Editorial / Opinions

Both of my sons are finished with their collegiate careers – FINALLY! The holidays were a particularly joyous occasion since it was the first time, in three years, we had them both home at the same time and I used it as an opportunity to bring them up to date on what was new around the farm.

At the beginning of the New Year, Congress announced that the 2008 farm bill will extend until September 30, 2013, a decision that was made months after the farm bill expired. The nine-month extension measure was attached to the bigger fiscal cliff bill and passed by the Senate on January 1.

I had a chance to hear the new Arkansas Congressman Tom Cotton speak at the statewide Arkansas Electric Coop meeting. In my opinion he is a very smart young man. His concern with the Mideast is impressive. Without a script he named all the leaders in place over there, in what I call the sand piles, and what their bone of contention is. I liked his father who had a livestock farm in central Arkansas. We can all stand behind a person who knows our part of the business and the problems we have. There are of course lots more city congressmen, so a voice to represent us is always good.

Twenty-something years ago, when I was still teaching school for a living, I can remember delivering a lecture dealing with farm management. The reason I remember it so vividly is the constant questioning I received from one student in particular.

As you may remember in my last column I wrote about the power of grandma’s apple pie. The first thing my grandma said to me on Christmas was, “ I loved your last column,” which I kind of figured she would.

The Crownover farm has been without a dog for more than a year and a half. So, I was surprised a few weeks ago, when I stepped out of the house early one morning and was greeted on the front porch by a tail-wagging, tongue-licking, black and white, hyperactive bundle of unrestrained affection.

I’m sure the majority of the Ozarks population would agree that good ol’ home cookin’ is one of the things that makes home feel like home. I’m sure each of you have your favorite recipes that bring back wonderful memories of growing up in the country.

I hope everyone had as nice of a Thanksgiving as we did. That used to be an event held at our house, now our kids do it. But years ago it was held at my in-laws’ farm over in Madison County on Bohannon Mountain. My three brothers-in-law and I use to rabbit hunt every Thanksgiving. We’d turn some beagles loose, climb over fences and circle briar patches. The environment for rabbits on the over-grown farms around their place was absolutely ideal for cottontails.

The Crownover farm has been without a dog for more than a year and a half. So, I was surprised a few weeks ago, when I stepped out of the house early one morning and was greeted on the front porch by a tail-wagging, tongue-licking, black and white, hyperactive bundle of unrestrained affection.

I’m sure majority of the Ozarks population would agree that good ol’ home cookin’ is one of the things that makes home feel like home. I’m sure each of you have your favorite recipes that bring back wonderful memories of growing up in the country.