Editorial / Opinions

As a rebuttal to the previous letter to the editor (Melinda Oberman, Feb. 6, 2012) I’d like to respond to some of Ms. Oberman’s assertions.

How many customers walk the aisles of Walmart each week? Answer: 104 million customers go through Walmart’s doors each week according to Joe Quinn Senior Director of Issue Management and Strategic Outreach for Walmart Corporate Affairs. That’s astonishing. How many of those 104 million consumers make conscious shopping decisions based on agriculture?

I’ve known James for almost 30 years and he has been a full-time farmer all of that time. In addition to considering him a friend, I’ve always thought of him as one of the shrewdest farmers I’ve ever met, in that he seems to analyze every move and every possible scenario before he changes his farming operation. More often than not, he makes the correct decision. He’s also a college educated farmer, but, as my late father would have attested, “He hasn’t let that degree mess up his common sense.”

Agricultural education was recently slapped in the face by a well-read online news source. Rebuttals against this article quickly filled the e-news rooms and social media networks.

According to my book editor back in December when “Between Hell and Texas,” the latest novel in the Chet Byrnes Ranch series, hit bookshelves, it was the third highest selling book that week in Wal-Mart Stores. That is flattery of the first kind to hear your book is top in sales. Secondly, it is of course a western novel and folks have discounted western books. I sure don’t. But it goes to show that a well-written story that entertains behind a great cover will sell.

A couple of months ago, I noticed something strange as I entered through the gate at my creek farm. A natural spring that surfaces in the yard of that homestead was backing up to the point that it was flooding the rather sizable lawn. Since it had rained a few days before, I assumed that was the cause. But, after a week of observing what was beginning to look like Everglades North, I decided to investigate.

There is not enough appreciation for farm animal contributions and the value of these to our society. Yes, PETA went a bit overboard with their memorial, but recognize that it might be better to memorialize some cattle, than the other approach, which you see so commonly, that of neglect. You do not mention this in your (January 16, 2012, Life is Simple) article, the lot of egg-laying chickens and abuse heaped on turkeys on turkey farms.  Get a tiny camera and just visit some local pig, or poultry farms if you want material for your articles.

Agricultural education was recently slapped in the face by a well-read online news source. Rebuttals against this article quickly filled the e-news rooms and social media networks.

My nearest neighbor, Marvin, stopped by a few mornings ago to have me do some online computer stuff for him. While we were visiting about the goings-on in the small community in which we live, he surprised me by taking a serious tone and asking if I had been feeling alright, as of late.

There are so many things to be thankful for as we head into 2012. As we try to kick our bad habits and keep our resolutions lets not forget all of the good things that 2011 and years before have given us.