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Stephen, MN 56757
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Betsy's Blog

Sometimes pessimistic, mostly optimistic, always realistic.

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Farmer Meetings vs Meetings about Farmers

11/18/2014

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It's amazing what moving around a few words can do for a title.  Slate had a great article about a Meeting About Farmers held in New York this month. 

Take some time to read the article, but here's the bottom line:  The New York Times sponsored a meeting titled "Food for Tomorrow; Farm Better, Eat Better, Feed the World."  When I first read about this meeting last summer, I was surprised to see NO FARMERS on any panels.  I wasn't the only one who was surprised, and a group of farmers quickly remedied that situation, and was able to get a few farmers on the panel.

So now for the meeting itself.  One of the meeting sponsors was Porsche.  I didn't realize they were in the farm truck or utility vehicle business, but I will have to look into their offerings when we replace our 1994 Chevy, or our 2006 Chevy that is so stripped down, you actually have to roll down the windows, not press a button.  A Porsche pickup would truly fit right in on our operation.  I understand why farmers are their target market.

The registration fee for the meeting was $1,400, and it was held at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.  It is a working farm, where the majority of the food is sold to their restaurant, which features a $198 tasting menu. 

So farmer meetings, vs meetings about farmers.  A few years ago I was sitting in the courthouse basement, in Devils Lake, ND, surrounded by farmers, and I had an epiphany.  There was an American flag in the corner, the 4-H creed on the wall, the smell of ham and baked potatoes cooked by the local church ladies filled the room, and I was surrounded by guys in tattered jeans, free seed company jackets and caps, and dirty boots.  This was my life.  And was this the life I wanted?

Of course it is!  This pic below is a typical farm show pic:  Free jacket, free hat, product info tucked into back pocket, and these guys were probably sniffing their way to the roast beef lunch (that was not $198.)  These are the guys who grow your food, and they're attending meetings to make themselves better farmers.  All winter long I attend meetings, full of farmers who are trying to do a better job every year.   I'm proud to be in the same industry as these guys. 
Picture
I get a little sensitive when someone sits down at a $198 meal and tries to lecture me on how farming can be improved.  We're making improvements every day!  The days of every farm having 10 chickens, 2 cows, a few hogs and a sheep are long gone.  There's a reason those farms disappeared.  It's not efficient, and it's a lifestyle few people want. 

I hope the New York Times meeting was productive, and I hope much was learned and shared.  As for me, I'll keep attending meetings in courthouse basements, community centers, and American Legions, and enjoy the ham, meatballs, roast beef, or chicken that was prepared by the local church ladies.  And if I have to pay $10 for my meal ticket, I'll feel pretty good knowing someone else had to pay $198. 
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Veteran's Day Reading List

11/11/2014

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It's Veteran's Day, and I will admit to having an obsession with WWII.  It just amazes me how close the world came to completely changing, and how hard the U.S. and our allies worked to prevent that.  How a madman was able to convince an entire country that his plan to eradicate all Jewish people, and anyone with disabilities was a great idea.  How did that happen?  How can we make sure it never happens again?

I am also stunned by the sacrifices made by our armed forces, and also by our citizens.  Our country had one focus, and everyone worked together to beat Hitler. 


PictureGrandpa Alfred Jensen, U.S. Army, served in Europe during WWII.



Whenever I read books about WWII, I feel like a spoiled brat.  My hardships, are nothing but inconveniences.  The books, even fictional, help teach me about true hardships.
PictureGrandpa Harry Risius, U.S. Army Aircorp, helped train pilots during WWII. Today he was honored by the Legion for his services during the war, and also his service to the Legion. At 92, he's been an active member for many years. He's with my brother Adam and Grandma Evelyn.


The first book you must read is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.  The story of Louie Zamporini should be mandatory reading for everyone.  From an Olympic runner to Japanese POW, his story is simply amazing.  Here is a good link to a CBS story, but you must read the book. 

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/a-war-heros-unbroken-bond-with-his-biographer/

PictureGrandpa Harlan Rosvold with Bataan Death March survivor Philip Coon. Grandpa Rosvold was a Marine in the Pacific during WWII.

Another book that should be on the must read list is Armageddon:  A Story of Berlin by Leon Uris.  This book tells the story of the Berlin airlift after WWII.  It's a great story about the transition from the U.S. and Soviet Union going from allies, to enemies.  There are many books about WWII, but learning about rebuilding Germany post war was very interesting, and unexpected.  We won the war, but now what? 

Some other unique books you may enjoy are Last Train to Istanbul, by Ayse Kulin, a book about trying to save Turkish Jews during WWII, City of Thieves by David Benioff about the Leningrad winter holding out from Hitler, The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer, about a Hungarian Jewish Family, The Siren of Paris by David LeRoy about a man's experience in Paris during the German occupation. 

Those books are lesser known, but still great fictional reads about what life was like during WWII.  Some bestsellers that you probably know are Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosney,  and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. There's a reason those books were best sellers, and should be read if you haven't already.

So thank a veteran, and try to remember the difference between hardship and inconvenience.  Thanks to our veterans, most of us have never experienced true hardships.
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    This is what I get for majoring in agriculture economics at North Dakota State University.  A farm near the Canadian border, far from any delivery restaurants or shopping centers.  Sometimes in life you get nothing that you prayed for, and yet so much more than you asked.  Life doesn't have to be easy to be wonderful and blessed.

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