?
Fall Ag Issue Inside LAWRENCE COUNTY
Am ILawrence County Turn to page 13 to see who it is!
138th Year, No. 31 • Our 7,135th Issue!
Mt. Vernon, Missouri • September 11, 2013
Not So Square festival rounds up crowd Sixth-annual event sees largest crowd yet By Ryan Squibb
Local and regional arts of all kinds were on display Sept. 7 at the Not So Square Arts and Literary Festival held at the MARC. The sixth-annual festival featured myriad displays of artistic design including paintings, books, crafts, quilts and music. “It went very well,” said organizer Karen Millsap. “We had over 70 artists and authors. We even invited the Lawrence County Historical Society for the humanities. We tried to include all forms of art.” She added that the host group, the Mt. Vernon Arts Council, had to turn some artists away as booth capacity was reached. “We brought in authors from Illinois, and artists from Kansas City,” Millsap said. “There were a lot of extra people in Mt. Vernon. There was a con-
stant stream all day.” Millsap estimates overall attendance was between 1,500-2,000 people, and said she believes it was larger than last year’s festival. She said her favorite part of the day was the music. “I enjoy the entertainment and getting to know the new artists,” Millsap said. There was also a talent competition, the winners of which will perform at Apple Butter Makin’ Days in October. First-place winner of the competition was singer Rhonda Smith; second-place went to the band Vagrant, from Monett; and thirdplace went to singer Traci Stivers. Organizers have confirmed that the arts festival is scheduled for the same weekend in 2014. Photo by Ryan Squibb
Jeremiah Jones performs during the festival
Stotts City Tractor Pulls bring the power Hundreds of tractor-pulling fans found their way to the Stotts City Tractor Pull Sept. 6-7, to witness a raw display of horsepower and torque. Below, On his International 666 tractor, Dale Spencer, Stotts City, earns first place in his class. Right, Four-year-old Lane Mitchell, Carthage, pulls to the end of the track during the kid’s tractor pulls, prior to the main event.
50 cents (includes tax)
Long tour concludes at Calvin Dairy By James McNary
Traveling around southwest Missouri Sept. 6, Congressman Billy Long concluded his five-stop agriculture tour at Calvin Dairy northwest of Mt. Vernon. Long said the Calvins’ new grazing system on their dairy is what lead to his farm director, Bob Kollmeier, contacting them about stopping there on the tour. He said that the grazing system was something he thought more farmers should know about, to make better use of what they already have available. “It’s better to use what you have,” said Long. Marilyn Calvin said that this was the first time a congressman had visited the farm. Though Calvin sits on Long’s ag advisory committee, Long said this was the first time they had met. “He thought the grazing system we put in was something new and interesting for people to see on the tour,” said Marilyn Calvin. Calvin also said Long wanted to have a stop in Lawrence County, and a stop at a dairy. Other stops on the tour were Ozarks Legends Whitetails of Billings, the Tyson Hatchery in Monett, and White’s Wagyu Farm and Schallert Seed, both of Purdy. During the stop, Calvin and son Kenlee gave a brief history of the dairy, and different aspects of their operations. Kenlee Calvin said the tour stop was on the “original back-forty” of the farm. Others on hand for the visit included a representative from the Dairy Farmers of America co-op, including chairman Randy Moone;, Les Purdom, a member of the board of directors; Steve Davis, area manager; and Ron Thompson, field representative. Tim Hines and Carter Leeper of Main Street Feeds were also present. “I was really pleased with the reception we got and the crowd we had, taking interest
and asking questions,” said Calvin. Long himself was pleased with how this year’s tour was going overall. “The tour’s been a lot happier this year,” said Long. “Last year we were just looking at brown cornstalks.” The congressman said it was important for people to be aware of what’s going in the ag sector today, and the technology in use in today’s operations, mentioning how at the previous stop was “a seed farm where the tractors drive themselves.” “Agriculture in general is just so important,” said Long. Calvin said that she and Long were able to speak briefly, and she encouraged him to vote for the Dairy Security Act that is included in the farm bill currently before Congress. The act would set up a program similar to crop insurance for dairy farmers. The voluntary program includes a provision that if the market is oversupplied with milk, participants must cut back on production. Calvin said she hopes the provision will be passed as written. “I think it was good for him to see a working dairy, the reality of what you have to do on a family-operated farm,” said Calvin. “It’s kind of important for legislators to take an interest in agriculture since there are getting to be so few of us.” For his part, Long said he was sure the farm bill would be passed. “I’m sure the two sides will reach an agreement, and sure it will be worked out,” said Long. Long also wanted to remind his constituents of the services available from his office, such as help dealing with federal agencies, social security, veteran’s issues, and the issuance of passports. Long also commented on the current situation in Syria, saying that “it’s a civil war we have no business being involved in.”
Photo by James McNary
Local dairy farmer Marilyn Calvin hands Congressman Billy Long a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan “Dairy Packs Power.” Calvin encouraged Long to wear the T-shirt during upcoming debates on the farm bill. Photos by Ryan Squibb
Find us on Facebook www.lawrence countyrecord.com
CMYK