An Open Letter to my FFA Steer

One of the hardest goodbyes happens when showing livestock. Let me tell you something. Out of all of my years of showing, I had a special steer named Buckley. He had made the most progression I have ever seen an animal make. He trusted me and I trusted him. He not only was an amazing production steer, but he was an amazing animal. 

Buckley was bred and born as a beef project. This was his main purpose throughout his life. He carried that purpose on his shoulders with pride, because he is making the ultimate sacrifice; giving his life to feed the world. And if I knew Buckley, he was more than happy to do that. 

But just because we knew our fate from the beginning, it didn't change a thing about how we fell dependant on each other. There is nothing I will miss more than washing him as he whines about being tied up, or tickling his tail as he wiggles his whole backside, or the hours of licking my jeans until they are soaked. 

You will forever be a part of me Buckley. You were always there to hear me complain about anything and everything, while passing people became confused; looking at a girl have a conversation with her steer. 

Buckley, thank you. Thank you so much for opening my heart wider, stretching a patience longer, and making my love for this industry greater. Thank you for wiggling during baths, for licking me when I'm crying. Thank you for giving me a lick of confidence while walking into the ring. Thank you for listening to me and trusting me. Thank you for feeling what I was feeling, and thank you for giving you life for us. 

I'll make you a deal. You don't cry, and I won't cry. I'll see you on the other side. 

Baaaack to Blogging, this time with sheep!

Hello my lovely readers!! Yes I took a break, (Utah State to thank for that, hello Christmas goodies and sledding in the snow) but now I'm back blogging, and boy do I have some information to share with you.

At some point, I know most of you have come across a video made by PETA, called "Why Uggs are Ugly." This video takes footage from a random country at a random farm, and puts pieces of random footage together to lie to you about how Uggs are made. I apologize to you for having to watch such a false video, it makes me sad that people get lied to each and every day about the agriculture industry.
But good news, Supergirl is here to save the day!! Here is the REAL way sheep are sheared, and also the process of what happens to the wool.
And just to make sure you are given absolutely correct information, I dug out my boots and walked into a barn to see for myself. I also got to extend my knowledge too!!

As you can see, this is me standing in a very large burlap sack. This sack was currently half way full of fresh sheep wool that I was stomping down to pack it in. Large scale operations normally use modern and efficient machinery for this, but nothing a little boot stomping can't do! As you notice behind me, there is a corral of sheep waiting to get a haircut. They are relaxed, healthy and calm. 

This is an overhead picture of what the wool looks like on the inside of the sack. Notice no blood, feces, or outside objects inside the inner layer of the wool. This is because when a sheep appears to be dirty, it is only the outside layer of the wool, ensuring that animal has a healthy lanoline filled coat by their skin. Lanoline is the natural-occurring oil produced by the sheep to keep their coat hydrated, and also it serves as a water resistant. 

I apologize for how far away this picture is taken from; I was currently still standing in the burlap sack of wool. Notice this animal is on its side, not throwing its legs up, remaining quite calm, Also notice no blood or dead animals around, because this operation (as well as every other wool operation ) does not kill the sheep for the wool. The only time an animal's life is ended is when their meat is being harvested to feed the world.

The sheep are run into a small alleyway one by one, and walked out by the worker through a gate.

As you notice above, the animal's wool is sheared off in one piece. This is to help the graders and people who are spinning the wool to keep it all together. This animal is currently sitting on its butt, like a dog would. 

 

On the left I got a close up of the animal's face to capture what they are feeling. As you can see the worker is supporting the animal's head. This animal is quite calm. Its eyes are not searching for escape, its mouth is not open, bleeting for help, and it is not trying to get away.  On the right, I pictured what the lamb would look like if it WAS scared, or in fear of its life. You can easily see the difference.

Pictured above is me, stomping down wool. It was getting pretty full at this point!

Finally, the bag is dropped from the tower and sewed shut for transportation.

Below is footage explaining how a sheep is sheered normally. This is not my footage! But they did such a great job getting it that I wanted to share with you!

I am an Agriculturist and I am human

I am a person. I am human. And I have great advice. 
My graduation ceremony of highschool was the 4th of June, and unbearingly cold. It was windy. It was long for 190 students to graduate. And little did I know, it was the last time I would ever see a lot of those people. My principal made a speech before resigning from public education for good. It was a goodbye for all of us. 

This is not his words, and they are not mine either. But they are great. 

The Speech

The Working Man, My Father

Every day I thank God for the things he has given us. I am thankful for he gave me my father. 

I have never met such a hard working, understanding, loving man that compares to my father. 

My father is my hero. 

I have never met such a loyal, passionate, respectable man like my father. 

My father is strong.

I have never met such a down to earth, humble, sacraficing man anywhere close to my father.

My father is my friend. 

I have never met such a knowledgable, inventive, determined man that is anything like my father.

My father is incredible. 

I have never met such an ambitious, reverent, faithful man that will ever be similar to my father

My father is unyielding.

And out of all of the wonderful things in this world God made for me, God made a farmer. 

Annual Walnut Harvest at Lang Farms

A holiday favorite: the walnut. Find out how the hard working farmers of California bring them to your table.
I interviewed several farmers across the Salinas Valley of California. But one in particular, located in the San Joaquin Valley, caught my attention. Listen to what he has to say.

Use of Antibiotics Interview

NAFB Interview with Nikki Putman

My interview with Nikki Putnam, registered dietition with Alltech, has been posted on the AgNet West website, I have included the link below.

It's my first interview to air, so go check it out!

Antibiotic Use- Interview with Nikki Putnam

National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention

National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention

Held in Kansas City, Missouri on November 11th-14th

Last week I was given the amazing opportunity to attend the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Convention in Kansas City Missouri. 

I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but boy was it a treat. The first day I was there I attended 3 workshops, and one of them was about blogging. The speaker of this workshop was from AgNet West Network out of Sanger, California; her name is Sabrina Hill. While giving her speech she mentioned traveling back to the Valley from the coast in California. During her trip back she saw rolling hills of vineyards and tractors creating little dust clouds up on the hill. The photographer inside her head told her she must pull over to document this picture perfect scene. 

I immediately knew what area of California she was speaking of. It was my hometown. 

I absolutely had to go talk to her about her experience in San Luis Obispo, so I introduced myself. We got to talking and I walked away from that conversation with a shadowing and an interview scheduled and the opportunity to get interviewed myself. 

The next day was the Trade Talk show, where I shadowed Sabrina. It was at that time that I conducted my first interview with Luther Markwart, Vice President of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association. After I had done that first interview, I caught some "interview fever" where I not only passed my goal of interviewing 5 people, but where I impressed even myself with finishing with 9 interviews that day.

 I will be posting those interviews weekly on my blog, so watch out for them!

Pictured above is Allie, Sabrina's intern, Sabrina Hill herself, and then me.

This was while we were taking a break from the very busy Trade Talk.