Editorial / Opinions

The agriculture industry and farm organizations around the country give special recognition to dairy farmers through the month of June. Some celebrate by hosting dairy farm tours, others with ice cream socials. In joining in on that effort we are dedicating our June Issue to National Dairy Month.

We are all products of our raising, in that our interpretation of words or phrases are more often shaped by our upbringing than by the intended meaning of the speaker or writer. Because of this phenomenon, nothing has caused me more confusion throughout my lifetime, than the peculiarity of movie titles.

It’s no surprise to most of us that only 1 percent of the U.S. population claim farming as an occupation. So it’s probably safe to assume that majority of Americans have never stepped foot on a farm or have an immediate relationship with a farmer or a rancher. A recent documentary set out to educate the general public about the next generation of American farmers and ranchers. This documentary is a must-see, in my opinion, not because you, as a farmer, will learn something profound but as a way to support the efforts of this documentary.

One of the projects I have worked on is the Rodeo of the Ozarks in Springdale, Ark. I have been on the board since 1976 and I am the senior member in time served. This year the rodeo is to be held on July 2-5, in Springdale. We kick things off at 7:30 p.m., each evening and if you ride your horse in the grand entry they still give you a free ticket. The parades are at 3 p.m., on June 2, and 10 a.m. on June 5.

I get the chance to speak at two or three FFA banquets every spring, and have for many years. Since I’ve been around for so long, I’m now being invited to speak for the second time at a few of these places and such was the occasion last Monday evening.

It’s no surprise to most of us that only 1 percent of the U.S. population claim farming as an occupation. So it’s probably safe to assume that majority of Americans have never stepped foot on a farm or have an immediate relationship with a farmer or a rancher. A recent documentary set out to educate the general public about the next generation of American farmers and ranchers. This documentary is a must-see, in my opinion, not because you, as a farmer, will learn something profound but as a way to support the efforts of this documentary.

I get the chance to speak at two or three FFA banquets every spring, and have for many years. Since I’ve been around for so long, I’m now being invited to speak for the second time at a few of these places and such was the occasion last Monday evening.

I hope you enjoy our annual building and construction issue. This issue features tips for hiring contractors, a look at selecting and designing hoop barns and ways to obtain funding for storage facility projects on your farm through the Farm Service Agency and much more.

All the modern conveniences in the world and nothing seems to work. I came home last week and discover my email was on the frits. Did not work. I have two computers; one new computer and the other is two years old. Now I am not a computer genius, so I called a guy who knows lots more than me. We worked in a frenzy over the phone but we did not get it fixed. So I was in Rogers, Ark., at 9 a.m., Friday morning when they opened. They made some switches, brought it out, put it on the counter and said, “There it is.”

It’s funny how one little job can bring back a flood of memories from more than 50 years ago. But, that was the case last week as I used a four-wheel drive tractor (with a cab) to clean up the manure mess made by a winter’s worth of feeding five bulls. Neither the chilly wind nor dusty conditions bothered me as I created a pile of waste that will eventually rot down and become great garden fertilizer. The 30-minute chore was a far cry from the annual week-long activity of a half-century earlier.