2015 A Salute to Agriculture

Sometimes,you keeponkeepin’on

“ASalutetoAgriculture–the HeartbeatofthePlains.”

Truerwordshaveneverbeen said.Ithinkwesometimestakefor grantedtheimportantrolethatag playsinourdailylives.Werarely stoptothinkaboutthefarmersand rancherswhohelpputfoodonthe table,clothesonourbackandeven fuelinourautomobiles.Theirwork isneverdone.

Iwasfortunate enoughtogrowup onafarmoutsideof Holyoke,wheremy fatherwasinafarmingandranching partnershipwithhis fatherandbrothers.

Lifewasgood.There isnothinglikeit.Whilethework washard,therewardsweremany.

Thereisnosuchathingasa40hourworkweekinthelivesoffarmersandranchers.Sometimesit’sa work-until-you-can’t-anymorekind ofdeal.Sometimesit’snot.

Thereisnotimeclocktopunch, thedarknessissometimesyoursignalthatthedayisdone;othertimes, therearelightsonthosetrucksand tractorsforareason.Youjustkeep onkeepin’on.Workonafarmand ranchissomewhatdifferentwith theseasons.Fallisoneofmyfavoritetimes,asisspring.Inthefall,you reaptherewardsofyourlonghours oftoil.Thecornisgettingpicked, somealreadyputupassilage,or highmoisture;someneedingtodry outmore.

Thesugarbeetsarebeinghauled tothefactory,andthecattlecontinuetogettendedto.Youpraythat thecommoditypriceswillbehigh enoughtomaketheloanpayment, andthattheyieldswillbelarge enoughdespitethatshatteringhail stormbackinthesummer.You knowthecropisnotgoingtobeas goodasitcouldhavebeenbecause oftheusuallackofmoisture–if onlywecouldhavegottenonemore soaker,wethink.

Infarming,therearesomany variablesoutsideofyourcontrol.

Youcan’tstopthatdarnedhail,and despitehowevermanyraindances youmightdo,sometimesitpasses rightoveryouagain.Youhaveto havefaithasafarmer,that’sforsure —thefaiththatjustenoughrain willcomeandthatthebankwill understandandbackyouroperation foranotheryear.

Inmostvocations,thatever-presentfeariseliminated.Wehave morecontroloverourdestiny. That’scertainlynottosaythat everythingaboutfarmingisdoom andgloom.Farfromit.Thereis nothingmorerewardingthangettingthatcropsuccessfullyharvested,andyouarefullofanticipation forthatintoxicatingsmellofnewly workedsoilnextspring.

Thesamegoesforranching.The sightofanewborncalfisthesignof promise–thatallisrightwiththe world.Youtendtoforgetthosesubzerodaysandnightsspentcheckingcowsandpullingacalfifneeded.Youtendtoforget,oratleast suppress,thelowpricesofcattle andthehighpriceoffeed.

Youdoallofthatandmuchmore becausethereisnomorenobleand satisfyingvocationthanthatoffarmingandranching.Wesaluteallof youinthefieldofagricultureand thankyouforyourhardworkto provideuswithmanyofthethings wehavecometoloveandtakefor granted.

Itisourwish,asyoureadthe manystoriesonthesepagesabout yourfriendsandneighbors–theag producers,theorganizationsthat helpsupportthem,andalookatour future,theyouthwhoaremakinga differenceintheirvocation–that yougainabetterinsightintoag.Be suretovisitthemany,manyadvertisersthathelpedmakethispublicationpossible.Thankthemfortheir supportandshowthemyours.

Wehopeyouwilljoinwithusin ourfourthSalutetoAgriculture–theHeartbeatofthePlains!

JulieTonsingisthepublisherofthe FortMorganTimesandtheSterling Journal-Advocate.

Julie Tonsing

Funonthefarm

ByStephanieAlderton TimesStaffWriter

KeithBathislivingthedream. AsownerofKeithBathFarms, theFortMorgannativespends mostofhistimedoinghisfavorite thingintheworld:growingcorn. Heowns2,500acresofcornfields inMorganCounty,whichheflakes andshipsofftodairiesallover Colorado.Healsousesittosupply

KeithBathFarms

Locatedat20385Highway34, FortMorgan,KeithBathowner Cornproducerandbeefcattle feedlots

Officenumber:970-867-6882

hisownbeefcattlefeedlots.

“Ihaveneverworkedadayin mylife,”Bathsaid.“It’slikeabig sandbox.Iusedtohaveasandbox whenIwasalittleboy,andIused

toscratchoutlittlefarms.And now,it’sthesamesandbox,only it’sbigger…andit’slikeplayingall dayinthesandbox,exceptwith bigtoysinsteadoflittleones.”

Becausenewly-harvestedcornis toohardforcowstodigestcompletely,KeithBathFarmsemployeessmashitintosomething resemblingKellogg’scornflakes beforesendingitout.Bath’sFort Morganheadquartershasa“flaker,”amachineseveralstorieshigh

thatcooksthecorninsteam chambers,thenrollsitflat,piling upseveraltonseveryday.

Softeningthecornkeepsits nutrientsfromgoingtowaste, Bathsaid.Acowcanonlydigest abouthalfthestarchcontainedin arawkernel,butflakedcornis easiertodigest.Accordingtothe IntermountainFarmersAssociation,italsoimprovesmilkproductionindairycows–sometimesby SeeBATH,pg.5

OwnerofKeithBathFarmsshowshispassionforcornandcows

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes

ThecornflakeratKeithBathFarms,amachineseveralstorieshighthatcookscorninsteamchambers,thenrollsitflat,pilingupseveraltonseveryday.

BATH frompage4

asmuchassixpoundseachper day.

Milkisjustasimportantto Bath’soperationascorn.Heowns fivesemitrucksthatdelivercorn feedtoColoradodairies,andtheir trailerscarrysloganslike“From thegoodnessofmilk!”

“Advertisingmilkiswaymore importanttomethanadvertising KeithBathFarms,”Bathsaid.“I wantpeopleintheFrontRangeto seeanice,cleantruckadvertising averyawesomedairy.”

Hetriestomakesurethetrucks arealwaysclean,hopingtheywill helpthedairyandflakedcorn industries’imagesstaycleanas well.

About18employees–or,as Bathcallsthem,“hisco-workers”currentlyworkatthefarm.Cathy Staley,oneofthecompanysecretaries,hasworkedthereforayear andahalfandhasalreadydecided tostayforthelonghaul.

“It’sadifferentkindoflife,”she said.“Ineverhadajobinagriculturebefore,soIwasalittlener-

vousabouttakingthejob, but…fromthefarmerswhodeliver thecorn,tothetruckdriverswho shipthecorn,tothedairyfarmers, it’sjustlikeabigfamily.I’mso

blessedtobeworkinghere.”

CallingKeithBathFarms“one bigfamily”isn’tjustametaphor. Thebusinessstartedin1980,so someofthecurrentemployeesare

childrenoftheearliestemployees. Bath’sdaughterKeriisalsohelpingtoputthe“family”in“family business”–sheworksintheoffice withStaley.

Withitsheadquarterslocated neardowntownFortMorgan, Bath’sbusinesshasalwaysbeen involvedwiththecommunity.He hashostedconcertsfortheGlenn MillerSwingFest,fundraisersfor theSARAhouseandotherevents onhisland,aswellassponsoring variouscharityeventslikelast year’sFallFundraiserfortheEast MorganCountyHospital.

Farmingisn’tjustacareerfor Bath.It’swhoheis,andit’swhat hewantstoleavebehindinMorganCounty.

“Mygoalistoturnmyfarms overtoyoungfarmersthathavea passionforfarmingsomeday,”he said.

StephanieAlderton:970-867-5651 ext227,salderton@fmtimes.comor twitter.com/slalderton

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes KeithBathstandsnexttooneofhisharvestedcornfields.“Mygoalisto turnmyfarmsovertoyoungfarmersthathaveapassionforfarmingsomeday,”hesaid.

ThelifetheGoss familybuilt

lifeinagriculturewasalwaysthe goal.ForTamie,itwasalifeshe’d alwaysknown,growingupina dairyfamilythatatonepoint milked1,000cows.Gosswasborn inAurora,Ill.,asuburbofChicago,butmovedwithhisfamilyto Coloradoin1971,andhegrewup ridinghorsesandrodeoing.By highschool,agriculturewashis chosenpath.

BySaraWaite Journal-Advocatemanagingeditor

Thelifeofafarmerisn’teasy. Butit’sthelifeMikeandTamie GossofLittleCreekCattlealways wanted.

ForGossandhiswife,Tamie,a

Twelveyearsago,thecouple wasabletopurchasetheirspread southofMerinoandachievethat dream.Priortothat,theyboth heldvariousag-relatedjobs,while alsobuying“fixer-uppers”near theUniversityofNorthernColoradoinGreeley,renovatingthem andthenrentingthemouttocolSeeGOSS,pg.8

First-generation farmfamily findsrewards amongchallenges ofagricultural lifestyle

SaraWaite /SterlingJournal-Advocate

TheGossfamily'shomeatLittleCreekCattle,whichMikeandTamiebuiltthemselvesoveratwo-yearperiod.

Courtesyphoto

TheGossfamilyofLittleCreekCattle:parents,MikeandTamie,andchildren,Syree,Slayter,Coltyr,TarynandKayd.

Successinanycareerinagricultureis dependentonanunderstandingofthe principlesofproductionagriculture.Other institutionshavechosentodownplaythe importanceofpracticesinproduction, howeverNortheasterniscommittedto improvingtheindustryofagricultureby providingsuperioreducationthatstartswith anunderstandingofhowfoodisproduced. Theworldneedsmorefood,Northeasternis dedicatedtodevelopingthenextgeneration ofprofessionalsthatwillgrowthatfood.

ProductionAgriculturestudentatNortheasternforthe 2014-2015academicyear.DepartmentChairMike Andersonpresentedtheaward.

GOSS frompage6

legestudents.Eventually,selling theirrentalpropertiesprovided thefundstostartuptheirown operation.Sincethen,theyhave growntheircattleherdfromthe 24thatcamewiththepropertyto aboutfivetimesthattoday.Mike explainedthattheyhavean aggressiveartificialinsemination programthatusesgoodbullsto improvethegeneticsofthemostlyclosedherd,wheretheykeep theheifersfromtheircowsto breed.

Theyhavealsoputthoselessonslearnedthroughtheirhome renovationstouse,buildingtheir ownhomethatsitsatopahillon theirproperty,overlookingfields andpasture.Theylivedtherefor aboutfiveyearsbeforetheybegan building;theconstructionprocess tookabouttwoyearsbecausethey diditallthemselves.Mikesaidhe usedhiscontactstogetallofthe materials,anddoingthework themselvesallowedthemtosavea lotofmoney.

Livingthedreamoffarmand ranchlifeisn’twithoutitschallenges.Itdoesn’tleavemuchtime torelaxasafamily,Tamienoted. Buttheoperationisverymucha familyendeavor,withthecouple’s fivechildren,ranginginagefrom 6to13,helpingwitheveryaspect. Tamiesaidtheyhavehighexpectationsfortheirchildren,and growinguponthefarmhasmade

themself-sufficient,abletotake onmanytasksthemselves.“The ethicsandvaluestheylearnare irreplaceable,”shesaid.

Thechildrenarestudentsat MerinoSchools,andparticipatein sportsand4-H.Thewholefamily isactiveatthelocalWildwood BibleChurch.WithTamie’s extensivebackgroundindairies, theybreeddairycowstoshowat thestateandnationallevel.Their oldest,Kayd,wouldliketobea farmersomeday,Tamiesaid.The others—Taryn,12;Slayter,10; Coltyn,8;andSyree,6—“farma lotofcarpet”now,buttheirpar-

entscouldseeeachofthem remainingintheagriculture industryinthefuture.

Theoperationalsoincludes growinghayandcorn.Whenthey started,theyfocusedonthehay crop,Mikesaid,butaddedincorn whenthemanwhowashelping themmarketthehayassmall balesalongtheFrontRange retired.Now,theyrunthecattle onleasedpastureinthesummer, andputthemonthecornfields afterharvest.Theanimals’diet alsoincludesbeetpulpandsome distillers’grain—byproducts frommakingsugarandethanol—

BrandingdayatLittleCreekCattle. TamieGosslikesto postphotosoflife onthefarmand ranchtotheirFacebookpagetohelp theircustomers understandwhere theirfoodcomes from.

aspartoftheirtotalmixedration.

That’soneofthethingsthat Mikefindssointriguingaboutcattle:“Alotofstuffthatwouldbe wasteifitwasn’tforcowsgoes backintocowsandtheyturnit intoprotein,”hesaid.

Theybelieveindoingbusiness locally,withthefeedtheydon’t growthemselvesallcomingfrom localsources.

Ifitwasn’tfortheworktheydid inrealestateandotherjobs— Mikealsousedtotrimhooveson dairycows—hedoesn’tthink they’dhavebeenabletobegin

SeeGOSS,pg.9

Courtesyphoto

KaydGoss,,center,celebratesachampionplacementattheWesternSpringNationalShowinUtahearlierthisyearwithhisdairycow,Twink.

Courtesyphoto

theiroperation.Hesaidhedoesn’t knowhowsomeonefreshoutof college,withoutanybackingora substantialsourceoffunding, couldsucceed.Asfirstgeneration farmers,Mikesaid,“wedon’t havealotofroomtomakemistakes.”Theyareveryfrugaland verycautiousaboutwhattheydo, andareprettyparticularabout howtheyruntheiroperation,but thathasledtoadeathlossofless than1percentfortheiroperation.

Whiletheyaregenerallyvery self-reliant–otherswouldnot knowhowtheydothings,Tamie noted–theydidreceivehelpfrom neighborsandthecommunity overthesummer,afterMikewas injured.Theyexpressedtheir appreciationforallthosewhoprovidedsupportwhilehewas unabletowork.

NowMikeisbackinaction,but workisn’tnecessarilyawordhe’d usetodescribewhathedoes. “You’redoingwhatyouknowyou wanttobedoing,”hesaid,

describingthefeelingofgoingout intoblowingsnowandchecking onheiferseverytwohours,with moreconcernabouttheirwell-beingthanhisown.“Youdon’tfeel likethisiswork.”

That’strueabouteveryaspect offarmlife,hesaid,whetherit’s gettingupat4a.m.tohelpa neighborhaulbeetsorspendinga daychasingdownandvaccinating calves.

Sharingthatlifeissomething Tamiestrivestodothroughtheir website,http://www.littlecreekcattle.net/,andFacebookpage, LittleCreekCattle–TheGoss Family.

Thewebsitehelpspromotetheir beefbusiness.Forthelastfour yearsorso,they’vebeenmarketingtheirbeefinpackages,usinga USDAfacilitytoprocesstheir meat.Theirbeefreceiveschoice tohighchoicegradeontheinhousegradingsystematthefacility,andtheydryagethemeat21 daystomakeit“reallygood,”

Mikesaid.Theapproachhas workedtoattractaloyalbaseof repeatcustomers.

TamieusesFacebooktosharea glimpseintolifeatLittleCreek Cattle.“Youhearsomanypeople wanttoknowwheretheirfood comesfrom,”shesaid.Theposts givetheircustomers,manyof whomdon’thaveanyagbackground,abetterunderstandingof whatthatlifeislike.

Tamiefeelsitisimportanttoput outinformationaboutagricultural life,becauseithelpsdispelfalse notionsaboutwhathappenson farmsandranches.“Wedon’ttell ourstoryenough,”shesaid.

Shefeelspostingphotosand videosdepictingeverydayactivitiesshowspeoplethat“Wehavea heart,too,”shesaid.

Shesaiditdemonstratesthe respectandqualityoflifethey givetheiranimals,sayingthatis necessarytogetareturnon them.Thesameistrueofthe land,Mikenotes.

Tamiehastakenitastepfurtherandgivenprogramsat schools,whereshesaidshetries tohelpthechildrenrelatetothe

processofgettingfoodfromthe farmtothetable.Evenifthey don’tcomefromagfamilies,maybetheirparentsworkinagrocery storewheretheyaresellingthe product,orinarestaurantwhere theproductisserved.

It’samissionshe’spassedonto herownchildren;Kaydwantsto bringhisfellowstudentsfromag classtovisitduringcalving.

Withthesuccessofanagenterprisesodependentontheeconomyandmarkets—thingsoutside aproducer’scontrol—Tamiesaid ittakesalotofdisciplineanddedicationtosurvive.But,sheadded, “Youlearnthevalueoflife,”and realizethatmaterialisticthings aren’tthethingsthatmattermost.

It’snotalifeeveryonewould choose,andcertainlynotone everyonecouldsucceedat.“You havetohaveapassionforit,”she said.

Butattheendoftheday,both TamieandMikeagreed,the rewardisafamily,ahome,anda lifetheyhavebuiltforthemselves. SaraWaite:970-526-9310, swaite@journal-advocate.com

Spuds inthe sun

ByStephanieAlderton TimesStaffWriter

Almosteveryonelovespotatoes, whetherthey’reboiled,mashed, stewedorturnedintobig,golden chips–butnotmanynortheastColoradofarmersgrowthem.

TheFortMorganbranchof WaltherFarmsisanexceptionto thatrule.SixyearsagotheMichigan-basedpotatofarmingcompany bought1,300acresinfields betweenWeldonaandFortMorgan,andsincehavebecomeoneof itshighest-yieldinglocations.

WaltherFarmsisthemainsupplierforFrito-Laypotatochips,soit madesensetoopenalocationnear theDenverFrito-Laymanufacturing plant.ButChadCottingham,the companydirectorofemployeeand communityrelations,saideastern Coloradoisalsojustagreatplaceto growpotatoes.

“It’saverygoodclimate,”hesaid. “IalwayslikegoingouttoFort Morgan.”

Althoughthebranchsometimes

WaltherFarmsFortMorgan andWeldona

Locatedat11971CountyRoadV, Weldona. Seewaltherfarms.comorcall 269-297-2450formore information.

experimentswithdifferentpotato varieties,mostofitscropconsists of“chippotatoes,”whicharebred tohavethinnerskinandbeeasier toslicethanthe“tablestock”potatoesfoundingrocerystores. Employeesusuallyplantthepotato fieldsaroundMayandharvestin September,butthey’rebusythe restoftheyear,too–thepotatoes havetobestoredthroughthewinterinhuge,climate-controlledwarehousesandshippedoutregularly. Thenthere’sthepreparationfor plantingseasonandtheclean-up afterharvest.

“Youcan’tharvestpotatoesyear-

SeeWALTHER,pg.11

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes JeffStorm,manageroftheFortMorganlocationofWaltherFarms,standsinoneofthecompany’spotatostoragefacilities.

round,butFrito-Layandotherpeopleneedthesepotatoesforchips andFrenchfriesyear-round,”Cottinghamsaid.

Chippotatoesneedtobekept cool,moistanddarkinordertobe readyforshipping.Colorado’scool wintersaregoodformaintaining thepotatoes’temperature,butthe “moist”partisabitmorecomplicatedhere.

“Itisharder,becauseofthedry air,”saidJeffStorm,themanagerat theFortMorganlocation.“Wehave torunmorehumidity.”

Tocontrolthepotatoes’climate year-round,thewallsofeachstoragefacilityarelinedwithHumiCell,a“passivehumidificationsystem”thatfeelslikeporous cardboardandhumidifiesalltheair thatpassesthroughit.

Anotherchallengetogrowing potatoesinColoradoisthehail. LastyearWaltherFarmslostafield tohaildamageduringastorm.But Stormandhisemployeesminimize thedamagetheweathercandoby plantingthepotatoesasfarapartas

SeeWALTHER,pg.12

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes

AWaltherFarmsstoragefacilityatitsFortMorganlocation.

WALTHER frompage11

possible.Thatprotectsthemfrom diseaseandensuresthatifonefield getspoundedbyhail,atleastafew otherswillsurvive.

Stormthinkstheonlyreason moreColoradofarmersdon’tgrow potatoesisthattheyrequirealotof water.WaltherFarmscanafford themoisturenecessaryforstoring hundredsoftonsofpotatoes,but theregulationssurroundingwater ownershipintheWestcanstillbe hardtonavigate.

That’swhyStorm,alongwithothermanagersinthecompany,likes toinvestinthelatestwater-saving technologywheneverpossible.He alwaysputsatleasttwomoisture probesineveryfieldandusesaerial

imagestofindoutwhichareasneed waterandavoidwastingitonthose thatdon’t.

AsoneofWaltherFarms’newer locations,theFortMorganbranch istryingtomakemoreconnections withthecommunity.InearlyOctober,theCSUagronomyclubtoured thefacilityinwhatCottinghamand Stormhopewillbecomeanannual tradition.

“We’retryingtogetmore involvedwiththecolleges,”Storm said.“Tryingtofindenoughpeople todowhatwedo,andtofindthe rightpeople,youknow,tryingto findtherightteamcanbeachallenge…we’retryingtogetpeople moreinterestedinwhatwedo.”

“We’retryingtogetpeoplemoreinterested inwhatwedo.”

JeffStorm FortMorganlocationmanager

Pumpkinsareachallengingcrop

Weather,regulations,contractspecs addtoriskforCookseyFarms

ByJenniGrubbs TimesStaffWriter

JerryCookseygrowsavarietyof cropsonhisfarmsouthwestofHoyt andnearRoggen.

Withafamilyhistoryoffarming inthatareadatingatleastbackto 1908whenhisgreat-grandparents homesteadedlandtwomileswestof hiscurrentfarm,Cookseyunderstandsthejoysthatcancomefrom plantingseeds,workingfieldsand watchingsomethinggrow.

Buthealsoknowsthestruggle whentheweatherdoesn’tcooperate andcropsgetdamagedor

destroyed.

Afterall,hecontinuestoraisetwo veryweather-sensitivefallcropson hisland:pumpkinsandwatermelon.

Granted,Cookseyandhiswife, Damaris,andtheirtwin18-year-old sonsraisequiteafewmorecrops onthefamilyfarm,butthefields dottedwithbrightorangeinSeptemberandOctoberareastriking sighttosee.

Complicatedharvest

Gettingthebig,orangefruitoutof thefieldsandtomarketisavery labor-intensiveprocessthat requireslotsofpeople.

SeePUMPKINS,pg.14

JerryCookseymovestwobinsofpumpkinstothetrailerthatwilltakethem tothemajornationalretailerCookseyProduce,LLCcontractswithforprocessing.Thisforkliftlikelywastheonlypieceofheavymachineryusedin theharvestofthesepumpkins,withmanuallaboranecessityforhandling thesensitivefallcrop.

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimes

wIththeoneSthatyouLove, you”LLneverworkadayInyourLIfe

“Wecan’tuseamachine,”Damarisexplained.“It’sallhandlabor.”

Thepumpkinsaretoofragilefor farmequipmenttodotheharvesting.Theyhavetobecutoffthe vines,pickedup,loadedonto trucks,broughtbacktothefarm’s warehouseandsortedforsizeand appearance,amongotherrequirements.

Theinitialcuttingoffthevinesis traditionallydonebythefemale farmworkers,whethermigrantsor not,Cookseysaid.

“Theladiescuteverything,and thenthemenwillgothroughand pickthemup,”shesaid.“Themen startmovingthemouttomakelines throughthefieldwideenoughto getasemi-truckandtractor-trailer inandloadthem,andofcourseit’s alldonebyhand.There’soneguy oneachside,andtheypickthemup andhandthemtothenextguy.”

Dependingonwhetherit’sabin ofjumboorsmallpumpkins,there areeither20or60perbinforthis partoftheprocess,Damarissaid.

Oncethepumpkinsarebackat thefarm’swarehouse,theyget anothersorting,withtheworkers lookingforanyflaws,includinghavingpockmarks,beingundersized (smallerthanabasketball),notsittingflatontheground,andwhether thestemlooksgood.

“It’snotamindless,‘whateveryou see’job,”Damarissaid.“Everybody hastobethinking.”

Andforgoodreason:evenone badpumpkininabinisenoughfor thewholebintoberejectedbythe buyer.TheCookseys’pumpkinsare headedforamajornationalretailer, andtherearereallystrictstandards thatmustbemet.

Regulations

Ontopofthat,thereareother regulationsthathavetobefollowed beforethepumpkinscangotomarket,includingcountry-of-origin labeling.

“Everypumpkinhastohavea label,”Damarissaid.

Thatlabelingisdoneasearlyin theprocessaspossible,withdifferentlabelsandproducecodesfor varyingsizesofpumpkins,shesaid.

“Wehavetobeawareofeach one,”Damarissaid.

Ontopofthat,eachtrailerload carries1,000jumbopumpkins,with

DamarisCookseylooksovertheliteralfruitsofherfarm'slabors:pumpkins.Theyaresortedintobinsbasedonsizeandcondition,withstandards alsosetbythebuyerforthestemconditionandoverallappearanceofeach pumpkin."Youcan'tevenhaveonebadpumpkinperbin,"shesaid.

40perbinandalow“tare”of2percentontrucks’weightthatleaves verylowmarginsoferror,shesaid. Oncethepumpkinsarereceived, theretailerstartsitsinspection.

“They’lllookfornostems,soft spots,thingsthatdon’tmeetthe contractspecs,”Damarissaid. “They’llrejectanentiretruckload basedononebadbin.Everyonehas

tobeontopofit.”

Eventoomuchdirtonthepumpkins,whichgrowonvinesonthe ground,isareasonforrejection, shesaid.

“Peopleincitiesdon’twanttoget theircarsdirty,”Damarissaid. Alongwiththat,thebinshaveto fitdouble-stackedinthetrailer,so theycan’tbeoverflowing.

“It’skindofapuzzle,”shesaid. “Youstillwant40perbin,butsoyou canstackthemtogointhesemi.”

Growingseason

Usually,Jerryplantshispumpkin seedsaroundJune1,orsometimes thelastweekofMay.

However,sometimesthecontractscallforearlierdelivery,which canbetough,hesaid.

“Wehadsomeearlymarketsthis year,sowetriedafewtransplants, butitwasmostlyseeds,”hesaid. “Wehadcustomerswhowanted pumpkinsthefirstweekofSeptember.That’skindofachallengeto haveorangepumpkinsbythefirst weekofSeptember,butwemetthe deadline.Wehadorangeones,and

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimes CookseyProduce,LLCgrowsavarietyofcrops,includingacoupleofriskierones,accordingtofarmerJerryCooksey.Theorangestripeinthedistanceisafieldofripepumpkins,andtheforegroundisafieldwithwatermelons growinginit.

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimes

PUMPKINS frompage14

theydidn’tnecessarilyhavetobe transplants.”

Pumpkinsarenotaterribly thirstycrop,though,sowaterisless ofaconcernforthem.

“Whentheyneedit,theyneedit, butIwouldsaylessthancorn,”Jerrysaid.“Midseason,whenthey’re blossoming,theyneedwater.But youcanover-waterthem.Istop wateringthemaroundAug.20,but itjustdependsifit’swetordry.”

Butbecauseheraisessuchavarietyofcrops,weatherthat’sgoodfor onemaybebadforanother,hesaid.

“Weneeditforwheat,butnotfor pumpkins,”Jerrysaid.“Weneed moistureforwheatrealbad.”

Theharvestends“whenwe’re outofpumpkins,Iguess,”Jerry said.

Butrealistically,themainpartof theharvestneedstoendbyOct.25, whichiswhentheCookseys’main buyerwantsthemalldeliveredby, hesaid.

“There’snomarketforpumpkins afterHalloween,”hesaid.

Whiletherearesomepumpkin

growerswhoraisethemforcanned pumpkinprocessors,that’snotwhat theCookseysdo.Jerrysaidhedoes knowsomeareafarmerswhoraise pumpkinsforbeingmadeintopies, though.

Whypumpkins?

JerryCookseystartedgrowing pumpkinsonafewacresin1991. Today,hehas175acresofpumpkins.

Buthealsoraiseswatermelonsin fieldsnearthepumpkins,andhas variousotherfieldswhereheplants wheat,cornforsilageandearcorn, hayandmillet.

Jerrysaidpumpkinstendtobe hismostchallengingcrop,though.

“They’reallexposedtotheweather,”hesaid.“Theweathercontrols ourproductionbecauseyoucan raisepumpkins,butourbuyers requireacertainstandardofquality. Ithinkthat’sprobablythebiggest challenge.”

Sincepumpkinsturnoutbest whenthere’saveragetemperatures andnohail,sometimestheweather

ruinsthequalityofthepumpkins, Jerrysaid.

Butit’sstillworthittoraisethem, hesaid.

“Onceyougetstarted...”hesaid, trailingoff,butindicatinghe plannedtokeepitup.

“Theycanbeprofitable,but

they’recertainlyveryriskybecause oftheweather,”Jerrysaid.“Ithink alotofpeopleenjoyharvesting crops,andIenjoyit.There’salotof pressurewithit,butIenjoyit.”

JenniGrubbs:jgrubbs@fmtimes.com, Twitter@JenniGrubbsor tout.com/jennigrubbs

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimes Thistrailerisloadedupwithtwolayersofbinsofpumpkinsharvestedat CookseyProduce,LLC.Eachbinhastocontainsacertainsizeandnumber ofpumpkins,whichmustmeetthestandardsofthemajornationalretailer thatwillsellthem.

Outstanding inthefield

FeldpauschHolsteinsfound theperfectgrazingground inFortMorgan

ByStephanieAlderton TimesStaffWriter

Dairycowsarenotknownfor theirspeed,butwhenitcomesto raisingthem,themanagersof FeldpauschHolsteinswanttobe atthefrontoftherace.

LongtimedairyfarmersChuck andNoraFeldpauschboughta feedlotnorthofFortMorganin 2010toraiseheifersforthedairy farmtheyco-ownedinMichigan. Twoyearslatertheymovedto Coloradotobegintheirowndairy business,andthefeedlotnow customraisescowsfordairiesin Colorado,MichiganandIllinois. GeneralmanagerEricMohrlang triestoraisecowsinthemost community-friendlyandmodern

Feldpausch

Holsteins

Locatedat20830CountyRoad 24,FortMorgan

OwnedbyChuckandNora Feldpausch

ManagedbyEricMohrlang www.facebook.com/ FeldpauschHolsteinsLlc

waypossible.

It’scommonforlargedairy farmstoraisetheirheifersoffsite,andMohrlangsaidit’seasier torunaheifer-raisingoperationin ColoradothantheMidwest.

“Ithinktheheifersgrowingup ondirtcomparedtoconcrete helpsinthelongevityoncethey’re SeeFELDPAUSCH,pg.17

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes

EricMohrlangwithsomeofhisherdatFeldpauschHolsteins.

FELDPAUSCH frompage16

milkingcows,”hesaid.“Andinthe Midwestyou’dhavetobuildafacilitythisbigunderaroof,withconcretefloors.”

Instead,Feldpauschcowsare raisedfromtheageof5monthsin hugeoutdoorpensatthefacility nearCountyRoad24.Afterbeing bred,they’resentbacktotheir homedairiestocalveandstartproducingmilk.Thereareabout5,500 heifersatthefacilityatanygiven time.

“We’rehappywiththearea,” ChuckFeldpauschsaid.“There’s goodweatherhere,agoodclimate, justfriendlyconditionsfordairy farming.”

Feedlotsdon’talwaysmakethe bestofneighbors,especiallytopeoplewithsensitivenoses,butMohrlangtriestobeconsiderateofthe otherfarmsnearby.

“Wehavesomereallygreatneighborsthatworkwithus,”hesaid. “Andthat’soneofthethingsabout theheifersthatprobablysomepeopledon’trealize,isthatourstocking densitiesarealotlighterthan,say,a

beeffeedlot,sowejustdon’tgetthe odor.”

Heandtheothertwofull-time employeesatthefacilityhaulaway thecows’manureregularly,tobe usedasfertilizerforthelocalcorn fieldsthatsupplymostoftheirfeed. Everyingredientinthefacility’s “kitchen,”asMohrlangcallsthe shedwherethefeedisstored, comesfromColorado.

BoththeFeldpauschesandMohrlangliketostayontopofthelatest technologicaladvancesinorderto raisetheheifersmoreefficiently. Forexample,theyuseacomputerizedfeedingsystemtomakesure eachpengetstherightamountand therightkindoffoodeveryday.

“It’sahugetoolinourtoolbox,” Mohrlangsaid.

Ofcourse,evenwiththehelpof cutting-edgetechnology,noteverythingonthefarmgoesasplanned. Thisspring’sheavyrainswerea majorsetback,damagingpensand makingtheclean-upbusinessfar messierthanusual.

Butoverall,bothMohrlangand

Feldpauschsaidtheywerehappy withhowthebusinessisgoingright now.AlthoughtheFeldpauschHolsteinsfacilityhasdoubledinsize sinceitfirstopened,Feldpausch saidtheyhave“nogrowthplans”for theimmediatefuture.

“We’remorefocusedonquality thanquantity,”Mohrlangsaid.

Aboveall,heandhisemployees wanttomakesurethecowsare

treatedwell,whichiswhylarge, openpensandaregulateddietare soimportant.

“There’snotoleranceformistreatingananimal,period,”Mohrlang said.“Theydidn’tchoosethislife. Wechoseitforthem,andweneed torespectthat.”

StephanieAlderton:970-867-5651 ext227,salderton@fmtimes.comor twitter.com/slalderton

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes PregnantheifersattheFeldpauschfacility.

Where thepast isalways present

MattJohnsonlivinglifelongdream onmodernized100-year-oldfarm

ByJudyDebus SpecialtotheJournal-Advocate

It’snothardtoletyourthoughts drifttothosewhocamebeforeyou whenthelandyouareworkinghas beencaredforbyyourfamilymembersfor100years.

MattJohnsonfindshimselfdoing justthatwhenhecovers75acresin anhouronanauto-steertractor, musingthathisancestorswould haveworkedforaweekwitha horseandplowonthesamedusty parcel.

Itisthatrememberingthatconfirmshisresolvetobeafarmer sincetheageof3.

“Wetoldhimthatitwouldbea longtimebeforehecouldfarm,but hewasverydeterminedtobea farmer,”saidhismother,Cinthia Johnson.

MattisCinthia’syoungestson andalongwithherandhiswife, Cindy,ownsandoperatesthefarm

today.

Thatsteadfastnessinreaching hisgoalmayhavebeenwiththe sametenacitythatdrovehisgreatgrandparents,BenjaminandClaudiaJohnson,topackalltheir belongingsinaboxcarandtravel fromMountainHome,Arkansas,to Coloradotohomestead160acresin WashingtonCountyin1914.

Fromthatbeginning,theJohnsonFarm,namedaColoradoCentennialFarmbyHistoryColorado thisyear,hasbeenthelifeworkof fourgenerationsoffarmers.

In1946,Matt’sgrandfather, OrvilleJohnson,broughthiswife, Catherine,tothefarmwhenthey expandedtoincludearanchin LoganCounty.Theirson,thelate RussellJohnsonandhiswifeCinthia(Kleis)—Matt’sparents— tookoverin1974.

Withagrowthfrom160acresto 9,500acres,thefarmhasseen extensivemodernizationinequipSeeJOHNSON,pg.19

JudyDebus /Courtesyphoto

Cinthia,Madilyn,Lilly,MattholdingEmoryandCindyatthecurrenthomesteadoftheJohnsonFamilyFarm.

JudyDebus /Courtesyphoto

CinthiawithLilly,EmoryandMadilynandoneofthequiltsshehasmadefor eachgenerationtogivehergranddaughters.

JOHNSON frompage18

mentandthefamilyhasmade majoradvancesinfarmmanagementwhileadoptinginnovativeand conservative-mindedapproachesto farming.

Changeshaverangedfromthe minimumtillagepracticedby grandpaOrvilleJohnsonatatime whenmostfarmerswereclean-tillingtheirland,tothecroprotation andno-tillagemanagementinitiated bydadRussJohnson,andnowthe employmentofprecisionfarming technologiesbyMatt.

“Ithasn’talwaysbeeneasy;in fact,theoriginal160acreswerelost atonetimebyBenandClaudia,but theywerelaterabletobuyitback,” Cinthiasaid.“Farmingisnotsomethingyoucandounlessyouloveit.”

RussgraduatedfromCSUand ownedanaccountingfirminadditiontofarming.Cinthiareceivedan Agronomy,MicrobiologyandPrecisionAgriculturegraduatedegree fromtheUniversityofNebraska anddidherdissertationresearch onthefarmon“usingelectricconductivitytoapplyfertilizer.”

MattgraduatedfromtheNJCAg ProductionProgramandpurchasedhisfirstlandatage20.In additiontofarming,heservesasa representativeforGoldenHarvest SeedCorn.Hiswife,Cindy (Wright),isakindergartenteacher inFleming,helpingoutonthefarm duringharvestandotherbusy times.

“Matthasalwaysbeenan‘outof thebox’thinker,”Cinthiasaid.

Inadditiontotheacreagesof wheat,corn,Prosomilletandhay millet,herunsacow/calfoperation,bringingdiversificationinthe cropvarietiesaswellasthecattle.

MattandCindyaretheparentsof thefifthgenerationofJohnsonsto growuponthefamilyfarm:their daughters,Madilyn,Lillianand Emory.Cinthiahasdesignedand madeaquiltforeachofthegirls, highlightingthechangesonthe farmineachgeneration.

“Everyyearinfarmingisdifferentanddiversificationmakesit work,”Mattsaid.“Andthatisjust oneofthereasonsIlovetofarm.”

Courtesyphoto

OrvilleandCatherineJohnson,thesecondgenerationonthefarm

AgTeckRepair,Inc.

18921USHwy6

Sterling (970)522-7849 agteckrepair.com *WAC.Seestoreassociatefordetails.©TheGrasshopperCompany

Humalfavalues relationshipswith feedyards, producers

BySaraWaite Journal-Advocatemanagingeditor

Abusinessthatturnsmanure fromcattlefeedyardsintoapremiumorganicfertilizerseemedlikea naturalfittoFarrelCrowderof Humalfa.

TheProctor-arearesidentsays hisheritageisthecattlebusiness, andwhentheOklahomamanwho developedthecompostingprocess showedupinhisdriveway, Crowdersaid“itlookedlikeaprettygooddeal.”

Colorado agoodfit fororganic fertilizer company

Crowderhelpedbringthe HumalfaCompanytoeasternColoradoin2006,andafewyearslater theCrowderFamilyandT.J. CrowderandSon,LLCpurchased thebusinessandmadetheColoradodivisiontheflagshipoperation.

Thecompanypridesitselfona sustainablepracticethatpromotes environmentalstewardship,witha mottoof“Replenshingsoilstoday forgenerationstomorrow.”

Crowderexplainedthatthecompanyworkscloselywithfeedyards, producingthe“chemicalfree,weed freeandodorfree”fertilizeronsite andthentransportingitupto120to 130milesfromthatlocation.Compostingonlocation“keepsitsimple,”Crowderexplained.

Theprocessstabilizestheplant nutrientsavailable,andallowsthe finishedproducttobeshippedten timesfurtherthantherawproduct couldnormallybetransported, accordingtothecompanywebsite. Thesitealsoexplainsthebenefits ofusingHumalfa,sayingthatthe additionoforganicmattertothe soilcanhelpitholdwaterandmake themoistureavailabletotheplant. Italsonotesthattheproducttests as“verystable”underU.S.CompostingCouncilstandards,meanSeeHUMALFA,pg.21

Courtesyphoto

FarrelCrowder,CEOofHumalfa,standsonapieceofcompanyequipment.

Withitsheavy-dutyconstruction, longservicelifeandminimal maintenance,aGrasshopper zero-turnmower’stimesaving performanceisonlythe beginning.You’llenjoylower operatingcosts,too.

HUMALFA frompage20

ingnitrogenandotherplantnutrientswillremaininthesoiluntil usedbythecropandnotbelostto evaporationorleaching.

Therelationshipwiththefeed yardsismutuallybeneficial— “We’rehelpingthemoutwitha problem,”Crowdersaid—andas wordofthecompanyhasspread, feedyardsarenowcontactinghim. However,headdedthatthefirst localfeedyardstheyworkedwith, includingDinklage,were“forward thinking”forrecognizingthebenefit.“Ourrelationshipswiththem havebeenveryvaluable,”Crowder said.

Humalfafertilizerisnowavailable inColorado,WesternNebraskaand SoutheasternWyoming,fromsites thatincludeYuma,Brush,Wiggins andtheFrontRange.Abigclient southofBurlington,servedfrom theYumasite,extendsintoKansas, Crowdernoted.Crowdersaidthe organicfertilizer“speaksforitself” andisapopularchoicenotonlyfor agriculturalapplicationsbutalso municipalparks,golfcoursesand

sportsturf.“Itissomuchbetter thantherawmanure,”hesaid.

Asafull-servicefertilizercompany,Humalfausestechnologysuch asadvancedGPSandsite-specific spreadingequipmenttoapplythe fertilizer.Theyoffertheirflagship

product,HumalfaStandard,inadditiontoalineofotherorganicfertilizerblendsandsoilamendments. Theycanprovidecustomblends forclientswithspecificapplication requirements.

Thecompanyalsooffersapack-

agedproductin20and40-pound bagsforresidentialuse.Nature’s Prescriptionis“theonlythinga homeownerneeds”foralllandscaping,Crowdersaid.Itisavailableat Mr.D’sAceHardwareinSterling, andCrowdersaidheisworkingon gettingtheproductintoother stores.

Crowder,whoisjoinedbywife JodiandbrotherBoydinthebusiness,saidthebusinesshasbeen“a lotoffun.”Thecompanystrivesto beanactivepartofthecommunity, joiningtheLoganCountyChamber ofCommerceearlierthisyearand hassponsoredeventsliketheLions ClubTrionthePlainsandthePedalThePlainsbicycletourofthe EasternPlains.

Humalfaislocatedat26874C.R. 65,Iliff,andcanbereachedat970522-0758.Findoutmoreat www.humalfa.comoronthe HumalfaOrganicFertilizerpageon Facebook.

SaraWaite:970-526-9310, swaite@journal-advocate.com

SaraWaite /SterlingJournal-Advocate AHumalfatruckdrivesinthe2015LoganCountyFairParade.

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Exactly where hewants tobe

BySaraWaite Journal-Advocatemanagingeditor

TheArcherCalfRanchsouth ofMerinoissetupasabucket calffeederfordairies.New calvesarriveeverymonthfrom thedairy.Theyareplacedin individualhutchesthatoffershelterfromthe weather,arefeda dietofmilkand grains,andare weanedoffthe milkatabout eightweeks,then transitionedtoa“TMR,”ortotal mixedrationthatcontainsthe balanceofgrains,vitaminsand proteinsneededtomeetthe cow’snutritionalneeds.They aremovedtosocializationpens at2andahalfto3months,and

returntothedairyaround5to6 monthsold,onaverage.

Butfromthetimetheyarrive tothetimetheyleave,“they’re ours,”saysCharleneArcher,the “boss”oftheoperation,accordingtoherhusband,Gregg Archer.Shesaidtheytreatthe animalsliketheirown.

Bucketcalf operationfollows lifetimeindairy business

Thecouple boughtthe propertyat auctionin 2004and movedfrom California, wherethey hadasmall herdofcattlewhileGregg workedasageneralcontractor. Whendevelopmentsstarted goinginaroundtheirhome, theyknewitwastimetomove.

SeeARCHER,pg.24

SaraWaite /SterlingJournal-Advocate

TheArchersofArcherCalfRanch(fromleft):Gregg,CharleneandsonBeau.Theyoungheifersinthispenwereduetoreturntothedairyadaylater.

GreggwasfromKansasoriginally,andhasbeenaroundthe dairybusinesssincetheearly 1960s,whenhewouldspend summersworkingforhisuncles. “Itgetsinyourblood,”hesaid oftheindustry.

CharlenewasfromNebraska, andbeforemovingtoCalifornia, Gregghadspentthe‘70sand ‘80smilkinginWauneta,Neb., andbuyingandsellingdairycattle.Hesaidthatwhilelivingin Nebraska,theyhadalwaysfelt thatColoradohadbetterweather,soitseemedagoodchoice w hentheywerelookingtoleave California.

Sincetheirstartoveradecade ago,theoperationhasgoneina coupleofdifferentdirections. W hileGreggandCharlene plannedtobesemi-retired,they boughtandsoldspringers— pregnantcowsthatarenearly readytodeliver–untiltheprice

SeeARCHER,pg.25

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SaraWaite /SterlingJournal-Advocate AnewcalfstandsoutsideitshutchontheArcherCalfRanch.Acolorsystemforthefeedbucketsisusedtodeterminehowmuchmilkandhowmuchgrainthecalfreceives.

ARCHER frompage24

ofmilkgottoolow.Theygot somebulls,butwhenoneof theirfourdaughtersmovedin w ithherchildrentemporarily, Greggsaid,theyneededsomethingtokeepthembusy.Atthe suggestionoftheirveterinarian, theyendedupraisingheifersfor localdairies.Still,heremains flexibletorespondingtothe needsoflocalproducersand marketconditions.

Greggisjoinedinthebucket calfoperationbyhissonand partner,BeauArcher,who movedfromCaliforniain2008. T heyalsohaveemployees,who arelikefamily,Charlenesaid, andareinvitedtofamilyholiday dinners.

Thefocusontheranchison thewell-beingofthecalvesand thelongevityoftheherd.Dairy ownersaren’tafraidtotrynew things,andwhenthey’repaying forithe’llgoalong,butithasto

SeeARCHER,pg.26

SaraWaite /SterlingJournal-Advocate HeifersinthesmallestpensattheArcherCalfRanch,wheretheygetusedtosocializingafterspendingtheirfirst twomonthsinindividualhutches.Thecowstendtoformsocialgroupssimilartojuniorhigh,GreggArchersaid, withsomemoreoutgoingwhileothersaremoreshy.

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bewhat’sbestforthecalf, Greggsaid.Andthefirstrulefor employeesisthatbeingabusive w illgetyoufired.Nohotshots orwhipsareallowedonthe place,Charlenenoted.Andreally,shesaid,agentlehandis aboutwhat’sneededtodirect thecows.“They’reprettydomesticated,”shesaid.

Charlene’sloveforanimalsis evidentasherhusband describeshowshecriesany timetheyloseacalf.Theones thatneedsomeextracareare broughttoher“hospital”atthe housetobenursedtohealth.

Thesmallpersonalherd they’vestartedincludescows she’s“rescued”frombeing

“poundedout,”orsoldformeat, suchasTiny,acowthatcamein asa35-poundprematurecalf. Shewas9monthsoldbefore shereachedthesizetogoback tothedairy,butbecauseoneof hereyesneverdeveloped,she struggledwiththeheadstalls thedairyusedtofeedtheircows andbegantoloseweight.The dairycalledCharleneandTiny hasraisedcalves,andshewill neverleavetheranch.

Peoplewhothinkcowsare dumbanimalsarewrong,Charlenesaid.“Theyaresosmart,” shesaid.

“They’rereallyresilient,too,” addedBeau.

“Youhavetorespectthem.

Godputthemhereforusto havefood,”Charlenesaid.

Workingwithsomanycattle–theycycle100to110permonth –Greggsaidtheyknewthey’d seesomeoddthings.The strangesthecanrecallisacalf thatarrivedwithawholeleg growingoutthebackofitsneck. Theirvetwasabletoremovethe leg,andthecalfislikelynow milkingbackatthedairyby now,theythought.

Asforthepromiseofweather thatdrewtheArcherstothe areainthefirstplace?Gregg saidthatwinterisn’tusuallya problem,unlessthere’saheavy snowthatmakesithardtoget downthealleysandgettothe

hutches.Thehardertimeof yearisJulyandAugust,whenit ishotandtheaircanbeheavy withmoistureandnobreeze, becausepooraircirculationcan behardonthecalves.Hesays notonlyistheweathergood, butsoaretheneighbors.“The peoplearefriendly,”hesaid. “Weloveithere.”

Notthattherearen’ttimesthat thecoldhasGregglongingfor California.Butallittakesisa fewdaysofvisitingandhecan’t waittoreturnhome,hesaid.

“Iwouldn’twanttodoanythingelse.”

SaraWaite:970-526-9310, swaite@journal-advocate.com

SaraWaite /SterlingJournal-Advocate

Heifersbeingweanedstandorsitintheirhutches,attheArcherCalfRanch.Withinaweek,thecowswouldbemovedtothesocializationpensforthe nextstageoftheirdevelopment.

Onefamily’slongjourney

ByJudyDebus SpecialtotheJournal-Advocate

OneoftheLoganCountyfarms recognizedthisyearasaCentennialFarmbyHistoryColoradoisthe AntonBrekelFarmlocatedsouth ofFleming.Theoriginalhomesteadiscurrentlyownedby Brekel’sgreat-granddaughters, DonaScottWillmethandJulieKay ScottMcGrath.

AntonBrekelcametotheUnited Stateswithhisfamilyin1875atthe ageof1.TheytraveledtoNew YorkCity,planningtowalktoMinnesotatomeetrelatives.However, afterlearninghowfarthewalk wouldbe,thefamilytookatrainto LakeHeronwheretheyfoundthat homesteadlandwaslimited. TheylatermovedtoTexas,

whereAntonmetandmarriedStefanieTeply,in1908.Itwasthere thattheirfirstthreechildren, Anna,JoeandMartha,wereborn. In1911,theylearnedfromanewspaperoffarmlandforsaleandthat aGermansettlementwasbeing establishedsouthofFleming,Colo. TheysoldtheirfarminTexasand bought160acresinColorado, wheretheymovedwithtwoofhis brothersin1914tostarttheirown farms.

LifefortheBrekelfamilyconsistedofbreakingsod,preparingand farmingtheland,addingbuildings tothefarmsteadandraisingtheir ownfoodandprovidingfortheir needs.Theyalsopurchasedadditionalacresaswaspossible.

Whenthebankclosedin1925,

SeeBREKEL,pg.28

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ThisaerialphotoshowstheAntonBrekelFarm,locatedsouthofFleming,in themid-1980s.

BREKEL frompage27

Brekelsoldone-quarteroftheland inordertobeabletokeeptwo quartersandthehomestead. Antondidblacksmithingforhimselfaswellasotherstoearnmoneytosupporthisfamilyandalso didcarpentryforothers.Inaddition,thefamilysoldeggsand creamtoaddtotheirincome.He purchasedathrashingmachine andcontinuedtodothrashinguntil the1950s.

Otherchildrenborntothe Brekelsduringtheseyearswere Louis,Elizabeth,RoseandClara.

AfterthedeathofAntonin1953, StefanieTeplyBrekelownedthe farmuntilherdeath,atwhichtime Annawasnamedtheheirtothe familyestate.Afterherdeathin 2001,thefarmwaspurchasedby thegreat-granddaughters.

Untilrecentlythefarmproduced wheat,butasaresultofdrought, thefarmhasbeenconvertedtothe USDAConservationReserveProgram.

DorisScottcontributedtothis article.

Courtesyphoto Steamengineand8-bottomplowbreakingsodonBrekelfarmland.

Thegreener sideofthe grassindustry

ByStephanieAlderton TimesStaffWriter

MorganCountyisknownfor itscorn,sugarbeetandcattle producers,butsomefarmersare tryingtocashinonalesstraditionalcrop.

MattSilzplantedhisfirst hempcropnearFortMorgan thisyear,onlandownedbyhis businesspartner,ToddMuck. MuckandSilzareamongthe

firstwaveofColoradofarmers attemptingtobreakintothe hempindustryafterthecrop waslegalized,alongwithrecreationalmarijuana,in2012.

Unlikemarijuana,hempcan’t makeanyonehigh.Inorderto getalicensetogrowitoutdoors, farmershavetouseavarietyof cannabisthatislessthan23percentTHC,thechemicalthat makesmarijuanaintoxicating.

SeeHEMP,pg.30

HemphitsMorganCounty

Courtesyphoto /FortMorganTimes Adrone's-eyeviewofthehempfield.

HEMP frompage29

Buthempdoeshaveamyriad ofotherpotentialuses,whichis w hymorethan100farmers acrossthestatehavealready obtainedgrowers’licenses.In hisspeechattheProgressive15 fallconferenceonOct.15,William“WildBill”Billings,presidentoftheColoradoHempProject,extolledtheplant’s capabilities.Hesaiditcanbe usedmorethan25,000different w ays,inindustriesrangingfrom foodtocarmanufacturing.

“Industrialhemp[is]themost incredibleplantontheplanet,” Billingssaid.

Healsopraiseditsenvironmentalfriendliness.Hemp requireslesswaterthanmost crops,andit’ssturdyenoughto beusedasa“green”building material.

Likemanyothers,Silzand Muckwereattractedbythe plant’spotential.Silzhasbeen farmingonhisownforabout12

Usesforhemp

Hempisaversatilecropusedinmanyindustries,including:

Food- Hempseedscontainantioxidantsandlotsofprotein.Theycanbe eatenraworusedtomakeoil,milksubstitutes,granolaandmanyother healthyedibles.

Medicine- HempcontainshighlevelsofCBD-cannabidiol-whichhas beenusedtotreatailmentsrangingfromdigestiveproblemstoepilepsy. AndbecauseitcontainsverylittleTHC,itcanbeusedsafelyonchildren andotherpatientswhodon’twanttodealwiththesideeffectsofan intoxicatingdrug.

Livestockcare- Farmersaroundtheworldusehempintheiranimals’ feedandbedding,particularlyhorses.

Buildingandmanufacturing- Hempstalksareextremelytoughand sturdy,sotheyhavelongbeenusedforropeandotherbuilding materials.RecentlysomepeopleinColoradohaveexperimentedwith makingsmallhousesandevencarsoutofhemp.

Formoreinformation,gotowww.coloradohempproject.comor www.leafscience.com.

years,andhestillgrowsalfalfa, sorghumandothercrops.

Butgrowingitinvolvesan arrayofchallengesthatacorn orwheatfarmerwouldnever havetoface.Becausehempwas

anillegalcropuntil2012,there aren’tmanyhardandfastrules onhowtogrow,priceormarket ityet.Andsincenolegitimate operationhasbeenfarmingitfor morethantwoyears,credible

expertsontheindustryarehard tofind.

“Nobodyknowsawholelot aboutthisstuff,”Silzsaid. “We’reallkindofflyingbythe seatofourpants.”

Beforestartingtheirbusiness, heandMuckwenttomanyfarmersinMorganCountyforadvice ongrowinghemp.Theydid receivesomehelpfultips,but Silzsaidtheycouldn’tfindanyonewhoknewmuchmoreabout theindustrythantheydid.

Somuchofwhatthey’ve learnedhascomethroughtrial anderror.Hempstalksaretoo tallandtoughformanycombinestohandle,therootsretain moremoisturethanmostColoradoplantsandsofaronlyafew organicpesticideshavebeen clearedforuseonthecrop. Everypartofthegrowingprocesswasanexperiment,includingthequestionMuckandSilz

SeeHEMP,pg.31

HEMP frompage30

arecurrentlywrestlingwith–howtodrythemoisture-rich plantandsafelydeliverittobuyers.

Billingsacknowledgedthat Coloradostillhasworktodoin ordertohelpfarmersgrow hempsuccessfully.

“Whatweneedtogetthis industrygoingis,weneedsome infrastructure,”hesaid,adding thathempfarmersneedmore supportandmoreaccesstoprocessingequipment.

Butthosewithpreviousfarmingexperience,likeSilzand Muck,stillhaveanadvantage overmanynewhempgrowers.

“I’vemetsomepeoplewithno outdoorfarmingexperience w hatsoeverwhoareplanting30to60-acrehempfields,”Silzsaid.

He,ontheotherhand,has beenfarmingalfalfa,sorghum andothercropsforabout12 y ears.MuckisalsoanexperiSeeHEMP,pg.32

Courtesyphoto /FortMorganTimes HarvesttimeinMuckandSilz'shempfield.

HEMP frompage31

encedfarmerwithfieldsinthe CastleRockareaandNebraska, inadditiontohisFortMorgan property.

Withtheirexperience,therapidly-expandingmarketforhemp andthesavingsonwater,Muck andSilzhopetoturnaprofiton theirnewbusinessbytheendof theyear.Theyplantoplant60 acresofitnextyear.AndSilz saidheexpectstoseemore farmersintheareafollowing theirexampleinthefuture.

“It’sareallyextraordinary plant,”hesaid.“Andwe’restill learningaboutit.Therearea bunchofchemicalsinhemp w herewedon’tevenknowwhat they’regoodforyet.”

StephanieAlderton:970-8675651ext227, s alderton@fmtimes.comor twitter.com/slalderton

VALLEY® WILLNEVERLETYOUDOWN. Prettysimple.Farmersdependonwhat’s dependable.That’sValley®,the#1brandin pivots.Ourmachineshavebeeninfield thelongest,withengineeringthatjust won’tquit.Asever-increasingdemands areputonyourshoulders,letValley lightentheload–andincreaseyields–withrock-solidreliability.

Courtesyphoto /FortMorganTimes MattSilzinhishempfieldnearFortMorgan.

ByStephanieAlderton TimesStaffWriter

Ifitlookslikesomethingis missinginaMorganCounty cornorwheatfield,chancesare it’stheirrigationsprinkler.

Manylocalfarmersareturning toanewformofirrigation,one thatisalmostinvisiblefrom aboveground.Subsurfacedrip irrigationismadeupofthin tubes,or“tapes,”thatrununderneatheachrowofseedsina fieldandpumpwaterfromawell throughafiltrationsystem.It

SeeIRRIGATION,pg.34

IRRIGATION frompage33

useshalfthewaterotherirrigationmethodsdo,whichiswhy theNationalResourcesConserv ationServiceisawardinggrants tofarmerswhoinstallit.

“Wewereprettynervousat first,”CodyMillar,co-ownerof M&CFarms,said.“Because y ou’resousedto,whenyouturn thesprinkleronyoucanseethe w ater.Andwhenyou’redoing floodirrigation,youcanseethe w ater.Buthere,youcan’treally seethewater.”

MillarhelpedinstalltheSDIin someofhisdairyfarm’scorn silageandalfalfafieldslastyear. Sincethen,productionhas increasedinthosefieldsby about20bushelsperacre.

CharlieLauck,whogrowscorn on800acresinFortMorgan, sawthesameresultswhenhe installedhisSDIlastspring.He likeditsomuchhedecidedto startsellingreplacementparts

SeeIRRIGATION,pg.35

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes CodyMillarpointsoutoneofthewaterpressurevalvesonhissubsurfacedripsystem.

IRRIGATION frompage34

foritandperforminginstalls himself.

“Wegotitforthelaborsavings,watersavingsandefficiency,”hesaid.“It’sgoneaboveand beyondmyexpectations.”

OnereasontheSDIworksso w ellisthatitallowsthesoilto soakupallthewateritneeds. Sprinklersandfloodirrigation systemscanlosewaterthrough evaporationbeforeitgetstothe rootsofthecrop.Atbetween12 and18inchesbelowground,SDI tapeisalreadyintherightpositiontofeedthoseroots.

TheSDIisalsoeasiertomaintainthanmoretraditionalirrigationmethods,sinceitdoesn’t haveanyabove-groundequipmentexceptthevalvesthatcontrolthewaterpressure.

Butitdoesn’tcomewithoutits ownshareofproblemsandrisks. Foronething,installinganSDI isexpensive.Itcancostasmuch

as$3,000peracreupfront, althoughtheNRCSgrantlowers thatcostsignificantly.Lauck believesthesavingsonwater andmaintenancemakeupfor thepriceinthelongrun,but therearestillafewthingsthat cangoexpensivelywrongwith thesystem.

CurtisPoitz,anotherFortMorganfarmer,installedhisSDIin

2013.Hehasn’tseenthesame improvementincropyieldsthat LauckandMillarhave,possibly becausehisdriptapekeepsgettingchewedupbyburrowing animals.Althoughthetapeisn’t expensiveinitself,itcanbea headachetoreplace,sotunnelingpestsarebadnewsforfarmerswhouseit.

Millaralsoworriesthesystem

mightnotworkaswellindry years.

“Themainthingis,isyoucan’t reallygerminatewithit,”hesaid. “Soifyouplantcornorwheator whateveritis,youcan’tguaranteethatthewaterwillreachup theretogerminateeveryseed. Soyoukindofhavetohopeit rains.”

Still,allthreefarmersagree thattheSDIsolvesmoreproblemsthanitcauses.

“Thereareplacesitfits,”Poitz said.“Whenthefield’snotright, youcan’tputapivotinit,sothis fitsbetter.”

MillarplanstoinstallSDIsystemsintherestofhisfieldsfor nextyear.

“Itsavesyoualotoftime,”he said.“Andit’sreallysimple.”

StephanieAlderton:970-8675651ext227, salderton@fmtimes.comor twitter.com/slalderton

Flightofthedrones

Unmannedaircraftpresentproblems, possibilitiestofarmers

ByStephanieAlderton

Drones,futuristicthoughthey canseem,maybeatraditional farmer’sbestfriend.

ThatwasthemessageTom McKinnonbroughttotheProgressive15conferenceonOct.15 inFortMorgan.McKinnon worksforacompanycalledAgribotix,whichspecializesinmakingdronetechnologyforfarmers.

“Inmanyways,agriculture seemslikeanidyllicwayoflife,”

hesaid.“Butofcourse,there’sa lotofstressesinagriculturethat wehavetodealwith…so,atleast partially,technologycananswer someofthat.”

Forexample,manyfarmers alreadyuseGPSanddatamanagementtechnologyextensively. Somefarmsandranches,like FeldpauschHolsteinsinFort Morgan,havefeedingorirrigationsystemsrunentirelybycomputerprograms.Likethosetechnologies,dronescangivefarmers morepreciseinformationabout SeeDRONES,pg.38

TimesStaffWriter

StephanieAlderton /FortMorganTimes

TomMcKinnonofAgribotixholdsoneofhiscompany's“quadcopter” dronesattheProgressive15conferenceonOct.15.

DRONES frompage37

theircrops,whichallowsthemto growmoreefficiently.

ThedronesMcKinnon’scompanyproducesarefittedwithcameras,sotheycantakenormaland infraredphotographsofthefields theyflyover.Thentheysend thoseimagesintoadataprocessingprogramthatfarmerscanuse todeterminewhichfieldsneed morewaterorfertilizer,sothey don’twasteresourcesoncrops thatdon’tneedthem.

“Weneedreal-timedataof w hat’sgoingoninthefield,” McKinnonsaid.“Thetraditional wayofdoingthathasbeeneither satellitesormannedaircraft. Bothofthosehavedefiniteapplications,butforus,thenewkidon theblockisUAVS:droneaircraft.”

Thoseunmannedflying machineshavealreadycaught theattentionofmanyfarmers. WaltherFarms,anationalpotato producerwithalocationinFort Morgan,beganexperimenting

SeeDRONES,pg.39

CourtesyPhoto/FortMorganTimes

Anexampleoftheinfraredfieldimagesdronescanprovidetofarmers.

DRONES frompage38

withthetechnologythissummer, asacheaperalternativetothe mannedairplanesthatdothejob forthemnow.

“It’soneofthetechnologies we’relookingatanddabblingin,” ChadCottingham,Walther’s directorofemployeeandcommunityrelations,said.“It’ssustainable,becausewe’reusingjustthe rightamountofwaterandfertilizerforeachfield…Andyoudon’t havetopayforthefuelforthe plane,thepilot’sfeesandtraining…it’sjustalotcheaper.”

ButalthoughCottinghamsaid theownersofWaltherFarms pridethemselvesontheirtechnologicalresearch,theyhaven’tfullyembraceddronesjustyet.

They’renotalone.Dronesare stillaverynewphenomenonin agriculture,andonethatisnot withoutcontroversy.

JustafewdaysafterMcKinnon gavehispresentation,theFeder-

Whataredrones?

Dronesareunmannedaircraft thatarepilotedremotelyor programmedtoflyaspecific course.Theyarewidelyusedin themilitary,butarebecoming morepopularinotherindustries, suchasagriculture.Non-military drones,liketheonesproduced byAgribotix,canlookliketiny planeswithsolidwings,orfly withpropellerslikeahelicopter. Theircostcanrangefrom$50to tensofthousandsofdollars, dependingonwhatthey’llbe usedfor.Thoseproducedby Agribotixcostabout$12,000. Formoreinformationon agriculturaldrones,goto agribotix.com.

alAviationAdministration announcedthatallownersofrecreationaldroneswillberequired toregistertheiraircraftwiththe

government.It’snotclearyet howthatdecisionwillaffectagriculturaldrones,butitwillprobablybesometimebeforeevery fieldinMorganCountyhasa tiny,helicopter-likevehiclewhirringaboveit.

Ifnothingelse,though,drones areanexampleofthekindofcutting-edgetechnologythatdistinguishesmodernfarming.

“Weuseasmuchtechnologyas aFortune500company,”Cotting-

hamsaid.“Probablymore.”

Whetherdroneswillbecomea permanentpartofthemodern farmer’shigh-techtoolbox remainstobeseen.Inthemeantime,McKinnonandtheother researchersatAgribotixwillcontinueworkingtomakethem moreefficientandprecise.

StephanieAlderton:970-867-5651 ext227,salderton@fmtimes.com ortwitter.com/slalderton

“It’ssustainable,becausewe’reusingjustthe rightamountofwaterandfertilizerforeach field…Andyoudon’thavetopayforthefuel fortheplane,thepilot’sfeesand training…it’sjustalotcheaper.”

ChadCottingham WaltherFarms

5thingstoknow:NISP

ByJenniGrubbs TimesStaffWriter

Wateristhelifebloodofacommunity;accesstoitallowsfor growthandeconomicdevelopment.

Nothavingenoughofitavailable canleadtoathrivingcitybecomingaghosttown.

“Ifwedon’thavewater50years fromnow,100yearsfromnow, we’lldwindleaway,”FortMorgan MayorTerryMcAlistersaid.

FortMorgancityleadersare doingalltheycantoensurethe citywillhaveenoughwatersupply forthefutureandwhatever growthmaycome,beitresidential,commercial,industrialoragriculture-related.Tothatend,the

SeeNISP,pg.41

Constructionofthe 110-mileSouthern WaterSupplyPipeline, shownhere,wascompletedinSeptember 1999.ItcurrentlydeliversColorado-Big Thompsonwaterto FortMorgan.Ifthe NorthernIntegrated SupplyProjectgets built,thissamepipelinelikelywillbepartof theinfrastructurethat bringswatertoFort Morgan.

NorthernWater / Courtesyphoto

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimes StateRep.JerrySonnenberg,R-Sterling,speaksinfavoroftheNorthern IntegratedSupplyProjectatapublichearingJuly22,2015,inFortCollins. Listeningtoall65ofthespeakersandmoderatingtheeventatrightisLt. Col.MikeSextonoftheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineersOmahaDistrict.The CorpsclosedthepubliccommentperiodontheNISPDraftSupplemental EnvironmentalImpactStatementonSept.3.

cityisheavilyinvestedinthe NorthernIntegratedSupplyProject.

Hereare5thingstoknowabout NISP:

1. NorthernColoradoWater ConservancyDistrict,aka NorthernWater,isseekingapermittobuildNISP,amassivewater storageproject.Itwouldinclude buildingtworeservoirs—the 170,000-acre-footGladeReservoir nearFortCollinsandthe45,000acre-footGaletonReservoirnortheastofGreeleynearAult—as wellaspumpingstationsandpipelines.ForFortMorgan,theNISP pipelinewouldconnectwiththe ColoradoBig-Thompsonpipeline thatcurrentlysuppliesthecity.

2. Thereare11citiesandfour waterdistrictsparticipating withNorthernWaterintryingto getNISPbuilt,includingthecity ofFortMorganandMorganCountyQualityWaterDistrict.Each participanthasadifferentshareof thewaterthatwouldbestoredin theNISPreservoirs.

3. FortMorganhasinvested morethan$1millioninNISP overthepastdecadeandlikelywill spendmanymoremillionsonthe projectifitgetspermittedand

thenbuilt.EachNISPparticipant hasafinancialcommitmentrelatedtoitspercentageofwaterstorage.FortMorganisoneofthe largerparticipants,sothecity’s costsaregreater.

4. TheU.S.ArmyCorpsof Engineerscompletedthe publiccommentperiodSept.3on theNISPDraftSupplementalEnvironmentalImpactStatement, whichispartofthepermittingprocess.TheCorpscurrentlyiscompilingandreviewingthecommentsbeforereplyingtothem.A decisiononthepermitforNISPis expectedtocomein2017,accordingtoLt.Col.MikeSextonofthe U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers OmahaDistrict.

5. Ifitdoesgetpermittedand everythingstaysonthecurrentschedule,constructionon NISPcouldbeginin2019,accordingtoFortMorganWater Resources/UtilitiesDirectorBrent Nation,butthecitylikely shouldn’texpectwaterfromitto arrivehereuntilaround2022.

JenniGrubbs: jgrubbs@fmtimes.com,Twitter @JenniGrubbsor tout.com/jennigrubbs

WorkcontinuesontheSolNacientehousingdevelopmentforagriculturalworkersinsoutheastFortMorgan,asshownhereOct.20.Lessthanayear ago,thelandwherethebuildingsnowstandwasacornfield.Nextspring,itisexpectedtobecompletedandopentotenants,whohavesuccessfully completedtheapplicationprocess.

Housingsolutionforworkers

FortMorganresidentsandvisitorsmayhavenoticedtheconstructionofagroupofhousing buildingshappeninginthesoutheastpartofthecity,neartheFort MorganPoliceDepartmentand MorganCountyDepartmentof HumanServicesatBeaverAvenue andLindaStreet.

CalledSolNaciente,fiveresidentialbuildingsandonecommunity buildingofthedevelopment includes50units,withamixof flat-styleapartmentsandtownhousesforlow-incomeagricultural workersandtheirfamilies.Being abletolivetherewhenitiscompletednextspringiscontingenton meetingrequirementsonhouseholdincomeandhowmuchofthat incomeisfromagriculturalsources—60percent.Rentalassistance likelywillbeavailablefortenants, thankstoUSDARuralSolutions.

ThenonprofitCommunity Resources&HousingDevelopmentCorp.isbuildingSol Naciente,withfinancialhelpfrom theU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,includinga$1milliongrant anda$2millionloan.TheColoradoHousingandFinanceAuthority alsoawardedCRHDC9percent low-incomehousingtaxcreditsfor thebuildingproject.

ToapplytoliveinSolNaciente, visittheWorkforceCenterinFort Morgan,oraskaboutapplications atCargillMeatSolutionsorthe MorganCommunityCollege/Car-

CommunityResources&HousingDevelopmentCorp. /Courtesyphoto MorganCountyandCityofFortMorganofficials,aswellasotherdignitaries,gatherinmid-June2015tokickoff theconstructionofSolNacientewithaceremonialground-breaking.SolNacienteisanaffordabledevelopmentfor areasworkerswhogetalargeportionoftheirhouseholdincomefromag-basedjobs.

gillAdultEducationoffices.Applicationsalsomaybeavailablefrom MaryKraftatQuailRidgeDairy. Gettingapprovedisasomewhat lengthyprocess,withbothaprescreeningandthenafullUSDA formthatwillneedtobefilledout. Butassistancewiththesethings willbeavailableinbothEnglish andSpanishlanguages.

Formoreinformation,call970867-9401orvisittheWorkforce Centerat426EnsignSt.inFort Morgantogetstarted,oremail CRHDC’sLindaMartinezatlinda@crhdc.orgformoreinfo.

—CompiledfrompreviousTimes reports

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimes

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimesfilephoto ConstructionworkersleveloutroughspotsinthedryingcementfoundationforthefourthhousingbuildingatSolNacienteinsoutheastFortMorganonAug.13.

Addressingendangered Americanfarms

ByCongressmanKenBuck R-Colo.

In1935,atleast7millionroamed theAmericancontinent.By2014, thatnumberdroppedto2million.

TheAmericanfarmerisslowly disappearingfromitsnativehabitat.Toaddressthisproblem,I recentlyofferedanamendment requiringtheEPAtoconducta studyofwhether“AgricolaAmericus,”theAmericanFarmer,should beclassifiedasanendangered species.

Don’tlaugh.Iactuallyoffered thisamendmentonthefloorofthe House.Taking$50,000from bonusesfortopEPApersonnel andusingthemoneytoinvestigate theplightofthefarmerseemsreasonable.

OverreachinggovernmentstranglestheAmericanfarmer—from overregulationbyfederalagencies,tothedeathtax,toGMO labelingrequirements.

Ifyou’reafarmer,youunderstandtheproblem.

Lookoutside.Ifit’sraining,that puddleinyourfieldfallsunderthe EPA’sjurisdictionduetothe recentWatersoftheU.S. (WOTUS)rule.Nowyou’llneeda costlypermittotouchthatpuddle.

Growtoomanyraisinsthisyear? Thefederalgovernmentwillpry theextrafromyourhands.Outdatedmarketingordersandregulationstreatfarmerslikekidswho can’ttellatomatofromapotato.

Speakingoftomatoes,GMO labelingmandatesarecostlyand overzealous.Ifyouwanttoproducetrulynon-GMOfoods,good luckgettingyourhandson2,000-

year-oldtomatoseeds.

Andsomuchforgenerational farming.Beforehandingthetractorkeystoyourson,you’llneedto payoffyourdeathtax.Thatis, he’llneedtopayoffyourdeath tax.

Whataboutelectricity?Doyou needit?ThankstonewEPAregulationsonpowerplants,electricity costswillsoar.PresidentObama’s recentemissionsruleswillraise pricesasenergyproducersstruggletoadjusttomoreexpensive sourcesofenergy.

Meanwhile,anotherspecies earnedthe“endangered”label.

Wolvesattackfarmsandlivestock, butbecauseoftheirspecialtitle, farmershavenowaytostopthe assaultontheirpropertyrights.

Clearly,farmersfaceabevyof governmentregulationsandinterventionsthatmakeitharderfor themtoearnaliving.Smallerfamilyfarmsfeelthebruntofthe impact.

Forthisreason,weneedtosave theAmericanfarmer.I’vebeen fightinginWashington,D.C.todo justthat.

ToguardagainstradicalGMO mandates,IvotedforH.R.1599, theSafeandAccurateFoodLabel-

ingAct.Thisbillprohibitsstates frompassingmandatorylabeling laws,insteadsettingupatransparentandvoluntarysystemforlabelingthroughtheFDA.Thebill guardsagainstexpensivelabeling mandatesandacultureoffear whenitcomestoAmerica’sfood.

EveryAmericansuffersunder PresidentObama’sonslaughtof regulations.That’swhyIvotedin favoroftheREINSAct(H.R.427), underwhichanyfederalagency regulationcostingtheeconomy over$100millionwouldrequire Congressionalapproval.When Obamaaddsregulationstopower plantsthatwouldincreasethecost ofenergy,thisactallowscitizens toholdgovernmentaccountable, sincethebuckwouldstopwith theirmemberofCongress.

Ialsovotedtorepealthedeath tax.Whensomeoneworkshard theirwholelifecaringfortheir landandpayingpropertyand incometaxes,theyshouldn’thave tosellofftheirfarmtopaythe deathtax.Andarepealofthe deathtaxwouldconstituteatax cutofnearly$270billionoverten years.

Thefederalgovernment encroachesonthefarmer’snatural habitat.ButAmericanfarmersare resilient.Theyunderstandwhat makesAmericaspecial:hard work,trustinGod,andanoptimisminthegoodtimesandthe bad.Farmersfeednotonlyour foodeconomybutalsoournation’s soul.Let’skeepthemaroundfora bitlonger.

KenBuck,aRepublicanfrom Greeley,representsColorado’s FourthCongressionalDistrict.

U.S.Rep.KenBuck,R-Colo.

By JenniGrubbs TimesStaff Writer

Whetherit’s related to sugar beets, pumpkinsorvarious other cr ops, migrant far mlaborhas a lengthy histor yinnor theast Colorado.

And it’s one that continues today,asthe need is still ther e when har vest rolls ar ound.

But in or der to ensure they can fill that need legally,producers likely will have to make pr eparations for being allowed to bring in temporar yworkers fr om abr oad long befor ecrops ar efinished gr owing —sometimes befor e they’r eeven planted.

Legal channels

Whilether elikely ar emany

migrantfarmworkerswhoarenot intheUnitedStateslegally,there alsoarelotsoffarmerswhoseek thatmigrantlaborthroughofficial,legalmeans.

Inmostcases,thatstartswith postingtheanticipatedtemporary, agriculturaljobsthroughtheColoradoStateWorkforceCenterand thenapplyingforcertificationto employtheworkersthroughthe U.S.DepartmentofLabor’sH-2A temporaryagriculturalworkers program.Fromthere,thepotentialmigrantworkershavetoseek visasorpermissiontoenterthe UnitedStatesatembassiesorcon-

sulatestodothework.

Thisprogram“establishesa meansforagriculturalemployers whoanticipateashortageof domesticworkerstobringnonimmigrantforeignworkerstothe U.S.toperformagriculturallabor orservicesofatemporaryorseasonalnature,”accordingtothe LaborDepartment.

Therearestrictrequirements forqualifyingforthisprogramin thefirstplace,andthenthereare limitsonboththenumberofsuch legaltemporaryworkersacompanyorproducercanemployand thelengthofthatemployment.

Ther ealso ar eprotections for the temporar yworkers that pr oducers have to follow, including carrying bonds basedonthe number of workers,accor ding to the LaborDepar tment.

“The Employment is of aseasonal natur ewher eitistied to a cer tain timeofyear by an event or patter n, such as ashor tannual gr owing cycle or aspecific aspect of alongercycle, and requir es laborlevelsfar above the necessar yfor ongoing operations,” accor ding to the LaborDepar tment.

In most cases, the job can last no mor ethan ayear,and usually less than that

And ther eisfier ce competition for beingallowed to have these

See MIGRANTS, pg .45

MIGRANTS frompage44

migrantworkerscomehelpduringharvests,accordingtoarea farmers.

OnenortheastColoradoproducerwhodependsonthemigrant farmersisCookseyFarms,southwestofHoytandnearRoggen.

There,theCookseyfamily growsmanydifferentcrops,but atleasttwoofthemareextremely labor-intensive:pumpkinsand watermelons.

Becauseofthat,Jerryand DamarisCookseyneedtheextra helpfortheharvest.

“WebringuplaborfromMexico,”JerryCookseysaid,indicatingheusestheH-2Aprogram. “Wehaveabout32(migrant) laborers.”

ThefirstonescametoColorado fromMexicoinmid-June,hesaid, andthelastofthemigrantscame inlateSeptemberwhenthemajorityofthefarm’spumpkinswere readyforharvest.

Afterthepumpkinharvest,the laborers’jobandtemporarystay

H-2Aprogramprocess

Inorderforagriculturalproducerstogetlegaltemporaryseasonalfarm labor,theyneedtofollowthisprocess:

Step1: Theagriculturalproducerfirstsubmitsatemporarylabor certificationapplicationtotheU.S.DepartmentofLabor.

Step2: AfterreceivingatemporarylaborcertificationforH-2A employmentfromDOL,theproducerthensubmitsFormI-129toU.S. CitizenshipandImmigrationServices.

Step3: OnceUSCISapprovestheproducer’sFormI-129,thepotential H-2Aworkershavetoeither:

•applyforanH-2AvisawiththeU.S.StateDepartmentataU.S. embassyorconsulateabroad,andthenseekadmissiontotheUnited StateswithU.S.CustomsandBorderProtectionataU.S.portofentry; •ordirectlyseekadmissiontotheUnitedStatesinH-2Aclassification withCustomsandBorderProtectionataU.S.portofentryifavisaisnot required.

Moreinfo: Visit:www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/h_2a_details.cfm —Source:U.S.DepartmentofLabor

intheUnitedStatesends.

Shiftingattitudes

Overtheyears,therehavebeen wavesofimmigrantsandmigrant farmworkerstiedtodifferent cropsandthechangesinnational andlocalpoliticsthathelpthem gethereorseektodrivethem

out.

Likeotheragriculturalproducers,CookseyFarmshashadto adapttochangesinimmigration policiesandmigrantlaboravailabilityovertheyears,according toDamarisCooksey.

“Twentyyearsago,wewould havepeoplecomebyandsay,

‘CanIwork?’”shesaid.“After 9/11,thatstopped.”

Buttheneedforthemigrant farmlabordidnotstop.

Consequently,itbecomesabig competitionamongproducersof allsizesfortheavailablevisasand allowedH-2Aworkers,withthe processstartinglongbeforea crop’sharvestisevenclose.

TheCookseysareamongthe farmerswhoareseekingtowork withinthesystem,evenifitis complicatedandnotguaranteed thattheywillgetthetemporary workerstheyneed.

Sometimesitdoesworkoutperfectly,though,anditcanoffer somepleasantsurprisesalongthe way,DamarisCookseysaid.

“Wehadoneofthisyear’s (migrant)workersworkforus10 yearsago,”shesaid.

JenniGrubbs: jgrubbs@fmtimes.com,Twitter @JenniGrubbsor tout.com/jennigrubbs

Diggingin

ByCallieJones Journal-Advocatestaffwriter

Fromlearningaboutplantsystemsandhowtotakecareof plants,tohowcropproduction works,SterlingHighSchool’snew greenhouseisprovingtobeavaluablelearningtoolforstudents.

InNovember2012,RE-1Valley SchoolDistrictwasawardeda $25,000grantfromAmerica’s FarmersGroupRuralEducation, sponsoredbytheMonsantoFund, fortheconstructionofgreenhousesatSterlingandCalicheHigh Schools.TheMonsantoprogram askedfarmerstonominateapublicschooldistrictintheircommu-

SeeGREENHOUSE,pg.47

Fromleft:KaseyKinney,SterlingHighSchoolagadviser,andSHSFFAmembersKyleeHarless,RileyMeisner,CooperCarlson,CassidyPaxtonandRJWalther,arepicturedinsidetheschool’sgreenhouse.Thegreenhousehas allowedstudentstogethands-onlearningaboutcropproductionandhowtotakecareofplants.

Youandyourfamilydon’tworkninetofive.Andyou don’tworkfivedaysaweek.It’sa24/7operation.That’swhy youneedabankthattakesyourbusinessasseriouslyasyoudo. Weworkhardtoprovideourcustomerswithsuperiorservice,greatratesandthebest personal,businessandagriculturebankingserviceseveryday.Giveusacallorcomebyand seewhatFirstFarmBankcandotohelpyourbusinessthrive.

CallieJones /SterlingJournal-Advocate

GREENHOUSE frompage46

nitytocompeteforamerit-based granttoenhanceeducationinthe areasofmathorscience.About22 areafarmersjoinedtogetherto nominateRE-1forthegrant.

SHSactuallyhastwogreenhouses,locatedjustoutsideofthecafeterianeartheagshop,butonly onehasplantsinsideofit.Growinginthegreenhouserightnow aresquash,tomatoes,peppersand lettuce.Therearealsosomehouse plantsthatacommunitymember hasdonatedforstudentstouseto docuttingsandasexualpropagation,whereplantsaregrownfrom cuttings.

Alongwiththegreenhouse,SHS alsohasanaquaponicsystem, whichagstudentsareusingto growherbssuchasbasil,cilantro anddill.

AccordingtoSHSagteacher KaseyKinney,thegreenhouseis justinthebeginningstages— “There’salotofthingsthatwestill havetoworkthrough”—butit’s alreadyservingseveralpurposes.

Plantsciencestudentsareusingit tostudyplantsandtododifferent typesofpropagation,whetherit’s plantingfromtheseedorfromcutting,andstudentsareabletouseit forSupervisedAgricultureExperiencesandscienceprojects.

Oneofthemajorpurposesofthe greenhouseistogivestudents hands-onexperiencethathelps solidifytheirunderstandingofthe conceptsthey’retaughtinclass.

“Theylearnsomethinginclass andthentheygooutthereand theyputthatconceptintopractice andithelpsthembetterretainthe information.Ithelpsthemalso gainskillsthatwillbevaluable whentheygooutintothereal world,whetherornotthey’reinag ornot,”Kinneysaid.

Italsoteachesthestudents responsibility,makingsureplants getwateredontime,andhowto dealwithstruggles.

“There’stimeswhereacertain typeofplantdoesn’tgrowvery

SeeGREENHOUSE,pg.48

CallieJones /SterlingJournal-Advocate SterlingHighSchoolFFAmemberRJWaltherwaterssomeplantsinsidethe school’sgreenhouse.Waltherisinchargeoftakingcareoftheplantsfor hisSuperivisedAgricultureExperience,aprojectthatagstudentsare requiredtodotogethands-onexperienceoutsideoftheclassroom.

wellwherewe’reat,withwhere thegreenhouseisplaced,because wedon’thaveenoughlight.So, theylearnfromthatexperience— okaythatdoesn’tworkhere,but insteadofgettingupsetaboutit, we’regoingtojustplantthese typesofplantsinstead,”Kinney said.

“So,there’salotdifferentthings thattheylearnoutsideofjusttakingcareplantsandmakingsure they’regrowingproperly.

PlantsciencestudentRJ Walthers,ajunior,isusingthe greenhouseforhisSAE.After someexperiencehelpingwithhis family’sgardenhewasexcitedto workinthegreenhouse.Hesaid it’shelpedhimlearnaboutplant domainsandthedifferencetheclimatecanmakewhenitcomesto certainplants.

AgbusinessstudentKyleeHarless,ajunior,isusingthegreenhouseforheragriscienceproject thisyear.

SeeGREENHOUSE,pg.49

CallieJones /SterlingJournal-Advocate SterlingHighSchoolFFAmemberCooperCarlsonlooksattheaquaponicsystemintheagshop.Theaquaponic systemisbeingusedtogrowherbs,suchasbasil,cilantroanddill,providinganotherhands-onlearningexperienceforstudents.

GREENHOUSE frompage48

“Weweren’tabletouseitlast year,soIhadtousepods.Butthis year,I’msuperexcitedbecause thegreenhousewillgivetheplants afeelingofnaturalenvironmentin theirhabitat,”shesaid.

HarlesspointedouttheFFA chapterhasworkedreallyhardto getthegreenhouserunning.

“We’vehadstruggleswithitin thepast,butwetalkedtosome peopleoutinthecommunity,we talkedtooursponsorsandthey’ve givenusmoneytohelpfundthe greenhouseandnowthatwe’ve gotitgoingwe’veactuallyused thatmoneyinagreatwaytoget watergoinginthegreenhouse,get fansgoingandgetplantsandvegetablesgrowing,”shecommented. “I’mreallyexcitedaboutwhat we’vedonewiththegreenhouse.”

Harlesssaidit’staughtheralot abouttakingcareofplantsand plantsystems,howtherootshelp theplant.Plus,it’shelpedher understandphotosynthesis,the nitrogencycleandthehydrogen

cycle,“howallofthosework togethertohelptheenvironment insidethegreenhouseandifone cycleisoffitaffectstheother cycles.”

Anotheragbusinessstudent, sophomoreRileyMeisner,who hasnothadanyexperiencewith greenhousesbefore,saidit’s taughtthestudentsalotaboutthe differentpartsofacropproductionandthedifferentplantsthat growindifferentplaces.

“Ithinkthatwecanlearnhowto growonasmallerlevelthanjust havingabigfieldofcorn,”hesaid, addingthat“it’skindofneattobe abletoprovidenotjustthelocal foods,butsomeofthethingsyou wouldn’tfindaroundhere.”

Thehopeistomaybesomeday beabletostartsellingwhatthey growforfundraisersorpossibly usethefoodtoprovideadinner forlow-incomeorhomelesspeople inthecommunity.

SophomoreCassidyPaxtonsaid thegreenhousehashelpedher

learnhowtohookupawatering systemandaboutdifferentplants andit’ssomethingshewillbeable tousethroughoutlife.

“Justobservingthecropsand howthey’replantedandhow(the students)takecareofthem,itdefinitelyrelatestotheagriculture worldofhowfarmersactually growawidevarietyofcropsand notjustonecroplikewe’redoing eachindividualplanterinthere, buthowfarmersdothewholefield andhowmuchworkandeffortit takestoputintothat,”shesaid.

“It’sreallycooltoseethekids putinthatmucheffortandwantto makethegreenhousework.”

SophomoreCooperCarlsonsaid he’slearnedaboutthemanydifferenttypesofplantsthereareand howmuchtimeittakestotake careofeachone.“It’smorethanI thought.”

Henotedinthespringtheyplan tostartenteringindatatotryto reallybuildupforwhattheyplan todowiththegreenhousebusinesswise.Forthebusinessstudentsthegreenhousewillserveas anopportunitytolearnaboutthe

financialaspectsofbusiness.

Kinneysaidherhopeisthat eventuallythegreenhousecanbe utilizedacrossallcurriculums withinheragclasses.Shewould liketheplantsystemstudentstakingcareoftheplants;theagbusinessclassrunningtheplantsale thattheplantsystemstudents workongettingtheplantspreparedfor;theIntrotoAg1studentsusingittostudysoilanddo labsorhelpprepareplantsforthe sale;andthefoodscienceclass usingthecropsfromittolearn howtocan,dryandfreezeproduce.

Shealsomentionedsomeofher otherplansforit.“There’sthis dealwhereyougrowforageina veryconfinedareaandI’dliketo eventuallyinvestinsomethingfor that,inordertomaybegetmyanimalsystemsstudentsinvolvedas well.”

“We’reexcitedabout(thegreenhouse).There’salotofpotential forit,”Kinneysaid.

CallieJones:970-526-9286, cjones@journal-advocate.com

SALUTETOAGRICULTURE: EDUCATION

DIYassistance

FromMorganCommunityCollege SpecialtotheTimes

Asabusinessowner,youunderstandthatmanagingisnotjust aboutthebottomline;it’sabout risk-taking,marketing,leadership, relationshipbuildingandcustomer service.

Ifyouarelikemost,youcould usearefreshercourseonatleast oneaspectofentrepreneurship. That’swhereMorganCommunity Collegecanhelp.

“Yourbusinessisourclassroom” isthemantrafortheAgriculture andBusinessManagementprogramatMCC.

ABMcustomizedbusinesstrainingisanopportunitythatfitsany kindofbusinessfromserviceto retailtoagriculturesalestoproduction,accordingtoBarbFrihauf,ABMdepartmentchairand facultymember.“Infact,”shesaid, “thebusinessdoesn’thavetobe agriculturerelated,asmightbe assumedbytheprogramtitle.”

“IhadattendedMCCwhilein highschool,soIknewitwasa goodplacetostart,”saidAshley MalcomwithMalcomLegacy Farms.“MyhusbandandIarethe fourthgenerationtofarmand ranch,butfoundweneededhelp aswetransitionedtoanLLC.With thehelpofmyinstructorIlearned QuickBooks,dataentry,andthe ‘ins&outs’ofourfarm.Ihave learnedsomuchmorethanbookkeeping;goingtoMCCwasthe rightchoice,andhelpedusunderstandourbusinesstransition.”

Frihaufemphasizesthatthe ABMprogramisdesignedfornontraditionalstudentsinthebusiness world.“Whyworkwiththelatest technologyanduseconceptscan beappliedtoanykindofbusiness; itissomuchmorethantax records.Weencourageourstudentstotakecontrolofwhatthey alreadyhave.”

“Ifoundarealadvantageintak-

”Wealwayshavesomethinggoingon,”saysGretchenBrittainofBurlington,whosecrewisshowncattlebranding atBarTRanch.“Havinganinstructorcomeouttoourplaceofbusinesswasagreatadvantage.”

Managingabusinesscanoftenmeando-it-yourself

ingtheprogram,”statedGretchen BrittainofBarTRanch,whohas earnedtwocertificatesfromthe AgricultureandBusinessManagementprogram.“Ilive30milesout oftown.MyinstructorKellywas notonlyabletocometome,but shetailoredtheassignmentsto meetmyneedsandbusiness goals,”saidBrittain.“Ihave alreadyrecommendedtheprogramtoothers.”

EachABMcertificaterepresents thecompletionof18credithours, Frihaufsaid.Studentscanearn certificatesinrecordsandbusinessplanning,financialanalysis, commoditymarketing,marketing andriskmanagement,webproductivity/utilization,advanced

Moreinformation

Ifyouareinterestedina businessmanagementclass,or formoreinformationaboutthe ABMprogramatMorgan CommunityCollege,call(800) 622-0216ext.3260orvisitthe MCCwebsiteat www.MorganCC.edu.

businessmanagement,integrated management,ruralentrepreneurship,andleadership/human resourcesmanagement.Classes runfor6monthsbeginningin Februaryforthespringand Augustforthefallsemester.

“I’veattendedMCCsince1996, whenIwasstillinhighschool,” saidJeannelleMcCaffrey,who

holdsadegreeinAgricultureBusiness.“Iworkfromhomeonour familyfarm,buthadwantedto continuemyeducation.Ifound boththeABMprogramandmy instructoreasytoworkwith.I likedthatwecouldbeginandend aprojectwithineachsession,and ifIhadaquestiononmyhomework,Icouldcallandbeableto workthroughitoverthephone beforethenextsession.”

Theprogramsustainsthreefulltimeandonepart-timeinstructor, andmeetseachsemesterwitha ten-memberadvisoryboardcomprisedofareabusinessprofessionals,whomhelpkeeptheprogram currentandintunewithruraland economicchanges.

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NJCagriculturedepartment offersmorethanjustclasses

ByBrennenRupp Journal-Advocatesportswriter

TheNortheasternJuniorCollegelocatedinSterlinghasbeen offeringhighlevelagriculture educationfornortheastColorado for65years.

NJCoffersavarietyofagricultureprogramsandcoursework forthestudentsenrolledinthe agriculturedepartment.With over75coursetitlestochoose fromthestudentsoftheagriculturedepartmenthaveanumber ofcareerpathstopursue.

ThebasisoftheNJCagricul-

turedepartmentarethefoundationcoursesthatmakethetransferandcareerprograms.

Theprofessorsandadvisors thatmakeuptheNJCagriculturedepartmentworkclosely withfour-yearschoolstoassure thatthecontentofthecourses theyareofferingareequivalent tothefirsttwoyearsatafouryearuniversity.

Theagriculturedepartment hasalongstandingtraditionof providingthebestinstructionfor theirstudents.

“Agricultureandtherelated fieldsareoneofthetopproducSeeNJC,pg.52

Oct.15.Thecontestantswhosejarscollectedthemostmoneywereforced tokissapig.

Associate Broker

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NJC frompage51

ersinthenationintermsofjob placement,”KellyHuenink,an associateprofessoratNJC,said. “Therewillalwaysbeagreat needforjobsintheagriculture industry.”

Inadditiontothesecondto noneeducationthestudents receiveatNJC,thereisalsoa numberofclubopportunities.

“Therearenumberofclubsfor theagriculturestudentsto j oin,”Hueninksaid.“Thereis theAggiesClub.Thecollegiate farmbureau.Thelivestockjudgingteam.Thereisarodeoclub forbothboysandgirls.”

TheAggiesclubisthelargest studentclubatNJC.Theclub tracesitshistorybackto1968, w hentheoriginalAggiesClub formed.Today’sorganization formedwhenseveralsmaller clubsdecidedtodisbandand formalargerclub,undergoing annamechangein2003,accordingtoNJC’swebsite.Members belongtotheNationalPostsec-

SAVEONEXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS

ondaryAgriculturalStudent Organization,which“provides opportunitiesforindividual growth,leadershipandcareer preparation,”itsmissionstatementsays.

TheAggieshostanumberof eventsonandoffcampus throughouttheyear,including CasinoNight,HighwayClean-up, Trick-or-TreatforCanned Goods,anOpenLivestockProspectShow,anendoftheyear AgricultureAwardsBanquetand CowPieBingo.

NJCisthelaunchingpadfor anybodylookingforacareerin theagricultureindustry.It’s locatedintheheartofanagriculturecommunityandofferssecondtononeeducation,while offeringanopportunitytogain valuableexperiencebyjoining oneofthemanyclubsinthe agriculturedepartment.

BrennenRupp:970-526-9298, brupp@journal-advocate.com

Courtesyphoto

TheNortheasternJuniorCollegeLivestockJudgingTeamwasnamedCarloadChampionsattheNationalWesternStockShowCollegiateLivestock JudgingContestearlierthisyear.Pictured:(frontrow,fromleft)Samantha Trehal,JaylinnLohr,BaileyJago;(backrow,fromleft)AgricultureDepartmentChairMikeAnderson,SkyyeMoreno,RandellVonKrosigkandCaleb Christensen.

SALUTETOAGRICULTURE: EDUCATION

Floyd’sTruckCenterto sponsordieseltechprogram

Partnershipwillprovideaccess totraining,internships

ByCallieJones Journal-Advocatestaffwriter

StudentsinNortheasternJunior College’sdieseltechprogramwill nowbebetterpreparedforjobsin therealworldthankstoanewpartnershipwithFreightlinerdealership Floyd’sTruckCenter,whichwill nowbesponsoringtheprogram.

Theannouncementwasmadein mid-OctoberwhenSidJohnson, generalmanagerofFloyd’sSidney, Neb.,location,andSarahQuijas, fromtheScottsbluff,Neb.,location, visitedthedieseltechprogramto talktostudentsaboutwhatthepartnershipmeans.

ProgramCoordinatorJimmy AtencioasbeenworkingonthepartnershipwithFloyd’sforaboutayear nowandit’ssomethinghe’svery excitedabout,asitwillallowstudentstohaveaccesstoallofFreightliner’strainingthroughtheGet Aheadprogramandtokeepupwith thelatesttechnologyinthetrucking industry.

“Ittakesatextbookaroundsix yearstogetrepublished,andwith this,thetechnology’sthereright

away,yeartoyear,”hesaid.

NJCistheonlyColoradodiesel technologyschoolthatisbeing sponsoredbyFreightliner.Atencio notedthatNJC’sprogramhascome alongwayinthefouryearsthathe’s beenhere.

Henowhas28studentsenrolled andmorepeopleareaskingtojoin allthetime.Thiscomesasaresultof dieseltechniciansbeinginhigh demand.

“Ourultimategoalhereistomake surethatthekidslivetheirdream,” hesaid,notingthisnewpartnership willbeabletoreallyhelpstudents withjobplacement,atFreightliner dealershipsorelsewhere.“Overall it’sgoingtoreallyhelpwhatwe’re tryingtodohere.”

Evenpriortothispartnership Floyd’shasbeenverygenerous: RecentlytheyhelpedNJCgeta gooddealonanewdieseltruckand inthepastthey’vedonatedthelatest truckequipment,suchasengine components,totheprogram.

Nowinitsfourthgenerationof ownership,Floyd’swasstartedin 1948byFloydGillam,inScottsbluff,

CallieJones /SterlingJournal-Advocate SidJohnsonandSarahQuijas,fromFloyd'sTruckCenter,andJimmyAtencio,NJCdieseltechnologyprogramcoordinator,poseforapicturewithdiesel technologystudentsinfrontoftwodieseltrucksthatthecompanyhelpedtheprogramacquire.Floyd's,aFreightlinerdealership,willbesponsoringNJC's program.NJCwillbetheonlydieseltechnologyschoolinColoradotohaveaFreightlinersponsorship.

CourtesyPhoto /SterlingJournal-Advocate SidJohnson,generalmanagerofFloyd'sTruckCenter'slocationinSidney, Neb.,talkstoNJCdieseltechnologystudentsaboutwhatitmeansforthem nowthatthecompanyissponsoringtheNJCprogram.Thepartnershipwill givestudentsaccesstoallofthetrainingthatFloyd'sgivestoitstechnicians,aswellasinternshipopportunitieswiththecompany.

Neb.ItalsoincludeslocationsinSidney,Neb.,andCheyenneWyo.,and twoEddie’sTruckCenterlocations inRapidCityandFortPierre,S.D.

“WearecertifiedFreightliner, WesternStar,DetroitandCummins, Allison,Meritor,Eaton—basically everythingheadydutytruck,that’s us,”Johnsonsaid.

Hespokeabouttheworkthatthey doattheirlocations,notingthey “seealotofcrazystuff,”especiallyat theirSidneyandCheyennelocations,becausethey’reneartheinterstate.

Theygeteverythingfromlittleto bigrepairissues.

“We’rekindofatriagecenter— dowhatwecantogetthembackon theroad,sotheycangettheirloads delivered,”Johnsonsaid.

Hetalkedaboutwhatthesponsorshipmeans.

Itwillallowstudentsaccesstothe professionaltechnicaltrainingthatis giventoallofFloyd’stechniciansto becertifiedtodowarrantywork.

“Whatthatdoesforyou,isifyou completeyoursystemcertification whileyou’reintrainingherefortwo yearsandyougetout,itdoesn’tmatterifit’smystoreorifit’sanyother Freightlinerinthenation;youcome outwithsystemcertificationin ChassisoryoucomeoutwithacertificationinDetroit,thatmeansthat youcouldwalkrightintoanyoneof ourshopsandrightatthatpoint startdoingwarranties.

That’sahuge,hugedeal,”Johnsonsaid,addingthemajorityofthe workFloyd’sdoesiswarranties.

Atenciowillalsoreceiveallthelatesttraining,sothathehasthe knowledgetoteachittohisstudents.

Alongwiththetraining,Floyd’s willalsoprovidetrainingtools,such asmockupmotors,andwilloffer internshipsandsummerworkprograms,“whereitgivesyouanopportunityifyou’relookingtocomeinto heavydutydiesel,thatyoucancome intooneofourstoresforthesummer,we’llpayyou,butyou’regoing

togetanideaofwhatashopenvironmentisreallyabout.”

Johnsonpointedoutthatwhilein schoolthestudentsmighthavea semestertotakeanengineout,test andputitbacktogether,buthis shoptechsonlyhavethreedaysand theywanttopreparestudentsfor that.

“Whatwewanttodoiswewantto comehereandtryandputasmuch resourceaswecanintohereandto helpyourinstructorwithpreparing youforthattypeofenvironment,”he said.

Johnsonalsotalkedaboutthe demandfordieseltechnicians.

“Nomatterwhereyougointhis country,whetherit’saFreightliner dealership,aPeterbiltdealership,a Forddealership,aGeneralMotors dealership,everybodyislookingfor technicians.You’reintoacrazyfield asfarasjobopportunitiesthat’sout there.”

Henotedhehas10techniciansat theSidneylocationrightnowand “we’refixingtogrowprettyrapidly.” Johnsondiscussedsomeofthe areasthatonecanspecializein,but hesaidmostofhistechniciansare

“Jack ofall trades.”

Healsopointedouttheyhavetwo bodyshops,whichofferjobopportunitiesaswell.

Johnsonmentionedsomeofthe latesttechnologythat’scomingout inthetruckingindustry,suchasa hybridtruckandaself-drivingtruck. Daimler,whichownsFreightliner, hasthefirstandonlyautonomous drivingtruckintheworld,which hasclearancetodriveonNevada’s highways.

“Foryouguystobeenteringinto thatfield,you’rerightonthecuspof probablythemostincredibletime periodofinnovationinthetrucking industryperiod,”hetoldthestudents.

Hetalkedabouttheskillsheand othercompanieslookfor,suchas problemsolvingandcriticalthinking,andtoldstudentsnottogettunnelvision.

“Criticalthinking,noblinders,no tunnelvisionisabsolutelyparamounttoyoursuccessinthisbusiness,”Johnsonsaid.

CallieJones:970-526-9286, cjones@journal-advocate.com

Davisbringspast backtothepresent

ByCallieJones Journal-Advocatestaffwriter

Farmersplowingandharvesting theirfieldsisacommonsightin northeastColorado,butwatch PeetzHighSchoolseniorAdam Davisworkonhislandandyou’ll seesomethingunusual.Insteadof usingthelatestandgreatestin farmequipment,hecanbeseen usingtractorsandcombinesfrom over50yearsago.

Adam,thesonofBrentandBev DavisandgrandsonofDaveand MarshaDavis,hasbeenhelping outonhisfamily’sfarmforaslong ashecanremember.Hecurrently servesaspresidentofthePeetz FFAchapterandDistrict16FFA.

“Adam’stakenonalotofrolesin makingourchapterbetterandhas beenarealadvocatejustforagricultureingeneraltoyoungergenerations.It’sbeenextremely refreshingtowatchhisinputon youngermembersandelementary

kidsaliketoo,”saidhisagadviser MichaelForster.

Thispastyearhewasawarded theStateWinningGrainProductionEntrepreneurshipProficiency awardattheFFAStateConvention, inJune,andwentontoearnasilver placingatthenationallevel.Hewas alsoaGoldindividualinthePoultry ProductionProficiencyareaanda thirdplacequalifieratthestatelevel.

Hequalifiedasthestatewinner becauseofhisachievementsinhis

SupervisedAgricultureExperience,whichinvolvedhimleasing farmgroundfromhisfamily,as wellasaneighbor,GaryNelson,to starthisSAEandhisdreamof becomingafifthgenerationwheat farmerinthePeetzarea.Alltogetherhefarmsabout150acres. Davisspentcloseto100hours workingonhisSAEapplication, compilingrecordsandtellingthe storyofhisSAEandwhathedid. Heusesathree-croprotation SeeDAVIS,pg.56

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AdamDavisisshowncombininghisoatsthissummerinthe1957JohnDeere55combinethatherecentlyrestoredtorunningconditioninthePeetzFFA agshop.

withsummer-fallowforhisplanting.

“Youhavetoletyourgroundlay fallowaroundhereforayear,to buildupnutrientsagain,”he explained.Hissummer-fallowis plantedinthefallandhegrows wheatandoatsforhisspringcrops. Thisyearhehadsome“really good”haymillettoo.

Totellifhiswheatisreadyto harvest,hecrushesitinhishand andiftheberriespopthenit’susuallyaboutready.

Thisyearheuseda1957John Deerecombine,whichherecently restoredtorunningconditionin thePeetzagshop,tocutabout40 acresofwheatandoats,whichtook aboutthreedays.

DavisgotthecombinefromRandyFehringer.Lastusedinthe1983 milletharvest,itwasthefirstcombinethatFehringer’sfamilyhad anditsatidleintheirsheduntilthe fallof2013,whenitwaspulledoutsideandalmostsoldforscrapiron tomakeroomforthebiggerand newermachinesthefamilywas

using. WhenDavisfoundoutaboutit, heaskedFehringerhowmuchhe wantedforit.Fehringersaidhe couldhaveit,aslongashefixedit

upanddroveitintheForPeetz SakeDaysparade,whichDavisdid inearlyOctober.

“We’rerealthankfulthatRandy gavehimthatopportunity,”his

momsaid.

“Yeah,it’saprettycoolopportunitytohave,”Davisagreed.

HegotthecombineinDecember 2014andwithsomehelp,wasable toslowlydragittotheagshop, stoppingmultipletimestogethis feetwarmedup.Davis,hisfather, grandfathersandFehringerspent severalmonthsworkingonthe machinetogetitupandrunning.It wasreadytogoinApril,justintime touseitforharvestthissummer “Ikindofliketheoldstuff.It’s kindoffun—funtoworkon,easy toworkon,easytolearnon,”Davis said.

Inadditiontothe1957combine, healsohasa1952JohnDeere“R” tractorandInternationalNo.5Rodweeders,fromthelate1930sto 1940s,aswellasaJohnDeere5 bottomplowthatheusestoplow hisfields.Davisnotedthat althoughtherodweedersare extremelyold,“theystillwork extremelywellincreatingasmooth

SeeDAVIS,pg.57

CallieJones /SterlingJournal-Advocate

AdamDavis,left,hisfatherBrent,center,andhisgrandfather,Dave,stand nexttoa1928JohnDeeremodel"D"tractorthattheyrecentlyrestored, alongwithDavis'great-grandfather,Bob,andgrandfatherHarlan.Thisisthe firsttractorownedbytheDavisfamily.

DAVIS frompage56

seed-bed.”

Forsterpointedoutthatwithhis loveforantiquefarmingequipment Davishas“broughtthepastinto thepresentforalotofkids, becausealltheyeverknowisthese newcombinesthatyou’recutting 30or40footswathsandthehours spentinthefieldcomparedtothe daysspentinthefield.It’sbeen prettycool.”

Priortorestoringthe1957combine,heworkedwithhisfather; grandfathers,DaveandHarland; andgreat-grandfather,Bob,to restorea1928JohnDeeremodel “D.”BoughtbyAdam’sgreat-greatgrandfather,ElmerDavis,the fatherofBobDavis,itisthefirst tractorownedbytheDavisfamily.

Hisfamilystillcontinuestofarm someofthegroundthatthistractor workedalmost65yearsago,when itwaslastusedinthefield.Alarger 1952JohnDeere“R”replacedit andthe“D”satoutsideuntil2004, whenthefamilybeganrestoringit. Theyfinisheditin2010.

“Mygreat-grandpaBobpassed

awayin2012andweareextremely thankfulthathegottoseethetractorthathegrewuponlikenew again,”Davissaid,addingthat“it wascool”tohavefourgenerations workingtogethertorestoreit.

Afterusingtheantiqueequipmenttoplowandharvest,Davis saidhenowhas“alotmoreappreciationfortheoldpeoplenow,what theyhadtogothrough.”

Heisn’tsureyetifhewillsubmit anotherprojectforthe2016FFA StateConvention,June7-9,2016,in Sterling.However,heisbeing encouragedtorunforstateofficer.

DaviswillbeheadingtotheFFA NationalConvention,Oct.28-31,in Louisville,Ky.,wherehehasbeen selectedtoplayhisaccordioninthe FFANationalTalentCompetition.

Afterhighschool,heplansto attendeitherNortheasternJunior CollegeorColoradoStateUniversityandthencomebacktothefamily farm.

CallieJones:970-526-9286, cjones@journal-advocate.com

Trinidadhasservedarea beangrowerssince 1921.Ourrelationship withgrowersisbased onEXCELLENTcustomer service,INTEGRITYin businesspractices,and SUPERIORcategoryand productknowledge. Trinidadhasalsobecomea significantemployerinthe communityofSterling.The Sterlingplantpackages beans,rice,andpopcorn fortheretailgroceryand foodservicetrade.

AdamDavismakeshisfirstroundaroundhisveryweedyfieldearlierthis springwithhis1952JohnDeere"R"tractorandJohnDeere5bottomplow. Becauseofthewetconditionsthisspring,mostfarmerswereunabletoget intothefieldrightaway,resultinginalotofweeds.

1500RightofWayRoad 522-3595

www.trinidadbenham.com

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SALUTETOAGRICULTURE: FUTUREFARMERS

Hands-onexperience

ByCallieJones Journal-Advocatestaffwriter

Studentswhoareapartofan agriculturaleducationprogramnot onlygettheireducationinatypical classroom,butthroughrealworld experiencesworkingintheag industry.ThroughSupervised AgriculturalExperiences,students learnbydoing.

“SAEprojectshelpstudents developreallifeskillsthatare goingtopreparethemfortheir career,whateverpaththeymay choose,becauseSAEiswhatthey developittobe,”saidCalicheHigh SchoolagteacherToddThomas, addingthathisgoalasanagteacheris“toshowmystudentsallthe differentcareeropportunities thereare,”whichSAEshelptodo. Withguidancefromtheiragriculturalteachers,studentsdevelop anSAEprojectbasedononeor moreofthefourSAEcategories— entrepreneurship,placement, researchandexperimentationand exploratory.

CalicheseniorKyleEtl,presidentoftheschool’sFFAchapter, hastwodifferentplacementSAEs, whichinvolvegettingajobor internshiponafarmorranch,at anagriculture-basedbusiness,or inaschoolorfactorylaboratory.

Heworksforhisfamily’sdrylandfarmandHernandezFarms Inc.,doinggraincropproduction. ThecropsatHernandezFarms areslightlydifferentthanhisfamily’scrops,becauseHernandez Farmshasirrigation,sotheyalso dohayandcornproduction.But, bothofhisSAEsinvolveworking thefields,plantingcropsandharvestingthemoncetheirready.

Etl,whohasbeeninagallfour yearsofhighschool,juststarted workingforHernandezthisyear, buthehashelpedonhisfamily farmsincehewasabout10.He spentabout363hoursthissummerworkingforHernandezand hespendsaroundanother300

KyleEtl,presidentoftheCalicheFFAchapter,worksoutinthefield.HehastwograinproductionSupervisedAgriculturalExperiences,oneworkingonhisfamily'sdrylandfarmandtheotherworkingforHernandezFarmsInc.

CalichestudentsgainvaluableexperiencethroughSAEs

hourseveryyearworkingonhis familyfarm.

HisSAEshavetaughthim“you havetohavepatienceandyou havetobededicatedtowhatyou do.”They’vealsoallowedhimto learnaboutdifferentcareeropportunitiesandmeetnewpeople.

Etlsaidhewantstohaveanag career,buthe’snotexactlysure whatyet,possiblyageducationor justcomingbackandfarmingwith hisfamily.

FreshmanKinlieLewishasan entrepreneurshipSAEproject, whichinvolvesowningandoperat-

inganagriculturalbusiness.She hasacattleherdwithfiveheadof cattle.

Whilethisisherfirstyearin FFA,shestartedworkingwithcattlein4-Hwhenshewasabout8, raisingthemtoshowattheLogan CountyFair.Thisyearshehadthe grandchampionbreedingbeefat thefair.

ForherSAEshemustworkwith thecattle,givingshots,weaning calvesandmakingsureheranimalsaregrowingthewaythey shouldbe.

“It’staughtmededicationand

responsibility,justtodoittothe bestofmyability,”Lewissaid.

Sheplanstopursuesomesortof agcareer,possiblysomethingin agbusinessoragsales.

Anotherfreshman,AdamZink, alsohasanentrepreneurshipSAE. Hetooownscattle,aherdoffour. Hehasbeenworkinghisowncattleforaboutthreeyearsnow,but hasspenthiswholelifeworking withhisfamily’scattle.

“WhatI’velearnedfrommySAE isyoudefinitelyhavetodiscipline andpatience,you’vegottokeep

SeeFFA,pg.59

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workinghard,”hesaid,adding thatFFAitselfis“agreatexperience,everybodyshoulddo.It teachesyouresponsibility,leadershipandIthinkit’sareallygood program.”

Zinkplanstocontinueworking onthefamilyfarmafterhigh school.“It’ssomethingI’vedone mywholelifeandIreallyenjoyit,” hesaid.

YoumightcallCalicheacattle school,becausefreshmanBryce Hill’sentrepreneurshipSAEalso dealswithcattle,breedingand marketcattlespecifically.Hehas threemarketanimalsforshowing, onebreedingheiferandfivecommercialheadofcattle.Hetook homechampionmediumweight marketsteerandreservechampionmarketbeefatthe2015Logan CountyFair.

Hillhasbeenshowingcattlefor sevenyears,sincehewas8years old,andhasbeenraisingcommercialcattlehiswholelife.Thereisa

SeeFFA,pg.60

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KinlieLewisleadshergrandchampionbreedingbeefintotheringatthe2015LoganCountyFair.Lewisownsa cattleherdwithfiveheadofcattleforherSAE.

lotofworkthatgoesintohisSAE.

“Ihavetotakecareofanimals andmakesurethey’realways doinggoodandhealthy,andget themfatsotheycanbereadytogo toshows,tomarketortoproduce anothercalffornextyear,”hesaid.

HillsaidhisSAEhastaughthim youalwayshavetobethereconstantlytakingcareoftheanimals. Hepointsoutthatalotoftimes whenhisfriendsaregoingoutto funplacesorgoingontripshe can’tgo.“I’malwaysthereworkingonthecattle,onthefarmjust allthetime.”

HesayshisSAEisdefinitely helpingtopreparehimfortheveterinariandegreehewantstoget.

“Ifeelit’sjusthelpedmeget startedandgrow.It’shelpedgive meabigheadstart,”Hillsaid,addingthatFFAis“awonderfulorganizationthateverybodyshould join.”

CallieJones:970-526-9286, cjones@journal-advocate.com

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AdamZinkshowsoffoneofhiscattletosomeyoungsters.HeownsaherdoffourcattleforhisSAE.

Q&A:WigginsseniorTucker TeaguetakingFFAtoheart

ByBrandonBoles TimesSportsReporter

InMorganCounty,theFuture FarmersofAmericaisagrowing extracurriculargroupinschool. W ithagriculturebeingabigpart ofthecommunity,manyyoung studentsaregettingachanceto learnmoreandbeapartofthe industry,whilealsotakingmany lifeskillswiththem.

Onestudentwhohasbeena partofFFAisWigginssenior T uckerTeague.Ithasbecomean instrumentalpartofhiseducation, mostnotablybecausehehas grownuponafarmandistaking theselessonsandapplyingthem

tohisreallife. WeaskedTeague abouthisinvolvementinFFAand whatitmeansmost tohim.

Q: Whatdoyou enjoymost aboutFFA?

A: Iliketobeintheshopand beinginthemechanicsclass, learningskillsthatIcanusefor whenIgobacktoworkonthe farm.InFFA,therearealsoalotof tripsyougettogoon,whichisfun too.

Q: Whataresomethingsyou areworkingonwithFFA?

SeeTUCKER,pg.62

Besideshis timeinFFA, Tucker Teague alsoparticipatesin sports suchas football.

FortMorgan Timesphoto

Tucker Teague

TUCKER frompage61

A: InFFA,we’rekindofworkingonourProgramofActivities.Whatthatdoesisyoubasicallyfindwaystoimproveyour community,yourschool,and thingsaroundyoulikecommunity service.Inclass,we’reactually buildingashedrightnow,working oncarpentry.

Q: Howimportantwasittobea partofFFAwithyourbackground?

A: Itwasn’textremelyimportant,butithashelpedmeout alot.Therearethingslikewelding thatIkindofknewhowtodo,but it’shelpedmetodoitdirectly.I’ve learnedthingsthroughFFAthatI canlearntoteachandcanhelp othersaswell.

Q: WillFFAhelpyouwitha directionyouwanttogoin afterhighschool?

A: I’vealwayswantedtogo backtothefarm,becauseI reallyenjoythat.Itwouldhelpme withtheskillsIneedtoactuallydo that.

Q: Howistherestofthegroup

TuckerTeague

School: WigginsHighSchool

Year: Senior Age: 18

Otherextracurricular activities: Football,basketball, FBLA,NationalHonorsSociety

yougettobewithinFFA?

A: Ithinkthereisonlyoneotherpersonthathasanagriculturalbackground,buttheother onesenjoyit.Theylikegoingto theeventsandeverythingthatwe doinFFA.

Q: Whataresomeofthosetrips youhavebeenonforFFA?

A: Youcangotonationalconventions,stateconventions, andothers.ThenationalconventioniseitherinLouisvilleorIndianapolis.StateiseitherinAlamosa, Pueblo,orSterling.Thesearealla coupledaysoraweeklong,so theyareprettybigtrips.Youcan alsogotoWLC,that’sinWashington,D.C.Ididthatmyfreshman year.Youcanreallygoanywhere.

Q: Whatistheonethingyou enjoythemostaboutFFA?

A: Iwouldsaythetrips.Getting togoandbeplaceswithyour friendsisfun.Ikindoftravelall overtheplaceasitisnow.You

havemanymemorieswithyour friendsinthehotelandotherplaceslikethat.

BrandonBoles:970-867-5651, sports@fmtimes.comor twitter.com/FMT_Sports

SkidLoader

Backhoe

Trenchers

Trailers

Compressors

Jackhammers

Generators

AerialLifts

ScissorLifts

DrywallLifts Scaffolding

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TuckerTeagueworksasilagecutterontheTeaguefamilyfarm.Tuckeris interestedintakingoverthefamilycornandalfalfagrowingoperationsafter hereturnsfromcollege.

Q&A:SadeeDavis,chapter PresidentforFFAinBrush

ByBrandonBoles TimesSportsReporter

ForBrushseniorSadeeDavis, FFAhasbeenagroupshehas beeninvestedinduringherhigh schoolcareer.Amemberforall fouryears,shehasservedbig roleswiththegroup,butherbiggesthascomeinhersenioryear, servingasthechapterPresident forthegroup.

OneofthebiggestperksDavis likesaboutthegroupissomeof thecouncilsandconferences, whetheritwasgoingtoabigconferencefreshmanyearorother

SeeDAVIS,pg.64

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SadeeDavisandthetheBrushFFAclubatthestateMFE/ALDLeadershipConference.

conferencesacrossthestate.But thebiggestperkDavisspokeabout beinginFFAwashowmuchshe haslearnedandgrownintheagricultureindustry,andhowshe planstousehereducationand experienceafterschool.

WespokewithDavisaboutthe newroleshehasservedthisyear, andwhatFFAmeanstoher.

Q: Whatintriguedyouthemost aboutFFA?

A: Honestly,IknewFFAwas justforagriculture,andI camefromanagbackground,so thatreallyintriguedme.WhenI lookedatwhatFFAwas,Idecided tojoinit,andIreallylikedit.It’s reallyshownmealotonleadership andresponsibility.I’vebeenanofficerforthreeyears,andthisyearI amservingaschapterPresident.

Q: Whataresomeoftheresponsibilitiesyouhavetohandle servingasthechapterPresident?

A: Runningmeetingsandmakingsurethingsrunsmoothly. Ikindofoverseeeverythingthat everyonedoes,basically.

SadeeDavis

Year: Senior

NumberofyearsinFFA: 4

CurrentRole: ChapterPresident

Otherextracurricular activities: 4-H

Q: Whataresome ofthethings yourgroupisdoing rightnow?

A: Wehada hauntedhouse, whichwasalwaysa funtimeoftheyear. Wehaditinourag shop.

Q: Whathaveyouenjoyedthe mostaboutbeinginFFAduringhighschool?

A: Thereisalot.Ilikeallofthe conferences,andtheevents weputon.Ithinkthebanquetand thehauntedhousearesomeofmy favoritethingswedo.Wegotoa lotofleadershipconferencesthat teachyouhowtobealeader.Last yearitwasaboutsettinggoals.

SadeeDavis,center,CourtneyJoGriffithandCharleneDory,right,were someoftheBrushFFAmembersrepresentingtheclubattheschool’s homecoming.

Q: Tellmealittlebitaboutthe groupthatyouhavewith FFAthisyear?

A: Thegroupisreallygood.We havealotoffreshmancominginandbeingapartofitthis year,sowehaveabout60kids total.Everyoneseemstolikeitand enjoywhatallwedo.

Q: Ifsomeoneweretocomeup andaskyouwhytheyshould joinFFA,whatwouldyoutell them?

A: Ilearnedsomuchsince beinginFFA.Iknewalittle bit,butnowIknowsomuchmore. NextyearIwillbegoingtoNortheasternJuniorCollegetostudy agriculturebusiness.Ihopetoone daystartmyowncompany.The placeswegettogotoandthe experienceswehaveareworthit.

BrandonBoles:970-867-5651, sports@fmtimes.comor twitter.com/FMT_Sports

Courtesyphoto

Sadee Davis

HogsinFFApresident’sfuture

FortMorganHighSchoolseniorwould befourth-generationagproducer

ByJenniGrubbs TimesStaffWriter

GregDitterconsidersKaitlyn Burkharttobeoneofhis“stars.”

“Sheworkedherwaythrough theranks,”theFortMorganHigh Schoolagricultureteacherand FFAadvisersaidofthe17-year-old Burkhart.“She’sbeeninvolved withFFAsinceshewas4years old.”

Nowaseniorinhighschool, BurkhartistheFFApresident, andDittersaidshewastheperfect choiceforthatleadershiprole.

“Ithinkbecauseofherpersonalityandherworkethic,she’sa

teamplayer,”hesaid.“Becauseof that,theofficerteamhasaccepted herasafullpartner.”

AndBurkharthasfullyaccepted thetopleadershiproleinFFA.

Infact,it’sbeenhergoalsince shewasinmiddleschool.

“Itwasmyeighth-gradeyear whenItoldmymomIwantedto beFFApresidentallfouryearsof highschool,”Burkhartrecalled, addingthatshecametorealize thatwasn’trealistic.“It’sreally cool.Now,that’swhatIam.”

Andshe’srelishingit.

“Ilovetheleadershipopportunities,”Burkhartsaid.“I’veseenso

SeeBURKHART,pg.66

classroomOct.19,2015,isthepresidentoftheschool’sFFAthisschool year.Aftergraduation,sheplanstoattendtheUniversityofWyomingand majorinfarm/ranchmanagement.

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimes FortMorganHighSchoolseniorKaitlynBurkhart,shownhereintheag

BURKHART frompage65

manypeoplecomein(toFFA)as shyfreshmen,andtheyblossom. ...Iwasoneofthosekidswho cameinfreshmanyearandwas veryshy.Now,I’mdefinitelynot. It’shelpedmegrowawholelot.”

Thatpersonalgrowthreally showswhenshetalksaboutthe timeandeffortsheplanstogive FFAduringhertenureaspresident.

“I’mreallytryingtoputalotinto FFAthisyear,”shesaid.“Idon’t wanttobejustanothernamein somebody’syearbook.Iwanttobe apersonwhodidsomething.”

Tothatend,shewantstospread herloveofagriculturetoasmany ofherfellowstudentsasshecan.

“Ouragdepartment,theywork reallyhardtoteachpeoplesothey knowwhat’sgoingon,”Burkhart said.“It’snotlikethekidsintown know.Weonceconvincedatown kidyoucouldmilkachicken.But ifyou’renotarounditgrowingup, youdon’tknow.Theycomein knowingnothing,andtheyleave knowinghowitworks.”

Thatknowledgeisimportant, shesaid.

“Agricultureisthefoundationof theentireworld,”Burkhartsaid.

Andthelifethatgoesalongwith itisonesheenjoys.

“There’ssomethingaboutit,” Burkhartsaid.“It’sgotitssimple charms.Ilovethesimplicity.Ifyou workhard,yoursuccessisonyou. It’snotsomethingyourbossdidor didn’tdo.”

HardworkissomethingBurkhartisOKwithandunderstands.

“Iwilldoanythingyouaskmeto do,”shesaid.“Justdonotgiveme atextbook.”

Burkhart’sfarfromthefirstin herfamilytofeelthatway.

“Iloveit,”shesaidoftheagriculturallife.“Iwouldbethefourth, maybeevenfifthgenerationofag producerinmyfamily.”

Hergreat-grandparentsonher dad’ssidewereGerman-Russians whofarmedinColorado,andit’s possiblemoregenerationsbefore thatalsowereproducers,shesaid.

Burkhartgrewuponherfamily’sfarmsouthofFortMorgan, wheretheyraisegraincorn.She hasraisedhogsthrough4-Hfor manyyears,whichofferedhera glimpseofwhatmightbeher

KaitlynBurkhart

Age: 17

Growingup: Raisedonfarm southofFortMorgan;raised hogsin4-H.

Education: Currentlyaseniorat FortMorganHighSchool.

FFA: InfourthyearwithFMHS FFA,currentlyservingasFFA chapterpresident.

Family: BothparentsareMorgan Countyfarmers;threeolder siblings

Inherwords: “I’veseensomany peoplecomein(toFFA)asshy freshmen,andtheyblossom....I wasoneofthosekidswhocame infreshmanyearandwasvery shy.Now,I’mdefinitelynot.”

future.

“Ilovedthem,”shesaid.“That’s actuallywhatIhopetogointo afterIgraduate.Ihopetohavemy ownpigoperation.”

Whatsizethatoperationmight beorwhereitwillbelocatedfor surearestillyettobedetermined, though.

“Ifitworksout,thebiggerthe better,”Burkhartsaid.

Whenshewasabityounger,she wassureshewantedtostayclose toherparents’farm.

“IusedtotellDadIwantedto buythefieldnexttohisandbuild ahousethere,”Burkhartrecalled. “Thenitchangedalittle,fromI wanttotakeovermydad’sfarms toIwanttostartmyown.”

Rightnow,sheseesherselfpossiblybuildingthatfarmandhome somewherewithawarmerclimate,maybeTexas.Worrying aboutthatisstillawaysoff, though.

First,Burkhartplanstogoto collegeandmajorinfarm/ranch management,possiblyattheUniversityofWyoming.

That’smusictoDitter’sears.

“Itdoesmyheartgood,”Ditter said.“That’swhatwewant,for themtogointoanagcareer.We’re losingmoreofourproductionag kids.It’sasuccesstothisprogram whenwehavekids(stayinginag afterhighschool).She’sgoingto beanassettoanycollegethat acceptsher.”

JenniGrubbs: jgrubbs@fmtimes.com,Twitter @JenniGrubbsor tout.com/jennigrubbs

JenniGrubbs /FortMorganTimes KaitlynBurkhart,17,removesscrewsfromthemake-shiftwindbreakframe puttogetherbyFortMorganHighSchoolFFAmembersfortheclub'sannual RockyMountainoysterfry,whichwasheldOct.17,2015.Burkhart,whois theFFApresidentthisyear,saidtheeventwasabigsuccess.

FortMorganFFA /Courtesyphoto FortMorganHighSchool'sannualRockyMountainoystersfryfundraiser washeldOct.17,2015,attheschool.Withgustyconditionsthatnight,the clubmembersbuiltthewoodenstructureshownherebehindthefryerto keepthewindoutandprotectthecooks,accordingtoFFAPresidentKaitlyn Burkhart.

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