I’ve got $5,000 burning a hole in my pocket. Can you help? It began 2 years ago when I went shopping for insurance for the ranch (we can call it a ranch instead of a farm because we raise cattle and hay and we’re west of the Missouri and the Mississippi rivers now.) The insurance […]
Too Much Information?
Twenty years ago while a senior at Western Illinois University I had the pleasure of making acquaintance with a musician known as “Pork.” There were a number of bands that “ran the college circuit.” This man’s band “Pork and the Havana Ducks” was one of the most popular. Of course he had the reputation of […]
Daily farm life is dangerous.
I’m going to go out on a limb this week and talk about something other than Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. Although I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions, I am asking you to take this time to renew your commitment to safety on the farm. A friend of mine was “in a hurry” to […]
Politicians and others jump on the BSE “bandwagon”
They are all jumping on board. . .the politicians, the lobbyists, and what seems like everybody in Washington, D.C. The discovery of the first-ever case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, better known as Mad Cow Disease, on U.S. soil has brought to my office an avalanche of emails, notices for news conferences, and news releases from, […]
Animal rights groups buying stock in corporate food companies
PETA, the world’s largest animal rights/terrorist organization, recently became part-owner of yet another food company. PETA purchased 140 share of ConAgra’s common stock, which gives the group the right to attend and speak at annual meetings and to submit shareholder resolutions that are aimed at bringing an end to some of the production and processing […]
Pick on somebody your own size!
After he wouldn’t let Toby Keith sing all of the words to “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” on his program, I decided that his patriotism was of a lesser degree than mine. When he hosted an hour news magazine program earlier this month linking our nation’s obesity problem to the federal farm program, […]
Failed energy bill dominates Farm Bureau meetings
Meeting season is off to a strong start. Several mid-western states’ annual Farm Bureau meetings were held this past week. Farmer-members heard from elected Officials taking a break from their duties in Washington, D.C. Celebrating passage of legislation supported by each one’s respective party, U.S. Congressmen and Senators spoke of tax relief, homeland security funding, […]
Haven’t tried a flat iron or a shoulder tender yet?
Who knew a chuck roast could taste so good? Remember the old rule “Cook it low and slow?” Kari Underly, a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association New Product Development Team addressed members of the Illinois Beef Association during the recent Illinois Commodity Conference. Underly says “It isn’t your grandma’s pot roast anymore.” Like […]
Illinois’ governor wants mandated public service from the state’s youth
Driving across the state last week and listening to numerous news reports and interviews regarding Governor Rod Blagojevich’s proposal that high school students should, by law, complete community service as a prerequisite for a high school diploma, I was stirred enough to address this contentious issue. I agree with the governor’s statement last month that […]
Thank you for letting me into your life
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us take time to reflect on our lives and all that we have to be thankful for. When my husband and I sat down at the kitchen table this evening, we talked about some of the things in our lives that we appreciate. Yes, we are thankful for our friends […]