THE SALESMAN • January 31, 2016 • Central, Eastern, Heart O' Lakes • Page 12
BIG
1 DAY
Mon.-Sat. 8-9; Sun. 9-9
MEAT & PRODUCE SALE & Mor e! Saturday, Feb. 6
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
401 W. Michigan Ave., Grass Lake 517-522-4161 GUARANTEED
8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
OR DOUBLE CK BA YOUR MONEY
PACKAGED LIQUOR AT STATE MINIMUM PRICING!
U.S.D.A Inspected, Sliced
While supplies last U.S.D.A Inspected, Boneless
New York Strip Steak
Ribeye Steak
4
$ 99
5
$ 99
lb.
BONE IN
lb.
PORK CHOP SALE
Ground Beef
Pork Steak
from Chuck
3
$ 49 lb.
1
$ 49
WHOLE OR CUT UP
lb.
FRYER ON SALE
Spartan Milk
1
12 pack cans
$ 97
ea.
Country Style
9
3/$ 99 Lay’s
+ dep.
Potato Chips
Spare Ribs
10-10.5 oz.
1
$ 29
lb.
2
$ 44
ea.
Spartan Sliced
Assorted
Sweet Rolls
49
¢
ea.
Boneless Ham
1
The 2016 recipient of the Dairy Farmer of the Year Award presented by the Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Animal Science is Hank Choate of Cement City, Michigan. The award recognizes his passion for promoting the dairy industry and teaching consumers about modern day food production in a positive way. “It is quite humbling to receive this award,” Choate said. “I don’t see myself as being exceptional, I just work hard to be a good spokesperson for the industry. I am honored.” Choate has been involved in his family’s farm, Choate’s Belly Acres, for 47 years, serving now as the CEO and CFO and overseeing the dairy herd. Choate’s Belly Acres consists of 2,000 acres of corn, alfalfa, soybeans and wheat, with 430 Holstein cows and 380 head of youngstock. Current DHI rolling herd averages are 29,133 pounds of milk, 1,068 pounds of fat and 877 pounds of protein, with a dollar value of $4,660 per cow. “Our farm tries to have continuous improvement of our animal and cropping systems, making sure that all of our assets are performing well,” Choate said. Choate’s Belly Acres has been in the family for seven generations, so keeping family involved in the farming operation is an important value of the farm. Choate and his brother, Randy, took over management of the farm in 1989. Together they have grown their business to allow more family members to be involved in ownership. Hank and his wife, Katie, have three children: Levi, Dustin and Stacey. Levi and nephew Rick are involved in the farming operations along with seven full-time employees. “There are many aspects of the farm that I believe are important, but my family is first,” Choate said. “It is great to have my family involved. The rewards outweigh the challenges we face.” Choate has held several leadership positions at local and statewide levels. Locally, he has served on the Jackson County DHIA Board, the Hillsdale/Jackson Farmers Home Administration Board, the Columbia Schools Education Foundation Commi�ee, the
Columbia School Board, the Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation Commi�ee, and the Liberty Township Planning Commi�ee. He has also been involved in many groups on a state level. Hank and Katie were recognized as one of the 1986 MMPA Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator finalists. Since early 2000, their herd has ranked either first, second or third within the local DHI testing association. As the farm operation grew, Choate became more of a manager of people rather than cows, allowing him to become more involved in industry organizations and igniting his passion for promoting the dairy industry. “I am a firm believer that those of us in production agriculture play a huge role in consumer confidence. If the producers lose the trust of the consumer, it is one of the hardest things to gain back,” Choate said. “Consumers need to be informed, and as producers, we need to stay involved in the decisions they are making by giving them the facts.” Choate has been involved in many promotional events, such as the Jackson Real Dairy Promotion program, Jackson County Fall Fest and Breakfast on the Farm. He also welcomes many tours of his facilities by school groups, senior citizens, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and
classes from Spring Arbor College. Choate also works with Baker College to hold handson learning sessions and puts together presentations for their vet tech students. “Hank has shown a strong commitment to Michigan’s dairy industry through his service with a number of industry organizations including MMPA, UDIM, and Michigan Farm Bureau,” said Janice Swanson, chair of the Department of Animal Science. “He has a strong passion for dairy promotion and has helped organize the Jackson Real Dairy Promotion program at the Jackson County fair in addition to his farm hosting numerous groups and organizations at his farm. Today, Hank takes time to be involved with the state-wide Breakfast on the Farm Council helping to expand efforts to educate consumers and talking to producers about following in his footsteps by hosting BOTF events. It is with great pleasure that the MSU Department of Animal Science recognizes Hank Choate as the 2016 Dairy Farmer of the Year.” The award will be presented Feb. 5 at the Dairy Industry Recognition Banquet during the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference, Feb. 4-6 at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mt. Pleasant. For more information, visit h�p://www.msue.msu.edu.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 Privacy Rule has long supported the right of individuals to request and obtain copies of their medical records and other health information maintained by health-care professionals, medical facilities, and health insurance plans. However, due to the increasing use of online health-information technology and growing interest among Americans in being active participants in health-related decisions, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently issued much-anticipated guidance that serves to answer common questions and clarify key issues regarding access to health information under HIPAA. Among the many reasons that people need easy, affordable access to their health records is to empower them to take more control over decisions regarding their health. Such information can help individuals improve their ability to monitor chronic conditions, stick with treatment plans, track progress in wellness programs, and identify and correct erroneous information. The new guidance, developed by HHS’s Office for Civil Rights, is presented in an easyto-read fact sheet, followed by
an extensive list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). Among the issues clarified in the guidance are the fees that can be charged for accessing health information—only the cost of labor, supplies, postage, and, if agreed to by the requester, preparation of a summary or explanation. The guidance also explicitly states that an individual has a right to ask a doctor or other health-care entity to transmit their health information directly to another person or entity designated by the individual in writing. Also set forth are requirements for furnishing health information in electronic format upon request, timelines for providing access, and grounds for denial of access. Following is a small sampling of the many situations covered by the FAQs. Q: How long does a doctor or other health-care entity have to respond to an individual’s request for access to her health information? A: No longer than 30 calendar days, but most requests should be fulfilled well before then. Q: Does an individual have a right to an electronic copy of her health information? A: Yes, in most cases. If the information is on paper and an
electronic copy is requested, the doctor or other health-care entity should make every effort to convert it to electronic form, e.g. scan the paper record into an electronic format. Q: Does an individual have a right to get copies of their X-rays or other diagnostic images? A: Yes, but the large file size of some X-rays or other images may affect how they are accessed. For example, some image’s electronic files may be too large to send through e-mail. Q: Can a doctor or other health-care provider deny an individual’s request for access to health information because she has not paid her healthcare bill? A: No. However, the doctor or other health-care provider may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for a copy of the health information. Q: Does an individual have a right to access health information about herself that is very old? A: Yes. An individual has a right to access health information about herself regardless of the date when the information was created or whether the information is stored on-site or archived remotely. For more information, go to hhs.gov.
Choate giving a farm tour to his granddaughter's preschool class.
Taking Control: Accessing your health information
Coke
Gallon
Jackson County farmer Hank Choate named Dairy Farmer of the Year
$ 99
lb.