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Signs of spring are here as March meanders by. Hopefully this finds
things going well in whatever part of cattle country you're in. We thank
Virginia cattleman Steve Lucas for sharing the following poem with us on
the American Cowman blog. You can share your thoughts and ideas,
or send a comment back to Steve by logging on at blog.americancowman.com/community_blog/
Uncommon Wisdom
By Steve Lucas
I've known a lot of good folks, most of them then, some now,
Who had uncommon wisdom when it come to raisin' cows
Like Steamy who said "never raise your voice," his cows were calm to
suit.
Seldom saw one act crazy or come charge charging down the chute.
And Burt, who's on the Mongolon, or was at least the last I heard,
Never says anything trivial, you can bet that every word
That he speaks is important. His experience shows through.
There isn't room to share all he could tell me and you.
But I recall a conference we attended years ago,
Those slick glib talkin' salesmen were really on the go.
They were sellin' recycled snake oil. Burt had seen it all before.
He said "there are no miracles in snake oil, just show 'em to the door."
And Ol' Slim, who's punched cows for half his life will tell you all
these days,
"The only way to learn 'bout cows is to sit and watch 'em graze.
Fergit 'bout schools and seminars, them "experts" don't know squat.
They ain't owned a cow in twenty years, and what they learned they got
From readin' books, seminars, and research done with industry grants.
A cowman needs to learn by settin' on the seat of his pants.
Every outfit's different, what works for me mightn't work for you.
Set with the cows, use common sense, and think your problems through."
Then there's Anne who'll tell you, that we feed our cows and calves the
sun.
That cows were made for eatin' grass, and we make 'em come undone
When we feed 'em stuff that God did not intend for them to ingest,
And our jobs as animal husbandfolks is to provide them the best
Green and growing forage that they can harvest on their own.
The profit is in farming grass that is all home grown.
There's Ron who farms without a tractor, and Billy's retired now
And there's at least a dozen more who've affected when and how
I, and lots of other folks, are raising our stock today.
Sometimes different from the usual, and sometimes the same old way.
It sure has been an honor to cross trails with theses people, it's true.
And I sure hope you can gain some uncommon wisdom as I share what I
learned with you.
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A Time magazine cover story highlighted the benefits of
eating locally grown foods this past month. As well, a Kansas City group
touts that it is seeing support for local foods blossom.
Because of the increased availability of locally grown goods within a
200 mile radius of metro Kansas City, the area -- including K.C. - is
already eating better, according to Ted Carey, program coordinator for
the Growing Growers program. More locally grown fresh fruits and
vegetables are showing up in restaurant fare, grocery stores and farmers
markets. Plus, an ever-increasing amount is coming from certified
organic farms.
The Growing Growers program is a cooperative effort that has influenced
this growth. As part of its apprenticeship program, it networks
successful market farmers with new and aspiring growers. It also
provides professional development training that´s helping existing
farmers improve and expand.
"The metro area has more farmers markets and market farmers than ever
before. But, the demand for locally grown products is still bigger than
the supply," said Carey, who is a Kansas State University Research and
Extension horticulturist at K-State´s Olathe Research Center. Both
grocery stores and restaurants are reporting they´d like to get
more locally grown products than currently are available.
For those who´d like to help fill that demand, Growing Growers is
accepting apprentice applications for the 2007 growing season. For more
information about the Growing Growers program e-mail growers@ksu.edu or call 913-488-1270.
The group's website is www.growinggrowers.org.
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1. People don't understand what community development is. Community
leaders and resource providers tend to put characteristics in with
community development that constrict the definition. Often it is
confused with other development ideas such as economic development,
infrastructure, schools, and business development.
Community development is all of these things, but not packaged
separately. Contrary to the belief that any one of these can fix or
solve problems that need to be addressed, it takes all of them to
complete the puzzle we call community development.
The definition of community development can be stated as, "The process
of improving the social, economic, and cultural conditions of a village
or small town." Even this definition may come up short, but at least it
addresses other facets of what the community is all about.To read the
complete article, click on the headline above.
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There is considerable difficulty in being in the middle because the
middle seldom stays the middle. The middle (average) is where no one
wants to stay. For most, our upbringing has been to move away from the
middle and strive to excel, dominate and extend whatever it is that we
do to further heights.
The consequence of this business approach has affected rural areas in
many ways. One major effect has been the lack of neighbors. In cattle
country, the lack of neighbors translates into the lack of help. This is
not a new concept, but it is a concept that has been with us since
people have been engaged in business.
This gradual elimination of the players or partners in the beef business
is part of a cycle that (hopefully) will perhaps someday recycle and
redistribute resources. For the time being, the future of the cattle
business seems to be pointed to larger and more expansive operations.
So what is the albatross or difficulty in surviving with reduced scale?
Actually, most of those involved in small to midsized operations already
feel the pinch. The pinch is increased costs and the inability to
effectively proportion those costs across limited production units (the
cow and calf). Along with the immediate and obvious struggles, the
future brings with it some other unknowns that impact beef
operations.To read the complete article, click on the headline
above.
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The second annual 2007 South Central Florida Small Farm and
Alternative Enterprise Workshop will demonstrate some of the ways
farmers can share in this major part of the state's economy.
The regional event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday,
April 27, and 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Saturday, April 28, at the Sarasota
County Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd.
The event is hosted by the University of Florida-Institute of Food and
Agricultural Sciences/Sarasota County Extension. The workshop is open to
small and mid-size landowners who are considering growing crops and
animals for profit or pleasure. Speakers will discuss how to make an
informed decision about starting and operating a variety of small
farming enterprises, such as hydroponics, organic vegetable production,
pasture-raised poultry and beef, gourmet mushrooms, community-supported
agriculture and renewable energies.
The Florida Association of Community Farmers' Markets (FACFM) will
provide the latest information about the benefits of direct marketing,
food safety, and market management, as well as a farmer/chef mixer,
which will allow these two facets of the food system to meet and
exchange ideas to better utilize their respective talents.
For more information, program agenda and registration instructions,
please visit the online registration center of the UF/IFAS-Sarasota
County Extension Web site at sarasota.extension.ufl.edu/EdSched.htm.
Or call 941-861-5000.
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Check out the Gallagher web site for the professional
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The latest collection of tall tales and poems about the real life of
cowboys in the 21st century is available from Baxter Black. Titled
Blazin' Bloats & Cows on Fire -- or, It's Hard to Blow Out a
Holstein, Baxter is at his best draggin' cowboys in and out of
wrecks. The book is 128 pages and includes illustrations. Cost is $19.95
plus shipping. Order online at http://www.baxterblack.com.
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Spring is always a busy season on the ranch, so it's best to plan
for where you're headed and what you need to get done. Here are some
spring jobs to think about.
Overseeding legumes in pastures is a good way to reduce dependence on
high-priced nitrogen (N) fertilizer and increase summer productivity and
quality in pastures. To read the complete article, click on the
headline above.
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