The Internet and Food

Recently I was asked to check out the Food Babe blog. From the name I thought that I would be very interested in what the content of that blog would be. It turns out I would be disappointed.

As I read through some of the blog posts I became more and more disgusted with some of the things that were being put out there. The entire purpose of the blog seemed to be to scare the consumers and anyone else reading the blog. The blog had so much information that was aimed at consumers for the sole purpose of making consumers fear everyday food that is being consumed by millions of people worldwide each day. This becomes obvious just by reading the titles of the posts such as, "Is Healthy Food Destroying Your Gut?", "It Was Snuck Into our Food Supply-- Are You Eating This Dangerous Ingredient?".

What is the first thing you think of when you see those posts. For me it was that someone was trying to make me fearful of the food that I am eating. While some of her posts (and by some I mean bits and pieces of some posts) have good health tips and ways to make sure you know what you are eating, the general idea is to push you to buy her book or eat products that she deems "safe".

My purpose here is not to necessarily tell you that she is wrong. After all, I have not done nearly enough research to prove/disprove every post that the Food Babe has made. My purpose here is to make sure that if you do read her blog, be sure to check your facts before joining the "Food Babe Army". When you read some of the posts, I implore you to look at any sources she provides with a critical eye. Some of them may have a heavy bias toward her cause. Would she present those sources if they weren't?

Photo credit: quickmeme.com

Finally, if you have any questions about what goes into your food ask a farmer. We as farmers want to talk to you and we want to know what you think about your food. If you have reservations about your food get the information first hand. After all, not everything on the internet is true. If that were the case, I would like to make it a point right now, in this post, to say that I never have to pay taxes and I have a degree in Law and full job security for the rest of my life. As does every one of you reading this post.

The Places You Go

This map is a compilation of my story in college. Sometimes the places we go and the memories we make in those places are what makes the college experience... well... memorable. I have had the great opportunity to meet some of my best friends in college and this is just a snapshot of the places we hang out on occasion.

"So God Made a Farmer"

One of my favorite things about agriculture is that many who practice it root their lives in their faith. They have faith in God. Faith that he will provide them with what they need to become stronger and better. Whether it is a drought that year to teach us how to persevere through hard times, or an abundance of rainfall to teach us to be thankful for everything that we receive, farmers and ranchers are deeply rooted in their faith.

This is displayed in one of my favorite commercials that aired during the Superbowl. It portrays what it really means to be a farmer. It shows people that farmers aren't just a bunch of hillbillies on tractors. This commercial shows everything that needs to be done to produce food. We need people to do all of these things. "So God made a farmer."

Passion for Farmers

Some of you may have seen this episode of a relatively new show called "Shark Tank". This is a perfect example of how passionate farmers are about what they do. It shows that farmers are innovative, hard-working, and willing to do the right thing no matter what. Please watch this video and share it as well because this is what the industry of agriculture is truly about!

My Favorite Project

One of my favorite projects that I have ever done was not in school. This may seem strange but it is true. The project was none other than raising calves. This may seem pretty typical, right? I mean, I live on a farm and the logical thing to do would be to raise animals. But this was different. I wasn't doing this because I wanted a good grade in a class or because it was what everyone else was doing. I was doing it because I really wanted to have the experience of growing something and watching it develop.

Photo credit: Kevin Shields

I started out with one small black and white Angus calf. She was very small and needed care so I agreed to care for her until she was old enough to not need to be bucket-fed anymore. This turned into me buying her and then keeping her. I later received more opportunities to buy more calves and I took them. After about five calves I ran out of money and was beginning to run out of time. Individually feeding them took up time before and after school and though I enjoyed it because it meant spending time with them, I was also very hard pressed to get other tasks done.

Throughout the time I had them I would go out to the pen when I was stressed and the calves would all come up to me and I really felt like they were there for me. This may sound really weird and I thought so to at first. Sometimes I would go out and run around the pen and they would follow me and if they caught up with me they would run circles around me very excitedly. I really enjoyed having them as company. I genuinely cared for them and I realized that many farmers and ranchers feel the same way but they don't have the same amount of time or energy that I did.

This is why this was by far my favorite project. I was able to find something that I loved to do and I was producing something that would benefit others. I was able to provide a good start to the lives of the calves under my care and when all was said and done, I learned new skills that I hope to continue to use in other parts of my life.

Photo credit: Kevin Shields

5 Things I Love About Living in the Country

#1: You don't have to have your pets restrained.

Sometimes you come home after work one day and you need to let your pets out but you don't want to have to go everywhere they do. I know when my family first moved to the country I loved to run outside and play with the dogs. It was a lot of fun and we did not have to keep them fenced in or on a leash. While this is one of the more enjoyable things about living in the country, make sure you train your pets to come back!

Photo credit: Kevin Shields

#2: Fresh air and wide open spaces.

Have you ever had that feeling where you feel like you just need to decompress and get away for awhile? When I felt like life was going a little too fast I would go outside and sit a little ways up an old silo and just watch the trees and clouds in the distance. It brings a feeling of peace that you may not be able to find in the city unless you love the buzz of traffic. It gives me a sense of freedom. If I can see it I can go there.

Photo credit: Kevin Shields

#3: The sunsets!!

One of my favorite photography subjects is a tree out in front of my house and if you look through the branches at sunset then you get the shadow of the branches against the bright oranges, pinks, and reds of the sunset. Sometimes my parents and I would just sit out on the porch talking and watching the sunset and it is still one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen. (Fun fact: Kansas was ranked in the top 7 places in the world to watch a sunset!)

Photo credit: Kevin Lewis

#4: The people.

I cannot think of a single time I was driving down one of the dirt roads around my house when another driver waved to me. There is a sense of community in rural areas and that extends to people you may not know yet. It is not uncommon to feel like you know some vehicle that is driving down the same dirt road as you and not want to wave. I remember my dad explaining to me why this was such a big deal and he said that you may not know them now, but you may meet them in the future and you don't want to spoil relationships like that before you know the person.

Photo credit: desmoinesregister.com

#5: The stars.

Out in our huge backyard we have a small white building that is our well-house. On the sides of this well-house there are little pegs that are just big enough to grab a hold of and climb on top. When I hear news of a meteor shower or I just want some time alone to think and reflect on life I just climb up there and look at the stars. The clear night sky is a great way to put things into perspective. I remember thinking one night that there is an entire universe out there with millions and millions of galaxies and I am just one person. I have had some of my wisest thoughts while looking at the stars and I hope that everyone gets to see those same stars at least once from out in the country.  

Photo credit: galleryhip.com

Ag in the City

When you think about agriculture you may picture rolling hills, fields of golden wheat rippling in the wind, and maybe green pastures dotted with cattle. While this is very common in rural america, there are also other aspects and homes for agriculture that may not seem as obvious to you. A big example is urban areas.

You might ask, "How do they put agriculture and farming in areas where there are houses? Where is the room for all that?" The answer lies in things like community gardens and hydroponics. Both of these methods for growing food are very viable and are growing in popularity. In the city I currently attend college in, I know of community gardening programs around town and there is even a push to get a community garden on our campus. People are beginning to recognize the importance of agriculture and are finding ways to produce the maximum amount of resources with a shrinking amount of space.

Photo credit: chicagoflower.com

Though these programs are growing in popularity, they still may not be as popularized in some areas. After asking some of my fellow students what they thought about community gardening in Topeka, I received a similar response from many students. "I don't think we have community gardens in Topeka." When I asked them about hydroponics, many of the students weren't sure what I was talking about.

When you look at the big picture, rural America still has a lot of weight to pull. These farmers and ranchers still produce the majority of the food for our country. If people in urban areas were to engage in activities such as community gardening, not only would they be helping locally produce food to keep costs low, they would also become more knowledgeable about how their food is produced as well as some of the necessary practices that go into producing our nation's food. This combination of knowledge and skill in both rural and urban areas may help ease some of the tensions between the consumer and the producer regarding how their food is made.

Teach Ag

Many of you who are reading this have had some sort of education (hence your ability to read). Right? In fact you may be in college or even in the grown up world of business and hourly wages. So I think it is safe to say that teachers were a crucial part of your development as well as the development of future generations. So why is there a shortage of agricultural educators?

There have been numerous times that I have thought over what my life would be like without my ag teacher. What would I have done in high school? Would I still love public speaking if I didn't have my ag teacher as my coach? The truth is, agricultural educators don't just teach you about cows and sheep. In fact, I think I learned more applicable life skills such as business, public speaking, and effective communication in that class than I did about how to milk a cow or plant wheat, (not to say that we did not learn about these things). Agricultural education teaches you so much about life lessons and being the best that you can be. 

Agricultural education provides students with a hands-on approach to doing things. There are so many career pathways in agriculture that one can find. You could have a student who loves science and wants to be a biotech engineer and another student in that same class want to be a motivational speaker. Whatever the choice of the student, agriculture education enables them to gain hands-on experience with doing what they love. I'm not exactly saying that students will be gene splicing in high school or that they will be speaking to thousands of people in the near future. The point is that if you want students to succeed in the real world, give them real problems and make them come up with real solutions. 

I chose to go in the direction of leadership and public speaking. My ag teacher would always help me write my speeches and she would endlessly critique them until I thought that I had it perfect, then she would critique them more. No matter what, she always gave me advice and still does on occasion. And guess what? I still use almost every single one of those tips each time I talk to a group of people, even in normal conversation. Sure in science you can learn stoichiometry, but I can tell you one thing. I have never used it. That is not to say that it is not important, just not for me. That is the beauty of ag ed. You can pick and choose your career pathway and still gain valuable experiences from the class that you will apply later in life. 

Food Myths Busted!

There are many myths and misconceptions that are floating around about food. These myths, when believed, can hurt the agriculture industry and the people consuming the food. One might say that if consumers believe these myths then they are just "being on the safe side" and not taking a risk. The truth of the matter is that consumers that believe these risks are going to put unnecessary time and money into avoiding what they mistakenly believe to be true. Here are some food myths that are widely believed but not necessarily true.

Myth #1: High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is bad for you.

The truth behind this myth is that HFCS is not all that different from regular table sugar. The key is moderation. If you eat excessive amounts of table sugar, it is not good for you. The same goes for HFCS. In fact, if you look at the chemical makeup of table sugar (50 percent fructose and 50 percent glucose) and HFCS (55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose) there is only a 5 percent difference. If you were to eat enough HFCS to make that five percent matter then you are probably eating it in excess. Everything is fine in moderation.

Photo credit: recipes.howstuffworks.com

Myth #2: Organic foods are more nutritious than conventional foods and GMOs.

This myth has been a very hot topic, especially with the rise of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The truth is that about 60-70 percent of all the food in the world is genetically modified in some form and nobody has died due to genetic modification. Another important thing to consider is that genetic modification already occurs in nature. Scientists are just able to speed the process up a little more and make the process more predictable. The reason for genetic modification is to make crops more resistant to pests and weather conditions as well as produce a higher yield. 

Photo credit: imgkid.com

One reason that people give to buy organically raised foods is the of trace amounts of pesticide. While you should wash all your produce carefully before consuming, consider the fact that organic producers use types of pesticides as well. Both methods of production are beneficial to agriculture but there is really no difference in the nutritional value of the food itself. 

Myth #3: Coffee is unhealthy and addictive and therefore should be avoided.

Coffee sometimes gets a bad rap for being unhealthy because some people get addicted to it and it is high in caffeine. The truth is that coffee is probably one of the healthiest parts of our daily lives. Believe it or not, coffee actually contains more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables combined! Coffee also has been shown to reduce the risk for depression, Alzheimer's, and even help you live a little longer 

So next time you're in the break room getting your morning fix feel no shame in pouring yourself an nice cup of morning motivation. You are making a healthy decision and if you are anything like me, you have an assurance that you will make it through that rough Monday.

Photo credit: orvietoorbust.com

Burning Season

Since burning season is upon us and it is my favorite time of the year, I have decided to explain a little as to why I love what should be the practice of a pyromaniac.

I would first like to start off by saying that burning season is a very important part of agriculture. The purpose of burning is to release crucial nutrients in the soil that help renew and enrich the land where grass and other wildlife grows. It is also an important part of grass, brush, and weed management. Without burning, we would have a bunch of dead foliage sucking up all the sunlight while the organisms that need it cant get it. So even though burning pastures might seem like farmers just trying to have fun with fire, it does serve an important purpose.

I love when my family burns pastures because it makes for beautiful scenery in the evenings. On occasion, I will look out my window and see a blazing line of fire in the pasture next to our house. Most people would be alarmed and even start panicking. This is one of my favorite sights though because I know that good things are going to come of it. It is going to provide new life for the things that grow there.

Photo credit: Kevin Shields

The other reason I love burning season is because of the smell. I don't know about some people but I love the smell of burning leaves in the spring. Not that smell that is so strong that it burns your nostrils and makes your eyes water. The smell of a pasture fire that has happened recently died down and all that is left is the hint of burning leaves and brush. I'm not sure where I got this strange attitude but it is there and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Next time you are driving along a highway and you see a line of fire lighting up a pasture for a prescribed burn, take the time to enjoy it, without wrecking, and if you're like me you may roll your windows down.

The Cuban Embargo: A 50 Year Old Tantrum

Some of you may be aware of the Cuban embargo that the United States placed on Cuba in the 1960's, effectively severing all ties with Cuba. The reason for this embargo was to attempt to provide such difficult conditions for the people of Cuba that they would have no choice but to overthrow the Castro regime and re-initiate ties with the United States.

Photo Credit: Kevin Lewis

This tactic has effectively failed. Castro is still in power. Cuba spends about $2 billion each year to import roughly 80% of its food. This is money that is going to other countries. Why not quit our 50 year old temper-tantrum and reestablish diplomatic ties with Cuba if only to improve our own economy. The U.S. is in the best position (literally we are 90 miles from the coast of Cuba) to export food and supplies to Cuba and we stand to gain the most. With our economic hardships right now, we would stand to gain much from trade with Cuba. The agricultural sector especially would stand the most to gain.

Agriculture is a major part of Cuban economy. They not only import food but they grow some food themselves. In fact, with Raul Castro in power now, the ability for farmers in Cuba to start their own operations has become much easier than in previous years. Raul understands the need for agricultural production within his own country and he has let producers start up small farms. If we can help grow Cuba's agricultural sector then we can effectively increase their production and trade with the U.S. and that would benefit both agricultural economies.

Many agricultural organizations are encouraging the normalization of relations with Cuba. The United Nations has pressed the U.S. to lift its blockade over Cuba for some years now and now that there is talk about actually going through with trade with Cuba it has become a topic of conversation. In fact, public opinion is in favor of lifting the Cuban embargo according to polls conducted in December of 2014.

The overall message is that the Cuban embargo is not an effective way to get the political change in Cuba that we want. It is costing us a valuable trade market and it is damaging to both economies while accomplishing nothing positive. So why should economies and people suffer due to this half a century old sanction. When you try something for 50 years without it working, you may want to think about alternatives. Normalizing trade, especially in the agriculture industry, could be one of those alternatives.

Should Water be a Commodity?

Many areas of the country and even some other countries are facing economic hardships due to drought and water shortages. One of the ways to preserve water is to make it a commodity. There are many facets to doing this though and depending on how expensive of a commodity it becomes, it could devastate agriculturists who need it. Richard Howitt of UC-Davis will explain some of the reasons why we should treat water as a commodity.

Feeding the world: Agricultural Biotechnology

With a growing population expected to reach 9 billion by the year 2050 agriculturists and engineers need to look at ways to feed this growing population with a sustainable food supply. One might say to simply grow more crops but with a growing population comes a lessening of space to grow these crops. This is why biotech engineers are creating new ways to make crops produce more food efficiently while not always needing as much space or other resources that could come in short supply.

Water Conservation in Kansas

Many people have heard about the series of dry years that parts of the country and even the state of Kansas has had recently. This creates a demand for more water to sustain crops. So what can we do to make sure that Kansas is able to create a sustainable supply of crops while still preserving a dwindling supply of water? Kansas Secretary of Agriculture, Jackie McClaskey will give a short summary of what the Kansas government is doing to work toward solving this problem.

FFA Journeys Part 2

Photo Credit: Jackie McClaskey

Last year I had the opportunity to be a part of a great experience that taught me a lot about myself, my values, and my areas for growth.

I began the process with no small amount of excitement and anticipation. I completed my intent to run form and submitted it as fast as I could. This was the point when I began to do insane amounts of research about agriculture and what was going on in the industry. After awhile it became more than research for the sake of knowing the information. I began researching because I actually cared about many of the topics that were affecting many peoples lives. I was no longer going through the motions but rather thinking about how this affects me s well as those around me.

Throughout this period of research I had the opportunity to participate in growth interviews. These interviews are to help the candidate, in this case me, understand what the actual interviews would be like as well as to gain feedback for self improvement. During the growth interviews I was asked questions about agriculture, education, and past experiences. Some of these questions I had never thought about and it made me question how much I truly knew about myself.

As I got further into to the process I began to have doubts. There were other people in the running who were so much better than I was when it came to knowing themselves and their facts about agriculture. I felt like I was not as qualified as they were. Soon enough the real interviews were upon me. I would wake up every morning and try to look my best for the nominating committee. I would go to the waiting room to check in and get a much needed cup of coffee. i would join in the lighthearted conversation with the rest of the candidates. The truth was that seeing all of them having fun made me feel even more inadequate. Were they not under the same pressure I was?

I went through the rest of the interviews trying to hide my feelings and make myself seem as put together as possible. When it came time to go to the session where they would announce the candidates that were slated I went to the auditorium and found a good friend of mine and broke down. This was not the first time this week I had cried, but this was the first time I had let anyone see. They announced the slate later in that session and my name wasn't called. I felt a mix of emotions at first: some anger, regret, sadness, and most of all, let down. Not so much let down by the committee. They were good people who knew what they were doing. I felt as if I had let myself down. I put so much of myself into the process that it I was physically exhausted and collapsed. I didn't move for a solid minute. It began to sink in and I began to cry again along with a few others who didn't make the slate.

My advisor came backstage and helped me move to another room where she just stood in silence and let me cry. I cried until my head hurt and my eyes would not let me cry anymore. Then I stood in silence, wondering if I was not a good person. Wondering if I was not involved enough in agriculture. I kept thinking thoughts that began with the phrase, "what if?" I was going crazy and soon I was too exhausted to even think. My advisor did the best thing possible and just stood there with me, not trying to tell me I was a good person or comfort me with what at the time would have seemed like empty words. She just stood there and let me cry and let me feel.

I realized later after I spoke with my advisor that it wasn't because I was a bad person or not involved enough. It was simply a matter of if I was ready. We spoke at length about my areas for growth and how I could use my strengths to grow in the future.

The point I'm trying to make is that when something doesn't go the way you want it to, let yourself take in what is happening then. Let yourself take in the feelings that you have because they are real, but whatever you do DO NOT give up on yourself. You may not be ready for what you have planned, but let yourself be ready for what God has planned.

An Attack on Ag?

Photo credit: Kevin Lewis

Over the past month I have read a lot about SB 178. For those of you that may not be as familiar with it or may not have time to keep up with happenings in legislature, this is a bill that will raise the taxes of the land that farmers use. This bill was proposed by state senator Jeff Melcher and it seeks to change the value of taxable land. The reason that Melcher gives for this change is that farmers are not paying their fair share of taxes and this bill will raise taxes to ensure that farmers are paying an equal amount of taxes. This seems fair at face value, but when we delve deeper into the issue you may see otherwise.

The reason that the land's value is lower for farmers comes down to one simple word: risk. Each year farmers plant crops and/or raise livestock and each year the uncontrollable force called mother nature decides what kind of year it will be for farmers. When we look at the incredible risk that these farmers are taking we also have to think about the fact that they are not planting crops and raising animals for kicks. They are doing it to survive and help our growing population survive. If the wheat that my dad plants this year gets mauled by a hailstorm then insurance might cover it, but that means that for the year until the next wheat crop is harvested we might be strapped for cash. Same idea if there is a drought, (which is in fact happening.) The truth is that we cannot control the weather and that means that some years farmers may have limited income due to adverse weather conditions.

This is why there is a system to determine the value of taxable land based on its productive value. There is a very complex formula that goes into determining this value that I am not qualified to explain but it has worked for many years and many other states in the nation are using it as well. So why fix what's not broken?

The bill could have disastrous effects on the livelihoods of many producers in Kansas. This bill would raise the taxes an estimated 473% for farmers according to the Kansas Department of Revenue. This means that even if farmers have a bad year they will still get taxed the same as the cash-rental rates. To put this into perspective a farmer that currently pays close to $9,000 would have to pay around $42,000 regardless of the yield. Now I do not think that it is fair to the farmer. After all the entire purpose of taxing based on productive potential is to insulate farmers from hard years.

Overall I believe that the argument of farmers not paying their fair share is unfounded. Next time you eat dinner think about where your food came from and how much farmers put into making your food. These taxes would hit some farms hard enough to go out of business and then where would that food on your plate come from? Would it even be there?

FAA Offers Ag New Technology

The FAA is opening a new doorway of technology to agriculturists as they will soon be able to use drones to do many different things such as map fields, monitor livestock in large pastures, and plan how they will plant and fertilize their crops. This new technology will bring about more efficient farming practices and help producers produce a more abundant product. See the video below for a quick overview of what the FAA is doing about drone regulations. 

FFA Journeys Part 1

Photo credit: Kristin Vinduska

What do the movies "Napoleon Dynamite," "Paris, Texas," and "Charlotte's Web" have in common? Well you could watch all three movies back to back, or you could just let me save you some time and tell you about my story in the blue jacket that appears in all three movies.

I originally had no idea what FFA was other than it being called the "Future Farmers of America" (a common misconception I will address later). I thought that it was just for farmers and kids that raised animals. Little did I know that it was open to those who wanted to do a variety of different things. Sure the organization was about agriculture, but also about so much more.

One of the first things that I learned in FFA was the FFA Creed. As a freshman (a.k.a. Greenhand) you learn and memorize a five paragraph passage that defines the very foundations of what we as members believe. In fact each of the five paragraphs begins with the line, "I believe." After the Greenhands memorize the creed, they have the opportunity to use their speaking abilities to bring their passion and beliefs to life. I was able to bring my passion for agriculture to life. I made it to the State FFA Creed Career Development Event (CDE) and because of the hard work and time that I put into developing my speaking skills I was able to make an impression on those who listened. I ended up winning and advanced to the National Creed Speaking CDE and was placed in the bronze division. Even though I didn't make it as far as I would have liked this experience has had an impact on me that is hard to describe in the words contained in this blog. The best I can do is say that it changed my life and how I looked at challenges that were set before me.

Moving from my freshman year to my senior year, I had a lot of positive experiences for growth within FFA. These experiences ranged from winning FFA speaking CDEs to losing judging contests and spending more time at the drawing board. I feel as if all of these experiences gave me the drive to run for a State FFA Officer position. For those of you who may not be familiar with FFA, there are different levels of officers that are responsible for different things. The most important level of officers is the chapter officers. They are the ones who direct the work of the organization on the local level. They essentially run the local chapters on a day to day basis. The next level of officers are the district officers. These officers direct the work of the district as well as the development of each of the chapters within their district. The state officers are the ones who direct the work of the state association and are in charge of the development of each district. These are the hard workers that go out into the industry throughout the state and help promote the industry in a positive way. The highest level of officers are the national officers. These are the face of the FFA who constantly stay up to date with the latest issues facing the industry. They also focus on the development of the organization as a whole.

In February of last year I set out on a journey of personal growth to become a State FFA Officer. I remember meeting a state officer my freshman year and I knew that I wanted to have the same impression on members that he had on me. I used all the experiences I had during my time in FFA to figure out why I wanted to be an officer. Many came from my unique experiences throughout my time in FFA and some came from some of the circumstances that I had outside of FFA. Overall I decided that I would run for a state office and do my best to make a difference in the lives of some members.

Not every FFA member has a crucible moment in FFA like I did but I can almost guarantee that the organization has changed every member in some form. It pushes members to become better leaders, better agriculturists, and overall better people. I have had experiences in FFA that have made me a leader in some organizations that I am involved in. I have come from being a shy high school freshman to an outgoing college student who loves public speaking and interacting with others.

FFA is hard to describe without the experiencing it for yourself. I can tell you about my experiences but that would not do the organization justice. It is an experience that shaped my foundations and you would be hard pressed to find the words to describe the entirety of the effect of FFA.

Daily Fix

Photo credit: Heath Shields

This morning I walked across the bridge from the residence hall that I live in, into the cafeteria and to the coffee bar to get my morning fix before my first class. I then look over to the chef's station next to me and I see some toast and I go over and grab some for a quick meal before I went to class. It wasn't until I started thinking about what to write for this blog post that I realized how important of a role agriculture played in my daily life. In that short amount of time of getting out of bed to going to my first class, (which in all honesty was about 20 minutes,) I had used agricultural products too many times to count.

When you think about the products that you use, one of the first things that comes to most people's minds is food. Food is delicious and also a necessity of life, but let us look further and harder for the things that we gain from agriculture. The clothes you are wearing right now is a product of agriculture (cotton). The toothpaste that you hopefully brushed your teeth with this morning is a product of agriculture. Nearly anything you can see is agriculturally produced yet we so often overlook that fact. 

I challenge you to think about what crop or other product went into making what you are now buying at the store. Really think about the role agriculture plays in your life regardless of where you work, where you live, or what you do. It is guaranteed that agriculture is a part of your daily life.

Why Agriculture?

Photo credit: Nellie Kassebaum

Hello all! My name is Kevin Lewis and I am a Mass Media major with an emphasis in public relations here at Washburn University. This blog is going to explore the roles of agriculture in our daily lives as well as provide some current events in the industry that would have an effect on our lives. 

I did not start out living on a farm and just by looking at me you can probably tell. I used to live in a city and I did not have a clue about agriculture. Then my dad got a new job and everything changed. I went from staying at home and doing my homework and not much else, to being super involved in every activity that I could and that included an organization that has shaped my entire perspective about life. 

When I came to rural America I had no idea what FFA was. I was almost certain that it was exclusively for farm kids and I had not been a farm kid for more than a few months. Sure I worked on the farm and drove equipment, but I had no idea about anything beyond that. One day at school I was stopped in the hall by a woman that I had never seen before. After brief introductions I discovered that she was the Ag Ed instructor and FFA Advisor. She asked me why I wasn't in one of her classes and I told her that I had not been a farm kid for very long. She chuckled and told me that I should try one of her classes anyway. 

Flashing forward, after taking one of her classes I joined FFA and I discovered a talent of public speaking. This talent helped me develop speeches based on research which in turn sharpened my research and critical thinking skills. Before I knew it I was writing speeches about GMOs and talking with other FFA members about the Farm Bill. 

I realized that agriculture was not exclusively farming but it is also leadership, public relations, communication, business, science, and technology. I grew a passion for agriculture as well as a respect for those that are a part of the industry. Without people like my dad, uncle, and friends, I would not be wearing that nice suit in the photo above. I would not have a home that I can come home to from college on the weekends. Agriculture is important and that is why this blog exists. To share a passion and respect for agriculture.