As a kid, I loved seeing new sites but despised road trips.  I would’ve preferred to take an airplane to a single destination to enjoy five straight days in someplace like Orlando, Florida.  Meanwhile, my parents preferred to “see the country” through the windshield of their Ford extended cab.  I’m sure that I sighed loudly each time they ventured off the paved path.  I may have even rolled my eyes when they weren’t looking.  For sure, I cried when we were lost in the middle of Montana with our gas tank nearing “E.”  (I can still hear my mom saying, “We’re not lost, Honey.  We just don’t know where we are.”)

But as an adult, I can truly appreciate the lessons my parents taught during our annual family vacations.  Some of the best memories happen when we take the road less traveled!

We’ve munched on fresh cherries while traveling through Napa Valley, California.  We’ve sampled fresh crab from a shack in Maine.  We’ve eaten around a cowboy campfire in Wyoming.  We’ve enjoyed making s’mores and listening to crickets near the start of the Mississippi River in Itasca, Minnesota.

My family and I have also traveled to big cities… I nearly got engaged in The Rainbow Room before attending a Broadway production in New York City.  I’ve shopped the Magnificent Mile and had tea at The Drake in Chicago.  I’ve enjoyed barbecue & blues on Beale Street in Memphis, Tenn.  Yes, I’ve even taken in the sights and sounds of Las Vegas including a $4.99 all-you-can-eat buffet with the most delicious Belgian waffles.

But none of the glitz and glamour found in the big cities feeds my soul like quiet times spent in the Midwest’s rural areas!  That’s why one of the things I enjoy most about my job is traveling the countryside, visiting with Latham® dealers and farmer-customers.  I’ve gained an appreciation for the differences in the landscape across six states.  I enjoy the raw beauty of each area, whether I’m in the Loess Hills of Iowa or along the Mississippi River.

Here are just a few of the fun stops that I’ve made in the 10 months:

• New Ulm, Minnesota (celebrating my German heritage with bratwurst and potato salad)
• Historic Tyden Farm No. 6 in North Central Iowa
• J& J Hideaway in Northeast Iowa (for a tranquil getaway to fish and hunt – yummy morels!)
• The Farmer’s Kitchen in western Iowa (award-winning pies, chili and burgers)
• Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy near Waterloo, Iowa (the creamiest, homemade ice cream ever)
• Iowa State Fair (nothing else compares to pork chop on a stick or beef sundaes)
• Franklin County, Iowa  (Yes, I was a tourist in my home county last fall!)

That’s why I’m inviting The Good Traveler, Aric S. Queen, to drive through “Latham Country” as he embarks on a Classic American Roadtrip for National Geographic.  After all, Midwesterners are as classic as baseball, hot dogs and apple pie!

To get involved in our campaign to bring The Good Traveler to the Midwest, follow these easy steps outlined by Iowa Traveler Jody Halsted (@iatraveler):

• Send a tweet to @GoodTravelerNG.  Tell him what he’s missing. Use the #TravelMidwest.
• Leave a comment here.  Share your story of inspiring people and passionate communities.
• If you have a blog, share your story there and link it back here.

“Musings of a Pig Farmer”
by Larry Sailer

During my talk last month at the 140confDM / State of NOW Conference in Des Moines, I mentioned Old McDonald’s Farm.  Then conference founder Jeff Pulver (a city dude) asked Deb Brown (a country girl who lived for decades in Chicago) if today’s farms are really like Old McDonald’s Farm. Now I need to say that Deb does not farm, but even though she lives in the middle of farm country, she did not have an answer.  Deb’s speechlessness made me realize how important it is for farmers like me to share our stories with all consumers, even those who live in rural areas.

Sharing my knowledge of modern farming with consumers, our customers, is the reason I agreed to speak at the 140 conference in the first place. As I stated in my talk, one of the things I try to do is first listen to what town folks have to say. I listened that day in Des Moines, and I learned that bacon is beloved!  After I mentioned Bacon Fest, bacon was talked about the rest of the day!

Now back to Jeff’s question… Farming has changed greatly over the years. Unfortunately, people without a direct connection to farming often don’t see just how many improvements have been made.  They only know what they hear and see through the media.  Think of the images portrayed by Disney® cartoons.  As a result, two or three generations have been led to believe that animals are like humans:  They talk.  They walk.  And Porky the pig even hunts like a human.  Being the old grumpy pig farmer, I can’t help but think how these shows have skewed the perception of farming.

The need is great to educate consumers about where their food comes from and how it is produced.  It takes a real effort for a busy farmer to leave his/her farm and drive to a school or civic group meeting – or to a 140 conference – where people can listen, ask questions and share experiences.

There are many programs and groups in place to share the real story about farming and ranching, but we have a big job to do!  Unless we make a concerted effort to educate, people like a young Desmund Adams won’t know how food gets to a grocery store.  Desmund, who was raised in Chicago, commented during the 140confdm that he was 17 years old before he knew that meat came from an animal that was raised on a farm.  His point is well taken: agriculture needs to do a better job of sharing farmers’ stories.  You can help by sharing “Musings of a Pig Farmer” with your friends and family!  Ask them to send me their questions by posting comments.

Not only is the wet, cold weather affecting spring planting, it’s also affecting the start of the racing season in southern Minnesota.

“Fairmont and Arlington were both canceled this weekend,” Ryan Grochow posted April 20 on the Facebook page for Ryan Grochow Racing. “So far next weekend looks good… Let’s hope for a good weekend for some racing.”

It’s May 3 and Grochow is still eagerly awaiting the start of the 2012 racing season. The season was supposed to have kicked off Friday, April 13, but cold weather has prevented the wet track from drying. If Mother Nature cooperates, the green flag will wave Saturday night at the Arlington Raceway.

This year will mark Grochow’s fourth season in the Hobby A division, but it’s the first season he’ll be driving a car that he built himself. He used a 1980 Oldsmobile Cutless because he likes the boxy lines of that model.

“You’ve really got to know how to set up your chassis,” explains Grochow. “You also really need to be able to read the track. The dirt track is always changing from heat race to feature race. I was lucky that a local guy who’s been racing for a really long time helped me out.”

In previous years, Grochow raced cars that his dad has built with the help of some of his racing buddies. Ryan’s dad had raced at Arlington for a decade before turning the wheel over to his protégé.

“2009 was the first year I raced, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” says Grochow. “It’s an adrenaline rush like no other! Every weekend you’re fighting for the win.”

“Points racing” adds a whole new dimension to the race. Growchow races with the IMCA sanctioning body; IMCA pays drivers at the end of the year based on total points. Drivers earn points for their performance on the track, state, regional and national levels.  Total points are tallied at each level of competition and this helps determine regional and national champions. Point totals also affect the amount of free parts drivers can earn from sponsors like Speedway Motors, Stevenville Starts & Electric, Performance Bodies, JR Motorsports, and Sunoco Race Fuel.

In his second year of racing, Grochow placed 5th in points at the Arlington Raceway. He had 12, Top 5 finishes in 2011 and ended the season placing 3rd in total points. If his trend continues, he should place at the top in 2012! But, Grochow isn’t thinking about all that. Right now he’s just looking forward to the start of the season and getting the first race – in a new car – under his belt.

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!

Guest blog by Tracy Schlater, Marketing Director for Farm Safety 4 Just Kids

Children are naturally curious, especially younger children. There are certainly a lot of things to be curious about on the farm, but that curiosity can unknowingly lead children into dangerous places.  A safe play area is a great way to ensure the safety of kids on the farm.

Here are a few tips to help you establish a safe play area:

• Separate from traffic and work areas.
• Include easily identifiable boundaries. Fences are ideal.
• Select an area that may be easily supervised, such as looking out a back window.
• Keep it free from dangerous debris.
• Provide plenty of room to run and explore.
• Install safe and age-appropriate play equipment.

If you can’t fence the play area, use landmarks such as trees, bushes, a pole, or a driveway. Walk the boundary with your children. Explain that the boundary is important because it keeps them safe.  Make sure to explain the consequences of breaking the boundary rule. Keep in mind the boundary is only your first line of defense. Supervision is critical, and not just for play areas without a fence.

Give children reasons to stay in the identified play area. Play items like swings, a sand box, or playhouse make the play area appealing to children. If the farmstead is more enticing than the designated play area, your efforts may not be effective.  A safe, outdoor play area should be located away from livestock, traffic and machinery.

Let’s keep our next generation of rural children safe!  Celebrate Playground Safety Week, April 23-27, 2012, by taking a look around your farm and assessing what improvements can be made to create safe play areas for your children or grandchildren.   Resources to help you get started include:

• http://www.marshfieldclinic.org/NCCRAHS/
• www.playgroundsafety.org
• http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2010-04-22-EARTH_GreenPlaygrounds22_ST_N.htm
  

Also keep in mind that Farm Safety 4 Just Kids awards $250 to 10 farm families to conduct safety projects on their farm.  Contact Shari Burgus, education director, for more information at fs4jk@fs4jk.org or 515-331-6506 or 800-423-5437.