Meatless Monday?

Imagine this...

It's 6 p.m. and you and your friends want to go somewhere on campus to eat. Two of your friends have meetings at 6:30 so you plan to get together at 7:30. You go online to the dining website to look at hours and find that one dining hall, Rollins, closes at 7 and then opens for "late night" at 8, while the other, Plaza, stays open until late. Then you get to looking at the menus.

"MEATLESS MONDAY!" Plaza's menu screams. Not too appetizing to my group of country-girl friends, especially when several of them are involved in animal agriculture. Eggplant, gnocchi fritii and other vegetarian dishes I can't pronounce line the menu. Needless to say, we decide on Late Night. 

Greasy and completely unhealthy pizza and breadsticks, here we come!

There is something beside the slight frustration of tonight's dining experience that I wanted to share with you. It's something I see regularly on publicity material for events like this one.

Take a look at the advertisement for Meatless Monday found on the MU Campus Dining website...

(Note: This is NOT the picture I saw in the cafeteria, though it has the same style. I wish I could have loaded the actual picture, it had this particular cow with a thought bubble above her head saying "I deserve a holiday!" This picture was found here)

Do you notice something that doesn't belong?

We're going meatless today, but that doesn't mean this particular cow is going to get a 'holiday.' She's a milk cow, not beef, and I don't think she'd be very happy if she had a day off from milking. 

Just another observation from the journey of an ag advocate. 

And as a side note, check out this website to see some interesting dairy facts.

Week Three

Well, it's time to start Week Three of classes... I'll soon be headed off to my Folklore Genres class, where as soon as I start asking myself, "why did I take this?" I hear something and I think "Yeah, this is exactly what I was wanting." I have to remind myself it's an introductory course so we'll hit all the bases and then maybe I can do what I've been wanting to- to record the culture of different groups in the ag industry.


That's not too terrible, but on another side of things...


My News class is really going to be a challenge. 


We're learning a lot of the technicalities of journalism, and I'm not so good at that yet. Which of course means I'm in the right spot to learn them! If only I could remember that while actually in class furiously looking up rules in the AP Stylebook for the leads and nut grafts I have to construct, perfectly, in the last twenty or so minutes of class. 


But what is college without a few (or several) challenges? The one thing that keeps me going through these challenges is knowing this is where I'm supposed to be.


Well, off to study conflicts with gender when gathering data in field research!

A Blessing in Disguise

It's been all over the internet: Facebook, twitter, blogs... A Yahoo Education website says Agriculture is a useless degree and they get their source from this article. Also listed are majors like journalism and advertising: that doesn't sound good for a science and agricultural journalism major like me!


Regardless of what the articles said, I'm not too worried. I'd feel worse if I was one of the publishers of this information. They sure have started a fury of debate! Yet it's been a blessing in disguise, in my opinion. 


What do I mean by that? People are on fire, Facebook pages have been created and it has become a great opportunity for people of the agricultural community to stand up for themselves. There have been some awesome comments that are well thought out and full of the facts- that agriculture is a broad industry that provides occupational opportunities beyond the obvious. 


It may be true that the demand for certain agricultural jobs is decreasing, but that doesn't make an agriculture degree useless. In fact, an article on the top 10 college majors with the lowest unemployment rates listed some agricultural majors. The odd thing is that fact was issued by Yahoo as well...


The real fact is an article can't change the facts. An article is supposed to present the facts, but when the facts are taken out of context an opportunity arises for citizens to raise their voices and provide more background information to a few statistics reported. 


As long as the world has a need for food, fiber and oil, the industry that produces those products will always be important just as the need for young leaders to pursue degrees in that industry is important. I think we have obstacles and an image to overcome, but I think our college educations can only make us stronger and better able to provide the basic necessities of life to the world.


The people of agriculture are beginning to see it's important to, as a past National FFA Convention theme encouraged, "step up and stand out." Why? Because we know agriculture is too important not to.   This event was just another example of agriculturalists stepping forward and speaking up. We're standing together, which, to me, makes this a blessing in disguise.

First Day Back

Well, the first day of my second semester is coming to an end. Yes, I know I'm a college student but I think bed time will be soon tonight. It's been a long day.

In my Cross-Cultural journalism class, the professor asked how many kids were taking his class along with News. I raised my hand along with my fellow Sci & Ag J'ers (there are three or four of us) and over half of the rest of the class. We were duly informed that we were in for a tough semester.

Later in the day, my News professor asked the same question and told us pretty much the same thing. Add that to my other two writing classes- these the more traditional English Department's variety, and I'm in for a rough semester.

And fittingly, we talked about "resistance" today in my Intro to Creative Non-Fiction class. Resistance: the force that stops us from beginning to work on what we know we were meant to do. With four writing classes, I have a feeling I will have many battles with resistance. 

Up tomorrow: Introduction to Folklore Genres.

It'll be an interesting semester for sure! 

New Semester Jitters

Well, I've tried to put it off as long as I could, but it's time to head back to Mizzou.


I know, don't sound so excited? Right? Good news is that I don't feel anywhere near as nervous as I did when I hopped in the car to head down in August. Which is a good thing, we don't need any panic attacks on the road. 


Those feelings from August have faded, but a less powerful version of them are still there. The fact that now I will get to see all my friends again, dims the jittery feelings from starting my first semester. (Though I may have a different story tomorrow evening after I finish all my classes for the day) 


The thoughts running through my head are a little different than they were in August. 


Instead of, "Will my roommate like me?" it's, "Will the kids in my smaller journalism and english classes like me?"


Instead of, "Did I bring everything I need?" it's, "Am I going to be able to get all my stuff back in my dorm room?"


Instead of, "Will I get lost?" it's, "Will I be able to make it to the buildings clear across campus in ten minutes?"


Instead of, "Will I have enough work to preoccupy my time and avoid getting homesick?" it's, "Will I have enough time to get all of my work done and relax?"


Yes, I'm still nervous, but I'm nervous in a different way. This semester though, I know everything will be okay and I'm ready for the next step in my journey.

A Day on the Farm

On Saturday afternoon, after a journey to and from Eugene, Missouri, just past Jefferson City, Kathryn and I spent some quality time with the Coon family on the farm.

My family has a few cattle, but our little operation is nothing compared to the Coon Angus Ranch. In an article I did about Kathryn as the Missouri Angus Queen, I learned that Angus cattle have been a part of her family for around 100 years and that they maintain around 300 head of purebred Angus.

While I was there, the Coons were knee-deep in calving season. After meeting Grandpa and Grandma Coon, Kathryn and I hopped on the mule (the Kawasaki variety- not the animal) to assist in separating and moving the cows getting ready to calve down to the barn, or in my case to watch and make sure neither the dogs or myself got in the way (thankfully I succeeded in this measure).

While I certainly hope I wasn't in the way, I greatly enjoyed the afternoon. It was fun to watch the cattle and to pick up on certain little personality traits. One situation that stood out was a spirited little calf and his mama (a first timer) who was exceptionally protective and motherly but didn't quite have the logistics of moving her calf along down.

As I watched the Coons work, I couldn't help but think this is exactly the kind of experience consumers need to understand. It takes thought and brain power on the Coons' part to do their job, and the level of respect they have for their animals is commendable. It makes my already high level of respect for farmers and ranchers go up, and makes me hope that I can someday serve these fine folk in some way.

Arrival in a New World

After about an hour and a half drive through central into northeast Missouri (and a Walmart stop for a toothbrush), we arrived in Kathryn's country. It was an odd experience driving into the eastern part of the state. At some point, it really started to feel like it was an entirely different world. Which felt odd because I know we didn't actually travel that far...

We ate supper with her mom and brother at a little cafe in Heartland which looked like an old diner and had fully restored antique car collection, along with some very new and priceless cars.

I learned something very interesting about this little community. Kathryn asked me if I'd noticed the crosses everywhere, and when I told her I did she explained that this was a planned community that's purpose was to be a safe place for healing to take place through the love of Jesus Christ. It has its own school, Bible college, restaurant, dairy, store and other facilities. It was very interesting, and most interesting to me was the emphasis in the community on faith and agriculture- the two topics that are the closest to my heart.

After supper, we continued the short distance to the Coon ranch. I carried my oh-so-heavy suitcase (the plastic Walmart sack) in and settled down to a nice evening with the Coon family. Just like Kathryn had said about visiting my home, I really felt at home with the Coons. It's kind of like our families were cut from the same cloth. I would say from a sturdy sort of fabric that reeks with a love for God, family, community and life.

Soon enough it was time to prepare for the next day- we were to go to a small town just past Jefferson City to pick up some material for Kathryn's internship this year. I was in for another day full of excitement and experiences!

A Spontaneous Turn of Events

For those of you who say I am not a spontaneous person, listen to this...

On Friday, I had plans to meet up with my roommate, Kathryn, and another friend, Megan, in Milan for lunch. It wasn't too long after we I got there and sat down that Kathryn said I should just follow her home. My first thought was, oh she's just joking! I didn't have anything with me, and my phone had just enough charge to last me until I got home, but I had to admit the thought was tempting. Mama Coon had been telling me I needed to get up there one day and I had never met some of the people that reappear in many of Kathryn's stories.

We set the thought aside, ate our lunch and then ran around Megan's home turf. We had a lot of fun meeting her FFA advisors, riding around in the mule and playing air hockey with Megan's little brother, but soon it was getting time to get back home. Question was, was I going back west or would I head east with Kathryn?

After a call home and assurance from Kathryn that her iPod charger would work to charge up my phone, I figured I might as well take the opportunity and go visit the Coon family.

I was in for an exciting weekend and I didn't even know it when I woke up on Friday!

To be continued...

Drought Resistant Corn: Helpful Development or Too Good to be True?

Drought resistant corn might have come in handy last year. For some, this might become a reality in 2012.

Developing corn to be able to produce with less water has been in the works for a while now. Monsanto first sought approval of its drought-resistant corn in February 2009. 

On Dec. 21, 2011, Monsanto announced it received deregulation from the USDA for its drought-resistant corn, MON 87460, and will be conducting on-farm trials of the seed on farms in the Western Great Plains.

Will this be the answer to all our prayers, or is it too good to be true? Some say the latter is the proper sentiment.

The Union of Concerned Scientists says “The company and the USDA have both admitted the crop will fare only modestly better than current conventional varieties under low- and moderate-level drought conditions. This means that this corn will be useful only for a fraction of corn acres- just 15 percent by USDA estimates.”

Of course, the Union of Concerned Scientists probably doesn’t like much of anything Monsanto does, or anything involving genetic modification.

Still, the idea that corn, one of the most produced crops in the U.S., could be produced with less water is a good one. Less input for more output is economically sound, and let’s face it: we need to be able to produce more with fewer resources.

Monsanto says the areas best affected by this drought-tolerant seed will be the Plains region (where ¼ of corn is produced in U.S.), and similar areas in Africa, Europe and Latin America.

Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see how well it is received and how it produces. 

A Dying Love-ly Tradition

We all know that drought affected agriculture especially hard this year, particularly in the Southern regions of the country, but I just ran across an article that correlated the drought with something I wouldn’t ordinarily think of- something that hits us close during this wintry season.

The mistletoe is in danger! 

That’s right, an article in the New York Times reports a mistletoe shortage caused by drought in Texas, where one of the largest mistletoe suppliers in the country is located, and bad weather in other mistletoe growing areas.

Artificial mistletoe is always an option, but it seems as if it is disappearing as well.

Funny how that works, I’d never seen mistletoe until just this year when someone (I won’t mention names…) hung it above their door.

The Grinch in me would say I guess maybe people finally see how silly it is to kiss underneath a parasitic plant (or excuse me, a semi-parasitic plant- it can produce its own food through photosynthesis but sucks the nutrients out of trees anyway).

If you do happen to come across some mistletoe, here’s some things you should know:

• A berry should be removed after each kiss, when the berries are gone: no more kissing under the mistletoe
• If a couple kisses under the mistletoe, they will have good luck; if they don’t they’ll have bad luck
• If a single woman is not kissed under the mistletoe, she is doomed to another year of singledom

As my dad would say, what a bunch of hooey! But, whatever floats your boat I suppose. 

Enjoy this (interesting?) tradition, or join my Grinchy spirit in seeing it as the silver lining to a bad weather situation.

Out with the Old, In with the New

Well folks, there isn’t much left of 2011! Normally, I would be indifferent towards the coming of the new year. This year, however, it feels a little bittersweet. 2011 has been such a big year!

This year we’ve experienced dangerous and impactful droughts, floods and tornadoes. Other areas have experienced hurricanes, earthquakes and fires. New governmental regulations have been raised and the threats from anti-animal and anti-conventional agriculture groups have continued.

I will not even begin to go into the global headline news we’ve seen this year. It has truly been a crazy year!

Even with these obstacles, agriculture as a whole has had a good year. Exciting things are happening and, as I’ve been told countless times, it’s an exciting time to be in agriculture.

On a personal level, I graduated high school, started gaining experience in agricultural communications and started college. It’s been a bumpy road, similar to our crazy weather situation, but it’s been a great year nonetheless.

To start 2012 out on the right foot, I’d like to share a few links:

Read what U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has to say about agriculture and the new year.

Get an expanded edition to what I attempted to do on the right of the screen: agriculture in numbers- the big picture of agriculture this year.

And just for good measure, an editorial from Dan Murphy, a food-industry journalist and commentator, for some suggested New Year’s resolutions for meat-producers in the year 2012.

It’s been a good year, and I look forward to seeing what 2012 has to bring us! I’d say if we keep things in perspective, remember those key values and work together to stay strong, it should be another great year.

Happy New Year!