The Future of our Agriculture

I hear people talking and asking lots of questions worried about the future of our Agriculture. What will happen? Who will take over the next generation? How will these young kids ever do what I do on the farm? How will we raise enough food to feed the World in the future. Guess what I'm not worried one bit!! We have the best of the best coming up in the future of our Agriculture right here in our very own Hancock County. We have a great school system that supports our Agriculture program and I feel one of the best if not the best in the country. The teachers also run a very impressive FFA. This year two of our FFA officers are running for the Indiana State FFA office right now. They are on the final day of their three days of interviews and practicums. The interviews are to determine which candidates possess certain competencies critical to being a state officer. The other rounds will be on Ag Issues, Ag Education, a quiz, and group facilitation. I was very fortunate to photo these gals this year for their senior pictures and they rock their FFA Official dress too.

I asked our FFA Advisor if I could send them some questions about their FFA experience and also about running for State Officer.  Here are a few of the questions/answers.  I thought it was so awesome that Eastern Hancock High School had not only one candidate but two.  I was a district officer years ago in FFA (no old jokes please) and always dreamed about what these gals are actually doing. 

So here you go.. love these ladies answers and their enthusiasm towards the future of agriculture. And did I also tell you I just love these ladies!!  

What is FFA? And when did it start?

Annalee-FFA is the largest student led youth organization in the world. It's intercurricular rather than extracurricular, meaning it works with the Agriculture Education in the classroom. The main purpose is to develop personal growth, premier leadership, and career success in students. It was started in 1928 by a group of young farm boys, and at that time was known as the Future Farmers of America. However, since then the name has been changed to simply the National FFA Organization. The acronym is still there; we just don't go by it anymore. This is because we want to represent agriculture as a whole, not just farming.

What does FFA mean today?

Leah- Many see FFA only for individuals who will be farmers, but we are much more than that. In 1988, FFA changed its name from Future Farmers of America to the National FFA Organization to reflect the broader scope of our organization. FFA today is not just future farmers, but future entrepreneurs, scientists, and business people as well.

How did you get involved in the FFA?

Annalee- I got involved in FFA because it's a family tradition. My dad was an Ag teacher and FFA Advisor. My mom worked with State FFA Officers at the Indiana  FFA Center and took me there often when I was little. I always knew I would be in FFA. It was a natural decision for me. 

Leah-My Dad is our FFA advisor, so I have been around FFA for as long as I can remember.  With that being said, it was natural for me to join FFA my 7^th grade year. Even though I had seen the blue corduroy jacket transform the lives of Dad’s students, I never realized how it would change my life. I dove in during 7^th grade, getting involved with many different aspects of the organization. I have continued my involvement and am so thankful for everything FFA has given me.

What impact do you feel FFA has on our community and EH?

Annalee-FFA impacts our community and our school because it impacts our students. When we encourage students to go outside their comfort zones and be leaders, our community and our schools benefit the most. 

Leah-FFA has significantly impacted our community and Eastern Hancock. We are very fortunate to have a supportive community that allows Eastern Hancock’s FFA Chapter to thrive. Eastern Hancock is known for its competitive FFA chapter and I am fortunate to be a part of it.

What is the most important trait you have learned in your FFA Career?

Leah- FFA has taught many skills throughout my involvement. Hard work and diligence have both definitely been reinstated.  I have had many successes and failures, but all have reminded me the benefit of hard work and never giving up. 

Annalee- I have learned the importance of humility. FFA gives you many chances to be successful, but you can't win everything. I've learned more from the times I've lost a contest than when I won. From FFA, I've come to the understanding that my place in the world is to help others, and that's the most important thing I can do. This maybe cliche, but I've realized titles and banners are meaningless if you don't have friends at the end of the day. 

 What year were the blue and gold jackets created?

Leah/Annalee-In 1933 the blue corduroy jackets were adopted. Members from the Fredericktown, Ohio, FFA chapter were wearing similar jackets at the National FFFA convention, which inspired convention delegates to adopt this blue jacket.

Will you be continuing FFA in College?

Annalee- I could definitely see myself being in collegiate FFA, especially since I'm majoring in Ag Communications and Ag Sales and Marketing. 

Leah- I do plan on continuing my FFA involvement. I am going to Purdue and majoring in agriculture education. I hope to one day become an FFA advisor and get my own students excited about FFA. I also plan on getting involved with collegiate FFA so that I can give back to the organization.

 Good luck ladies as you finish up your last day.  I hope everyone now can rest easy cause the future of agriculutre is strong and great people are coming forward to lead us!  

It's spring sport picture time again

Had the awesome opportunity to take the 7th and 8th grade girls softball photos the other night.  Those girls are such a blast...thanks again!!

As always the link to all the photos are on the School's website along with order form. If you would like to look at them I've posted the link again below.

Click the link below to access your event. 

You will be required to login with the following password: softball

Link: http://www.pro-album.com/index.php?f=event&r=252335

Please don't order on the website as my prices are cheaper on the price sheet.  I will be posting the rest as we take them...Please check back soon...

We also did the JV Baseball(which everyone knows I'm a little partial to HS baseball).  This guy couldn't keep it controlled thanks to the whole team behind me...I thought it was pretty funny myself!

 Here are a couple of my seniors this year posing for their special photos because after all they are SENIORS!!

Very excited about this JV crop of players coming up!! 

 Click the link below to access your event. 

You will be required to login with the following password: baseball

Link: http://www.pro-album.com/index.php?f=event&r=252336

With sickness, SAT's and scheduling issues this year it took a while to get all the Varsity Baseball pictutres completed.  Here are a few samples of some of the boys photos.  Glad we were able to finally get everyone together and get their team photo completed.  Thanks EH Baseball for your patience!  Go Royals!!

Click the link below to access your event. 

You will be required to login with the following password: baseball

Link: http://www.pro-album.com/index.php?f=event&r=252563

We also were able to do the JV and Varsity Softball girls.  I love how the girls have fun and choose their own poses..

Click the link below to access your event. 

You will be required to login with the following password: softball

Link: http://www.pro-album.com/index.php?f=event&r=252337 

This gal is always messing with my pictures...She decided to Photo Bomb me...which is something she is known for...She is the best.  The MS track teams are full of energy this year!

Click the link below to access your event. 

You will be required to login with the following password: track

Link: http://www.pro-album.com/index.php?f=event&r=252576


We have also completed the MS Golf pictures too...

Here is their link:

Click the link below to access your event.

You will be required to login with the following password: golf

Link: http://www.pro-album.com/index.php?f=event&r=252364

Here is your MS Baseball team links.

Click the link below to access your event. 

You will be required to login with the following password: baseball

Link: http://www.pro-album.com/index.php?f=event&r=252578


And we finally got the boys and girls track done tonight.  Despite the wind again we were able to work around it.  

Click the link below to access your event. 

You will be required to login with the following password: track

Link: http://www.pro-album.com/index.php?f=event&r=252644

Wishing everyone a great spring season!!

 

What do Grain Farmers do in the winter

A simple question we get asked all the time is what do grain farmers do in the winter? What do you think we do? We have a lot of jobs we have to do all winter long...Here are a few of DRW Farms Top Ten.

1. Hauling grain is most important-we take the grain out of our bins and haul to the grain terminals. As it takes pretty much all winter to get it all hauled out.

2. Lots and lots and lots and did I say lots of PAPERWORK!!!

3. We work on equipment and do a lot of Maintenance in the shop.

4.  Lots of cleaning goes on as our machines as they get really dirty and muddy...and my OCD son can't stand that!

5.  All the yield reports and spreadsheets get scrutinized and gone thru...my husband never thinks that my computer is correct..and usually double checks it cause you know he has it all in his computer(his head)

6.  Insurance meetings take place during this time as we always need to work on our yields for the end of the year and go over each field with crop adjusters.

7.  TAXES TAXES TAXES-can you tell I hate this one by the caps! And yes Farmers DO Pay TAXES!

8.  This year we have done a lot of pushing snow.  My husband also pushes out three other family and farm driveways for our neighbors too.

9.  Budget planning for the year is a must!

10.  Planning what products we are going to use at DRW Farms is always a priority in the winter months too and we usually work with our local Coop in helping us try-(key word is TRY) to make the best decisions we can to make it a successful new crop year!

One of our trucks is pulled under the grain leg where the grain will dump in the trailer of the semi and load it up with corn. Then #sodbuster will take the semi to the grain terminal. He usually tries to get 7 or 8 loads out a day which is around 8000 bushels he moves a day.  Then if you multiply that out for a week in the winter he hauls around 40,000-45,000 bushels of grain.

Here is one of the biggest projects of the winter was this semi conversion. The boys along with their father took the sleeper off of one of our older semis.  They wanted it easier for everyone to be able to drive.  It's easier now to see out of and also easier to move around from field to field.  It's still the same length but much easier to turn around and get in and out of fields without the sleeper on.

And you have to admit it looks a lot better...and as my sons hashtags were...#daycabconversion #pete # stretch #nomoresleeper and he says it needs of course new paint job.  Maybe they can save that for WINTER 2016.  Now I don't even want to think about that yet!!