This time of year we’re receiving mixed messages everywhere we turn. Turn on the television and feel a pull on your heartstrings as diamond companies encourage you to celebrate each moment that has changed your life forever. Move over Sears® Wish Book®… YouTube has published a Christmas Wish List video. Toys R Us has pushed a list of the “Fabulous 15,” the only hot toys that matter. Radio ads, Facebook pages, websites and Twitter feeds continually update us on the countdown for Christmas. (Do you know there 16 sleeps, until #Christmas?)

If a person took all of these ads and retail messages to heart, you could miss out on the true meaning of Christmas and find yourself feeling totally inadequate or else entitled to more. This sense of entitlement – and our government’s response to it – has provided me with more content for my 2015 blog posts than I’d like! That’s why today I’m sharing my Top 5 Grownup Wish List for this holiday season:

5. I wish Americans would take personal responsibility.

One of my biggest pet peeves is how Americans are more focused on blaming someone else for their circumstances than they are on realizing the American dream. (Remember the editorial that ran recently in The Des Moines Register that insinuated American farmers are responsible for poverty?) Unfortunately, some people have learned they can make a better living off the government than they can by earning a living. This is why I have a problem with the minimum wage and food stamps (SNAP). Rather than taking everything so personally – and becoming overly offended and demanding political correctness – Americans should take personal responsibility. Let’s ban bad behavior!

4. I wish our water quality woes would end.

From Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) and the Clean Water Rule to the Des Moines Waterworks lawsuit, Iowa farmers are finding themselves in troubled waters. We can’t take water quality issues at surface level. As I’ve written in the past, it’s important to consider the source, and follow the money to find the motive. Several federal farm groups are keeping the pressure on Congress to act in a bi-partisan manner to withdraw the EPA and Army Corps’ of Engineers’ “waters of the United States” rule. Ironically, the EPA’s water rule is likely to slow to adoption of conservation practices. Water quality is just one of the regulations that impact our livelihoods. In fact, I’ve heard that 29% of an American’s income goes to cover regulations! It’s important that get involved in the political process. We don’t have the luxury of sitting back and trusting that the government is here to help us.

3. I wish the public understood that sustainability has been practiced since the 1930s!

“Sustainability” seems to be one of the biggest buzzwords in agriculture today. Recently it made headlines again touting how locally-raised food crops could help improve water quality and aid refugees. Many “hot buttons” were covered, including the lawsuit filed by the Des Moines Waterworks. However, many of the so-called problems stated in this article are totally untrue!

You might remember that last spring “sustainability practices” was the overlying reason that HHS and USDA released “dietary guidelines” calling for a reduction of beef. Congress addressed sustainability in the food and farming system as far back as the 1990 Farm Bill, wrote Registered Dietician and New England farmer Jennie Schmidt wrote the dietary guidelines committee is 25 years late to the party.

Sustainability practices were also the focus of AgWeek 2015. If people in powerful positions were honest, they’d admit that sustainability practices have been in place since the 1930s. After all, we haven’t experienced another Dust Bowl! Farms must be sustainable or we couldn’t pass them down from one generation to the next. I know sixth generation farmers. How can you not call that sustainable?

2. I wish more farmers had a virtual “open [barn] door policy.”

Truth is, most Americans are at least three generations removed from the farm! It’s no wonder that consumers are easily confused by misleading food labels. It’s no wonder consumers have questions about antibiotics usage and concerns about hormones in our meat supply. Ag illiteracy, combined with an atmosphere of misunderstanding, means many people are easily swayed by groups like HSUS or celebrities like Food Babe and Dr. Oz. If farmers aren’t willing to set the record straight will, then who will? If not you, then who?

1. I wish more people understood #RealPigFarming.

Ag literacy is a challenge for elected officials and rulemakers, as well as consumers. Invite consumers to take a look inside your barns – virtually. Wanda of Minnesota Farm Living and Lauren of Farm Girl with Curls do a particularly good job of giving consumers a glimpse of what happens inside their hog barns. These two ladies are definitely passionate about living on a farm and raising livestock, and I applaud their online efforts. After all, passion leads us all to reach our full potential.

“If you have a strong commitment to your goals and dreams, if you wake up every day with a passion to do your job, everything is possible,” says Canadian wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc. How can this Paralympic Champion and World Record Holder inspire you?

Pull up a chair to the kitchen table and prepare to enjoy a fun, delicious adventure through Iowa’s food history as Darcy Dougherty Maulsby of Lake City writes the “Culinary History of Iowa.”

“Iowa has a rich heritage of food, farming and culinary traditions,” said Maulsby, a lifelong Iowan and guest blogger on TheFieldPosition. She recently published her first book, “Calhoun County,” which tells the stories of small-town and rural Iowa life through the eyes of those who lived it.

“I’m excited to share these remarkable stories, historic photos and delicious recipes through my new book,” she says. The 128-page book, which will be released by the South Carolina-based History Press in the summer of 2016, will include a mix of vintage photos, color photos, unique stories and historic and modern recipes that offer a taste of Iowa from border to border.

Highlights of the book include:

1. Food-on-a-stick and other delights from the legendary Iowa State Fair
2. Pie and other favorites along the RAGBRAI route
3. Stories from the Masters Hotel at Burr Oak that Laura Ingalls Wilder’s family ran in the late 1870s
4. Blue Bunny and LeMars, the “Ice Cream Capital of the World”
5. the Best Burger in Iowa contest
6. Iowa Maid-Rites
7. Iowa’s diverse ethnic heritage including Franklin County’s Æbelskiver Dinner and Christmas at the Vesterheim in Decorah
8. 100-year Iowa food companies like Jolly Time Popcorn
9. Food festivals, community celebrations and church suppers
10. Regional specialties like turkey dressing sandwiches

The book will also include recipes like ham and bean soup, strawberry-rhubarb pie, dishes from the Younkers tea room, and much more.

The project is a natural fit for Maulsby, who began cooking at age 12 and has written about Iowa agriculture and food extensively during her 17-year career. As a member of the Lake Creek Go-Getters 4-H Club in Lake City, she won numerous awards for her culinary creations at the Calhoun County Exposition. As an adult, she continues to compete and has won blue ribbons for her molasses cookies at the Clay County Fair and her mixed-berry jams at the Iowa State Fair.

“I love to try new recipes, perfect my existing recipes and keep expanding my culinary skills,” said Maulsby, who also teaches cooking classes at local county fairs and other events. “I’m proud to be an Iowan and am thrilled to have the opportunity to write ‘The Culinary History of Iowa. I look forward to sharing a taste of our great state and preserving a slice of our cultural heritage.”

Your input is welcome!

Maulsby welcomes suggestions on topics, recipes and photos to include in her “Culinary History of Iowa” book. You can contact her through her website (www.darcymaulsby.com), or e-mail her at yettergirl@yahoo.com.

About Darcy Dougherty Maulsby: Darcy has been described as an “artist with words” who writes to sell. This Iowa native has covered agriculture and business for regional and national publications and corporations for 17 years. She has worked with a number of leading organizations, including Arcadia Publishing, Syngenta, Progressive Farmer, the Iowan Magazine, the National Pork Board, Farm News and many others. She also teaches writing, photography and social media classes.

Darcy, who grew up on a Century Farm near Lake City, earned her undergraduate degrees in journalism/mass communication and history from Iowa State University (ISU) in 1996. She completed her master’s degree in business administration and marketing at ISU in 2004.

In her free time, Darcy loves to cook and help on her family’s Century Farm in Calhoun County. She serves as the president of the Calhoun County Corn Growers, president of the Calhoun County Farm Bureau and vice president of Historic Central School Preservation in Lake City.

Farmers are starting to feel like Charlie Brown.  Remember how Charlie Brown would get prepared to kick the football only to have Lucy pull it away, causing Chuck to fall on his back?  That’s how farmers feel about new seed technologies! They eagerly await regulatory approval – then time and time again – these advanced technologies are pulled away right when it looks like they’re within reach.

The latest football pull back came last week when the EPA reversed their decision on Dow Agroscience’s Enlist Duo herbicide.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week pulled its approval of Dow Chemical Co’s new herbicide Enlist Duo to “study new information regarding the product’s impact on non-target plants.” The EPA is concerned that Enlist could be toxic to non-targeted plants, some of which are considered endangered species.

What a GIANT setback for the Enlist (2,4-D based) platform! Enlist can provide farmers with a great tool to fight weed escapes and resistant weeds, which is literally a growing problem in farm fields. We saw more pressure from weed resistance during the 2015 crop year than ever before. Although farmers put down pre-plant herbicides, more and more weed escapes are happening later in the season. The pressure from weed resistance is getting worse and is very commonly reducing yields.

In a statement released Dec. 1, Dow stated approval of Enlist for the 2016 growing season is still possible. We’re cautiously optimistic because the Enlist platform is one of three new soybean technologies that have been approved in the U.S. but have yet to receive Chinese approval.  The other two great new technologies are Monsanto’s Roundup Ready 2 Xtend (dicamba) and Balance GT from Bayer CropScience.  Corn technologies that are stalled by Chinese approval include Syngenta’s Agrisure Duracade and Dow’s Enlist PowerCore.

Seed companies, like Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, and technology providers have been touting the greatness of these technologies for years. Years! It’s no wonder farmers want seed companies to stop talking about these new technologies until they get approved. We know how disappointing it is to get excited about the possibility of a new technology only to have it pulled away.

We agree that the proverbial football has been pulled too many times.  Government agencies and foreign governments have slowed the path for new technologies approval to a crawl. However, we believe it’s important to keep talking about the benefits of such new technologies so elected officials understand their importance to agriculture and their role in helping feed a growing world population. Something must change in the regulatory climate, so companies continue to invest them. We don’t want to miss out on the next great technology!

I’m tired of the Charlie Brown complex.  It’s time those of us in agriculture grab that football and score a touchdown! Contact your elected officials today about the importance of new seed technologies to agriculture.

It’s that time of year again. As we remember the true meaning of Christmas, we also try to find that perfect present that tells our friends and family how much they mean to us. Yet you still struggle to find the perfect gift for your FarmHer. A FarmHer is a woman in agriculture that is passionate and loves what she does. She’s unique and classy, and deserves the best gift. The first tip to finding the perfect present is to make it personal. The funnier the better and anything that is an inside joke is sure to be a winner. If you still need ideas, check out the list below.

1) LOVE FarmHer Grainsack Long Sleeve Lightweight Hoodie (FarmHer) – $40

If she’s a true FarmHer, she’s going to want to rep the brand. The Grainsack Full Zip Hoodie is a versatile gift that can be used all year round and will remain soft and comfortable.

2) Dinner Time Classics Cookbook (The Pioneer Woman) – $18

Every FarmHer secretly wants to be the Pioneer Woman, so bring a part of the Pioneer Woman to her! She’s got a great new cookbook and perhaps you’ll get in on some of the results.

3) Cowboy Boot Charm Bangle (Alex and Ani) – $28

Some people may think your FarmHer has too many pairs of boots, but the truth is you can never have enough!

4) Knit Stocking Hat (FarmHer) – $20

Winters get cold, keep your FarmHer toasty warm with this thick, knit hat.

5) My Favorite Lip Balm (Bath and Body Works) – $7.50

The explanation is in the title; this lip-gloss will be your FarmHer’s favorite! The winter months can take a toll on your skin, so keep your smile shining with this moisturizing magic in a tube.

Written by Lexi Marek

Lexi Marek is a proud FarmHer that was raised on a farm in Southeast Iowa. She’s currently a student at Iowa State University majoring in Public Service and Administration in Agriculture and is the current FarmHer communication intern. Her favorite Christmas gift is the beautician’s chair that now sits in her apartment. It actually has had a few clients and is a big hit with all the visitors that comes with the life of a college student.

At the beginning of this holiday season, I’d like to focus on all the things for which I am thankful. It’s not that I have huge piles of money under my mattress or huge amounts of material things. But what I have is much more important!

Faith. Family. Farming. I’ve come to realize, these are truly the best “things” in life. I have my faith, which I’ll admit has not always been steady. I have a fantastic family, including a new granddaughter and a new great granddaughter. I’ve been blessed to live all my life on an Iowa farm. For an old farmer, I’m in pretty good health. I have experienced so much in life that I should have written a book. (Does a blog count?)

Life hasn’t always been fun nor easy, but I’m thankful that the good Lord has given me trials and tribulations to make me appreciate who I am and what I have! I’ve learned to be satisfied with what I have instead of always wanting more. Now that doesn’t mean I’m still not trying to make life more comfortable for Janice and myself, but we have everything that we truly need. Taking time to reflect upon my life makes me realize that I have life better than 99% of the people on earth!

Chances are, you do to. And this is why I’m sharing these thoughts with you today…

There seems to be so much unhappiness in the world today. People find fault with everything and anything. Food, of course, is comes to mind first and I suppose that’s because of the career I chose. This sentiment applies to so many other aspects of our lives, and it makes me ask why…

• Is it because life as we know it is too easy?
• Is it because of how we are raising our children?
• Is it our schooling?
• Are we being so controlled by our government that we are rebelling?
• Have we simply lost our faith?

People seem to be looking for a cause, any cause to make themselves feel good. It’s like they need to feel accomplished because they’re not finding fulfillment in their jobs. Did you know that one third of working-age people in our country do not work? Hard work can be satisfying. I’ve learned to find satisfaction in a job well done. Maybe I find too much enjoyment in work! Sometimes I let work consumer me, but “work ethic” seems to be lacking in so many people today. They do not learn the satisfaction of a job well done or even the job being done.

We need change in this world for the better. People need to feel good about themselves and their contributions. People need to take direction from their past experiences. While I don’t have the solution, I believe replacing our current attitude of “entitlement” with a good day’s work would be a good start!

Get involved, people! Take an interest. The world isn’t going to stop turning, so jump on and enjoy the ride.

It always amazes me how farmers can be so loved, yet farming so demonized!

“Bountiful harvests fail to reach Iowa’s poor,” reads the headline of an editorial by Timothy Trenkle that ran in the Sunday, November 21, edition of The Des Moines Register. Iowa is blessed with some of the world’s richest soils, yet 11.4 percent of Iowans were food insecure at some point in 2014.

Why? The author of this editorial complains how Iowa farmers fail to grow healthy food. He claims all we grow are monoculture crops, subsidized by the government. He writes that farmers only grow crops that go in to processed food, instead of growing food for the poor.

Now let’s contrast Trenkle’s claims with these facts: Food in the U.S. costs less than in any other country. Americans spent less than 10% of their average income on food! The majority of people worldwide spend more than half of their income just to eat. Poverty worldwide is determined to be people who earn less than $2 per day… Two dollars per day!

Meanwhile in the U.S., 46 million Americans are on food stamps. That means 46 million people are not earning what the government believes is needed to buy their own food. How is this the fault of an Iowa farmer?

The problem is how we as a nation, how we as a society, are evolving:

• What are Americans’ values?
• What is our family structure?
• What are our priorities?

I see a culture that has evolved into entitlement. “Give me what I think I am owed, not what I earn or what I am worth.” For example, there’s another push underway to increase minimum wage to $15. Is a particular employee – or a specific job – really worth that to a business? Does that person produce enough to justify being paid more? What is the job market for someone that doesn’t improve or even care about their output?

The problem is not the cost of food. The problem is not where food is. The problem is not unhealthy food. The problem is not how food is raised. The problem has nothing to do with how farmers farm! The problem is not the farmer.

That’s why it bothers me when non-farmers try to tell the rest of us how to do our job. The author of Sunday’s editorial is a teacher. While being a teacher is a noble profession, it does not make him an expert on farming!

My farm has improved under my care. My soil is much healthier than 50 years ago. I’ve planted filter strips and wind breaks. The creek that flows through my farm is so clean that it’s difficult to see the water because I only see the creek bottom. Much progress has been made.

Conservation practices have been voluntarily implemented, and farming practices continue to evolve. Farmers are always looking for ways to improve, but the entire ills of this country shouldn’t be placed on the backs of U.S. farmers.

Farmers are people, too. We have families. Our kids go to school. We have the same basic needs that all people have: food, water, shelter, as well as the need to love and be loved. “Esteem” and “self-actualization” are also basic human needs.

Taking care of yourself and your family helps people develop meet basic human needs. So why are we depriving Americans from this? Forty six million people should not be fed by someone else! Social equality reduces the will to work. We must work much harder to address this problem.

Last Friday Darcy Maulsby on How to Preserve Family History, 10 Minutes at a Time. In part II of this article, today Darcy gives examples of questions to ask family members to make it easier.

Sharing the stories that bind us

Need more inspiration to preserve your family history? Leaving a legacy offers surprising benefits for children.

This was proven by Dr. Marshall Duke, a psychologist at Emory University. In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Dr. Duke’s studies with U.S. families confirmed that children who know more about their family narrative have higher self-esteem, a stronger sense of control over their lives, less anxiety and greater resilience, meaning they can moderate the effects of stress.

Sharing your family narrative can happen in as little as 10 minute at a time at holiday gatherings, dinnertime, family vacations and more. Here are some questions to start the conversation:

• Do you know where and how your parents met?
• Do you know some things that happened to your mom or dad when they were in school?
• Do you know some of the jobs your parents or grandparents had when they were young?
• Do you know some awards your parents received when they were young?
• Do you know the source of your name?
• Do you know some of the lessons your parents learned from good and bad experiences?

Remember, there’s no time like the present to capture the past and preserve it for future generations. All it takes it 10 minutes at a time!