“Musings of a Pig Farmer”
by Larry Sailer

The Iowa State Fair provides many wonderful opportunities to get a first-hand look at how food is produced from Little Hands on the Farm and the Ag Magic Show in the Animal Learning Center to Farm Bureau Park and the Back to the Farmer exhibit in the Varied Industries Building.

Take a day – pack up your whole family – and head to Des Moines.  If you visit the fairgrounds today, stop by Farm Bureau Park between 8 a.m. and noon to visit me.  (Sorry about the misprint in last week’s blog post when I mentioned that I’d be at the fair on Thursday, Aug. 16!)

Between now and Aug. 19, will farmers like me will be talking about we do and why we do it. We’ll answer (or at least try to!) questions that people, who are unfamiliar with current farming methods ask.  Plus, visitors to Farm Bureau Park can register for drawings and even health screenings.  Games can be played to test your knowledge of agriculture.  And on particularly hot days, Farm Bureau Park is the best place to sit on a park bench in the shade!

Just a short walk from Farm Bureau Park is the Varied Industries Building.  Enter on the building’s south side where you’ll find the Iowa Food & Family Project’s exhibit entitled, “Back to the Farmer.”  This exhibit features a very unique creation made of canned and packaged food.  Also register for chance to win Casey’s pizza for a year and a $250 Hy-Vee gift card.

Another “must see” at the Iowa State Fair – regardless of whether you were raised on a farm – is the Animal Learning Center where you’ll find everything from newly hatched chicks to newborn pigs.  (The Animal Learning Center is conveniently located just east of the Midway between Ye Olde Mill and the Little Hands on the Farm exhibit.)  The Animal Learning Center is one of my favorite spots to interact with fairgoers as people line up for hundreds of feet, all day long, to see the farrowing display.  A two-hour shift here feels like it’s about 20 minutes long; time passes quickly because there are so many people who are enjoying themselves and asking questions.

In addition to the newborn animals, the Ag Magic Show is a popular attraction in the Animal Learning Center. Magician Rhonda Renee Ross starts off her show by telling kids the magic words are not “abracadabra,” but instead, “Thank a farmer.”  Rhonda grew up in Chicago, the first of six generations in her family to not grow up on the farm.  Because she understands the importance of educating urban folks about agriculture, she reaches her audience in the most unexpected yet relevant ways.  For example, Rhonda holds up a tube of lipstick and explains that lipstick is creamy because of an ingredient called glycerin.  “Glycerin is made from the fat of cows, sheep and my favorite…pigs!  So the next time your mom, sister or grandma puts on lipstick, tell her she is as pretty as a pig,” she says with a laugh.

Speaking of pork, be sure to grab a Porkchop on a Stick from the Iowa Pork Producers stand.  It’s one of the tastiest and most nutritious fair foods – and a personal favorite of mine.  Did you know you can eat three, square meals on a stick?  It’s true!  There are 50+ foods on a stick at the Iowa State Fair.

“Square meals” reminds me of school lunch programs.  Thursday, during the Franklin County Farm Bureau Board meeting, I’ll have an opportunity to speak with area superintendents and learn more about how new regulations impacting school lunch programs.  I’ll look forward to talking about this topic in an upcoming blog, so stay tuned!

On Friday, Aug. 17, I’ll be one of the speakers in Ames at the AgIowa 140 Conference.  It’s not too late to buy your ticket!

Tens of thousands of people from across Iowa, the Midwest, the United States and even foreign countries will make their way to Des Moines for the 158^th annual Iowa State Fair.  Some will go for the livestock shows while others will be more interested in the live concerts.  Some love the Midway, while others will be sure to check out the 4-H Exhibits and the Varied Industries buildings.

Regardless of their interests, there is one thing all fair-goers have in common… food!

The Iowa State Fair plays hosts more than 200 food vendors each year.  Every major livestock commodity group is represented, from the famous Hot Beef Sundaes at the Iowa Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters and Iowa chops at the Iowa Pork tent to whole-smoked turkey legs fresh off the big grill and burgers at the Lamb Stand.

One of the more popular food trends at the State Fair is food on a stick.  While surfing the Iowa State Fair website, I recently learned they have over 50 different foods served on a stick.  I thought to myself, “I wonder if it’s possible to find three square meals (breakfast, dinner and supper) on a stick at the Iowa State Fair.”  “Square meals” might be used a little loosely, but here’s the menu I came up with:

Breakfast

• Griddle Stick (sausage on a stick wrapped in a pancake)
• Fruit on a Stick with Yogurt Dipping Sauce – NEW for 2012!

Lunch

• Turkey Drumstick
• Corn on the Cob
• And for dessert, deep fried butter on a stick.  (Just kidding! I’m not brave enough to go there, but I hear it’s actually pretty good.)

Supper

• Salad on a Stick
• Porkchop on a Stick
• Carmel Apple on a Stick or Chocolate-Covered Deep-Fried Cheesecake on a Stick for dessert

While I have my favorite “must-have” foods at the Iowa State Fair, I’m always curious about the newest “on-a-stick” trend to debut each year and where to find them on the grounds.  Now, iPhone users can download the Iowa State Fair Food Finder application.

This app allows users to see where various food booths are located, look up nutrition facts and photos plus calculate how long it will take you to walk off those calories!  Another great feature is the events calendar that details what’s going on at the fair each day.  Looking for a more healthy food option?  The app can do that too!

So now the burning question, what are your foods of choice at the Iowa State Fair?

Although the Iowa State Fair gets underway today, we’re making plans for our very own country celebration. Join us Saturday, Aug. 25, for a full day of entertainment for the entire family!

The Latham Country Fair gets underway at 9 a.m. with field tours and a craft show. Professional agricultural speakers take the stage, beginning with Dr. Fred Below at 9:30 a.m. Click here for the full speaker lineup.

It’s all fun and games for kids, beginning at 10 a.m. Kids of all ages can participate in a variety of activities including: pedal tractor pull, burlap bag races, train rides on the GBO Railroad, inflatibles, petting zoo plus intricate face painting.

A schedule of kids’ activities:

In addition to all of this, there will be presentations by Farm Safety 4 Just Kids and Ag in the Classroom. P.S. We’ve also planned special presentations for moms and grandmothers. Watch for more details to be posted next week about those!

Last week I shared with you my Pursuit of Fair and Balanced Communications,  but I didn’t have enough space to go into detail about my experience trying to “speak up for agriculture” as a panelist on live television.  Let’s begin by setting the stage, so to speak…

Mike Haley, one of the founders of AgChat, asked me to appear on a live panel hosted by the Huffington Post.  Since AgChat’s mission is to empower farmers and ranchers to connect communities through social media platforms, I have no doubt that Mike believed this panel would represent both sides of the issue.  Panelists were supposed to include a person from the American Meat Institute, another hog farmer in addition to me, a food blogger from California, and an animal rights activist.

Nothing went according to plan from the start.  When I arrived on the campus of Iowa State University that Tuesday morning (July 31) for the live news feed, IT pros worked diligently to get me connected.  The live video feed kept dropping, so the show’s producer told me via the telephone that our panel discussion would take place as audio only.

The next thing I know – without any introduction at all – the panel “discussion” got underway.  Someone with an English accent started talking about pigs being tortured, and then the foodie blogger chimed in with similar opinions.  Then without any setup, I was introduced as a hog farmer and asked to explain how I raise pigs.  I explained that animals today are raised in environmentally-controlled buildings that keep them safe from harsh weather like we experience during cold Iowa winters and excessively hot summers.

So far so good, right?  Wrong!  Although I couldn’t see it, I could hear a video playing that was narrated by Bob Barker.  (Apparently, the video feed was working for everyone else but me.)  Very eerie sounding music was playing in the background as horror stories of animal abuse were shared.

After the video ended, the animal rights person and the foodie blogger proceeded to tell everyone how horrible these pigs were treated. I wanted to interrupt their one-sided conversation and explain that no farmer or rancher condones abuse or neglect.  But, the other two guests never stopped talking!  When I tried to talk, I realized they could not hear me.  My microphone had been muted.

This so-called “panel discussion” ended without any discussion.  I don’t know what happened to the other hog producer or representative from the Meat Board Institute.  This Huffington Post “panel” was nothing more than a platform for animal rightists to broadcast their video.

While I knew about the leanings of Huffington Post before agreeing to be a guest, I felt it was worth the risk because I try very hard to communicate (and that includes listening) with anyone who’s interested in how I farm.  I’m not sure if my participation ended up hurting my cause in this case, but I’m not giving up!  The experience only made me more determined to share my message.

Next week is another busy week with speaking engagements.  I’ll be attending the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 16.  Come visit me on the fairgrounds in Farm Bureau Park between 8 a.m. and noon.  I’ll also be speaking in Ames on Friday, Aug. 17, during AgIowa State of Now Mini-Conference at the Scheman Building.  Tickets are available, and I hope to see you there!

“Musings of a Pig Farmer”
by Larry Sailer

So much has happened this past week that I had more than enough material for today’s blog!  All of my experiences this week reiterated the need for fair and balanced communications.  I’ll begin by addressing an internal memo that surfaced within the U.S. Department of Agriculture in support of Meatless Mondays.

Although the USDA was quick to retract this memo after coming under heavy fire by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, its message will have a long-lasting impact.  Most environmentalists hail it as a victory.  Meanwhile, most farmers feel they’ve been blind-sided.

The USDA memo in support of “Meatless Monday” outraged many farmers and ranchers, who had thought of this governmental agency as a cheerleader for agriculture.  Perhaps that was the case when the Farm Bill was actually a Farm Bill.  When a person stops to consider that 80% of the USDA’s budget is now allocated toward welfare-type programs, it’s plain to see how different the USDA’s agenda is from mine – and from most farmers and ranchers.

What happened to the USDA’s position as an advocate for American agriculture?  Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley posed this question this week as he feasted on barbecued beef brisket, ribs and sausage.  During a Meat Monday celebration, Texas Senator John Cornyn added that “cattle ranchers and farmers deserve an administration who works with them, not one who undermines them.”  I’d like to second that!  Plus, I’d like to add that all U.S. livestock producers (including pork producers) deserve an administration that works with them.

Putting all politics aside, it’s ironic the USDA would advocate for anything but a balanced diet.  Just about one year ago, the USDA announced it was replacing the Food Pyramid with the Food Plate to help people understand what they should eat each day.  The first part of the Food Plate campaign was to encourage Americans to make half their plate – not all of the plate – fruit and vegetables. Later in the campaign, the USDA was to encourage Americans to avoid oversize portions and replace sugary drinks with water.

It makes me wonder if the new Food Plate was really an underhanded way of advocating less meat consumption overall.  As I learned this week from a Huffington Post “panel discussion,” everything is not as it first appears to be.  Next Tuesday, I’ll share that experience with you in Part II of my blog about my quest for “Fair & Balanced Communications.”

“Musings of a Pig Farmer”
by Larry Sailer

A funny thing happened last Saturday… I bought two, old horses on an auction. While this may not seem odd to most people, I can assure it that’s it’s not a normal thing for an old pig farmer to do!

I grew up on a diversified farm in North Central Iowa. My transportation in the late 1950s and 1960s was a big Thoroughbred horse named Mollie Bee. That horse was so high-strung that she always wanted to run. As a young boy, of course, I was curious to see just how fast she could run. Running along the side of a car, I learned Mollie Bee could maintain 45 mph for a fairly long distance.

The problem with Mollie Bee’s love of speed was that she didn’t slow down for turns. She turned into our neighbor’s driveway at break-neck speed, and it was then I discovered I could fly at an early age – without an airplane. I sailed over a fence along the neighbor’s driveway and landed in the garden! I went 20 years with-out any horses after that.

When my kids and wife decided we have should have some horses, somehow I completely forgot about the flying incident. Fortunately, our horses were slower. We had some mares and colts, but the event that did in was when one of the babies died. None of us could handle seeing such a pretty little animal die.

Well, 20 years went by again and now we’re finding ourselves owning horses again. No more fast horses. No more baby horses. We have two, old geldings. One of these old nags was even named “Grandpa” when we bought him! Needless to say, our grandchildren thought that horse was “just meant to be.”

Our grandchildren Darin and Carlie have been out to the farm several times over the last two days to visit “Chip” and “Chester.” They even helped build fence on Monday in the 100° heat. Now we’ll need to do a little tack shopping since I got rid of all the horse equipment we had. Here’s hoping the “third time is a charm” and that we’ll experience a smooth horse ownership this time!

I was attending a 4-H Meet and Greet in Hampton Last Thursday evening when Franklin County native Paul Kruse asked me, “So have you heard about our big pig?”  His son, Harrison, flashed a grin as the duo told me their pig tale.

And what a great tale it is!  Paul and Harrison are two of the Iowa State fans, who have invested in Fred Hoiboar.  (Yes, it’s intentional that this big boar’s name sounds remarkably close to the name of ISU Men’s Basketball Head Coach Fred Hoiberg.)

Fred Hoiboar, the 1,000+ pound Hampshire, is eating 25 pounds of feed daily.  With an average daily gain of 2 pounds, Hoiboar is on track to bust the Biggest Boar record at the 2012 Iowa State Fair.

He’s also one high-tech Hampshire!  Hoiboar has his own website and Facebook page.  You can #FollowFred on Twitter and view more pics in an online album:

(@FredHoiboar) I posted 25 photos on Facebook in the album “Media Day with KCCI” fb.me/1iJykzLSc

Fred Hoiboar has his own commemorative T-shirt.  Fans can purchase their very own “Bring Home the Bacon” T-shirt.  Profits from T-shirts sales benefit the non-profit organization Camp Adayin, which allows children with heart disease to attend summer camp.  Since heart disease ended Fred Hoiberg’s NBA career, it’s only fitting that his namesake would help raise funds for Camp Odayin.

Join the cause today!  Buy a T-shirt and then mark your calendar for Aug. 9.  Fred Hoiboar will be weighed-in on the first day of the Iowa State Fair, and you can take part in a very special Meet & Greet.  Stay tuned to fredhoiboar.com for more details.

Also view these related posts for your reading pleasure:

• Miss Piggy. Babe. And Fred Hoiboar.
• Meet Fred Hoiboar.
• A Big Boar with a Big Heart.

John Latham, president of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, was elected as North Central Regional Vice President of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) during its 129th Annual Convention in Washington D.C.  The North Central Region includes Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

“We’re excited to have John serving on ASTA’s Board of Directors,” said Andy LaVigne, president and chief executive officer. “He brings a wealth of experience and a strong family history of seed industry leadership.”

As North Central Regional Vice President, John will serve as a member to the ASTA Executive Committee and Board of Directors for three years.  He will serve as a liaison with state and regional associations on national legislation, reporting to ASTA Vice President of Government Affairs Leslie Cahill on state legislative matters relating to the seed industry.  As regional vice president, John also will be responsible for recruiting new members in the region and representing ASTA at state and regional association meetings.

“It’s a real honor to have been nominated and elected by my peers in the seed industry for this important position. The seed industry has such an important responsibility to help feed the world and I look forward to helping to advance a great cause and association.”

Founded in 1883 and located in Alexandria, VA., ASTA is one of the most established trade organizations in the United States. Its membership consists of more than 700 companies involved in production and distribution, plant breeding and related industries around the globe. As an authority on plant germplasm, ASTA advocates science and policy important to the industry.  The trade organization promotes the development of better seed to produce better crops for a better quality of life.

“Is help from corporate agriculture beneficial?” was a headline that grabbed my attention in the July 5^th issue of The Des Moines Register.  Columnist Rekha Basu goes on to write:

“An Iowan launched the so-called Green Revolution, and the World Food Prize that he created annually honors others who have made important innovations in agriculture. Iowa today is in the vanguard of the biotech revolution.  So it may be hard to contemplate the paradox that even as we have helped block world hunger, we might also inadvertently be contributing to it.”

The “so-called Green Revolution” seems like particularly patronizing and disrespectful statement about someone who literally altered history.  Dr. Norman Borlaug’s breeding of high-yielding cereal crops helped avert mass famines that were widely predicted in the 1960s.  “Countries that had been food deficient, like Mexico and India, became self-sufficient in producing cereal grain,” according to a New York Times article.  It’s no wonder that in 1970 the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Dr. Borlaug for saving hundreds of millions of lives.

Thanks to biotechnology, crop yields have increased six times since 1940!  Corn yields were flat between 1866 and 1939 at about 26 bushels per acre.  Due to the development of hybrid seeds in the 1940s, yields increased dramatically in the 1940s.  The widespread use (not overuse) of nitrogen fertilizers and herbicides is credit for increasing yields even more.  By 2009, average corn yields reached an average of 165 bushels per acre.  In 2011, Iowa corn growers harvested an average of 172 bushels per acre.

Not only have U.S. farmers learned how to produce more grain, but they’ve learned to do so more efficiently.  Farmers today grow five times as much corn as they did in the 1930s on 20% less land, according to the Corn Farmers Coalition.  Commercial fertilizer is another reason North American farmers produce the most abundant, nutritious food supply worldwide.  It’s also one of the main reasons why Americans spend less of their income on food than any other nation.  In fact, farmers today produce one-third more corn for each pound of nitrogen they apply as compared to 20 years ago.  Just think of the amount of land we’d have to put into agriculture production – land is currently now serving as parks and wildlife habitats – just to be able to produce enough food to feed the world’s growing population.

So given all the good that has come from it, tell me again why biotechnology is getting a bad rap.  Biotechnology has been around since the 1850s when Gregor Mendel began crossing tall and short garden peas to create hybrid plants that resembled the tall parent rather than creating a medium height blend. His observations led to two terms that are still used in present-day genetics: dominant and recessive.

The hybridization of plants, as well as improved production methods, are just a few of the ways farmers around the world benefit from “technology transfer.”  Let’s take a look how Iowans, just in the year 2012, have made a positive impact on farmers from other countries:

• Iowa/Uganda Farmer-to-Farmer Exchange – objectives were to improve post-harvest grain quality for Ugandan farm women and improve their record keeping skills
• Meals from the Heartland – Iowa FFA students, in just 2 days, assembled 250,000 meals that were sent to feed starving Haitians
• Homes for Haiti – Thanks to efforts initiated by Iowa-based Global Compassion Network, 48 Safe T Homes® are being erected on the Village of Hope near Port au Prince, Haiti.  Each dwelling, manufactured by Sukup, can provide shelter for 10 people.

If we care about people around the world at all, then Americans must share their knowledge so others can benefit.  I believe that it’s our moral obligation to help share information and technology with fellow farmers – whether they’re from Uganda, Haiti, Mexico or even the U.S. – that can help them produce more food with fewer resources.  I just can’t see how it can be more compassionate to let people starve than it is to provide them with jobs or to help teach them how to provide jobs for themselves (i.e. to become self-sufficient farmers).