Hunting with Stef

Hunting is an awesome sport. Stefani Soehn is a hunting enthusiast. Her favorite things to do are to ride her horse Tucker and go hunting. Well you could probably add seeing her boyfriend to that list but that is rather irrelevant. She mainly hunts with a bow but she has recently started doing a little hunting with guns. She loves that fact of getting up early and trying your best to cover your yawns while searching for a deer. “It is a great way to spend time with your friends or family without having to actually be around them. It is not the smartest thing to be sitting close to someone when you’re hunting.” Hunting is a way to relax and appreciate nature. It is such a natural thing to do because the population of deer and other animals that are hunted just keeps growing. If they over populate, then there will be other problems which in turn could harm nature as well as us. “Hunting is like a getaway for me. It helps you relax and just think or concentrate on something other than what is waiting for you once you leave your stand.” Deer meat is actually really good. If prepared right, it is not that greasy and makes good jerky. “I process my own meat. I have everything I need to do everything except mount a head or chest, which if I want it, I would have to send it to be done. When you do it all yourself, you know what is going in the meat, how it is being treated, and can add your own special kind of spices if you want.” Bow hunting will always be Stefani’s favorite way of hunting but when she really needs a day of fun, she will put down the bow and just go for a ride through her property with her horse Tucker and just have some good old fashion fun. “You got to love those times of just you and horse and nothing else in the world will really matter anymore until you pack up the trailer and head back. Then it is time to grab that bow again and do more stuff that I love.”

Stereotype or Fact

When someone says “Cowgirl” or “Cowboy” what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Most people would think of the hat and boots, which is the stereotypical view of someone from the country. You don’t have to be from the south to be a cowgirl or cowboy. You don’t even need to have the boots and hat. All you need is the love for the agriculture side of this world and enjoy the small things in life, like the smell of hay when you are stacking it in a barn. A cowboy is not just a man that rides bulls and broncs. They are the people that get us our meat that we eat every day. They are the ones who mend the fences that keep the livestock in that we use in products every day. There is so much more to a cowboy or cowgirl or even a country boy/girl, that people do not realize what all they really give us. What do you guys think??? What comes to your mind when you hear this? Is this a stereotype or is it fact?

My friend Jess!

One of my good friends and old coworkers Jessica Marlewski is a great example of a city girl gone country. She grew up in the city and then moved out to the country with her family. She has had a horse all of her life, but decided to get her own horse approximately six years ago. His name is Fabio and he is a Tennessee Walking Horse. She loves that horse more than anything else. She is very passionate about her horse and their training. She goes all over Illinois and a few other states, showing him in several different types of riding. The types of riding are called disciplines. She rides western, English, Saddle seat, and bareback. Yes, bareback is a discipline. It is where the rider does not use a saddle and all it is, is you, the horse, and maybe a bridle but most riders like to use just a halter if their horse is trained well enough. She also has a dressage background which is also called ballet on horseback. While riding dressage, you perform a pattern in an arena all by yourself and get judged.

With her showing abilities, she shows at Tennessee Walker Versatility shows, Spotted Paint shows, and Horse Fairs. Her favorite things to do though are poles and trail rides. Poles are where you run the horse and bend the horse around poles as fast as you and the horse can. She loves poles because there is nothing better to her than her and her horse racing around poles with controlled power. It is such an adrenaline rush. When you want more of a slower paced and relaxing ride though, trails are the best medicine. “It is so relaxing and you can go with your friends and have a great time,” says Jess.

Jess would recommend any type of horseback riding for anyone. Jess says, “Horses have their own personality just like people, and once you find the perfect one, they become your best friend that will always be there for you when you need them the most.”

National FFA Week is Approaching Fast

National FFA week is quickly approaching. Are you ready?? FFA is an organization where students can join and basically be members all throughout high school and college and even be alumni members. It teaches the member about the different aspects of agriculture and about leadership. It helps the members learn how to spread the word of agriculture and to help them grow to a brighter future. It is supported by the many different chapters all over the United States and also by Carhartt and Tractor Supply Company.

The week of George Washington’s birthday is the week set for National FFA week. It runs from Saturday to Saturday and was started back in 1947. This year it is from February 19^th through the 26^th. All over the country different chapters of the FFA will celebrate with different activities such as drive your tractor to school day, host different meals, have Ag Olympic competitions, and so much more. The main goal is to help teach the public about agriculture but have fun doing it.

Over the years clubs have even started having canned food drives to help the less fortunate, volunteer at different organizations, and try to promote the FFA to everyone. You don’t have to have an agricultural background to be a part of the FFA. All you need is the love to learn and grow and help support agriculture. So my advice to you the readers, join if you can. You definitely will not regret the decision to join the FFA, it will help you go far.

you can live in the city but still love ag!

Well my name is Ashley and I am a college student at Illinois State University as an Agricultural Communications and Leadership Major. I grew up around farming and horses but live in a small town. I did not grow up on a farm, but I spent 90% of my childhood on my grandparents’ horse farm and other farms around the area. This just proves that you can live in the city but still love agriculture and be country! 

I have learned the ins and outs of what it takes to run a horse farm and train or take care of horses. The biggest thing I learned throughout the years is how to work hard and how good it makes you feel at the end of the day. I have learned to appreciate all the hard work my farm hands do to help me and my grandparents around the farm. Working with horses is such an amazing thing that I am lucky enough to be a part of. It is so much fun and is very rewarding when I finally accomplish something with my horse. Horses are very passionate animals and they each have their own personality.

Through high school and college so far I have been part of 4H and FFA. Both have been so much fun and I recommend it to anyone that is passionate about agriculture. Even if you are in college and have never been part of the FFA it is not too late. It is a great organization with great experiences and chances to make friends.

I also grew up around farmers. They put in so much time to help out not only our country but all the other countries we export with and for all sorts of different animals. I learned all sorts of different things about farming row crops like corn and beans, and different equipment that is required on a typical farm. Farmers are such wonderful people because they know what is important to grow their crops and help feed a nation of people and animals.

Both of these experiences have helped shape my life and how I am as a person today. Agriculture is not only a big part in my life, but it is also a part of every person’s life wither it be in the food they eat or the food they feed their animals. Agriculture will always be around.