Mon, 31 July 2023
OFI 1789: Removing All Obstacles, Even High School | FFA SAE Edition – Featured Freshman | Addison Gronley | Timberlake Senior High School FFA
Addison Gronley is just getting ready to start her sophomore year of high school and second year of FFA, and there are possibly some big changes coming her way. I interviewed Addison right after she had attended the Idaho State FFA Convention. Even before the convention she was very fired up about showing and judging livestock with some big goals on the horizon, namely proficiency awards. The long drive back to Northern Idaho from the State Convention in the complete opposite end of the state did not reduce Addison's passion for the FFA. She told me that she was strongly considering becoming a home school student in the 10th Grade so that she could show sheep even more and develop her skills even further. A classic line from a very focused FFA student, "school gets in the way of shows". I am fortunate to be able to interview a lot of National Proficiency and American Star winners on this show, and a frequent theme is setting the goal of achieving at that level early. Addison has definitely done this, and she is doing whatever she can to remove any obstacles that might stand in her way.
Direct download: Addison_Gronley_Episode_1789_-_41123_3.08_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Sun, 30 July 2023
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. Tuskegee is one of the most historical colleges in the United States, and it just keeps making history. Located in Central Alabama, this historic campus and agriculture program is central to many activities in Alabama and the surrounding states. It boasts a rich history of innovation in agriculture and it was teaching students about regenerative agriculture before it was cool. Tuskegee has a special emphasis on small farms in addition to production agriculture, and might be the exact right fit for you. More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: Tuskegee_University_Episode_1788_-_53123_3.27_PM.mp3
Category:Agricultural Colleges -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Sat, 29 July 2023
Tip Of The Week Insurance and Natural Surveillance Rural Crime In The U.S. https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/sheepherder-severely-injured-black-bear-174608985.html Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above https://globalnews.ca/news/9840232/maple-ridge-charity-tractor-stolen/ https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/reward-for-return-of-stolen-cattle-in-co-monaghan/ Africa https://dailypost.ng/2023/07/16/woman-raped-to-death-on-her-farm/ Chalk One Up For The Good Guys
More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: OFI_1787_Rural_Crime_-_71923_4.40_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Fri, 28 July 2023
OFI 1786: Getting Over The “Hump” With Your Business | Kyle Stockdale | KY Vision Sharpening & Clipper Repair
Kyle Stockdale is a dairyman and entrepreneur from Ontario, Canada. He first appeared as a guest on the Off-Farm Income Podcast in 2021 when he was about three years into the development of his company, KY Vision Sharpening & Clipper Repair. Today, I am thrilled to have him back on the show for an update on his business as well as to learn about how he has advanced as an entrepreneur. It is always very exciting for me to welcome a previous guest back to the show, and in Kyle's case I learned a lot and couldn't be more proud of what he is doing.
Direct download: Kyle_Stockdale_Episode_1786_-_71123_5.11_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Thu, 27 July 2023
OFI 1785: Unlimited Marketing Ability With No College | Kyle Stockdale | KY Vision Sharpening & Clipper Repair | Re-Cap Episode
On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode Kyle Stockdale is coming back on the show with an update on his business as well as his development as an entrepreneur. I am very proud of what he is doing and excited to share tomorrow's interview with you. Kyle first appeared on Off-Farm Income in 2021, and so for today's re-cap episode I am replaying that original interview to give you the before and after picture. You are going to be impressed!
Direct download: OFI_1785_Replay_Of_975_Kyle_Stockdale_-_71123_6.02_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Wed, 26 July 2023
OFI 1784: Why Paying Rent To Parents Leads To More Success | FFA SAE Edition – Featured Freshman | Ava Genter | Pettisville High School FFA
Ava Genter is a swine producer, a Star Greenhand winner and a Star Record Keeper in her FFA Chapter. Even at age 15 it feels like Ava has been waiting her whole life to be a member of the FFA. Creating even more anticipation is the fact that in Pettisville, Ohio every grade is in the same building for the entire 13 years of public education, but FFA does not begin until the 9th Grade. Ava showed her first pig, on her own, when she was 2 years old. So, ever since Kindergarten she has been in the same building with those blue jackets and wanting to wear one. Finally, this year, it happened for her. And she is not waisting anytime getting used to the organization either. She applied to go the National Convention her freshman year, and she was able to go. She won a number of awards at her chapter's banquet in March and she has her sights set on being an officer. As you can tell from the title of this episode, there was a resonating point that stood out in the interview. I hear it all the time from FFA students, and I always want to highlight this. 99% of the FFA students that I interview who are farming or raising livestock for their SAE are paying money for feed, facilities, inputs and equipment to a relative who wants, more than anything, to see them succeed. If that is the case, why do they have them pay? The reason is that agricultural people are wise and pragmatic, and they know that awards and record books are short term awards, but true success is learning how the real world works and getting the experiences that will lead to long term success. This is true in Ava's case, and I wanted to highlight it in the title of this episode. |
Tue, 25 July 2023
I thought I had dealt with the coyote issue near our farm and the threat was ended, but this morning I received a rude awakening. I found four dead goat kids, clearly killed by coyotes with only one being consumed. The rest, killed for sport or to train pups how to hunt. One is missing and was probably hauled off. That is basically all I am talking about in today's farm update. More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: OFI_1783_Tuesday_Episode_-_72123_3.27_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Mon, 24 July 2023
OFI 1782: Long Term Thinking And Proactivity | FFA SAE Edition – Featured Freshman | JD Thompson | Wessington Springs High School FFA
JD Thompson is in his first year of the FFA, and he is one of the most long term and forward thinking students that I have interviewed. Through research and exploration, JD discovered the business of raising deer for sale to high fenced hunting ranches. Once he discovered this he ramped up his research and found a ranch in South Dakota that was raising deer for this purpose. He reached out to the owner, asked him several questions and is soon going there for a tour. JD is hoping to work for him for a couple of weeks this summer to get a closer look at how the operation works. JD has a very long timeline on this project. He will be developing his facilities over the next couple of years and saving his money in order to purchase his first deer. He is hoping to purchase his first deer by his senior year, and if things go better than expected by the end of his junior year. By that time, JD hopes to have visited some ranches in Texas and started networking with owners there that host hunters. JD is showing a lot of wisdom in planning out a long timeline. This will give him the opportunity to learn and study and get experience. It will also prevent him from rushing in financially to a potentially volatile business and harming himself financially.
Direct download: JD_Thompson_Episode_1782_-_31723_1.32_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Sun, 23 July 2023
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 Ohio State University is the largest university that I have profiled to date on this episode. Today, Dr. Tracy Kitchel joins me to discuss the College Of Food, Ag and Environmental Sciences. Being an agriculture student at The Ohio State University in Columbus definitely sounds like it has its advantages over the other colleges, almost like a refuge from the mass of over 67,000 students at that campus. We will also discuss the opportunities at the Wooster Campus and the way that both locations integrate together for an agricultural education. More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: Ohio_State_University_Episode_-_52523_3.10_PM.mp3
Category:Agricultural Colleges -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Sat, 22 July 2023
Tip Of The Week Big events = opportunities for thieves Rural Crime In The U.S. https://www.atholdailynews.com/Murdock-Farm-seeks-public-s-help-following-theft-51676335 Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above https://sunburymacedonranges.starweekly.com.au/news/voicing-for-farm-crime/ https://www.farmersguardian.com/news/4120405/farmers-warned-check-farm-security-royal-welsh-show https://lacombeonline.com/articles/stolen-cattle-investigation-continues-for-alberta-rcmp Africa https://www.namibian.com.na/sampofu-calls-for-more-ear-tags-to-curb-stock-theft/ https://newcastillian.com/2023/07/17/saps-task-team-recovers-livestock-worth-over-r270k-in-nine-days/ Chalk One Up For The Good Guys https://www.news10.com/news/crime/man-charged-with-robbery-at-halfmoon-farm/
More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: OFI_1780_Rural_Crime_-_71923_4.27_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Fri, 21 July 2023
It is said all the time that you should start farming, right where you are at, in whatever way that you can. If you are in an apartment, grow some tomatoes in pots on your deck. If you live in a neighborhood, raise some chickens and enjoy the eggs. Don't wait to have 1,000 acres, start right now! I believe in this adage, but I also understand the comparison that people might make to production agriculturists when they are doing something on such a small scale. That is a reason that I am so eager to introduce you to this episode's guests. Joanna and Brian Guza both grew up on production agriculture farms and have that as their background. However, as a young couple growing their family they did not have the land to farm on a production agriculture scale. They did not let that stop them. They purchased their home on 2 acres, found a niche crop to grow and began farming and selling direct to consumer. And, when this episode is released they will be in the middle of harvesting over 300 lbs of garlic that they will sell out of, almost immediately. It's all about the farming folks, no matter what your situation is. If you love it, do it. Just take it from Brian and Joanna and their delicious garlic. More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
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Thu, 20 July 2023
OFI 1778: Are Those Herbs I Smell? | FFA SAE Edition | Emily Thimmes | Miami East High School | Re-Cap Episode
Emily Thimmes was a guest on the Off-Farm Income Podcast back in 2016. Being a student at Miami East High School, under the tutilage of Marie Carity, she was encouraged to pursue an interesting entrepeneurship SAE, and she did! Emily was making quite a name for herself growing and selling herbs when I interviewed her. On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode, I am profiling a married couple that comes from production agriculture and has now created a niche growing and selling garlic on a small episode. From one herb to another, I thought this was a great tie in to tomorrow's show.
Direct download: OFI_1778_Replay_of_173_Emily_Thimmes_-_63023_3.54_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Wed, 19 July 2023
OFI 1777: Coaching And Teaching Everything She Knows | FFA SAE Edition – Featured Freshman | Lacie Weber | Rutland High School FFA
Lacie Weber is in her first year as an official high school student but her third year in the Rutland FFA Chapter. Rutland is a very, very small town and all students attend school in the same building together. So, as a 9th grader Lacie has already served in two chapter officer position. And, she is coaching younger FFA members as well as 4H members in everything that she has been exposed to between both groups. Lacie is very interested in shooting sports and excels in shooting a bow and arrow. During the interview I jokingly asked her if she had ever shot a bullseye and then split the arrow in two by shooting another bullseye right after it. Her answer was "yes"! It is early for Lacie to know what the future looks like once high school is done. However, she and I both seem to think she will wind up serving others and teaching or coaching in some capacity.
Direct download: Lacie_Weber_Episode_1777_-_31523_5.08_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Tue, 18 July 2023
Hi everyone. As I promised myself last winter, I am not taking one day of summer for granted this year. That does not mean that it is not full of challenges on the farm such as slow pasture growth, parasites in the goats and pink eye in the cattle. On today's farm update we will talk about it all. More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: OFI_1776_Tuesday_Episode_-_71823_2.49_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 3:02pm MST |
Mon, 17 July 2023
OFI 1775: Work Brings Joy To A Natural Born Entrepreneur | FFA SAE Edition | Sophia Sisil | Madera-Liberty FFA
Sophia Sisil is a natural born entrepreneur and the owner of Sophia's Succulents, selling plants and arrangements in farmers markets around the Madera, California area. Sophia is also just getting ready to begin her 10th grad year of high school, but her 4th year of FFA. Starting in middle school, Sophia joined the FFA kind of because that was the thing to do in her family. However, by the end of her 8th grade year she was hooked and knew that she would wear the blue jacket for as long as she was able. In today's interview Sophia talks about her succulent business and how she got started. Something stood out to me as she told the story. She said that she was at a Home Depot with a friend, and she saw pieces of a succulent plant on the floor, waiting to be swept up and thrown in the trash. However, her curiosity was piqued, and she took the pieces home and tried to propagate her own plants with the pieces. When she told me that part, I knew that something was different. As I inquired further, Sophia told me that she had been trying to start businesses since about 6th Grade. She said that she has even tried selling her own clothes. She also said at one point she was drawing pictures and selling them on Instagram. She did this, even when her parents told her they didn't think it would work. That is a natural born entrepreneur!
Direct download: Sophia_Sisil_Episode_1775_-_31423_1.39_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Sun, 16 July 2023
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. On today's episode I am joined by Dr. Aslihan Spaulding, a professor of Agribusiness and Food Industry Management as well as Cori Malone, and instructor and academic advisor - both from Illinois State University. This is my first exposure to this agricultural college, and I have to say that I am impressed. Illinois State University offers a performance based, non-resident tuition waiver, to students has a large college farm and a small agricultural college housed within a good sized university. This position agriculture students for unique opportunities and exposure while having class sizes in the single digits! More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: Illinois_State_University_Episode_1774_-_51723_3.26_PM.mp3
Category:Agricultural Colleges -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Sat, 15 July 2023
Tip Of The Week Don’t rely on others to follow through when it comes to rural crime Rural Crime In The U.S. https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/fulton-county-flying-change-equine-therapy-horse-trailer-stolen https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/644122520/shaftsbury-barracks-theft-of-tractor Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above https://www.farmersjournal.ie/gardai-warn-farmers-following-monaghan-theft-spree-774131 Africa https://leadership.ng/police-arrest-4-for-cattle-rustling-kidnapping-in-adamawa/ Chalk One Up For The Good Guys More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: OFI_1787_Rural_Crime_-_71223_12.33_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Fri, 14 July 2023
Forrest Durham was first a guest on the Off-Farm Income Podcast back in 2015 when he was an FFA student and running a roasted corn business. As a high school student Forrest was attending an average of 14 fairs or festivals per year for a total of 28 days. He was selling around 500 ears of corn per day at an average profit of $2 per ear. That's around $30,000 in profit. Not bad for a high school student working 28 days per year, right? The roasted corn business was inspired by his father, who sold fudge and ice cream out of a mobile car and later a brick and mortar location. When Forrest finished high school he went to the University Of Kentucky and got a degree in agriculture, but then he was right back at it, taking over his father's business "The Sweet Shoppe". Forrest is currently expanding "The Sweet Shoppe". They do mail orders and are starting to distribute fudge to local grocery stores. He is also building his cattle herd and has plans for a direct to consumer beef business. And, he already has a brick and mortar store front and large scale social media following for The Sweet Shoppe. So, selling cuts of meat produced on his very own farm is just a step away.
Direct download: Forrest_Durham_Episode_1772_-_52323_4.11_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Thu, 13 July 2023
OFI 1771: Festival Food | FFA SAE Edition | Forrest Durham | Larue County High School FFA | Re-Cap Episode
Forrest Durham is one of the most memorable FFA entrepreneurs that I ever profiled on this show. In just 12-16 weekends per year, during high school, he was making an very impressive income selling roasted corn at fairs and festivals. Forrest has continued his entrepreneurial ways and now taken over his father's fudge business and his running both a mobile stand, brick and mortar location and mail order business. I am having Forrest back on the show tomorrow to catch up with him and profile his continued entrepreneurial pursuits. I thought playing his interview from back in 2016 would be a great tie in for tomorrow's show.
Direct download: OFI_1771_Replay_Of_084_Forrest_Durham_-_63023_3.35_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Wed, 12 July 2023
OFI 1770: Career Worthy Expertise In The 9th Grade | FFA SAE Edition – Featured Freshman | Baylor Bloom | Gustine High School FFA
Baylor Bloom is the owner of "Full Bloom Harvesting", a tree shaking business located in the Central Valley of California serving almond farmers in and around Gustine. At the time of this interview Baylor was almost 1/2 through his final semester of his 9th grade year of high school. However, his expertise on the permanent crop farming industry of California was like somebody who had been farming for decades. Baylor has a passion for farming, and for his families 8 generation farm. As a matter of fact, he has immense knowledge of the history of the farm and how it changed due to the Great Depression almost 80 years ago. Baylor took over his fathers tree shaking business, and as a freshman in high school he leases the equipment on an annual basis and is responsible for every aspect of the business. This includes hiring people to transport his equipment since he does not have a driver's license yet and hiring labor to shake the trees during the time that he is in class at high school! In this interview Baylor does a fantastic job of explaining to the audience how almonds are harvested, and it will of interest to anyone that has natural curiosity about farming.
Direct download: Baylor_Bloom_Episode_1770_-_31323_12.53_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Tue, 11 July 2023
My mom was a painter, and she used to watch Bob Ross on PBS religiously. Bob had a saying that has become very popular. When a brush stroke that he didn't intend happened, he called it a "happy little accident". I have stolen that phrase, but I use it when I talk about why I raise goats. Me becoming a goat farmer is definitely a "happy little accident". On today's farm update episode, goats is what it seems like I have to talk about. I'll be discussing using them in our driveway to control weeds and growth as well as in a new area of pasture that I have planted. What amazing little creatures.
Direct download: OFI_1769_Tuesday_Episode_-_71123_4.58_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 5:03pm MST |
Mon, 10 July 2023
OFI 1768: An Optimistic View Of The Future | FFA SAE Edition – Featured Freshman | Levi Knopp | Ripley High School FFA
Levi Knopp is just finishing up his first year of high school, but he is fortunate to be finishing his 3rd year of FFA already. Coming from one of the school districts that allows middle school FFA, Levi got an early start. Levi was preceded in the FFA by his sister, and she has been a significant role model for him. Levi has a lot of high school and FFA ahead of him, but he already has very clear goals and objectives. Among them are winning the state fair with a lamb that was born on his farm, becoming a state officer and ultimately becoming an agriculture teacher. It is rare, even for FFA students, have such clear, long term goals identified this early. However, it was apparent in the interview with Levi that he is a forward thinker. Part of our discuss steered towards alternative farming methods and the world's growing population. Levi is an optimist, and he sees the glass as half full when it comes to future population. He is already looking into innovation and believes that new methods or farming, including urban farms and vertical farming, will be the answers that are needed to get the world through the exponential growth. |
Sun, 9 July 2023
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 Tennessee Martin is one of the universities that inspired this episode. Hattie and I were made aware of UTM at the National FFA Convention, and after that conversation and hearing how affordable an agricultural education could be there, it got me started thinking about making this episode. Today, I am speaking with the Agriculture Department Chair, Dr. West Totten. There is a wealth of information in this interview about another agricultural college that will make it possible for you to create your future in Ag. More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: University_Of_Tennessee_Martin_Episode_1767_-_51123_1.45_PM.mp3
Category:Agricultural Colleges -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Sat, 8 July 2023
Tip Of The Week Rural crime is more prevalent in the U.S. than reported Rural Crime In The U.S. https://www.agweb.com/news/machinery/used-machinery/crime-sprees-target-precision-ag-technology-farms-and-dealerships Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above https://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/23634530.warning-rural-thefts-west-dorset-villages/ https://www.farmersguide.co.uk/nearly-a-fifth-of-waste-in-england-falls-into-criminal-hands-survey-finds/ Africa https://www.foodformzansi.co.za/icymi-shock-as-fruit-thieves-attack-female-farmer/ Chalk One Up For The Good Guys https://tscra.org/former-ranch-hand-indicted-in-smith-county-cattle-theft-case/?fbclid=IwAR2HA5ULV31qD1QacH8RmBoPkAtxPIeVR4ben0wwkN_Xou0k1ULBPMJg_xw_aem_AX04O7PxoezRe_5wetIMFJQy_mkKuNEAXa4dtPl5RmjnUl-PnSET0loniZFyaLm4eCE&mibextid=Zxz2cZ https://www.kget.com/news/crime-watch/wasco-man-arrested-for-burglary-grand-theft-of-copper-wire-kcso/ More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: OFI_1766_Rural_Crime_-_7823_1.03_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 1:07pm MST |
Fri, 7 July 2023
OFI 1765: Can You Produce Your Own Livestock Feed Using Fodder | Al Noorda | Spring Creek Livestock & Feed
I have been fascinated with the idea of growing fodder as a livestock feed since I first learned about it in 2015. Recently I began searching for a guest to come on the show who was using this model, and I found Al Noorda just one state away in Utah. Al is the owner of Spring Creek Livestock & Feed in Cedar Foot, Utah. He has been growing and feeding fodder for about ten years to his cattle and finishing them on nothing other than grass, hay and fodder. Al also sells fodder production systems and sources barley seed for customers. According to Al, fodder can replace 70% of your feed ration and allow you to feed lower quality hay to your ruminants. Also, the fodder keeps your cattle or other ruminants gaining weight through the winter when ranchers traditionally only feed for weight maintenance. I have a natural interest in this system, so in today's interview you get to hear me ask questions that comes straight from the perspective of somebody who is interested in producing their own feed in this manner. I hope you learn as much as I did!
Direct download: Al_Noorda_Episode_1765_-_51823_12.36_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Thu, 6 July 2023
OFI 1764: Fodder Production | FFA SAE Edition | Nancy Schiffer | Kuna High School FFA | Re-Cap Episode
On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode we are profiling a farmer who is feeing everything with fodder. This individual has really revolutionized fodder production as a feed source for his livestock. This made me think of the very first time I heard of fodder, and that was during an interview with Nancy Schiffer of the Kuna FFA Chapter in 2015. So, we are brining it back for you today as a lead in to tomorrow's episode.
Direct download: OFI_1764_Replay_Of_055_Nancy_Schiffer_-_63023_3.22_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Wed, 5 July 2023
OFI 1763: Swimming Towards Success | FFA SAE Edition | Peyton Zinner | Western Hills High School FFA
Peyton Zinner is a former Middle School FFA President, and now she is a freshman FFA member at Western Hills High School in Frankfort, Kentucky. Peyton has grown up in an agricultural and FFA family. Actually, her uncle is one of her FFA advisors, and she keeps her sheep at his home. Peyton is already making very mature decisions for her age. She has two major focus areas. First, is the FFA. She is improving the genetics in her growing flock of sheep and has objectives for breeding her own sheep that will go on to win at her county and state fair. Her other focus area is swimming, and she has already identified the two colleges that she wants to swim at in the NCAA. Peyton is working towards both of these goals and knows that if she takes anything else on, it will diminish her ability to succeed at these two goals. This is a lesson that a lot of adults, especially entrepreneurs, cannot learn. My hat is off for Peyton thinking so far ahead, and I have all the confidence in the world that she will achieve both of these goals.
Direct download: Peyton_Zinner_Episode_1763_-_3823_3.51_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Tue, 4 July 2023
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!Today is a great day for Americans, farmers, and non-farmers alike. As we celebrate the anniversary of American Independence we should think about the men and women who lived through this time. With this in mind, let's look at how it impacted farmers in the colonies during the 18th Century. Here are a few of the things that farmers went through during the Revolutionary War:
I wanted to mention something that I read in Stephen Ambrose's book "Citizen Soldiers" about farm kids in World War II. He said that the commanders loved the soldiers that grew up on farms because they had been hunting for their whole lives, knew how to handle a rifle, and could shoot straight. I wanted to pay tribute to four of my ancestors that fought in the Revolutionary War in this episode as well:
Direct download: OFI_1762_Tuesday_Episode_-_63023_3.03_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Mon, 3 July 2023
OFI 1761: A Big Goal Already Accomplished By The 9th Grade | FFA SAE Edition | Featured Freshman - Landon Berg | Bridgewater-Emery High School FFA
Landon Berg is our first "Featured Freshman" guest of 2023. At the time of the recording he was right in the middle of the second half of his first year of high school. Landon lives on his fourth generation family farm, and with his father and brother they raise cattle, sheep and grow corn and soybeans. Landon has a passion for livestock evaluation, and that led him to be on the high school livestock evaluation team as an 8th Grader. That team went to the National FFA Convention in 2022 and won a silver award. Landon told me that going to the National Convention to evaluate livestock was one of his biggest goals, and here he is already having accomplished that! So, the natural question for Landon is what is his new goal going to be. He is very interested in the flock of sheep that he and his brother have started. Landon is hoping to begin improving flock genetics through artificial insemination within the next couple of years. And, he is hoping to return to the National Convention in the future as a National Proficiency Finalist.
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Sun, 2 July 2023
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. On today's episode I speak with Dr. Antoine Alston, an Associate Dean in the Department Of Agriculture. In this discussion we talk about the historical significance of NCAT being a Historically Black University And College as well as a Land Grant University. We will discuss scholarships and real world learning opportunities. More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: North_Carolina_AT_Episode_1760_-_51023_2.05_PM.mp3
Category:Agricultural Colleges -- posted at: 12:30am MST |
Sat, 1 July 2023
Tip Of The Week Do you sell your roosters? Rural Crime In The U.S. https://www.wjhg.com/2023/06/19/man-arrested-attempted-burglary/ http://newslj.com/content/lincoln-county-sheriff’s-office-says-don’t-take-sheep-dogs https://www.1600kush.com/news/cushing-horse-trainer-accused-of-embezzlement Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above https://www.yourharlow.com/2023/06/21/farm-crime-and-surging-cost-of-living-pose-threat-to-livelihoods/ Africa Chalk One Up For The Good Guys https://jcpost.com/posts/036b9760-c2da-46d6-8037-372a12049880 More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Direct download: OFI_1759_Rural_Crime_-_62623_3.22_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST |