Teamwork: It's a Farm Thing

Last night, I had the privilege of helping out with the Section 6 FFA's Leadership Training School. It was a great evening of mingling with high school FFA members. My duty was to lead a workshop dealing with trust, communication, and teamwork. The students learned what it takes to be good leaders and that communication is key. While watching the students interact, I realized how true that really was.

To be a good leader, one must be able to communicate. More than that, one must trust her/his teamates. Pondering these thoughts, this is so true in life and even on the farm. As harvest season is upon us, farm families must be in good communication and trust one another to get the job done. While in the fields, farmers must be in communication of one another and with teamwork, manage to get the job done. I wish every one of you out there, who are busy harvesting, the best of luck as you get your crops in!

Paul Taylor: A Family Legacy

As cliché as it sounds, farming is in the blood. Growing up on a family farm, I can definitely relate to that; I mean it is so true. When I was trying to figure out what to do with my life it was always between something musical or something ag. I chose to pursue something musical when starting my college career because I wanted to try something different. I mean I grew up on a farm, active in FFA, what else could there possibly be to learn about agriculture? Well, clearly my career path has taken a drastic turn and I have ended up working within the agriculture industry, and I am so thankful I was able to find my way back to my strong agricultural roots.

Paul Taylor, owner/operator of his own corn/soybean/vegetable farm in Esmond, Illinois said farming is indeed in your blood. It is a family heritage. No matter where life leads him, Taylor always finds his way back to the farm. Taylor is the District 1 Director for the Illinois Corn Grower’s Association representing 9 counties in northeastern Illinois. Growing green peas, lima beans, and sweet corn for Del Monte, Taylor does it all. As September is ‘National Pea Month,’ Taylor deserves to be applauded for all his hard work in growing peas along with all his other vegetables.

Senior Honey

Hello again blog followers; I hope you all had a marvelous Labor Day weekend! I sure did as I was able to talk with a beekeeper. Another crop that is featured in September is honey as September is ‘National Honey Month.’ I’ve had the privilege of talking with Maggie Wachter, owner of Senior Honey located in Urbana, Illinois. Wachter sells her honey at the downtown Bloomington Farmers Market. She has bees throughout Central Illinois including McLean and Macon counties. Featuring clover, wildflower, basswood, and even chocolate honey, Wachter enjoys every aspect of working with her bees. 

“The most popular is chocolate honey. Chocolate honey is a mixture of clover honey and fair trade organic cocoa powder. Just those 2 ingredients mixed together make like a chocolate syrup that taste like cocoa and honey. It’s a great replacement for commercial chocolate syrup because instead it doesn’t have any of the bad things. It doesn’t have any fats or additives. Honey keeps your energy levels even and you don’t get hungry after eating honey. It’s a more nutritious alternative to the commercial chocolate syrup. Both chocolate lovers and honey lovers love it so I have a big demand for the chocolate honey,” Wachter said. What is your favorite honey?



Maggie Wachter with her honey

          To hear Maggie talk about Senior Honey click here   http://www.box.net/shared/ahdt8ynu879z6o16ftg9

   

 

Christ Orchard: Apples!

September is an extremely busy month. So much is going on as farmers are preparing for harvest, students are getting back in the swing of school, but even more, September is a month where many farmers need to be recognized for everything they do. September is 'National Apple Month' therefore I highly recommend spending an afternoon with the family at your local apple orchard!

My favorite apple orchard is located in Elmwood, Illinois, Christ Orchard, owned by Kurt and Connie Christ. In the early 1970's, the Midland Coal Company planted a few apple trees, which eventually turned into the Christ Orchard in the 1980's. Kurt got involved with the orchard as a freshman when his FFA chapter was asked to help with the operation. Currently, a family operation, Christ Orchard offers a variety of produce from August through November.

Along with their 5 children Beth (who was married last July), Lena, Molly, Karl, and Amy, the Christ family produce over 40 varieties of apples as well as cider, peaches, plums, pears, concord grapes, cherries, apricots, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn, mums, and decorative straw bales and corn stalks.

"We enjoy it. It's a lifestyle; you need to like what you're doing because you do it all the time. We are just trying to grow quality apples at an affordable price for the public. We enjoy meeting new people and trying to grow what people like," Connie said of their orchard operation.

                                            The Christ family in their orchard

To hear the full interview with Connie Christ, click here http://www.box.net/shared/ejqjonjj5f1fgglgpziv

Farm Progress Show

As a thriving college student, I enjoy getting out there meeting people in the agricultural community. There is something exciting about mingling with professionals while networking. What more better place to do these things than at the Farm Progress Show? I had the privilege of heading to Decatur for a day full of new cutting edge technology.

It was great seeing the brand new equipment while being with friends all day. The Farm Progress Show is more than a day off from classes or work, rather it's a day filled with learning. From the newest combines to the top-notch ag schools in Illinois, there is something for everyone on the grounds. For all you John Deere fans out there, John Deere unveiled their new gator, tractor, and combine today. For more information on happenings go to farmprogressshow.com. The Farm Progress Show will be going on until September 1. I know I had a blast, but what is your favorite part of the Farm Progress Show 2011?

Schrock's Sheep Story

As a little girl, and even now, I love going to livestock shows whether it is sheep, cattle, or hogs. There is something about being in the barn on showday, the blend of excitment and craziness as exhibitors prepare their animals for the ring. One such exhibitor, Brad Schrock, from Congerville, Illinois never dreamed of where showing sheep would lead him when he got into the business as a young 4-H member.

 "I got my first ewes by laboring for my dad, basically if I did the daily chores down in the shed as far as feeding and vaccinating sheep, he would give me a ewe lamb every year. That's how I started my herd. Now I'm up to 25 ewes of my own, and that's where I'm at now," said Schrock.

Growing up with sheep, Schrock became fascinated with the business side of his project. He went on to judge livestock at Lincoln Land Community College after high school. I know in my experience of showing, the hard work dims in comparison to all the new friends made in the barn. Schrock can definately relate to this as he met his wife at the Illinois State Fair in the sheep barn.

"You can meet all kinds of friends in the sheep business. You don't have to show, you can meet people at sale barns or coordinating buying sheep with people, but the real fun is at the shows. It's kind of like a big family reunion because similar people are there every year and it's something everyone looks forward to so everyone has a good time while they're there. I met my wife, Kelsey, at the state fair 3 years ago. We just got married this summer so that was cool," said Schrock. Currently, Schrock is in the process of building his herd back up and helping young 4-H members get started with sheep projects of their very own.

                               Schrock's Champion Hampshire Ewe, Illinois State Fair
                                        .To hear Schrock's full interview, click here.

So, you see, showing sheep is more than a 4-H/FFA project, like any livestock project. It is getting out there, meeting new people, building new skills, but most of all having fun with what you're doing. What are your favorite fair memories?

A New Day in Paradise

Where would this world be without agriculture? Scary thought, isn't it? I mean without farming there wouldn't be the obvious things such as food, clothing, and shelter, but more than that, the world would be without some of the most hard working people I have ever met: farmers. Growing up on a family farm outside of Wyanet, Illinois, I have been privileged enough to live the 'good life' as some folks would say.

From a young age, responsibility and hard work have been drilled into my being. It didn't take me long to learn the harder I worked, the more benefits I could reap. Whether it was pruning the apple trees, weeding the garden, feeding the chickens, working cattle, baling hay, riding horses, or any other activity that sprang up on the farm, I learned the more I'd invest in these projects most of the time (not all the time) the more I'd reap during harvest.

I would not trade in one single day of gowing up on the farm. There is something about gathering around the dinner table to a meal that was raised right there in our backyard. My brother, sister, and I have experienced things many kids our age were not able to discover just because they live in urban areas. It is so sad to think people are clueless to where their food comes, or how much work a farmer's job really entails. I remember summer days, where my family and I would literally work from sun up to sun down just to get the job done so at the end of the day we really accomplished something. There was a sense of teamwork and bonding when coming together to finish chores.

I hope, as you follow this blog, throughout the rest of semester, you too will learn something new of the agriculture industry. Whether it is talking with farmers, appreciating what they do, or just thanking a farmer for everything they have done for you, my goal is to bring a new appreciation of the agricultural community. Join me for an exciting journey through the fields and farms of the Midwest!