen-green-hammerton/

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2023/10/17/appeal-after-nine-pigs-stolen-from-farm-targeted-twice-in-seven-days/

https://farmersforum.com/opp-2-tractors-stolen-from-winchester-business/

Africa

https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/headlines/3-face-conspiracy-cattle-theft-case

https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/nc-farmers-say-stock-theft-is-on-the-rise/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://news.yahoo.com/sioux-falls-man-gets-probation-102010789.html

https://www.agdaily.com/ffa/washington-man-finally-sentenced-after-killing-three-ffa-pigs/

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Olivia Pflaumer is an Agriscience teacher, former American Star Finalist, former FFA member and three time guest of the Off-Farm Income Podcast.  On today's show she returns to give us an update on her career.  Olivia first appeared on the show in 2016 when she was a junior in high school.  Three years later she was back as an American Star Finalist in the category of Agriscience Research.  Today, Olivia has completed college and student teaching, and she is an Agriscience instructor at the Global Impact Stem Academy in Springfield, Ohio.  Today, we get to catch up on all she has done and is doing.

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode we are catching up with Olivia Pflaumer who is now an agriscience teacher in a STEM Program in Ohio.  This will be Olivia's third appearance on the show as she has been a high achiever for years now.  Olivia's first appearance was back in 2016, and as a nice tie in for tomorrow I decided to replay that interview today.  This will make for a great before and after picture of Olivia.

Joseph Pulver is an American Star Finalist in the category of Agribusiness.  He and his brother are third generation working their families concrete business in the farming community of Randolph, Wisconsin.  As such, Joseph has been doing one aspect or another of the concrete business since he was 11 years old.

By the time Joseph has a couple of years invested in the FFA, his advisor approached him and made a life changing suggestion.  He suggested that Joseph form an LLC, and start his own business on the side of working for his father in the concrete business.  Joseph took the advice, and JP Slabs LLC was born.  At this point Joseph started working on the weekend in his own business.  However, he needed somebody to take a chance on him since he was only 16.  One farmer did and hired him to poor a pad for a grain bin to rest on.  That led to word of mouth and a growing business.

Today, Joseph is 22 years old, and he is working full time for his father and still growing his own business on the weekends.  He realized that while he knew concrete, he needed to learn more about business.  So, today he is a graduate of Fox Valley Technical College with a degree in business.  Joseph plans on operating his business on the weekends for the foreseeable future until he raises enough funds to buy into his father's business.

I had a list of farm update things to talk to you about today, but I didn't talk about almost any of that.  As so often happens when I start recording, my mind goes somewhere that is cathartic as it often does when speaking to this fantastic audience.  So, today there is a lot of reflection about how fortunate I am, the current events of today and a somber ending about those events.  I hope you will join me.

Lainey Hutchison is an American Star Finalist in the category of agribusiness.  Growing up on a cattle ranch in Tennessee, horses have always been a part of Lainey's life.  That bloomed over the years to where she started competing in rodeo on horseback.  Eventually, a parent approached her and asked if she would be willing to provide riding lessons to their daughter.  She said yes, and an equestrian entrepreneur was born.

Today, Lainey is competing on the college rodeo team at the University Of Tennessee, Martin.  Martin is close enough to her family ranch that she is able to continue providing riding lessons on the weekends.  In addition, she and her mother started providing farm camps to kids, agricultural and non-agricultural, when Lainey was back in high school.  She continues to do that during the summer, providing agricultural education to younger children.

We are 8 months into profiling agricultural colleges.  I believe that we are dispelling some myths and uncovering some opportunities for the student who wants to pursue a future in agriculture.  In today's I'll try to summarize what I have learned in the past 8 months.

Tip Of The Week

What does it mean to believe all victims?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12619815/Washington-family-farm-theft-suspect-chicken-kids.html

https://www.aginfo.net/report/57718/Sportsman-s-Spotlight/Stolen-Guard-dogs

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://southburnett.com.au/news2/2023/10/11/hay-thats-our-truck/https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/23847191.sheep-injured-dog-attack-borders-farm/

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/23845748.police-investigation-wootton-bassett-farm-targeted-theft/

Africa

https://www.kbc.co.ke/trio-arrested-as-anti-stock-theft-unit-recovers-stolen-livestock/

https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/two-men-nabbed-for-suspected-stolen-cattle-in-limpopo-93a12917-ff95-43d5-9995-cf2e263e90b5

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.morningagclips.com/love-county-man-sentenced-for-horse-theft/

https://localnews8.com/news/crime-tracker/2023/10/10/1-arrested-after-pursuit-in-stolen-tractor/

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Today will our second installment talking about pricing and “is profit evil?”  I did that for a reason.  This is a question that has come up several times.  It came up for me in my business.  It has come up with guests that I have interviewed on the show.  And, it is has come up from people who are working in my industry who have since gone out of business.

The fact that they went out of business is a hint as to how important this issue is.  By being generous or being nice, rather than pricing their products or services correctly, they are now out of business and not sharing their gifts with the rest of the world.  This is not a sustainable way of doing business.

We need to be concerned with sustainability, business sustainability.  If we use entrepreneurship to support our farming or rural lifestyle and the business fails, then we lose the lifestyle.  So, it is important that we price our goods or services in a way that will sustain our business.  Otherwise, all of the positive impact we could have had with our agricultural enterprise will no longer exist.

Today we will be talking about pricing and “is profit evil?”  I did that for a reason.  This is a question that has come up several times.  It came up for me in my business.  It has come up with guests that I have interviewed on the show.  And, it is has come up from people who are working in my industry who have since gone out of business.

The fact that they went out of business is a hint as to how important this issue is.  By being generous or being nice, rather than pricing their products or services correctly, they are now out of business and not sharing their gifts with the rest of the world.  This is not a sustainable way of doing business.

We need to be concerned with sustainability, business sustainability.  If we use entrepreneurship to support our farming or rural lifestyle and the business fails, then we lose the lifestyle.  So, it is important that we price our goods or services in a way that will sustain our business.  Otherwise, all of the positive impact we could have had with our agricultural enterprise will no longer exist.

Whitney Glazier is an American Star Finalist in the category of Agricultural Placement.  She knew she wanted to be an FFA member early in life, when her father was still teaching agriculture.  As she and her sister got older and became more involved in showing pigs, he dad ended his 20 year career as an ag teacher and started farming full time and helping Whitney and her sister get to different pig shows.

Starting in her freshman year, Whitney knew she wanted to be an American Star Finalist.  However, she didn't think that a girl from a small town like her could achieve that dream.  However, she kept pursuing it, finding success but staying humble.  Today she finds herself on the precipice of becoming an American Star and already having been honored by being a finalist.

Hattie and I just returned from Yellowstone National Park.  On this previous weekend, every October since 2016, she and I have departed for Yellowstone and spent three days searching for wildlife and taking in incredible vistas.  She is a senior in high school this year, so this may be it!  I don't know what the future holds for this trip in October, but I do know that she will not be subject to the Kuna High School calendar next year and there will be a new set of scheduling obstacles to deal with when it comes to planning this trip.

On today's show I talk all about these past 8 years of Yellowstone with Hattie, and how this year we graduated to the level of guides!

Jasmyn Hoeger is a sophomore at the University Of Iowa and an American Star Finalist in the category of Agriscience Research.  Her passion and her research project have their roots all the way back to when Jasmyn was in the 3rd Grade and her father was almost fatally injured by their bull.  In subsequent discussions with doctors after the incident Jasmyn became aware that had the bull been horned the incident was almost certainly have been fatal.

Years later, now in the FFA, Jasmyn's teacher encouraged her to get into agriscience research through a science fair project that could also be used in the FFA.  Jasmyn participated, and a flame for research was lit.  This led to her beginning a journey that he is continuing today, into an economical and pain free method of dehorning cattle.  Jasmyn believes that cost and pain caused to cattle are the two biggest obstacles to people dehorning calves.  And, she believes that having cattle, particularly bulls, on farms that are horned causes a more unsafe working environment for farmers and ranchers.  So, her research is directed at eliminated those two obstacles and creating safer farms by having less horned cattle on those operations.

What Jasmyn has already done is really incredible, and it is really easy to see what the practical application will be.  It is amazing that she is only a sophomore in college, but obviously she will be continuing her education for some time and will be making a big difference in the world of 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.

[caption id="attachment_421096" align="alignright" width="145"] Nick Dorroh - Ag Student Ambassador[/caption]

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.

I began my college career at a community college and got off to a great start academically.  I have often stated, with all seriousness, that had I not had that beginning, I probably would not have graduated with a bachelor's degree.  So, I believe that a community college is an absolutely fantastic place to begin a college pursuit, and that is why I wanted to profile as many as possible on this episode.  

In today's episode I am proving Aims Community College from Fort Lupton, Colorado.  We are going to be talking about the re-emergence of their agricultural program, the emergence of new opportunities and why a 38 year old man, who is redefining his life chose Aims for his new beginning.

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Tip Of The Week

Outgoing mail and locking mail boxes

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/target-closing-stores-due-to-theft-concerns-of-violence-toward-workers

https://www.klkntv.com/man-accused-of-smashing-window-to-break-into-rural-southeast-nebraska-home/

https://www.kbzk.com/news/crime-courts/mail-carrier-sentenced-for-stealing-mail-on-rural-routes

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23819082.women-deny-stealing-kings-lambs-field-sandringham/

https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/psni-appeal-for-information-about-farm-theft-in-co-fermanagh/

Africa

https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/ff-shocked-over-the-increase-in-police-arrests-for-various-crimes-639204c3-ec3f-49f3-b285-5821f80ccffa

https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-235955.html

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://abc11.com/cumberland-county-fayettevillle-animal-cruelty-abuse/13839586/

https://news.yahoo.com/hundreds-pounds-medicinal-fruit-confiscated-183627317.html

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Cassidy Johnston and her husband are the creators and owners of JRC Ranch Management & Consulting.  This is a business that they are developing after years of working on different ranches throughout Colorado and having a myriad of different experiences.  They believe that there can be a disconnect between absentee ranch owners and the folks who are doing the day to day work on the ranches, and they would like to be part of the solution to solving that problem.

In the interview Cassidy talks about how sometimes employees on ranches are not treated as well as employees in other sectors of industry.  This leads to burnout, high turnover and poor performance of the ranch.  Basically, nobody wins in these situations.  In many cases, Cassidy believes that the problem lies in the disconnect and is not necessarily a character flaw of the ownership.  She will talk all about her observations and how she aims to be part of the solution in this episode.

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am profiling a cattle rancher striving to make cattle ranching better for everyone.  In she and her husband's efforts, they are taking the perspective of ranch employers and trying to convey that ranch owners, particularly absentee ranch owners.

So, for today's re-cap episode I am going back to an episode I did that I titled "The Amazing Range Cow And the Amazing Rancher".  Hopefully there is enough in this episode to give you some perspective on ranchers out here in the West are doing before we roll into tomorrow's show.

Hadley Steifvater is an American Star Finalist in the category of Agriscience Research.  She has grow up around her father's veterinary practice, raising livestock of her own and also helping to solve problems in the production agriculture world in her region of South Dakota.

Hadley was homeschooled for the entirety of her primary school career, and her pathway into the FFA and agriscience research are a bit different than normal.  Hadley was actually recruited by the FFA Advisor for McCook Central High School, Terry Reickman, as her father had been the FFA and Terry had been his advisor too.  This recruitment took place her 7th Grade year, but it was not until 8th Grade that her parents allowed it.

In the first year, another of Hadley's FFA Advisors, Tracy Chase, encouraged her to do an agriscience research project.  Hadley went on to win both state and national awards with that project in just the 8th Grade!  This set her on a course of seeking research projects, and soon she was researching the best methods of farrowing pigs and caring for newly born pigs on behalf of her father and for one of his customers.

This led to Hadley researching block chains in the beef industry and assessing whether or not the origins of a steak could be traced back to the farm the calf was born on - a topic of particular interest to me.

Hadley is now at South Dakota State University, majoring in Animal Science, and she is looking at a future career in the veterinary field as either a veterinary nurse or veterinarian.

Today, I've got a lively farm update for you.  We will be discussing:

• very successful FFA scholarship auction
• .75 inches of rain and done irrigating
• grazing goats on canal for two weeks straight
• Oso working out great
• still on pasture with cattle and hope to be for a couple more weeks
• corn, kochia and cover crops for goats to green

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Audrey Pinger is a 2023 American Star Finalist in the category of Agriscience Research.  This all began in the 9th Grade with her adamantly refusing to the join the FFA as her friends tried to get her to sign up.  Finally, after a lot of peer pressure (the good kind), she relented and became a member to join what would later become a nationally competing parliamentary procedure team.

During this time Audrey was encouraged to do an agriscience research project by her FFA Advisor.  She ended going to and winning her state with the project, and this lit a fire.  Soon, she was running four separate agriscience research projects, and obviously those projects stood out as she has become one of only four finalists in the category out of over 800,000 FFA students in the nation!

Audrey is currently studying to become an agriculture teacher at The Ohio State University, and she will also be receiving her American Degree this year.

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.

Mid-State Technical College serves as a conduit between employers in their region of Wisconsin looking for talented and qualified recruits, and up and coming employees who need certifications and more to be qualified to work for those employers.  This pragmatic approach is very beneficial to agriculture students because that is how we in agriculture tend to operate.  And, because Mid-State Tech. has four locations, they can cater to all the different types of agriculture that are represented in each location.

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Tip Of The Week

The legal system does work….

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.agdaily.com/crops/california-authorities-still-trying-to-solve-watermelon-caper/

https://kansasreflector.com/2023/09/28/kansas-farmer-loses-appeal-in-bizarre-hog-effluent-disposal-trespassing-nuisance-case/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.southwestfarmer.co.uk/news/23805448.police-appeal-56-sheep-stolen-woolavington/

https://www.farmersguardian.com/news/4124922/bales-hay-slashed-police-investigate

Africa

https://www.citizen.co.za/witness/news/pietermaritzburg/criminals-target-power-cables/

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2023-09-28-five-suspected-rustlers-escape-death-as-their-vehicle-is-set-on-fire/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.klkntv.com/man-accused-of-igniting-hay-bales-burglarizing-northeast-nebraska-golf-course/

https://www.wctv.tv/2023/09/21/something-good-wcso-joins-4-h-hay-bale-contest-with-new-deputy/

https://www.fultonsun.com/news/2023/sep/27/man-sentenced-for-kingdom-city-farm-theft/

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Peggy Coffeen is a podcast host, farmer and seller of value added products. She also make a successful transition from a corporate career to self-employment after identifying two niche businesses and moving into them.

On today's ag business episode Peggy and I have an in depth conversation about the dynamics of moving to full time, self-employment.  We also talk about many of the pitfalls you will face along the way and the fear that will seek to stop you.  Peggy has a very unique perspective on identifying your target customer, and an interesting story that goes with that.  In addition, she started a very niched podcast after seeing a hole in the dairy world that she believed needed to filled.

Come along for an inspiring and very interesting interview today!

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode we are going to be profiling an entrepreneur who transitioned from a full-time corporate career to being a full-time entrepreneur.  In the spirit of what I normally do, I wanted to pull an episode from the archives that tied in with tomorrow's theme.  I believe that this interview with Daryl Mast of Doorstep Dairy does so nicely.  From the transition to the family legacy, this episode has it all.

Daniel Jossund is a 2023 American Star Farmer Finalist.  I met him for the first time in this interview, but what an impressive resume he put forward.  He has been farming corn, wheat, soybeans, barley and sugar beets with his family his entire life.  However, at the beginning of his FFA career he joined his brother in a straw bailing business, and actually purchased his own bailer.

The purchase of that bailer was just the beginning for Daniel.  Soon he was leasing ground from his grandmother and growing wheat and soybeans.  Then he leased some ground from his chapter and began growing alfalfa.  Just after graduation from high school he purchased 150 acres of his own and diversified even more.  

Daniel is currently in college at North Dakota State University studying agricultural business and minoring in banking.  When I asked him what was next for him, after college, without hesitation but with full confidence he said "full time farming".  He is already well on his way to that dream, and her is wishing him the best of luck at the National Convention!

A while back I did a solo show defending farmers from a newspaper article calling them "hogs" for using the water that has been allotted to them for well over a century for farming  **See The Original Show Notes Below**

An article recently popped up locally for me that supported the idea of the "pyramid scheme" that small cities get involved with that leads to the need to continue to approve development projects so that they can create new tax revenue that will pay for aging infrastructure.  On today's Tuesday episode I've got a brief farm update for you, and then I want to read you this article and cite it as evidence that this "pyramid scheme" is really happening.

Weston Whiteside is an American Star Finalist in the category of Agribusiness.  Weston has been working in the lawn care and landscaping business since he was 11 years old, and when he turned 16 years old he purchased the business from his father.  Since then, Weston has made moves to transform his clientele from residential to commercial and to ramp up the earnings.  He has been succeeding in that endeavor.  

Weston is currently studying agricultural business and playing baseball at The College Of The Ozarks in Missouri.  In addition, he is working in exchange for his tuition, so he has absolutely no tuition payments to make to get his degree.  He is employed at the campus feed mill and does a variety of jobs in exchange for tuition.  

When Weston graduates he plans on running his business, Whiteside Landscaping, full time and building the business even larger.  He has a lofty goal of being financially independent by the time he is 30 years old, not so he can stop working, but so he can always do work that he loves and is passionate about. 

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_421012" align="alignright" width="90"] Allison Meyer: Head Ag Ambassador - Dordt University[/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.

Dordt University is a private, Christian university located in Northwest Iowa.  It is also one of the few Christian universities to have an agriculture program.  The university has its own row crop operation, feed lot and dairy herd.  In addition to that, Dordt is located in a very rural part of the state that is agriculturally intensive.  So, students there have multitudes of opportunities to work in agriculture and make great money doing it!

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Tip Of The Week

Think safety first everyone, rural crime prevention is included in this

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.wdayradionow.com/news/local-news/67960-kreps-family-farm-in-fargo-reports-two-burglaries-in-two-days

https://www.nemonews.net/2023/09/06/police-ask-for-assistance-from-the-public-following-rash-of-edina-burglaries/

https://gonzalesinquirer.com/stories/arrest-warrant-issued-for-woman-after-failure-to-appear-on-livestock-theft-charge,77684

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.northernfarmer.co.uk/news/23757438.three-arrests-north-yorkshire-farm-machinery-thefts/

https://www.brecon-radnor.co.uk/news/powys-police-appeal-for-information-on-20-stolen-brecknock-hill-cheviot-yearling-ewes-637930

Africa

https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/piketberg-murder-shocks-farming-community-adc355b0-9fc3-43e0-bc4a-60a3f610a4d5

https://citizen.digital/wananchi-reporting/bomet-farmers-decry-rise-in-cattle-theft-meat-sold-in-neighbouring-sub-counties-n326894

https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/parliament-urged-to-form-ad-hoc-committee-on-farm-murders-0dc177cd-bb47-4b33-a62b-759036d41879

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://themessenger.com/news/kellen-tolentino-joshua-kellogg-stealing-75-pounds-oranges-hawaii-farm

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eric-edson-vermont-robbery-suspect-arrested-eluded-capture-using-car-bike-tractor-dump-truck-sailboat/

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Eric Rickenbach is the owner of RescueTechs and devotes himself to teaching others how to respond to emergencies on the farm.  He has also been a first responder for decades and has been to many of these scenes himself.

When I found Eric's web page and what he did, I knew I wanted to have him on the show during National Farm Safety and Health Week, so we made it happen.  Today we will discuss some of the most common instances of injuries and death on farms.  We will also talk about taking the extra step to insure that you are working safely.  And, we will talk about why the buddy system is so important.

Stay safe out there everyone...

Today we are continuing our focus on National Farm Health & Safety Week.  Joining us are two FFA members from Bowling Green High School in Bowling Green, Missouri, Abby Haas and Courtney Kraft.  They are spearheading a county wide effort to teach 4th graders about food storage safety as well as medication safety in their homes.

I love it when people do activities that accomplish two goals at once, and that is exactly what they are doing.  At the same time they are teaching safety to farm student as well as non-farm students, they are exposing everyone to agriculture and the FFA.  We know that the number of non-traditional FFA students is on the increase, and that is good thing.  This effort will help to keep that trend moving forward.

The biggest contributors to farm accidents are probably impatience and complacency.  Getting in a hurry, or thinking that danger doesn't exist just because nothing has ever happened before can lead one into a dangerous situation.

On today's show we are profiling the farm safety education philosophy of the Tunstall FFA Chapter in Dry Fork, Virginia.  Dr. Jessica Jones, the FFA Advisor and her colleagues have figured out that impatience and complacency can be overcome by keeping safety in the front of one's mind.  If you think safety first, then your chances of not overlooking a dangerous aspect of your job go way up.

Two of Jessica's students, Chapter President - Cole Abercrombie as well as sophomore member - Zac Chaney join me on the show today.  They will talk about farming in their area, what they see as some of the biggest risks and how farm safety is taught in every agriculture class at Tunstall, regardless of whether or not it is Farm Safety Week.

Rylee Shelton is a senior in high school and the president of her FFA Chapter.  She is also a beef producer and staunch advocate for agriculture, specifically the beef industry.

Rylee is currently running for both Missouri Beef Queen as well as the position of Missouri Farm Bureau Ambassador.  As such, she is doing a lot of public speaking, both to agricultural and non-agricultural audiences.  At the same time she is advocating for agriculture, she is also teaching about farm safety and handling techniques of working with cattle that minimize stress on the livestock and create the safest working environment possible for humans.

To the agricultural audiences Rylee focuses mainly on ways we can evolve into different handling techniques for betterment of our industry from both a public perception and safety standpoint.  To the general public she talks about staying safe and safe cattle handling techniques as one of the ways in which she debunks misconceptions about animal abuse in agriculture.

The wisdom of how Rylee is going about doing this is fantastic, and I share her enthusiasm!

It is National Farm Health & Safety Week, and I am devoting this week to just that!  Joining me today are two students from the Audrain County FFA

Chapter in Laddonia, Missouri.  Brant Cope and Aaron Carter are the organizers of this years Farm Safety Day at their high school and put on by their FFA Chapter.  Brant and Aaron have both participated in this event multiple times over the years, first as elementary school students and for the past four years as FFA students teaching at the stations.

On Farm Safety Day, elementary students from around their county will come to their school and be shown multiple different stations and taught how to be safe.  This will include everything from electrical lines, to horses, to grain bins to atv's.