In Our Winter Issue

Desert Snow

©Tina Mead-Ramirez

WINTER 2018

Why did you want to start a magazine Paul?

This is the most asked question about our new endeavor, Western Ag Life Media. I will not be able to answer all of the reasons in just one article. I will make it part of my editorials going forward.

I have been actively involved in agriculture since I was 14 years old. The changes that I have seen in 40 years are truly astonishing. The world and our country have also changed considerably.

As a young man growing up in Tucson Arizona, I can remember Tucson having 5 dairy farms, 2 large poultry facilities, 3 animal processing facilities, 2 livestock auction markets, the states largest feed mill, fields of alfalfa and cotton growing in the city limits. None of these agriculture endeavors exist today in Tucson. The only exception is The University of Arizona has an experimental agriculture facility within the city limits.

What astonished me is food production agriculture is basically nonexistent in a city of over 1 million people! In 2011 the average person consumed 1,996 pounds of food per year. I am willing to guess the food consumption numbers are greater today. Using 2011 numbers, Tucson had approximately 1,000,000 people. Simple math would state the Tucsonans consumed 1,996,000,000 pounds of food! That is almost 2,000,000,000 (billion) pounds of food on an annual basis and almost none is grown or raised in Tucson!

The vast majority of our food will be acquired at grocery stores and restaurants. As a consumer of food in this country, the average American does not sow or reap the food they consume on a daily basis. Most statistics state that less than 2% of the United States population is involved in the production of food and fiber.

The efficiencies of the American Farmer and Rancher are unmatched in the world! We look forward to educate, share, and celebrate their amazing stories through Western Ag Life Magazine.

As we reap the harvest through Fall and Winter, let us all be thankful that we live in the country with the safest and most abundant food on the planet. We are grateful and thankful for our Farmers and Ranchers.

Happy Holidays, Paul Ramirez

IN THIS ISSUE

A SOUTHWESTERN POINT OF PRIDE :: THE SALOPEK FAMILY, PG 4

A DAY IN THE LIFE :: RANCH WIFE WISDOM, PG 8

AGRICULTURE BUSINESS :: DIAMOND Z FARMS, PG10

LIGHTING THE WAY :: LITTLE LIGHTS, PG 14

FROM THE KITCHEN :: COCONUT CAKE, PG 16

A HEREFORD MATRIARCH :: GRACE WYSTRACH, PG 18

READING SHOW PIGS :: THE CHAMPION SHOW PIG EQUATION, PG 20

PATIENCE :: A STORY OF LESSONS LEARNED BY WILD HORSES & WILD MEN, PG 24

WINNING WAYS :: KIM WILLIAMSON, PG 26

WINTER STYLE GUIDE :: WITH KEMPTON REAGAN, PG 28

TOOLS OF THE TRADE :: SLINGING SALT, PG 30

I LIVE THE WESTERN LIFESTYLE :: JOEL JUDGE, PG32

SELLING YOUR RANCH :: AG LANDS SOUTHWEST, PG 34

WESTERN AG LIFE MARKETPLACE, PG 35

READ THE STORIES ONLINE!

https://www.westernaglife.com/magazine

SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE 2018 WINTER ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS

ARTICLES ~ Paul Ramirez, Heidi Crnkovic, Kate Sanchez, Amanda Zamudio, Aaron Downey, Ed Ashurst, Joel Johnson, Tina Mead - Ramirez, Patina Thompson, Dean Fish, Ph.D., Shannon Shultz, Tiffany Selchow Janice Bryson, Reagan Kimpton, Joel Judge, Tamra Kelly

PHOTOGRAPHY & ILLUSTRATIONS ~ Tina Mead - Ramirez, Heidi Crnkovic, Kate Sanchez, Renée Bidegain, Jessica Zamudio Rocking P Photography, Guy Atchley, Katina Costerisan, Lauren Maehling, LTL Photography, Samuel Bierne Donaldson, Paul Ramirez, Shelly Jacobs

© WESTERN AG LIFE MEDIA LLC While every effort has been made for the accuracy of content, those listed above are not responsible for any errors or omissions appearing within the pages of this issue.