Editorial / Opinions

This column, quite likely, could be one of the last I write. You see, when someone comes into a great deal of money very quickly, one of their first acts is to quit their ‘paying’ job to pursue activities they’ve wanted to do their entire lifetime. But, please, don’t worry about me, for I’m pretty sure that I won’t fall into the trap that has ruined so many other ‘instant millionaires.’

This is the last column I get to write as the Managing Editor at Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. Wow, those are some tough words to say. But don’t fret, dear reader, for we have wonderful things in store for you. I’m writing today to share memories of my own, to share some memories of another columnist, Frank Farmer, who’s hanging up his hat, and to introduce you to a talented and successful woman who will be taking my place, Lane McConnell.

Since I live in cattle country and not crop country, I rarely get to see behemoth tractors and combines at work. On the rare occasions that I get to travel through flat, fertile areas of the country during planting or harvesting seasons, I sometimes pull off to the side of the road and marvel at man's ingenuity and progress. Such was the case last Saturday when I traveled to a cattle sale upstate in one of the heavily-farmed regions.

Did fall sneak up on you like it has me this year? I woke up one morning to cool weather, steaming hay bales and spider webs adorning the trees and outbuildings. With fall comes wonderful, local fall festivals! Each fall festival celebrated by area towns highlights a different feature of the season. I spent one recent Saturday at a pumpkin festival where growers bring in pumpkins and watermelons, and awards are given to the heaviest, and best-looking, among others. This year’s giant pumpkin weighed 1,092.5 lbs. Can you believe that? The grower said at peak, it will grow 10 lbs a day. That amazes me.

Way back in the 1960s, James Erwin, my boss at Tyson who was over the field men, talked to us about a new field man he'd hired. James, who'd been an agri teacher at Lincoln before coming to Tyson, was a great boss and knew lots of people. He explained that the new employee had been a victim of polio. He was concerned whether he could handle the job, but wanted all of us to give him a chance, and a hand if he needed it. James considered him a hard worker, but handicapped, he might have problems keeping up.

There is a debate raging all across the country; that debate is whether or not to allow the sale of raw milk for human consumption. Those opposed to this type of transaction claim that raw milk contains all sorts of bad things that will lead to a multitude of sick people and possibly their deaths. The proponents of legalizing the sale of raw milk argue that fresh, raw milk is healthier than pasteurized milk and the bacteria that is naturally present in that milk is actually good for people's digestive systems and would result in a healthier population. Honestly, I don't know which side is correct, but what I do know is…

Did fall sneak up on you like it has me this year? I woke up one morning to cool weather, steaming hay bales and spider webs adorning the trees and outbuildings. This fall is beautiful, and it is also an important fall. There is a ballot initiative facing Missourians this year, which, at first glance, doesn’t seem to affect livestock producers, but I encourage you to carefully review the facts. The ballot initiative before voters Nov. 2, called Proposition B,  presented as the 'Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act,’ I believe will only regulate law-abiding pet owners. This proposition will change the law to regulate “puppy mills” in our state but what will this type of legislation open the door to? There have been so many of you working tirelessly already to get the word out about this important issue being put to Missouri voters. Groups such as Farm Bureau and the Missouri Pet Breeders Association have uncovered that 90 percent of the funds to pass Proposition B are being donated by out-of-state animal rights groups and supporters. The Humane Society of the United States is a true enemy of agriculture, and Proposition B is a measure they are championing.  Many other states have seen this type of bill passed already, and unfortunately, it all too often opens the door to more HSUS intervention in animal practices in the state. That is the last thing Missouri agriculturists want. To me, scare tactics to sway voters is no way to get effective animal practices and welfare-minded standards put into place. For these reasons, I’ll be voting “No,” on Proposition B Nov. 2. I hope you will do your homework on this proposition, and encourage everyone you know to do the same.

His tone was rather quarrelsome. Or maybe I just don’t like a finger stuck under my nose.

There is a debate raging all across the country; that debate is whether or not to allow the sale of raw milk for human consumption. Those opposed to this type of transaction claim that raw milk contains all sorts of bad things that will lead to a multitude of sick people and possibly their deaths. The proponents of legalizing the sale of raw milk argue that fresh, raw milk is healthier than pasteurized milk and the bacteria that is naturally present in that milk is actually good for people's digestive systems and would result in a healthier population. Honestly, I don't know which side is correct, but what I do know is…

We married off one of my younger sisters, Jordan, a few weekends back. For my close-knit family, this wedding weekend extravaganza was an absolute blast of a roller-coaster ride. It was a weekend full of great joy, and plenty of stress in working to have the big day go off without a hitch. And of course, it did, and they are happily married today.