Musings of a Pig Farmer by Larry Sailer

Bacon – yes, bacon – took center stage yesterday at the 140 Conference in Des Moines. It’s interesting how sometimes the most off-handed comment becomes the one thing that “sticks.”  Nonetheless, I’m grateful for the shout-outs and accolades that were given to this pig farmer from Franklin County, Iowa.

I have to admit that I really wasn’t sure how my message would be received by a group of bloggers whom primarily live in urban areas like Des Moines and even Chicago.  It turns out that it was really well received! Many people spoke up in support of me and of farmers in general.  They also reaffirmed people’s desire to reconnect with food and to learn how the food actually gets from the farm to their plate.

This is the reason I was invited to speak.  It’s also why I’ve spoken to more than 70 civic and community groups throughout the state.   I want to help demystify agriculture by starting conversations with consumers, so they can ask questions of a “real Iowa farmer.”

With less than 2% of the population engaged in production agriculture, it seems that fewer consumers have the opportunity to talk with local farmers and get their questions answered.  I guess that’s was also part of CNN’s fascination when they introduced me last winter as “a farmer who blogs.”

It was during our trip to Des Moines last February to serve on a panel discussion from CNN’s “The Starting Point” when Deb Brown asked me to speak at the “local” State of NOW /140 Conference she coordinated in Des Moines.  “A local conference,” I thought.  “Surely, that wouldn’t be problem after appearing live on CNN.”

Little did I realize how just big of an event this would turn out to be!  Unlike the approximately 20 seconds that I had to talk on CNN, I had 10 minutes to talk yesterday at the 140 conference.  I also overhead someone say yesterday that this conference was broadcast live to two million people in more than 20 countries.  WOW.  I’m so glad that I didn’t hear that before I took the stage.  I’m even happier that my wife, Janice, didn’t know how big the audience would be before we got there.

For the past two weeks, Janice kept asking me when I was going to write my speech and start practicing.  I never did actually write one, which is just as well.  There were so many great agvocates that everything I would’ve said would’ve already been said by them any way.  Ag speakers yesterday included:

• Shannon Latham – You already know her if you’re reading this blog!
• Darcy Maulsby – Lifelong Iowan and farm girl from Calhoun County who writes mini blogs about agriculture, business, food and gardening.
• Heather Lilienthal – As communications specialist for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, she fields media calls and develops relationships that help farmers tell the story of Iowa agriculture.
• Janice Person – Although she was born and raised in Memphis, cotton communications became the major thrust of her career.
• Chris Chinn – She and her husband, Kevin, are 5th generation farmers.  They live with their two children on their family’s hog farm in Missouri.

Other speakers whom I greatly enjoyed were Michael Libbie, who talked about the ROI of social media, and Gigi Belmonico and her Bombshells, who collected Purses for Panama.  (Now they’re collecting reading glasses if you’d like to donate to their cause).  Liz Nead, an inspirational speaker, had an entertaining talk about 30-day trials.  For some reason, I can only remember one of them.  As soon as you watch a video of her presentation, you’ll understand why!  Angela Maiers and other teachers talked about how NOW technology is opening their classroom doors to international experiences.  Denise Bonewitz Passehl talked about her online community helped provide support for a rare type of cancer.

It was also interesting to note that 5 of the speakers on yesterday’s panel were raised in Geneva, Iowa, my hometown.  Considering the town has a population of about 100, it was well represented!  You’ll be able to download each speaker’s presentation in about a week.  I’ll be sure to share that link as soon as it’s available.

Because so many folks yesterday professed their love for bacon, I thought I’d close by sharing a link to the delicious sounding recipe for Bacon-Wrapped Pork Chops.  Think I’ll light the grill tonight!

Musings of a Pig Farmer
by Larry Sailer

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is apparently moving “full steam ahead” with its plan to implement new farm youth employment guidelines.  Under the proposed rules, simple tasks like using a hand-held flashlight or even a garden hose or unloading a truck are deemed far too dangerous for a teenager.

While the DOL has pledged to take another look at the language pertaining to a parental exemption regarding youth employment for 14 and 15 year olds, this could just be a smoke screen or a distraction from the larger issues the DOL has yet to address.  The DOL fibbed about easing up on farm youth labor regs, according to an article published yesterday by the American Agriculturist.

The DOL has not pledged to make any changes that would allow children to work on their grandparents’ farm, their aunt and uncle’s farm, or even that a family farm that is organized as a limited liability corporation, which is commonplace today.  As a grandpa who enjoys having his grandchildren help with farm work, I’m personally concerned about the DOL’s intent to regulate work my grandkids can do on the farm.

The strong work ethic and the can-do attitude that is developed through farm work was evident last Saturday as I watched my grandson Devin play in Iowa State University’s spring football game in Ames.  Despite having an injury and tonsillitis, that boy played with heart!  I’m very proud of Devin, and I know that kind of “toughness” is what it takes to play Division 1 football.  But, I also believe a lot of that grit and determination on the gridiron was developed through farm work.

Devin has enjoyed spending time on our farm and helping me with pig chores from the

time he was a tot.  He enjoys driving the four-wheeler and farm equipment.  He comes home from college on weekends to help with planting, harvesting, and even cleaning out the hog barns.

While watching Devin play football last Saturday, I found myself thinking about a comment made during my recent visit with Senator Tom Harkin in Washington, D.C. Sen. Harkin said he thinks the DOL needs to protect farm kids.  And if Sen. Harkin and the DOL get their

way, kids like Devin would never have a chance to experience farm life.  How do bureaucrats, living in urban areas where the only green space is a park, know more about keeping kids safe on a farm than farm families?

We cannot let misled Washington bureaucrats destroy 4-H and FFA and the way our kids learn!  Farming friends, I urge you to contact your congressmen and the DOL, so the federal government doesn’t prohibit young people from participating in agriculture – and from carrying on your family traditions.

Musings of a Pig Farmer
by Larry Sailer

Over the last decade – most likely a result of fewer people being personally engaged in production agriculture – there has been a growing trend for consumers to know where their food comes from and how it was raised.  Recent food controversies have brought this issue to light once again.

A headline in yesterday’s issue of The Des Moines Register read, “More consumers asking for details about their food.”  The article goes onto to state, “If it is meat, many want to know where the animal was raised and how it was fed. If it is produce, they want to know what, if any, chemicals were used to grow and ship it or whether a local farmer tended the fruits and vegetables on their plates.”

As an Iowa pig farmer, I’m happy to meet with groups about how and why I raise livestock.  Talking with consumers to foster understanding is the primary reason I’m active in Operation Main Street, a speaker corps for National Pork Board, which controls pork check-off funds. Funds are raised when pork producers give a small portion of their income from selling hogs for three things: promotion, research and education.

Operation Main Street speakers have given 5,352 speeches to 156,711 people in nearly every state. I’ve been a member of the group for five years and have given over 50 presentations to Iowa civic groups.  In just the past week, I’ve spoken with groups in Green Mountain and Waterloo, Iowa.  The folks have always been very receptive of the information and when I explain why I raise pigs the way I do they understand why I do what I do.

It’s a lot of fun learning about many civic groups that I didn’t even know existed. (Yep, I need to get off the farm more!) A few of the groups I either have spoken or would like to speak to include: Lions Clubs International, Optimist Club, Rotary International, Kiwanis International, Civitan, Jaycees, Exchange Club, Ruritan National, Community Club, Sertoma, Ambucs, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Associations (NARFE), Chamber of Commerce, Masons, High 12 Club, Iowa Dietetic Association, veterinary schools, high school food classes.

I’m impressed with the number of clubs that exist to do good deeds and want to hear me speak, but my job is not yet done.  As The Register says, more people than ever are taking an interest in learning where there food comes from and how it’s produced.  That means I must give a lot more speeches.  I’m looking forward to it because that also means I have more friends out there to discover!