Monthly Archives: December 2011
On My Mind: This holiday, give thanks for turkey
This is the first Thanksgiving in many years that I won't be cooking dinner, with all the trimmings. I've said all along I'd do Easter and Thanksgiving as long as I could and I've finally had to concede.
National Grange adds voice to USPS, other controversial issues
TULSA, Okla. -- More than 50 delegates debated 160 resolutions from Granges throughout the nation during the 145th annual National Grange Convention Nov. 6-10 in Tulsa.
Dairy Excel: Embracing the reality of dairy farming economics has been difficult this year
We sometimes attempt to deny reality as a coping mechanism for an issue we simply don't want to deal with if accepting the reality is too painful. This behavior sometimes exists relative to the economics of dairy farming.
FSA Andy: Holidays spur reminders
We all have rituals and traditions that put us in the mood to get things done before, well, fill in the blank. Here at the Farm Service Agency, we have some annual clean-up and reminders that need to be done with the coming of the New Year.
Conservation 101: The process that is taking me from student to teacher
When I took a part-time position with the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, little did I know what a learning experience it would be.
New book suggestions for holiday gift-giving
Fall is a busy season for publishers of nature and outdoor-themed books. They make perfect Christmas gifts. Here are some recent titles I recommend...
A four-letter word to embrace: Plan
Change, no matter how uncomfortable, sometimes causes us to look at our operation and discover that there are more ways to do things than we believed possible.
‘… the least of these my brothers…’
As the Sunday, Nov. 20 network news' yakkers were working hard to fix the blame for the Super Committee's failed attempts to fix last summer's failed attempts to fix Congress's failed attempts to fix the federal budget, 25 or so Americans gathered in a central Illinois church to hear their pastor explain that day's Gospel, Matthew 25: 31-46.
Pheasant quest is more about hunt than harvest
Redfield, South Dakota. Even when it's bad it's good. That's the best way to describe South Dakota pheasant hunting this fall following a devastating...
Stories shed light on simpler life
My paternal grandfather and his brother Sam told some great stories about the 'kid wagon' that came through the old country neighborhood to carry the children to the one-room schoolhouse.
