growing in the heartland

7/25/2019 GROWING in the Heartland

1/32

FEBRUARY 20

DENNIS AND TIM ZEHNER TALK CONSERVATION FARMING

SHAMANFORESTR

Ray Chattin replacetree hugging wit

tree lovin

WINTER SATURDAYSJohn Stoll remembers grinding corn

milking by han

FROM AG MECHANICS TO

ANIMAL SCIENCEDoug Mayfields range of classes atLoogootee Jr/Sr High School

LOSING THE BUMPKIN IDEAAgricultures image is no joke


2/32

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4/324| FEBRUARY 2016 x GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

WWELCOME TO THE start of yet another Growing season. With the mild

weather wed experienced until the last few weeks, I thought we might skip wint

and head right to spring. Surprisingly, I wasnt super excited about that. I loved th

warm weather but that meant the fields didnt have much time to recuperate from

a bumper (quadruple maybe even) crop of fall goodies I just couldnt let Rabbit (m

grandpa) plow under until they were completely done producing.

Now that the snow has hit, and the seed catalogs laysprawled across the kitchen floor, Im getting excited. I pro

ably get far more enjoyment from searching through doze

of catalogs than I should, but when your family raises ten

thousands of vegetable plants to sell and to plant ourselve

in addition to all the flowers, its important to look for the b

price possible. What may be even more important though

making sure I can sneak in all the seeds Rabbit and my m

tell me I dont need (that may be the REAL reason I volunt

to help Mom with the ordering).

What makes me even more excited than flipping through those catalogs is

realizing that farmers market is getting closer and closer as each day passes. Ive

the same customers for years (not that Im old, I just started really young) and eve

year, we share stories, talk about the crops and inquire about issues with their plaI know the name of the furry friends who accompany them to the market. I know

how many radishes, tomatoes or marigolds they typically buy. I dont always know

their names, but they know me. They know my story. They know I can tell them m

about what they are buying than they could ever imagine. Maybe most important

though, they know Im proud to be able to be doing what Im doing, both on the f

and in print.

EDITORS PAGE

STAFF

Melody Brunson

General Manager

(812) 254-0480, Ext. 127

Lindsay Owens

Editor

(812) 254-0480, Ext. 123

Natalie Reidford

Design Editor

(812) 568-8991

Rick Zeller

Advertising Sales

(812) 254-0480, Ext. 111

Kim Schoelkopf

Advertising Sales

(812) 254-0480, Ext. 116

Wanita Tetreault

Advertising Sales

(812) 254-0480, Ext. 121

Alice Schwartz

Graphic ArtistPHOTOGRAPHY

Matt Griffith, Terri Talarek King

Angie J. Mayfield, Mike Myers

Lindsay Owens, Bill Richardson

and John Stoll

WRITERS

Tom Held, Terri Talarek King,

Damian Mason, Angie J. Mayfiel

J. Scott Monroe,

Dennis Nowaskie, Lindsay Owen

Bill Richardson, Victor Shelton

Rama Sobhani and John Stoll

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Growing in the Heartlandis publish

five times a year, serving primarily th

Daviess and Knox county areas. T

subscription price of $20 per year c

be mailed to P.O. Box 471, Washingto

IN 47501.


5/32



3 EDITORS PAGEThe start of another growing

season

By Lindsay Owens

7 RAY CHATTIN,CONSERVATION

FORESTER

Chattin uses responsibility in

his hardwood business

By Rama Sobhani

11 THE FUNNIER SIDEOF FARMINGAgricultures image is no

laughing matter

By Damian Mason

12 COEXISTING WITHNATURE

Dennis and Tim Zehner, 2015

Illinois Conservation Farmers

of the Year

By Bill Richardson

16 THE NATURAL SIDE OF THINGS

Keeping a nature journal

By Terri Talarek King

17 SOUTHERN INDIANAGRAZING

CONFERENCE

MARCH 2

WestGate Academy in Odon

hosting speakers

By Victor Shelton

18 CALENDARDaviess County Soil and

Water Conservation District

meeting, Winter Farm

Workshop

20 AG EDUCATIONThe Southwest Purdue

Agricultural Center: A Knox

County gemBy J. Scott Monroe and

Dennis Nowaskie

21 IN SEASONGreenhouse goodies

By Lindsay Owens

22 MY RURAL ROOTSGuns and hunting: A norm

part of rural life

By Angie J. Mayfield

23 DOWN ON THEFARM

Winter Saturdays

By John H. Stoll

24 TEACHING LIFESKILLS AND AN

APPRECIATION FO AGRICULTURE

Doug Mayfields diverse

classes range from ag

mechanics to animal scien


27 GOOD TO THE

EARTHArea FFA activities

30 HEALTHY SOIL,HEALTHY PEOPLE

Make every acre sustaina

By Tom Held

ON THE COVER: A calm w

gently turns the windmill at this

Daviess County farm near Epsom

| PHOTO BY MIKE MYERS

CONTENTSFEBRUARY 2016 | VOL. 3, ISS

27

24

22

Photo by Lindsay Owens

Photo by Angie J.

Mayfield

Photo by Ang

May


7/32GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND x FEBRUARY 201

R

By Rama Sobhani

RAY CHATTIN IS a shaman a

man connected through spirit to thosehe heals, a man who from the ether

can bring peace, recovery and contin-

ued health.

The trees on Chattins small, but

maintained, woodlands can attest to

his ability to bring healing and peace.

As a forester who harvests some of his

trees for lumber, Chattin walks what

some may see as a fine line, but to him,

healing his land and its inhabitants is

not laissez-faire.

I like growing trees, taking care

of them, watching them grow, he

said. To many (people) any timberharvest is a rape and pillage because

they dont recognize the good from the

bad.

Chattin didnt immediately find his

calling in trees. In college, he majored

first in chemistry, then in medical

technology. When he was drafted

right after finishing, Chattin decided

to serve in the Coast Guard to avoid

being sent to fight in the Vietnam War.

When he returned from that, he first

started farming grain.

Tree lover, not treehugger

Chattin started his life as a lover

and caregiver to trees in 1980 when he

inherited some land that had a small

90-acre plot of woodland, which he

said was in bad shape. The woods had

never been managed and though there

were many large, seemingly healthy

trees in it, many of those turned out to

be hollow and only about 30 percent of

the woods was suitable for harvest.

It was a big surprise to Chattin,

who was under a different impressionof what he had at first.

I thought I had dynamite woods,

he said. But when I started harvest-

ing, I found I had hollow trees because

the land had been pastured at some

point. I began to understand what I

had and the dynamic at work there.

Thats when, as Chattin put it, he

became a tree lover, not a tree hugger.

After about 10 years of careful,

intensive management, Chattin was

in business as a timber supplier, albeita small-scale one. The most popular

types of wood he raises and sells are

red oak and poplar as well as some

exotics, like catalpa and sassafras.

When it became clear to outside

observers that Chattin was doing

something noteworthy, he got some

attention from conservation groups.

In 2001, he was named Indiana Tre

Farmer of the Year by the State Tre

Farm Committee, and the same yea

was a state finalist for the Charles

Dean Stewardship Award, which

recognizes Indiana woodland own

who have demonstrated exception

management of their woodlands.

Preparing for a harvest

Being strongly conservation-mi

ed has led to Chattin becominginvolved in local efforts to combat t

phenomenon of diminishing wood-

lands in the area. The biggest threa

to woodlands, aside from them bein

intentionally cut down, is from inva

plant species, which upset the natu

balance of the ecosystems.

Several non-native

Ray Chattin,conservat ion forester

Background, a 90-foot-high, 40-inch -round tulip poplar tree, estimated at 150 years old, stands in the 85 acres of forest that Ray Chattin owns. Using mof his own trees for wood, he also gives back by planting them as well. | PHOTOS BY MATT GRIFFITH

4



plant species are of particular con-

cern and the effect of them getting

a foothold in a stand of woods is

that, eventually, the native plants,

big magnificent trees included, will

be crowded out of existence as the

invasive species outcompete them.This will have a huge ripple effect

of the ecosystem as other plants

and animals which have evolved

alongside the native ones are im-

pacted by their disappearance.

The main problem is prevent-

ing them from taking over. Any

time theres a harvest that lets light

in, (the invasive plants) explode

Chattin said. If you dont prepa

for a harvest, they will take ove

and then birds and logging equ

ment spread the seeds.

For tree growers and harve

ers, it will turn into a big probleone day. Thats why Chattins b

involved in starting and expand

a local group that goes by SICI

the Southern Indiana Cooperat

Invasive weed Management. A

part of that group, Chattin has

been making rounds doing pub

events and private consults wit

To be a good foresteryou have to have a sense of awe and wonder .

anyone that plants a tree

isnt thinking of himself; hes thinking of the

next generation.Ray Chattin

Ray Chattin outside his business.



farmers. When he finds that someone

has invasive plants in his woods, Chat-

tin said the reactions of landowners

varies.

From Ill get right on it to total

apathy, he said. I call it integrity, not

good versus bad people. To me, integ-

rity means how integrated you are to

everything.

More integrated landowners will

feel connected to the problems of

invasive species of plants threateningthe health of their woods, Chattin said.

Others, he said, arent as conscious or

concerned with the health of their land.

They just want some extra money

and they can abuse a forest in a hurry

and make a lot of money, he said.

Were just not beating the drum loudly

enough.

Trees have implications beyond the

lifespans of those alive today and it is a

constant struggle against various forces

to ensure that future generations will

have healthy ecosystems hallmarked bybeautiful stands of trees.

Theres a great sense of accom-

plishment in saving a tree, Chattin said.

To be a good forester, you have to have

a sense of awe and wonder and were

losing that, but anyone that plants a

tree isnt thinking of himself, hes think-

ing of the next generation.

Ray Chattin sits on a stock of poplar, ash, cherry, maple and walnut. Chattin sells to cabinetmakers and hobbyists, to name a few.

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Ray Chattin, left, looks over the saw blade prior to making a cut on a log at his shop. Top right, Chattin drives the blade of the saw across the top of thlog. Bottom right, stacked railroad ties wait to be picked up.

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S

By Damian Mason

STANFORD UNIVERSITYS

BANDused halftime of this yearsRose Bowl to insult the Midwest and

agriculture.

Stanfords routine included mu-

sic from the FarmersOnly.com com-

mercials and a romantically dejected

bumpkin tipping over a pretend black

and white cow.

It was classless, not funny, and

frankly, inaccurate. Iowa (Stanfords

opponent) isnt even the ag school,

Iowa State is, and California (Stan-

fords home state) has more Holsteins

than Iowa. I might also add, the skit

was as original as a Hee Haw rerun.

As an Indiana farm boy, I detest

the portrayal of anyone engaged in

agriculture as a backward rube.

Farmers I know manage millions

of dollars of capital. Many have

college degrees. They apply science

and technology to their operations

that would baffle the average

suburbanite.

Nevertheless, the old, tired arche-

type of the Hick Farmer persists.

Why?

One reason is the math. Only 1

percent of our population farms and

ust 7 percent work in the business

of food, fuel and fiber. Our urban

and suburban populace is so far

removed from agriculture they accept

medias portrayal of farmers and rural

America.

A more troubling reason: We allow

ourselves to be portrayed this way.

Heres how we can all polish ags

image:

Stop playing the poorfarmer

Theres a joke that used to be a

staple at ag functions. Did you hear

about the farmer who won a million

dollars in the lottery? the joke goes.

When they asked the farmer what

hes gonna do, he said hed keep farm-ing til the million dollars runs out.

Laugh if you want, but Ive never

found it funny. Would you laugh if this

were the CEO of General Electric jok-

ing about going broke? Agriculture is a

business. Please stop playing the poor

dirt farmer routine.

People DO judge a bookby the cover

I once had a role as a farmer in a

seed commercial. (This is the sort of

acting prowess that got me my Screen

Actors Guild card!)

When I showed up for the shoot,

the wardrobe people handed me tat-

tered clothing to wear as I stood in a

corn field. I asked the production crew

if I was supposed to be a farmer for

this commercial or a scarecrow. They

laughed. I didnt, because I dont find

derogatory images of farmers to be

funny.

I understand. We work outside in

Carhartt overalls. We handle livestock.

We get dirty. But when the media

dresses farmers as vagrants, our im

takes a hit. Remember, theres a tim

to dress for chores and a time to dr

for an interview.

We ALL speak foragriculture

Who decided people in the bus

ness of food, fuel and fiber are sup-

posed to talk like the cast from Th

Beverly Hillbillies?

Like it or not, people judge us b

the words we use. In the era of soc

media, we all have the opportunity

portray ourselves and our industry

itively. Proper grammar and effectiv

communication garners respect fro

our consumers.

Be proud, beprofessional, pass it on

Humor is a big part of my busi-ness. However, when it comes to

agriculture the worlds most imp

ant industry our image is no jokin

matter.

Be proud of the work we do in

producing Americas bounty. Be pr

sional in how you represent yourse

Above all, pass on a positive messa

for agriculture.

Damian Mason is an agriculturalist

speaker and Stanford band hater. F

him at www.daimanmason.com

Agricultures image is no joke

THE FUNNIER SIDE OF FARMING



B

By Bill Richardson

BROTHERS DENNIS AND TIM

Zehner arent the biggest farmers in

Lawrence County, Illinois, but they are

certainly among the best.

Dennis, 60, and Tim, 58, work

about 250 acres of their own and

manage about 200 more, mostly in

Lawrence County. They harvest all of

the usual crops such as corn, soybeans

and hay, plus look after a small herd of

Black Angus cattle.

The brothers are conscious of the

land, and do all they can to take good

care of it. People have noticed, and last

year Zehner Farms received the Gov-

ernors Award as the Illinois Conserva-

tion Farming Family of the Year. The

presentation was made at the Illinois

State Fair in August, and the brothersalso met with Philip Nelson, who was

then the director of the Illinois Depart-

ment of Agriculture.

Both Dennis, married to Debbie,

a former secretary at Parkview Junior

High School in Lawrenceville, and

Tim, whose wife, Cecilia, is a cook at

Lawrencevilles Parkside Elementary,

are retired from Marathon Petroleum

in Robinson. They both say farming is

a hobby, albeit one thats often times

full-time or more.

All good farmers are concerned

about their land, but the Zehners go

the extra mile, from the time the cro

planted until it is harvested. Wildlifepriority on their property, and the br

ers choose not to farm every availab

acre, to let the animals thrive in thei

natural environment.

Were coexisting with nature,

said Dennis, who retired from Mar-

athon in 2010. Weve all heard the

saying that you should leave a plac

better than you found it. Thats kind

of what conservation farming is. W

want to leave the land better than w

Dennis and Tim Zehner are the 2015 Illinois Conservation Farmers of the year. | PHOTO BY BILL RICHARDSON

Dennis and Tim Zehner, 2015 Illinois Conservation Farmers of the Ye

COEXISTING WITH NATURE



found it.

They have dedicated their lives

to constantly improving and protecting

the natural resources on their farms,

Gary Zwilling, USDA District Conser-

vationist for Lawrence County, said.

In 2013, Zehner Farms sought help

from the Natural Resources Conser-

vation Service for assistance with the

construction of a waterway to reduce

soil erosion on an especially trouble-

some area of a farm. That project is

what led to them receiving the Gover-nors Award last summer.

We wanted to do the right thing

for the ground, Dennis said. We had

one specific field that drained a lot

of acres, even off other people, and

came down across us. It was starting

to erode pretty badly. We worked with

the USDA, and they helped us put a

waterway into the field.

The Zehners say the Lawrence

County Natural Resources Conserva-

tion Service is partly responsible for

winning the Governors Award. Before

being considered, the Zehners had to

win at the county and regional level.

Some of the districts dont work

as hard as the Lawrence County Dis-trict does to promote a family, Dennis

said. They did a terrific job, and were

thankful.

Eventually the entrants were

whittled to four families, with the

Zehners being one of them. All fou

families were invited to Springfield

a banquet.

We were shocked when they

picked us, Tim said.

We were doing this because its

right thing to do, added Dennis. Bu

nice to be recognized for that, too.

Its the result of something that

started in the late 1950s, when the b

were toddlers. Their parents, Jim an

Mary, moved the family to a 12-acrefarm north of Lawrenceville, with th

sisters, Janet and Julie.

We had a few pigs and a few

cows, and we grew a few crops,

THE ZEHNER FILES

DENNIS ZEHNER TIM ZEHNER

Residence: Lawrenceville, Ill.

High school: Lawrenceville

High School, 1973

Retired: Marathon

Petroleum, Robinson, Ill.

Wife: Debbie

Children: Tracy Corn, Mindy

Borden

Grandchildren: Mayson

Corn, Grifn Corn, Kennedy

Borden, Mallory Borden

Chairman: Board of Elders,

Highland Church of Christ,

Robinson, Ill

Member: Farm Bureau

President: Lawrence County

United Fund, 1988-1990

Residence: Lawrenceville, Ill.

High school: Lawrenceville

High School, 1975

Retired: Marathon

Petroleum, Robinson, Ill.

Wife: Cecilia

Children: Andrew Zehner,Kristi Morron

Grandchildren: Avery

Zehner, Emery Zehner,

Bracey Morron

Deacon: Central Christian

Church, Lawrenceville, Ill.

Member: Farm Bureau

Volunteer: Lawrence County

Kids Shopping Day

4



Dennis said. It was nothing on a big

scale, because Dad had a full-time job

at Texaco.

Thats kind of where things got

started, says Tim. From then on I

knew farming is something I always

wanted to do.

After high school, the brothers

went to work, but also continued to

farm, each on his own. About 20 years

ago, they realized theyd do betterworking together, and the partnership

was formed.

About that same time, it dawned

on Dennis and Tim that there was a

better way to do things.

Wed always been flat-land farm-

ers, Tim said. Erosion wasnt a prob-

lem on flat ground, we didnt think.

Then, the partnership bought

some land that was highly erodible.

Whenever we started farming

it, we saw right off the bat that we

couldnt continue farming the way

had been farming, said Tim. That

when we started no-till farming, or

conservation farming.

Zwilling says the Zehners have

been valuable, because they sprea

the word about the success their a

proach has led to.

The Zehner family has been

valuable in spreading the news aboconservation and the conservation

practices on their farms with other

landowners and fellow farmers, he

said. This approach and attitude h

our office in accomplishing the mis

of Helping People Help the Land.

The Zehners take a conservativ

approach when it comes to equipm

as well.

While the duo has purchased a

no-till planter and some other mod

Dennis and Tim Zehner fell in love withfarming at an early age, above. The Zehnerbrothers, right, stand with just one ofseveral older tractors used on the farm.

This Massey Ferguson 1100 is a 1966model.



ern machinery, the tractors they use

for the most part are antique. That

includes a 1962 Farmall 560, a 1966

Massey Ferguson 1100 and a 1972

International 966.

We keep some older equipment.

Were kind of into that, Dennis said.

We just like the older stuff.

Its kind of like the guy who

buys an old muscle car because

thats from when he grew up. Those

are the kinds of tractors we always

wanted to have. Weve got sever-

al old tractors and we use most of

them, said Tim.

Both brothers are in good health,

and there are no plans to change

anything about the way they operate

Zehner Farms. But both know that

time is coming.

I feel like as long as we feel good,

well continue to farm, Dennis said.

When the time comes, well let some-

body else farm it for us.

His younger brother envisions a

time when it will be passed on. Be-

tween them, the Zehners have four

children and seven grandchildren.It could be down the road that our

grandkids would want to take over,

he said. I cant ever see us disposing

of the farm ground. This is for our

generations.

Above left, the Zehners use no-till methods to help prevent erosion. The brothers farm a variety of crops on many types of soil. Above right, a pond onthe Zehner property helps sustain wildlife, as the brothers choose not to farm every acre, but to leave some natural resources intact.



A

By Terri Talarek King

ARE YOU KEEPING your NewYears resolutions?

Heres an easy one to try- keepa nature journal. Now is a good time

to start observing, as winter turns

to the budding activity of spring. Its

fun to do, whether you just observe

your back yard, farm or bird feeders,

or if you take a

journal on trips

elsewhere. Its a

good way to keep

a record, learn

more, or just see

things differently,

plus its relaxing.

Keeping anature journal

is a highly individual project you

can choose any materials or methods

that suit you. A few things are good to

remember for any person or situation,

though. Keep your journal in an easy-

to-find spot where you can grab it as

you leave. Before each journal entry, jot

down important facts such as the date,

time of day, location, and weather con-

ditions. Observe the scene in general

first, then focus on specific things. If

you are on a walk, take time to stay

quietly in one spot for a while (this is

how I saw the weirdest little bug ever!)

Try drawing or describing something

you see through a hand lens. Observe

with all of your senses.

Jot down things that are happen-

ing: a branch falls, a bug jumps, a bird

sings, rain starts falling. Try observing

during different times of day, when

wildlife activity and quality of light are

different.

Types of journals vary a lot. Some

people use sketchbooks. Others use

notebooks of lined pages, and others

create their own just be sure it is

small enough to carry around. Be sure

to bring pencils, sharpener (if needed),

pen, and a magnifying lens, which

opens up whole new worlds. You

might also bring binoculars, ruler, field

guides, portable watercolors, colored

pencils, or something to sit on.

Some people include much art-

work. This is a chance to learn and

practice new skills or expand old ones.

Some prefer to keep brief notes and

sketches, while others fill a journal

with writing only. You might be the

kind of person who likes detail, or you

might use flowing description. Any of

these will help you notice things you

may have otherwise passed up.Keeping a nature journal can be as

simple or involved as you would like,

but its not the place to be critical of

your writing or art. Go with the flow.

Observation is the most important fac-

tor. It is fun to look back on journals to

re-live experiences or see how things

have changed. Your nature journals

can even become keepsakes for future

generations. It could even lead to a

blog or book.

Get started this winter. Keep a

nature journal whenever you can. Do

a little or a lot. Try new things. Most ofall, enjoy seeing the natural world in

new ways.

Resources: How to Keep a Naturalists Note-

book; Susan Leigh Tomlinson;

Stackpole Books; 2010.

Keeping a Nature Journal:

Discover a New Way of Seeing the

World Around You; Clare Walker

Leslie and Charles E. Roth; Storey

Publishing; 2000

The Country Diary of an Edward-

ian Lady; Edith Blackwell Holden

www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Nature-Journal

vault.sierraclub.org/education/

nature_journal.asp

Terri Talarek King lives in Knox Coun-

ty and is a naturalist and organic

gardener, educator and writer. She is

certified as an advanced master nat-

uralist and grow organic educator.

THE NATURAL SIDE OF THINGS

Keeping a nature journal

Top, examples of student journals froa workshop at Thomas JeffersonsMonticello. Above, some ways to keea journal: brief notes and sketches,or descriptive writing. Below, teacheand students during a nature journaworkshop at Thomas JeffersonsMonticello.| PHOTOS BY TERRI TALAREK KING



IBy Victor Shelton

I GREW UPwith black and white

television, newspapers, a dial-up party

line and the local gas station as the

main source of news. Several Saturday

afternoons were spent at one particular

gas station, with an uncle who often

let me tag along, sitting on a wooden

bench in a cigar smoke filled room

drinking a cheap glass bottle of Moun-

tain Dew and listening to all the prob-

lems of the day being solved.

I still frequent this same location

today when possible and the news is

still flowing, even though it is a differ-

ent crowd and the atmosphere nothing

like the past.

Grazing information and technol-

ogy continues to change even though

the basics of good grazing manage-ment really never did. The means on

how we now receive much of this

information and news has sprinted fast

ahead into almost instant information

right at our fingertips. The biggest

problem with this growing amount

of accessible information is, what do

you believe? Quite often, I find myself

spending time explaining why some-

thing wont work here that was found

on the internet somewhere else in the

country or world. Just because it was

successful in Argentina, doesnt mean itwill work the same here!

How can we keep ourselves up to

date with all the latest grazing manage-

ment trends? My first line of defense is

always reading. My easy chair is nor-

mally surrounded by numerous mag-

azines and books. I really dont think

that a person can read too much. I will

admit too often having printed internet

articles in my reading material still

preferring a printed version over staring

at a computer screen. I find it easier

to make notes or highlight something

printed, though Im doing better about

skimming more articles online.

Allan Nations The Stockman Grass

Farmeris a must-read for me and for

the most part is based on active actual

farms and ranches. Archived issues

are always kept for future references.

Numerous beef and other livestock

forums and message boards are great

sources of present grazing and livestock

issues. These range from a state or smallarea to several that get messages and

comments from around the world. The

broader the audience, the more diverse

the conversation, and the more relevant

sorting you have to do!

Watching the market

If you are in the cattle business,

Im sure you have kept your eye on

the market. It has certainly dropped

quite a bit since last spring, but it is

still better than it has been in the past.

Each livestock producer has to look athis operation and determine where he

stands with the current market. Lots

of cattle were bought at high prices,

anticipating that they would stay high.

How can we make those high priced

cows profitable now? I do think it is

possible, but it is going to take some

management changes for some people.

Inputs are going to have to be reduced.

Feed, especially hay, is one the largest

expenses against cow calf producers.

A good grazing system and letting the

cows graze more days can be a huge

benefit to the bottom line.

SIGC information

The Southern Indiana Grazing

Conference is one of those conferences

to get good information and get you fed

pretty well too! It is being held March 2

at the WestGate Academy in Odon.

Allan Nation, editor of theStockman

Grass Farmer, will be one of the key

speakers. Allan will be speaking about

Creating, Managing, and Profiting from

Quality Pasture and Lowering the Risk

of Stocker Cattle. It is a rare opportunity

to hear Nation in person.

Doug Peterson will also be one of

the speakers. Doug is an enthusiastic

speaker and loves talking about his

cattle operation and soil health. Pete

grew up on a crop and livestock farm

near Newtown in northern Missouri.

day he operates a cow/calf and cont

grazing operation with his father, Ste

Currently they run about 350 cows. Tutilize management-intensive grazin

and holistic high density grazing (mo

grazing) to improve soil health, elimi

the need for most purchased fertilize

and limit hay needs to about one bal

per cow per winter. Peterson will be

speaking about High Density Grazin

and Soil Health and Making Money

with Contract Grazing.

Wesley Tucker, an Agriculture

Business Specialist for University of

Missouri Extension will be speaking

Expanding the Beef Operation. Tuc

specializes in financial management

forage and beef production, rotation

grazing, budgeting, fence law, farm

leases, livestock marketing, and pass

ing the farm to the next generation. A

southwest Missouri native, Tucker g

up on the family beef operation whe

he continues to farm today. He and h

wife, Heather, a local veterinarian, an

their daughter, Jordan, operate a cro

bred cow-calf operation in Dallas Cou

ty. As a University of Missouri Extenspecialist, Tuckers primary educatio

role is helping producers become be

managers and improve the profitabi

of their farming operation.

Come to the conference to hear

ways to prepare for the next stage o

this market.

For more information, call the Davie

County Soil and Water Conservation

office at 812-254-4780, Ext 3, email T

Allison [email protected], or visi

http://www.daviesscoswcd.org/in

php/sigc or https://www.facebook

com/SouthernIndianaGrazingConfe

ence. There is also still room for mor

vendors; contact Allison.

Southern Indiana Grazing Conference March



FEB. 6

Daviess County Businessand Lifestyle Expo

Washington National GuardArmory 9 a.m. 1 p.m. Call theDaviess County Chamber at 812-254-5262 for more information.

FEB. 14

16th Annual Old PostBluegrass Jam

Vincennes University StudentUnion 10 a.m. 5 p.m.

FEB. 22

Winter Farm Workshop

Gibson Southern High School,Fort Branch. Visit extension.purdue.edu/Gibson/Pages formore info or call 812-385-3491 formore information.

FEB. 24Knox County ChamberBandwagon sponsored byGerman American

Fort Sackville Room atVincennes University noon.

MARCH 3-5

Indiana Small FarmsConference (Danville)

Call 888-398-4636 to register.Visit ag.purdue.edu/extension/smallfarms for more info.

MARCH 5

Sullivan County Ag DayPancake Breakfast

Sullivan County 4-H grounds.Pedal tractor pull and more6:30 a.m. 11 a.m.

MARCH 10

Knox County Ag DaySupper

VU P.E. Complex

MARCH 12

Ohio Valley Small Farmand Garden Conference

Henderson, Kentucky. For moreinfo visit Henderson.ca.uky.edu.

MARCH 23

Knox County ChamberBandwagon sponsoredby BoomerMagazine aGrundman Shoes

Fort Sackville Room atVincennes University, noon.

APRIL 2

Sullivan High School FFAlumni Auction

Sullivan County 4-H Fair grouAll day.

Daviess County SWCD SAnnual Meeting Date

The AnnuMeeting othe DaviesCounty So

and WaterConservatDistrict habeen set foFeb. 25 at p.m. at theWashingto

Community Building, locatedthe Washington Eastside CitPark. The meeting will beginwith a delicious meal cateredby M&M Catering, followed the election of a supervisor apresentation of ConservationFarmer of the Year Award. Tentertainment this year is Da

Cullen, Magician Mentalist

Tickets for the evening are osale for $8 per person and mbe purchased from districtsupervisors, Philip Flint, TodAllison, Marvin Holstine, RobSullender and Steve Halter opurchase at the Daviess CouSWCD Office located at 2526East National Highway inWashington. For informationthe office at 812-254-4780, ExNo ticket sales at the door.

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Photo by Mike Myers


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NBy J. Scott Monroe and DennisNowaskie

NESTLED BETWEEN U.S. 41and the Wabash River just north of

Vincennes lies the Southwest Pur-

due Agricultural Center. One of eight

regional Purdue Agricultural Centers

across the state, SWPAC was estab-

lished in 1979 and consists of 220

acres. Of that acreage, 140 acres are

tillable and about 90 acres are used for

research purposes. Dennis Nowaskieis the centers superintendent, and

oversees the day-to-day operations and

all other activities at the center.

As part of the Purdue University

College of Agriculture, the purpose

of the Ag Center is to provide space

and resources for field research and to

serve as places where new ideas and

techniques can start the process of

being moved out of the laboratories,

off campus, and tested in a real-world

environment.

Fruit and vegetableresearchWhile the smallest of the Purdue

agricultural centers in acreage, SWPAC

is known for being one of the most

active in fruit and vegetable research.

Experiments examining new vegeta-

ble varieties, testing new pest man-

agement strategies, and evaluations

of new pesticide products (many still

years away from the marketplace) all

take place at SWPAC. The center also

conducts research on agronomic crops,

such as corn, wheat and soybeans, and

is the Indiana site for the National Cano-

la Variety Testing Program. SWPACs

location, along with its sandy soil and

access to irrigation, allow scientists to

conduct their work in an environment

that very closely mimics actual produc-

tion conditions in the Southwestern

Indiana Vegetable Industry.

In 2015, 17 researchers conducted

42 separate projects at SWPAC. Many

well-known agricultural companies

partner with SWPAC to provide fund-

ing for many of these projects.

Expansion over 26 yearsIn 1990, the Southwest Purdue

Agricultural Program was established

at SWPAC. Originally, this program

consisted of a building, lab and office

space, and regional extension special-

ists who were tasked with addressing

production issues within Southwestern

Indianas fruit and vegetable industry.

The program building currently houses

a horticulturist, plant pathologist, and

food safety educator. Additionally, anAgronomy Specialist is housed at Vin-

cennes University. Programming has

grown over the years to address issues

across the entire state.

In addition to providing space for

researchers and extension personnel,

SWPAC also provides a unique venue

for educational programs. In an aver-

age year, more than 2,500 people visit

the farm. Diagnostic training clinics,

coordinated through the Knox Coun-

ty Extension Office, are held every

other year. These clinics offer seed

industry representatives a chance tosharpen their diagnostic skills, as they

view crops that frequently have been

intentionally mismanaged to highlight

specific problems.

Field days are also frequently held

at SWPAC. Field days may highlight

the entire center, or specific research.

The facility is also used by industry for

field days, training, and other programs.

Day-on-the-Farm and Pumpkin Day pro-

grams in the spring and fall bring every

first- and third-grader in Knox County to

the center each year. Space at SWPAC

also provides a convenient location foreducational programs and is used by

organizations such as the Illiana Water-

melon Association, the Southwestern

Indiana Melon Association, and NRCS

to hold meetings.

Diesel technologyprogram added

Through the years, SWPAC has

continued to evolve. In 2009, Purdue

University partnered with Vincennes

University to locate the John Deere

Diesel Technology Program at SWP

The resulting building, finished in2010, also houses the Diesel and He

Equipment Technology Program fo

Vincennes University and the Knox

County Extension Office. In additio

to that construction, most recently

in 2010, high tunnel facilities, which

allow research on high value crops

a protected environment, were con

structed.

Throughout its history, the goa

of the Southwest Purdue Agricultu

Center has been to enhance produ

tion and efficiency for farmers in

Southwestern Indiana and to provi

location and expertise for the deve

ment of research and ideas which w

benefit producers and others involv

in agriculture and land use issues.

While the center has changed and

grown over the years, these goals h

remained, and continue to remain,

constant focus.

Scott Monroe is a food safety educa

with Purdue Extension at the South

west Purdue Agricultural Center an

can be reached at 812-886-0198. Sco

lives in Sullivan County with his withree kids, three horses, one dog, an

an odd assortment of barn cats.

Dennis Nowaskie is the superinten

dent at the Southwest Purdue Agr

cultural Center. A Knox County Na

who grew up on a melon farm in t

southern part of the county, Denni

now resides at SWPAC with his wi

and son and has a daughter, son-

in-law and two grandsons living in

Gibson County. He can be reached

812-886-9661.

The Southwest PurdueAgricultural Center: A Knox

County gem

AG EDUCATION

2015 Illiana Watermelon Queen LindsHampton, left. The Illiana WatermelonAssociation is one organization thatuses space at SWPAC facilities. | PHOSUBMITTED BY LORRINDA ELLERMAN



IBy Lindsay Owens

IF YOU HAVENT pulled out theseed catalogs already, now is the time to

get ready to plant if you are planning to

start seedlings. Ive found several new

varieties to plant this year, including sev-

eral varieties of Asian vegetables I cant

wait to share with customers.

February is usually a tricky time

to grow fruits and vegetables unless

you are lucky and have a greenhouse.

Typically, this time of year, the fresh

goodies from the garden have been gone

for months but this year, I was lucky

enough to pick broccoli, daikon, looseleaf lettuce, mustard greens and cab-

bage up until the temperatures dropped

to nearly zero and the snow came. I love

having fresh veggies to eat but after

a while, theres only so much you can

eat fresh or freeze. It seems my broccoli

mass produced or maybe it was just that

I had well over 200 plants to harvest.

Looking for a great way to use up someof broccoli, I stumbled across this tasty

and easy broccoli casserole recipe.

Easy and Cheesy BroccoliCasserole

3 large heads fresh chopped and

cooked broccoli (or 30 ounces of

frozen drained broccoli)

lb. (12 oz.) Velveeta cheese, cut

into cubes

36 butter crackers (like Ritz),

coarsely crushed (about 1

cups), divided

cup ( stick) butter or marga-

rine, melted

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix

broccoli, cheese and half the cracker

crumbs until well blended. Spoon into

2-qt. baking dish. Mix remaining cracker

crumbs and butter; sprinkle over brocco-

li mixture. Bake 45 min. or until heated

through.

Now, I know this isnt something

that is typically grown in Indiana but

Im patiently waiting for the grapefru

on my tree to ripen. I found this recip

online and cant wait to try it.

Grapefruit Cake

cup butter, softened

1 cups white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon grated grapefruit zes cup fresh grapefruit juice

cup milk

3 cups sifted cake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Gre

and flour two 9-inch pans. Sift togeth

the flour, baking powder and salt. Se

aside. In a large bowl, cream togethe

the butter and sugar until light and fl

Beat in the eggs one at a time, then s

in the vanilla and grapefruit zest. Bea

in the flour mixture alternately with

grapefruit juice and milk. Pour batter

into prepared pans. Bake in the prehe

ed oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until

toothpick inserted into the center of

cakes comes out clean. Let cool in pa

for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a w

rack and cool completely.

IN SEASON

Greenhouse goodiesRecipes to try while waiting for springPHOTO BY LINDSAY OWENS



D


DID ANYONE ELSE have a gunrack in the back window of their truck

growing up? Usually, there was a .22

rifle or 12-gauge shotgun in ours, or

at least behind the seat, at all times

loaded. No one thought anything of it

because it was just a

normal part of rural

life. Guns were only

tools, and we were

taught how to use

them properly and

safely. The top prizes

for the FFA fund-

raiser in high schoolwere a rifle, a shotgun, and a bowie

knife and the competition was fierce.

Can you imagine the outcry if we tried

that in todays paranoid society?

Our society seems to care more

about animals than children these days.

We never hear how hunting helps pre-

serve skills and traditions, sustains ani-

mal populations, feeds families, protects

crops, and decreases property damage.

My husband and I trap and hunt to

protect our farm and feed our family. The

beaver flood our corn fields, and the deereat our crops. The compromise is they

are both lean, healthy meat that tastes

great, and by eating two or three a year,

everyone benefits. We butcher and pack-

age our own meat, and the scraps go to

the dogs.

My grandparents, great-grandpar-

ents, and great-great grandparents were

farmers who lived off the land, raised

their own beef, pork, and vegetables,

and hunted for food when times were

tough. During the Depression, even pos-

sums were considered a delicacy. They

were poor, but no one in our family hasever been on a social program or asked

for assistance. I think that kind of pride,

work ethic, and love of the land are more

rare these days, and the reason some

cant possibly understand or agree with

rural ideologies.

We teach our children indepen-

dence and gun safety early in life how

to shoot, how to hunt legally and take

only what we need, and to use what we

take. We love animals, but were also

practical. The only animals we kill but

dont eat are coyotes because they

kill our cats, baby goats, and calves. My

husband and oldest son squirrel hunttoo, but the younger kids and I do not.

Theyre just too little and cute, and we

cant and thats okay. However, I admit

they are very tasty. Theres no pressure

in our family to hunt or to use guns, b

the kids are taught in case it is neede

One son prefers a bow to a gun. We k

a few guns handy for protection, but

most are kept in a locked safe. My ki

know they are tools, not toys.

Angie J. Mayfield is an AssociateProfessor at Vincennes University, au

equestrian, and organic farmer who l

near Loogootee, Indiana. She can be

contacted at [email protected]

Guns and hunting: A normal part

of rural life

MY RURAL ROOTS

Angies husband, Doug, teaches their son, Tucker, how to shoot.| PHOTO BY ANGIE J.MAYFIELD



T

By John H. Stoll

THE FARM IS a glorious place to

grow up. We had barns, woods, and

ponds to explore and acres of open

pasture to roam in. Teepees and tree-

houses sprang up from time to time,

mainly because of the ingenuity of my

older brother. Cowboys and Indians

ran wild and free in our imaginations.

The occasional

arrowheads and

tomahawks we

found while farm-

ing just fed our

imaginations. Life

was grand.But then Old

Man North Wind

would come

howling across

the land, making it

miserable for man

and beast alike. And life became a bit

less grand. Our roaming and exploring

was confined to the house and our

minds were occupied by the small

amount of books we had or by any

magazines or newspapers that showed

up in our mailbox.

And so the animals were allowedto stay in the barn during the night as

warm shelter from the elements. And

where animals are, they leave remains.

And the longer they stay in the barn,

the more remains they leave.

Saturdays, without fail, we would

hitch Jim and Dick to the manure

spreader and clean out the horse barn

first, which usually wasnt too bad.

It had a concrete floor, so it cleaned

out fairly quickly. Three to four loads

spread out over the land to be plant-

ed next spring and we were ready to

move on to the dairy barn.

We had 16 Holstein cows which

all had young calves coupled with

yearlings and older ones that we were

either feeding out to sell or keeping

to use as future milk cows. All in all,

it was a significant herd to care for by

hand. Milked by hand, fed by hand,

and cleaned-up after by hand. No skid

loader for the Stolls.

My mother was a saint. Even

though we left our boots and coats

in the entry way when she called to

come for lunch Im sure the distinct

aroma of our chores found their way

into her kitchen. I never rememberhearing her complain about it.

If you are a faithful reader of this

column, you will know that, as a boy,

I hated certain types of farm work.

Winter Saturdays were squarely in

that category. In fact, the last time my

dad paddled me was because he and

I disagreed what willingness to haul

manure actually looked like. This was

after I was old enough to know what

a cheerful, willing worker was, but on

that particular day I did not meet the

criteria. I am a Stoll; and the stubborn-ness that is a strong Stoll family trait

was not lost in me.

After that dirty farm chore was

done, we moved on to our old red Far-

mall tractor. It was hooked to a New

Holland grinder-mixer and pulled o

to the barn where the ear corn was

stored and my brother and I would

climb into the second story and thr

ear corn into the grinder until enou

corn was ground to feed our anima

for another week.

Of course we had silage for the

cows and the haymows in both bar

were filled to the top each summer

The animals on our farm ate well. A

the heaping mounds of thanks th

left behind to be hauled away the

next Saturday by two growing farm

boys and their dad was just the wa

the world turned at that time in tha

season.

While not employed on the family

farm, John does enjoy helping outbrothers during planting and harv

seasons. He is very appreciative o

his heritage and is thankful he wa

given the oppor tunity to be raised

farm boy.

DOWN ON THE FARM

Winter Saturdays

Our Farmall tractor was hooked to a New Holland grinder-mixer and pulled tothe barn where the ear corn was stored. My brother and I threw ear corn into thegrinder until enough corn was ground to feed our animals for another week.| PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JOHN STOLL




THE PHRASE JACK of alltrades certainly applies to Loogootee

Jr./Sr. High School teacher Doug

Mayfield. He teaches Intro to

Agriculture, Animal Science, Plant

and Soil Science, Agriculture Power

Mechanics, Metals/Welding, Principles

of Engineering, and Intro and

Advanced Woods/Construction at the

Martin County school.

Mayfields dedication to his stu-

dents and the field of agriculture, as

well as his belief in preparing stu-

dents for real life and the workforce

are evident not only in the classroom

but also in student projects that litter

the wood and metal shops, the FFA

emblem and posters decorating the

classroom that say Because some-

one has to do the work and If you

grind your welds, youre a grinder, nota welder, and even in the 12-point

whitetail buck that watches over the

glorious chaos that he takes pride in

overseeing.

He doesnt put up with any crap,

laughs Reuben Ritchey, a senior who

has taken almost every class Mayfield

has taught, but hes funny and he

cares. We learn how to do a little bit of

everything in here.

Mayfield has been teaching for

more than 22 years, but this is only his

second year at Loogootee. He taught

Agriculture in Grayville, Illinois for 16years and Biology and Anatomy and

Physiology at Union High School in

Dugger for 2 years before it closed.

Hes happy to be close to home now

and teach in the same school as

his boys, who are in first and sixth

grades.

Mayfield graduated from Southern

Illinois University in Carbondale with

a Bachelor in Agriculture Science

Education and a Masters degree in

Agriculture Mechanics.

I still enjoy working with youth

and seeing them learn new concepts,

he said.

Mayfields experience is not

limited to teaching, however. He has

been a livestock farmer most of his life,

built pole barns for a few years, and

sold livestock feed for Vigortone. In

the summers, he drives a dump trufor Bear Run Coal Mine in Dugger a

also helps some Amish friends with

construction projects. Mayfield say

prefers the hands-on instruction tha

his classes allow and enjoys watch

students gain skills and knowledge

they can use in all aspects of their

lives.

In one classroom day, he taugh

students how to weld, lay brick, wi

a house, build a birdhouse, identify

Teaching life skills and anappreciation for agriculture

Doug Mayfields Animal Science students at Loogootee High School met Susie the mule andArkansas the puppy. | PHOTOS BY ANGIE MAYFIELD

Doug Mayfields diverse classes range fromag mechanics to animal science



weeds, care for animals, and fertilize a

garden.

Mayfield started an FFA Chapter

this year, with 20 members so far, and

students competed in Crops judging,

Entomology, and Forestry contests in

the fall. He also takes his students on

field trips to North American Livestock

Show and the Farm Machinery Sho

in Louisville, Kentucky.

For some students, this was a

whole new world, and watching th

learn, laugh, and have those wow m

ments was incredible, he said.

For one Amish student, these

eighth grade classes and trips wer

last and Mayfield said he tried to cr

as many skills and experiences as h

could for him because he knew he

would need and use them more thamost.

In his Intro to Agriculture class

students raise a garden each spring

and fall with different vegetables, d

pending on the season.

I feel gardening is a project th

allows the students to have a veste

interest in the class. Many students

have great pride in their section of

garden. The skills in the garden pro

allow students to be more self-suffi

cient later in life and have control o

their food sources, he said.Sophomore Estralia Brewer adm

shed never seen turnips before. Bu

theyre good and it was fun growin

them, she said.

Students also harvested cabba

broccoli, cauliflower, squash, zucch

and kale from their fall garden.

I hope that what I teach them

helps pass on and preserve our rur

heritage and traditions, said Mayfi

Agriculture is still the base industr

our community and without it our l

economy would suffer greatly. Grow

ing up on a small farm in the Midw

is something I am proud of and hop

pass on my appreciation for agricu

to the next generation. 4

Loogootee Intro to Ag students Jarrett Arvin and Estralia Brewer harvest turnips from the fallgarden.



Loogootee teacher Doug Mayfield, left, talks about predators and trapping with Ag Sciencestudents. Students in the Intro to Ag class at Loogootee High School, above, show off vegetableharvested from their garden.

FOR SOME STUDENTS,

THIS WAS A WHOLE NEW

WORLD, AND WATCHINGTHEM LEARN, LAUGH,

AND HAVE THOSE

WOW MOMENTS WAS

INCREDIBLE.

Doug Mayfield

6695 E. Gasthof Village Rd., Montgomery, IN 1/2 Mile N. US Hwy. 50 812-486-4900 www.gasthofamishvillage.com

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INDIANAS FIRST COLLEGE

AGRIBUSINESS the industries servicing

agriculture or providing value-adding processes toagricultural productsaccounts for one in six jobs

and nearly one-fifth of the U.S. gross national

product. Multinational corporations to new input

supply and emerging food manufacturers continue

their strong demand for more employees with

increased skills in agribusiness.

Building on VUs widely recognized

AS degree in Agribusiness, the

new baccalaureate concentration

prepares graduates for Ag industry

careers, including:

Farm Manager

Livestock Manager

Sales Representative

Grain Specialist

Pesticide Professional

Production Manager Service Specialist

Seed Representative

Fertilizer Specialist

Custom Applicator

Agribusiness ConcentrationBS Technology Degree

800.742.9198 www.vinu.edu/agribusiness

A new concentration, AGRIBUSINESS, isbeing offered by Vincennes University!

Contact Susan Brocksmith for information

at [email protected]

Shoals FFA program

off to good startSubmitted by Danielle Turpin

SHOALS HIGH SCHOOLS agriculture and FFA progra

may still be in the early stages, but the students involved are

excited about the programs. Students recently conducted exp

iments to determine which type of soil plants grow best in anwhich plant grows the fastest.

The plant activity is where we are seeing what type of so

plants grow best in and we are also doing an experiment see

which plant grows the fastest.

Above, Brian and Brady work on planting seeds to determine whichtype of soil they will grow best in. Below, members of the Shoals HighSchool FFA, front row from left, are Alex, Phillip, Dylan and Dylan. Bacrow from left are Brian, Brady, Sam and Dalton. | PHOTOS SUBMITTED BYDANIELLE TURPIN



Submitted by Jennifer Steffy

MEMBERS OF THE South KnoxFFA have been busy. The students

attended District 10 Kickoff, went to Na-

tionals in Louisville, Kentucky, compet-

ed in livestock judging and participated

in the Vincennes Christmas Parade

among other things.

The students will also be helpingwith Knox County Ag Day on March 10

at Vincennes University.

South Knox FFA activities

Right, some FFA members took partin the Livestock Judging competition.Below, South Knox FFA hosted the FFAstate officers. Bottom, members of theFFA went to the National Conventionin Louisville. | PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY

JENNIFER STEFFY



I

By Tom Held

IT DOESNT MATTER if you are

part of the Baby Boomer Generation,

Generation X or the Millennial Gener-

ation, we all are leaving behind things

that our children

and their children

will be impacted

by the good and

bad decisions that

each of us make.

All of us would

like to think that

we are indeed leaving our world a bet-

ter place than what we had growingup, but I wonder if it is really true.

When I think back 30 years ago,

I can remember a forest on the back-

side of town that had a creek running

through it. This special place encom-

passes some of my fondest childhood

memories; escapades of frog hunting,

cowboy and Indian wars with my

friends and many adventures that I

had in the woods with my dog.

My best times were always out-

doors, enjoying our natural resources,

walking through the woods, a day on

the lake or even working on the farm.

I hope that my children and yours

have those same opportunities, but I

wonder. Most of the forestlands that

I remember as a child have now been

cleared, and most of the ponds andlakes that I fished as a child have been

filled up with sediment.

Its time that each of us really think

about our natural resources and how

we are truly influencing our soil, water,

animals, plants, and even the air we

breathe. As landowners and farmers,

we have the ability to influence our

resources like no other!

Todays farmers are more pro-

ductive, more efficient than ever. Our

farms are getting bigger, supported by

better agricultural technologies. But

are we farming in a sustainable way?

In Ethiopia, the soil has been

farmed for more than 2,000 years and

is now a desert. In our country we

have been farming our soils for just a

little more than 200 years. What will

our future generations have once we

pass on our legacy?

By focusing on the health of ou

soil, we are making a paramount

decision that impact our environm

in astonishing ways that positively

affect our water, air, plants, anima

and yes, eventually us. A forest an

a clean stream are things each of u

treasure, but it is even more impor

to leave behind a soil that is rich a

fertile. As time passes, we will disc

er that our soil resource is irreplac

able and indeed the most importa

resource of all!

So as farmers, producers, lando

ers, consumers and a society, will w

all take on the responsibility of taki

care of our soil by looking at what i

really takes to keep our soil healthySoil Health Management involves f

key conservation principles/practi

1) Disturb the Soil Less (Never Till)

Diversify Soil Biota with Plant Diver

sity, 3) Keep Living Roots Growing

Throughout the Year, and 4) Keep t

Soil Covered as Much as Possible.

If we pollute the air, water and

soil that keep us alive and well, and

destroy the biodiversity that allows

natural systems to function, no am

of money will save us. David

Suzuki

Tom Held is the district conservatio

ist for Knox County and is based in

Vincennes.

HEALTHY SOIL, HEALTHY PEOPLE

Make every acre sustainable

ENJOY THE LITTLETHINGS IN LIFE, FORONE DAY YOULL LOOKBACK AND REALIZETHEY WERE THE BIG

THINGS.Robert Brault


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growing in the heartland

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