US Farmers and Rancher’s Alliance hosted an online voting contest for the next farmers and ranchers to be the faces of farming and ranching. Winners will serve in multiple high-visibility roles on behalf of USFRA, participating in a number of activities including national media interviews, advertising and public appearances. Winners will receive a $15,000 stipend to help cover the costs … Read More
Hick Chick Chat: Vilsack and FFA
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack again addressed the delegation at the 87th Annual FFA Convention in Louisville, KY last week. He talked FFA and how the members of the largest farm based organization is the future. He says the future is bright for the youth and why this is the more difficult venue for him to speak following some of the … Read More
Hick Chick Chat: A Farmland Review
Earlier this year during Commodity Classic I first learned about the movie Farmland. Since I’d been away from the world of agriculture for a few years, I missed the preparations and planning for this groundbreaking documentary. At this point a trailer was out giving us all an opportunity to watch and learn a bit more about the film. Over the next several … Read More
Hick Chick Chat talks Feed Beets
While at the World Dairy Expo my colleague, Jamie, stopped by to learn more about feed beets as feed additive. According to Lisa Butzer, marketing manager Feed Beets are a sweet improvement to dairy rations and margins. Feed Beets are a high dry-matter beet hybrid grown for dairy cow rations. When added to rations as a forage source, you can … Read More
Hick Chick Chat: New Pavilions at WDE 2014
This edition of the Hick Chick Chat heads to the 2014 World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin. It’s the premiere event for the dairy industry. This year, exhibitors at the 2014 World Dairy Expo are the first to break in the New Holland Pavilions. My colleague, Jamie Johnansen was in Wisconsin this past week for the 2014 event. A unique addition … Read More
Hick Chick Chat talks Budweiser Clydesdales
I’ve always been infatuated with draft horses and honestly, do they get any better than the Budweiser Clydesdales? Several years ago when I worked for a local radio station they were at our state fair and I was lucky enough to be able to hold the reins of one during morning exercise. I was in awe. They are beautiful creatures … Read More
Hick Chick Chat with Bill Northey
During the 2014 Farm Progress Show I got to Hick Chick chat with Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey. We talked about the importance of having the Farm Progress Show in Iowa, how the corn and soybean crops look this year, his hope of being elected to another four year term as agriculture secretary for the state, and what he learned … Read More
Hick Chick Chat from The Legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip
Last week I crossed one thing off my bucket list thanks to the Renewable Fuels Association and ZimmComm. I was able to attend and cover the 2014 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. The Legendary Buffalo Chip opened for the first time in 1981 hosting the Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling (TM) and the Best Party Anywhere (TM) There’s … Read More
Hick Chick Chat: Rolling into Sturgis
I’m really excited to announce that Chuck and Cindy have offered me a bucket list opportunity to attend the 74th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I’ll be joining the team from the Renewable Fuels Association and their quest to bring more awareness to the motorcycle community about E10 in their fill-ups. They will have their “free fuel happy hours” again this … Read More
Hick Chick Chat with Central Illinois Farmers
This week’s Hick Chick Chat was recorded during the 2014 Precision Aerial Ag Show at Progress City where I literally bumped into former National Corn Growers Association president Leon Corzine while he was chatting with another central Illinois farmer, Jim Reed. I decided that it would be a good time to talk about precision ag and how it’s making the … Read More