Just Understanding The Basics of Everyday

Everybody has their area of focus and anymore people only focus on their own area and anything out of that area, it is someone else’s responsibilities to deal with. It seems people have developed into keys instead of tools. What is meant by this is that people are focusing on skills to do one thing, just like a key, it unlocks a door or it may unlock lots of doors but the doors are all the same and lead to the same place. A tool has many application and can be used in a variety ways and on a variety of things. The one size fits all idea is great in theory but completely out of reach for any person, but a person that can look at a problem at a number of angles to solve it in an efficient and practical manner because of his or her wide-spread experience and diverse set of skills is going to be hunted out by employers. Mechanization and electricity are things that are used everyday and everybody should have a basic knowledge of how it works and how to recognize problems.

Photo Credit: WIU School of Agriculture Facebook

Why does a person need to know how this stuff works or how to work on something?

1. Safety- Injuries are a part of life, but taking steps to limit injury is a step in the right direction. Taking the time to learn how things work can be crucial in avoiding injury.
2. Cost Savings- Simple fixes can add up if one is always calling someone to work on something so being able to work on things by oneself can be very good asset. Also if one knows what the problem is or has an idea of what is going on with a problem the likely hood of over paying for unnecessary repairs or parts is reduced substantially.
3. Future Application- Having this knowledge base of how things work and how to apply it can set one apart for a promotion or another job. The future is uncertain and these skills wills always be in demand.

I recommend that every student take an introduction to mechanics course to gain a set of skills that can be applied to everyday life. Almost every school offers a type of either mechanic class or a shop class. Start saving money, time, and stop frustrating situations by just understanding the basics.

My name is Kale Carlisle and I am a senior at WIU majoring in Ag Business and a minor in Ag Technology Management. I grew up in Carthage, IL on my family’s grain and hog farm and I have always had a passion for equipment and mechanics.

5 Reasons Why Being a Female in Agriculture is Awesome

Growing up on a corn and soybean farm in rural west central Illinois, I learned at a young age that it is “cool” to be a farmer. In elementary school, my fellow classmates and I would come to class and share our own unique stories. Most of the stories consisted of riding in the combine with dad, taking a load of grain to the elevator with grandpa, or being mom’s side-kick and taking the guys dinner during harvest. At the time, we thought we were big stuff.

At that young age, I never thought I would actually choose a career in agriculture. However, here I am majoring in agriculture in college. I had hopes of being a school teacher, a doctor, or even better, the first female president of the United States. As I got older, I came to the realization that agriculture is much broader than what I thought it was when I was seven. Farming is more than a hobby, it is a lifestyle. It is through this way of life that my family makes a living.

After coming to this realization in my mid-teen years, I decided that I wanted to be a part of this amazing industry for life. I became active in FFA in high school and you could often find me working on the family farm. Seeing the deep passion my dad and his dad had for the farm, I knew that I wanted to help carry on the family name. This led me to my decision to major in Agriculture and minor in Agronomy.

I know everyone’s story is not the same as mine, but there is one thing that all of us women in agriculture can agree on; it is awesome to be a part of such an amazing industry. We would not change a single thing that led us to where we are today. Here are 5 reasons why being a female in agriculture is awesome.

1. Our days usually consist of talking, like all the time.

   I have found that no matter the area within agriculture, you are either on the phone or at the farmstead talking to a farmer all day long. This past summer as a crop scout, the senior agronomist I worked for was on the phone answering questions or giving suggestions more times than not. My roommate spent her summer as a grain merchandiser. She said that she was on the phone all day long giving the most current market prices or creating contracts. Females involved in seed or chemical sales get the privilege of meeting with the grower on his farm. If you’re a gal like me, you love to talk all the time (hence the reason I placed this as #1).

2. The friends you make, the networks you create, and the groups you form.

   Women in agriculture are great at interacting with one another. Social media has made reason #2 so much more feasible. Through Facebook, I am a member of the Women in Agriculture group. In this group, ladies post about what is going on on their farm or ask for advice regarding certain topics. On Instagram and Twitter, I follow many other female agriculturalists from all over the country. It is always exciting to see what is going on throughout our country’s vast landscapes.

   

   Taken on the 2016 IPLI trip in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo credits: Mike Borgic

   Conferences, meetings, conventions, and educational trips allow women in agriculture to expand our network and create more contacts. In June 2015 and 2016, I went on the Illinois Pork Leadership Institute trip sponsored by the Illinois Pork Producers. On these two trips, I was able to make connections with other individuals that share the same passion for the industry as I do. In fact, I talk to most of them every single week.

3. Independence is something we come by.

   Women are pretty independent to begin with, but have you ever met a farm girl? We are most definitely independent, strong-willed, and often times bull-headed. We believe in making sure the job is done right, efficiently, and on time. I mean, in farming, that is kind of essential. Independence allows women in agriculture to have more freedom in what we choose to do.

4. Life is never dull.

   As we all know, the markets, the weather, and agriculture in general are constantly changing. Therefore, with new changes in technology, seed genetics, and regulations, we are inclined to keep up with the newest and latest trends. This allows life to stay exciting and get a little hectic at times. Or, if you are like me, you enjoy a little challenge from time to time to keep things interesting.

   Another point I would like to add to this is that if something can go wrong, it will. Combine breaks down for two days during harvest, check. Ten days straight of rain in the spring, check. Farming has shown me to expect the worst, and thank God when you were wrong.

5. We are a breed all our own.

   Females in agriculture are equipped with a very diverse skill set. As mentioned previously, we can talk all day long about anything from grain prices to the weather. Since it is my background, I have related most of the experiences back to grain production. However, there are many female livestock farmers/ranchers. No matter what our focus is on, we all face any challenge that comes our way head on. We embrace being faced with adversity and set out to conquer the task with fierce determination. With all of this in mind, we truly do have a soft side too. Our hands help heifer’s calve, pull weeds from the garden, and prepare dinner for our families.

   It is the combination of these characteristics and the grace of God that make us who we are and being a female in agriculture awesome!

 

Hi, I’m Hannah Wollbrink! I am currently a senior at Western Illinois University majoring in Agriculture with an option in Business and minoring in Finance and Agronomy. Like my blog post states, I grew up on a grain farm along the Mississippi River, about 40 minutes west of campus. In my free time, I can be found spending time with friends and family, working on some DIY project or doing something outside! Follow me on Instagram or Twitter @hannahwollbrink.

 

A Beautiful Day at Dearwester

What is the perfect career path for a young man that likes meeting great new people, driving to rural parts of the country and some good old fashion hard work?   Well Dearwester is the correct answer to that question and I am about to inform you all about it.

(Picture captured by Colby Hunt of local Stump the Turtle man Little)

Dearwester sells many different brands of feed to their customers.  They sell Purina, Kent, Umbargers, and their Own DGS. (Dearwester Grain Services) The feed they sell feeds all types of animals like cows, horses, goats, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens and more. One thing I love about Dearwester is the small family run business it has everyone knows everyone and you know all your customers by name and they know you.  At Dearwester Grain the employees do whatever they can to help you get the right feed you need for what you want to do with your livestock.  The difference between going to the store and walking in looking at all the different types of feed and saying “wow there are so many options” and going to Dearwester is they will give you advice and also explain what each different type of feed will do for your animal, so you know you are giving them the right feed for what you plan on doing with your pet and/or livestock.  When you go to a local store that sells feed and you are looking from advice from one of the “feed specialists” they normally don’t have a clue what they are selling, they just know from reading what the bag says that it is for a certain type of animal. That is why I think you should buy all your feed from local Feed Services because of their knowledge on what they are selling and also too support your local family business that cares about you also.

My name is Dylan Hinman I am from Macomb IL. I was born and raised on a farm work in the feed industry and love everything about agriculture.

 

How college and an internship changed my career path

 

sun setting on brown farms photo taken by Shannon Brown

 

Growing up I was told I could be anything I wanted when I became an adult. At first I want to be a veterinarian, because I loved animals, I wanted to work with horses because that was my passion. I thought I would work with some of the best horses in the world and I would own many, many horses. All that changed when I started college, my first semester I was at University of Kentucky with a pre-vet major. I was so homesick I just wanted to be back on our farm helping like I always did every fall and spring. Then it came time for my animal science lab, I passed out after they cut open a cow’s stomach. I knew then I needed to change my major when I changed schools.  I changed my major to agronomy, which is plant and soil science, and I fell in love with it. I knew that my major could help farmers, which is something I care a lot about. I have had three internships over the past few years that have helped me decide what I want to do with my life. The first one I worked for Monsanto, in the entomology department, I learned insects aren’t my thing. I loved the job especially the part where I got to travel all over Nebraska and Iowa. The second was with Advance Crop Care, I scouted fields all day every day, I loved it, it was by far my favorite internship. I learned so much from that internship that I can use in my future career and I liked that what I learned in the classroom applied and what I learned in the field applied in the classroom.

My third internship I was with Growmark FS I worked out of Conserv FS in Waterman IL. It was a great experience I met people from all over Illinois, Iowa, the east coast and even Canada. We started the internship off in Bloomington IL,  it was right after school let out for the summer. We met at a hotel where we were introduced to everyone and then went to the headquarters,  and then we learned about how Growmark works and what all goes on. In June we met again, we toured Wrigley field and then a grain elevator. The next day we sat and listen to a few people talk about the company and also did personality tests. The last time we met was in August, we had a big fancy dinner on the first night where the interns got to bring someone from their school and introduce them to everyone. They handed out awards and scholarships. The next day we gave our presentations, that we had been working on all summer. There were a verity of projects that people did,  It was a summer to remember for sure. If you have any interest in the Growmark internship program visit: www.growmark.com

where I worked summer 2016

 

60 interns for Growmark: from the Growmark website

 

photo credits Marcy Brown

Hello everyone my name is Shannon Brown, I call Steward, IL home. I am a senior at Western Illinois University in Macomb IL. where I study Ag science with an emphasis in agronomy and a minor in Ag business. I grew up on corn and soybean farm where I am the fourth generation to work and live there. I work alongside my dad every chance I get. I love tractor pulling, which is what I do all summer.  I am a member of Sigma Alpha, which is  a professional agriculture sorority , collegiate FFA, Ag mech club, and collegiate farm bureau.  I  graduate in May 2017. I plan to either be a crop scout or do research with a company after graduating. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at sl-brown@wiu.edu

 

Are your furbabies getting their annual exam?

Today, many pet owners believe the yearly exam veterinarians recommend for their patients is just a waste of money or a way that veterinarians boost their own bank account. As a pet owner, employee at several clinics, and an aspiring veterinarian I can honestly say “yes, an annual exam is very necessary.” Prevention is always the best policy! When it comes to my four-legged family members, I treat them as though I would my two-legged family members.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are a necessary part of each animal’s yearly check up. They help to prevent one’s dog from contracting diseases that they are exposed to. Even if the dog “does not leave the house,” they are still very capable of acquiring a disease. Humans can bring elements home to indoor pets on their shoes and clothing that they are not even aware of.

The age, location, lifestyle, and health of the patient have an impact on what vaccination program the animal will need. For example, a dog that is used for hunting should have a different program than a dog that goes for a walk with its owner around the block a few times a week.

After receiving multiple boosters as a puppy, dogs should revisit their veterinarian annually for vaccinations. They should be administered a rabies vaccination and Distemper-Hepatitis-Parvovirus-Parainfluenza (DHPP) booster at minimum. Optional vaccinations include: Bordatella (kennel cough), Leptospirosis, and Lyme.

This is a photo I took of my two dogs, “Gertie” and “Paisley.” Each of them have similar vaccination programs, however, they are at different stages. Gertie is a Australian Shepherd/Cattle Dog mix and is almost a year old. She has had all of her vaccines and will start annual vaccinations the following year. Paisley is a Miniature Australian Shepherd and is about 7 weeks old in this picture. She has had one DHPP booster vaccination and will be receiving a series of these before she starts her “adult” vaccinations.

 

Parasite Examinations

Dogs can be affected by parasites in three different ways: internally, externally, and intestinally. Just like vaccines it is always best to prevent rather than treat. Have your animal tested by bringing a small fecal sample to your appointment. Not all parasites may be seen by the human eye, therefore veterinarians/technicians must create a sample slide after centrifuging to check for any eggs under the microscope. These parasites may not show it at first, but eventually they will take a toll on your animal’s health. In addition, some may even effect you and your family also.

The internal parasite most commonly seen is heartworms. Heartworms develop after a dog has been bitten by an infected mosquito. The larvae develop in the animals heart and begin to essentially block an animals blood pathways.

External parasites include: fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. Not only do they make your pet uncomfortable, itchy, and hairless, but they also can lead to other parasite infestations! For example, infected fleas that are ingested by your dog may transfer tapeworms and infected ticks can transmit Lyme disease.

Many of the common intestinal parasites include: hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. Typically, most are found in the soil. Contrary to many owners beliefs, even indoor pets are in contact with soil. We drag it inside with our shoes, we take our pets on walks, we have other pets over, and we let them out in the yard to do their business. There many ways our pets may contract these parasites that we typically would not think of. For example, most puppies born usually have roundworms or hookworms. They are transferred to them by their mom, which is why it is so critical to have a fecal examination when getting a new puppy.

Prevention is key to protecting your pet from those creepy crawly parasites in the soil. In the figure above is my now, 6-month-old, miniature Australian Shepherd puppy “Paisley.” She was started on heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives when she was 7 weeks old and has been on a year-round, monthly preventative program ever since.

 

Dental Examinations

It is easy to overlook the dental health of a pet due to the fact we do not brush their teeth daily. However, the dental health of our pet can play a major role in the overall wellness as well. When tartar and bacteria builds up in a dogs mouth, it can lead to periodontal disease. That unbearable odor you are smelling when your dog licks you is harmful to more than just your nose. The buildup acts as a toxic agent in your animals system and can lead to your pet feeling ill.

Depending on the breed, age, lifestyle, and health of your dog they may need a dentistry. Yes, dogs need dental cleanings just like you! Most often they are put under a mild anesthesia while a veterinarian/technician cleans the animals teeth and performs any necessary extractions. Sometimes a tooth may need to be extracted due to the fact it is doing more harm to the animal than good.

Overall Health and Nutrition

An overall look at your pet by a professional in the veterinary field and different set of eyes is one of the greatest favors you can do for your pet. We are not all perfect, and thus it is easy for us to miss something that needs attended to in regards to our animal. Even working in the veterinary field, I often see veterinarians bring their own pets to be examined by other doctors they work with just in case they happened to overlook something. When you see an animal day in and day out, it is easy for your eye to become less critical when overlooking your pet.

One of the most common overlooked areas is the body condition of your pet and whether or not what you are feeding is really in the animals best interest. Your parents were not joking when they scolded you for trying to feed table scraps to the dog to get done with supper quicker. Your pets really do not need the human food we “treat” them with, nor is it good for them usually. It never hurts to brush up on your knowledge of items that are toxic to your dogs. Check out the Animal Poison Control’s list of items they say to avoid at: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets

This is my foster dog “Jetta,” she is a labrodor retriever  we estimate to be around 4 years old. She was abandon at an old farm outside of town, in which someone brought her to the clinic. She was a very scared and nervous dog when she first came to my house in August. Since then, we have gotten her caught up on her vaccinations, started her on heartworm/flea/tick preventatives, and introduced her to adult dog food which she loves. She has gained weight and is in much better condition now. This coming week she will be getting spayed before meeting her new owners next week at her new forever home.

 

 

Hello! My name is Isabella Frisk, or crazy dog lady to some. I have been passionate about animals since I was just a kid, and have never outgrew that love. I have been employed at two veterinary clinics and have had approximately five years of in-the-clinic experience. I am currently in my senior year of my Bachelors of Science degree at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. I am an aspiring veterinarian who would like to practice both small and large animal medicine in my future.

 

WIU Horticulture Team Making School History at NCLC

Have you ever heard of the National Collegiate Landscape Competition? Neither had my classmates or I, until Dr. Margaret Hoffman mentioned it to us in our Introduction to Horticulture class last fall. The NCLC is hosted by The National Association of Landscape Professionals, which is commonly called the NALP. This contest is held every year in the United States and is passed from school to school across the nation. This past year was the 40th annual competition that was held in Starkville, Mississippi which is home of Mississippi State University. An interesting fact about the location was that MSU was the first school to host the very first competition. Last year 62 teams from both the United States and Canada combined, attended this event over a five day span. Besides the contest it also has many other events. Some of these events include student workshops, social events, career fair, and of course the award ceremony. This event seems to grow every year with the hopes that this will become even bigger.

So how does the Western Illinois Horticulture team come to this event? Well, last year was the very first time a team from Western Illinois University attended this contest. Thanks to the hard work of both Dr. Margaret Hoffman and Dr. Andy Baker, our team was allowed to bring qualified five individuals and a coach to this major contest. These individuals that made up our team included: Spencer Smith (Galesburg, IL.), Dillon Martenson (Shabbona, IL.), Zachery Woodbury (Lee, IL.), Nathaniel Anderson (Byron, IL.), Kennneth Tryggestad (Rockford, IL.) and our coach/ adviser Dr. Margaret Hoffman. Before heading out we all spent many countless hours studying and practicing for the events that we would partake in, down at the contest. We all could feel the pressure that was put on us, as we were the first WIU team to go down and show off the talents of our agriculture program.

During the grueling nine hour drive to Mississippi State University words couldn’t describe how we became closer as a team. From the countless questions regarding the events members were participating in, to identifying plants on the side of the road, we all seemed to enjoy this time we had with each other. In parts of Tennessee and Mississippi we saw first hand what mother nature could do to the landscape. Many farmers fields were under water that it felt like we were on a boat sailing through the ocean. This seemed to hit home with a lot of us, as we all could feel for the farming families that lost everything that was planted in those fields. As we got closer to Starkville, Mississippi the attitude in the van changed from joking around to game faces as we were ready to bring home the W.

The first day of the event included: various student workshops that any and all team members could attend. Some of the main ones which were attended was the truck/trailer driving, arboriculture and woody plant ID. These workshops provided excellent information that can/would be applied to the real world.

The second day involved the career fair. When I describe the career fair it was a huge gathering for multiple companies. The companies ranged from large machine makers, landscapers, to even wholesale landscape supply companies.

Zach being interviewed about his experience at NCLC.

Our group did an excellent job of communicating with these companies and many of them were very impressed with our horticulture program. Another thing they were also impressed with was the knowledge of our students. It was very apparent that they were impressed with one member as he accepted a position that was offered to him during the career fair.

The third/fourth day was the competition of the different events. Some of the members participated in the irrigation assembly. The irrigation assembly required them to follow a plan and construct an irrigation system within an hour.

WIU’s Irrigation System

Our team did very well but did have several mistakes that ended placing them in the middle of the pack. Another event that our members competed in was turf, woody, and perennial ID. The three individuals who competed also placed in the middle of the pack. Some hurdles that they encountered were plants which were native to Mississippi. Some other events we participated in were truck/trailer driving, arboriculture techniques, and landscape installation.

WIU’s Landscape Installation

Landscape installation is the last event of the competition and involves all attendees standing on the sidelines where they would cheer on their respected schools. This competition involves a three person team who installs sod, trees, and even plants. Our members had to endure heavy rain storms and the thick Mississippi clay, which was near impossible to work with. Even though the weather did not cooperate we ended up placing middle of the pack. For this being our first appearance we did a great job representing the WIU School of Agriculture.

This year we are in the process of planning on competing at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. We are currently seeking qualified individuals who display a passion for the horticulture industry to compete. Even though we represented WIU respectfully at Mississippi State University, our expectations have increased. Our team expectation is to be in the top 20% of the overall competition.

 My name is Dillon Martenson and I’m currently a senior at Western Illinois University. I’m majoring in Agriculture Business with an emphasis in Horticulture. I was born and raised on a grain/ livestock farm located in Shabbona, IL, which is just 1 hour and 30 min from downtown Chicago. While growing up on the farm I helped out with the day to day operations of growing corn and soybeans, but I also got to branch out and raise my own set of show pigs. Not only did I learn about the farm at a young age but I also got to experience and learn about the landscape industry from my grandfather and father. This was due to the fact my family owns and operates Martenson Turf Products, Inc., a wholesale grass seed company that supplies materials to IDOT, landscapers, golf courses, and even sports facilities. All of this has contributed to me becoming a well-rounded individual regarding agriculture.

The Men of Alpha Gamma Sigma Host AGS for Bags

Every semester fraternities and sororities alike put together events with one thing in mind, trying to make a difference. These events are called philanthropies, and they have become a vital part of Greek organizations all over America.

Here at WIU the men of Alpha Gamma Sigma take this seriously, and we truly want to make a difference in any way we can.  Bags, or what some people call, “corn hole” has been a staple in Midwestern lives and tailgates everywhere. Understanding the popularity of the game, AGS used that to their advantage to attract people throughout the university to the event.

Courtesy of WIU Inter Fraternity Council 

This semester, we will be having the Tenth Annual AGS for Bags, and like so many in the past it will be benefiting testicular cancer by forwarding all proceeds to the Testicular Cancer Society. The event itself will be held on October 29th, 2016 from 12 P.M.-3 P.M. at the AGS house. Teams cost $30 prior and $40 at the event. The winning team will walk away with their very own AGS for Bags champion bag board set. If you come up short in the tournament you still have a chance to take home some bragging rights. For only $5 you can enter yourself in the famous Turkey Testicle Eating Contest. We will however, be selling concessions of chili, burgers, hot dogs, chips, soda, and water to our less adventurous guests.

On behalf of everyone from Alpha Gamma Sigma, we hope many of you can take a break from your busy semesters and harvest season, to enjoy some fun with our bags tournament and help raise money and awareness of testicular cancer!

Four Seasons of Farming

During the four seasons of farming – fall, winter, spring, and summer – different tasks have to be done on the farm. I myself enjoy Fall! There is always so much going on, no time to be bored or waste. For most, pumpkins, sweatshirts, and football come to mind. But for me, it is totally different. As a kid I always remember riding in the tractor with my dad, hauling grain to the elevator. Now I have worked at the elevator during harvest and have seen the other side.

Fall

 Late September to early December is the time where farmers get to see the reward of the growing season. Harvest starts in mid-September, and most do not understand all the work that goes into harvest. Making sure that all crops are dry is the most important. This is important for storage reasons. After crops are out many farmers have some kind of fall practices. Vandenberg Farms uses fall tillage as a practice. Ripping the corn and bean ground helps to create organic matter in the soil.

While working at the elevator, I gained a different perspective. Moving grain from one place to another can be dangerous. For example, one night we were drying corn, and the bin quickly became very full and corn came out the top of the bin! The next day was spent cleaning up all the mess! This was a big mistake and not all of it could be saved. I took the picture below, the morning after the grain spill.

May we all get to see those fields of green turn gold

Winter

Early December to late February is now time for rest! After all the crops are out, farmers have time to fix machinery or other projects on the farm. We also purchase our inputs for the next planting season. My family takes the time to travel. As my grandparents get older they like to make a trip to the south and visit friends and family. This year they already have a trip planned for January to Hawaii.

Spring

Late March to late June is time to put the crops in the ground. Waiting for the ground to thaw out,and make sure there will not be another frost. The first pass of herbicides and pesticides are applied. Along with crops being planted, there always seems to be new baby kittens as well.

Summer

July to early September can be make or break for most farmers. After my dad plants both corn and soybeans, it is time to put on fertilizers and pesticides. I have also worked as a crop scout intern during the summer. I took great pride in helping my family and other farmers produce weed and pest-free fields. I also was responsible for checking the conditions of the fields. After checking the field conditions, I would report to my supervisor and let him know if fertilizer and herbicides can be applied. Weather is the hardest part of being a farmer. Rain is critical in these months but not too much! Too much rain can damage crops, but not enough rain can also damage crops. The perfect amount of rain, sunlight, and heat produces the best crops!

Seasonal Conclusion 

It’s hard to pick a favorite season, when they’re all so great in there own way! Season have always meant something different to me, and I wanted to share those with you.The many events that happen in the different season sometimes go misunderstood. That is why I am sharing, so more people are aware!

My name is Haley Vandenberg, I call Farmington, Iowa, home where I live on our family farm. My dad, uncle, and grandpa, farm 2000 acres of corn and soybeans. As much as I want to go back to the farm, I’m not sure if there is enough for me to do. I am a transfer student from Southeastern Community College where I studied Agriculture Business Management. I have enjoyed my time here as a Leatherneck! I am in my senior year and it still has not hit me yet that I am almost done with school! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

Joining Clubs Produces Qualities That Last a Lifetime

Joining clubs and organizations for the very first time can sometimes be nerve-wracking, but usually after you’ve conquered doing it once, it’s something you look forward to doing over and over.

I first got involved by joining West Carroll’s FFA chapter when I started high school in 2009. This was definitely intimidating because I was a freshman among a large group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors (our FFA was one of the largest in Northern Illinois). But what kept me going was my drive to learn about agriculture, attend contests, and get to know others with similar interests.

FFA, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is an organization designed to promote agricultural education, as well as leadership skills and personal growth. I feel like I can easily say that joining FFA helped me obtain leadership skills and it certainly helped me grow as an individual. I became the President of the freshman class, which had a huge impact on my leadership abilities. Being the President of my class, I had to set good examples and be as active in the chapter as possible. Of course, as a freshman, the opportunities for involvement are nearly endless. My class got involved in parliamentary procedure (where I was voted the secretary because of my good handwriting), dairy foods judging, weeds & seeds contests, soil judging, proficiency awards, and creed speaking just to name a few. These were all contests that I attended to not only get me out of my shell as a newbie in the world of high school, but also to help me meet other students with who shared the same interests.

Attending conferences was another great way I was able to get involved and make new friends. I stayed active in FFA all four years of high school, as the opportunities for attending contests and conferences continued.

Photo Credit: West Carroll FFA Advisor

Aside from staying active in FFA, I also joined my home town 4-H club in 2010. 4-H is a worldwide system of youth organizations designed to promote personal growth, development, and leadership. These characteristics are built through community service activities, public speaking, working with diverse backgrounds, creating projects, presenting at the fair, and many more.

I spent my whole first year learning about the club and what types of activities they do. My club actively participated in clean-up events, which was an eye-opening experience. Playing a part in these clean-up activities taught me a much greater respect for our earth and wanting to do my part in preserving what we’ve been given. On top of volunteering my time doing community service, I engaged in the activities that happened during the county fair. My first project was a poster about how to groom a horse, where I took home a blue ribbon, because of course, everyone is a winner.

After being an active member for a year, I decided to run for the office of President. Luckily, I was elected to this position, even though I ran against four other long time members. This gave me the opportunity to take charge and do my part to make this organization the best that I could. I was in charge of going over our agenda, passing motions, encouraging discussion among the group, and helping the younger members in their development.

Photo Credit: Julie Skiles, 4-H Leader

I thoroughly enjoyed being a role model for the younger kids in our club. So many of them were afraid to get up in front of our group and present about their fair projects, but I enjoyed helping them to learn confidence and how to speak through their fears. Some of these members grew out of their shell to where they were always volunteering to lead our group in the pledge.

“I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.”

One of my favorite parts about being in 4-H was getting to interact with the other local clubs, one in particular. Gordon Jones was a unique neighboring club, as its members were all living in a group home, due to special needs or mental disabilities. This is something that is very near and dear to my heart, as I’ve grown up with a sister who has special needs. The few times a year that we engaged with this 4-H club brought me such great happiness, as these are the types of people in this world that see nothing but the positives. I always loved doing arts & crafts projects with them, as it was very evident that doing so was the highlight of their day. I’m particularly grateful for this experience, because it opened the eyes of many of the younger members in my own club. I grew up with a sister just like these wonderful people, but most of these kids did not. It was a learning opportunity for them, to show them to treat everyone with respect, regardless of our differences.

Photo Credit: Lisa Holmes

4-H was such a major part of my life in more ways than one, including showing my horse at the county fair. This taught me responsibility, as I practiced almost daily and did chores routinely. Many days were spent in the hot sun, trying to perfect my walk, trot, and canter. The practice and hard work led me to have pretty decent show performances. But that wasn’t always the case, as many other 4-H’ers know too well. Regardless of the hours spent practicing, sometimes you don’t always come out with the grand champion ribbon. Showing in the county fairs not only taught me to work on my personal confidence, but how to pick my head up and keep going, even when I didn’t win.

Being a member of the Savanna Smiles for about five years was a great opportunity for me to enhance my public speaking abilities, organization skills, leadership abilities, and many more. If I could change one thing, I would have become active at a much younger age.

In continuing my involvement in organizations in college, I made the decision to join Sigma Alpha, a professional agricultural sorority. This is an excellent way for girls with an agricultural interest to network with one another and create a sisterhood that will last well beyond college.

Photo Credit: Morgan Dahl

I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever say I was part of a sorority, because that was never the type of person that I was. But Sigma Alpha isn’t a typical college sorority, they are professional and promote scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship among its members. When I first joined, I was a membership candidate. Throughout this process, I took weekly quizzes to learn the history of the sorority, interviewed the active members to get to know them, participated in highway cleanup, and took part in our fundraising. While a membership candidate, I got a “mom” and a “dad.” A Sigma Alpha mom is someone who you can look to for help or advice, in which I have been very fortunate, as my “mom” has become one of my best friends at Western.

Sigma Alpha has helped me to network with other girls, as well as with employers. It is amazing how many women in the agricultural field were part of this sorority during their college days. Aside from meeting so many new faces, this is a great opportunity to improve scholarship and professional skills. Sigma Alpha takes pride in the fact that their members are good scholars who maintain a respectable GPA.  Being professional is also an important aspect of this organization, as members always present a positive and reputable image. I am proud to say that I am part of Sigma Alpha, as I have not only met so many wonderful girls, but I have also gained skills that will stick with me beyond my college years.

My name is Kylie Beaston and I am a senior at Western Illinois University. I am working towards my Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business with a minor in Agronomy. I graduated from Highland Community College in Freeport, Illinois with an Associate of Science. My last semester on campus is busy as I am actively involved with the Agronomy club and Sigma Alpha. I have a passion for Agriculture and staying actively involved in the organizations that promote it.

Studying Gassy Cows

There are currently 1.5 billion cattle on the planet. It’s reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) that cattle production is responsible for at least 18 percent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. I’m sure most of you have heard that there’s too much carbon dioxide in the air and that this is the cause of climate change. However, it’s proven and true that cattle production is very clearly a threat to the climate and the environment as a whole.

Cattle are ruminants, which means they have a four compartment stomach. Unlike humans, digestion takes place in cattle’s stomachs instead of their intestines. The rumen of a cow’s stomach is filled with bacteria that aid in digestion. However, these bacteria are also responsible for producing methane. Cattle manure, burps, and gas all contain methane. Although every cow’s emission levels are different, the amount of methane released by cattle is often compared to that produced by a car in a day. That’s a lot of methane.

So what do we do about it? Many people believe limiting cattle production would be the best place to start. However, the cattle industry supplies us with a lot of food. It wouldn’t be feasible to cut cattle production completely. Replacing our meat source could be an option, but, to state the obvious, people like their steak. Instead, there are multiple studies currently going on in an attempt to lower methane emissions.

Although many different studies are currently being conducted, they are all basing their studies off of the same concepts. Scientists are taking cattle, confining them, and monitoring them day by day. Cattle are often placed in their own chamber, which consists of clear walls so they can see the other cattle. Cattle develop a hierarchy in the heard, and can usually identify 60-70 different cattle from their herd. By allowing them to see one another, they continue their regular routine and are much easier to manage while conducting tests and gathering results. Their genotype, feed type and ration, and microbial makeup in the rumen are what are being monitored. As is their manure and methane emission rate.

A cow sporting a methane measuring technology in Australia.

A lot of scientists have different ideas about how to limit methane release. Many are looking into the food cattle are eating and attempting to figure out what ingredients cause cattle to release the most methane. Some scientists are looking into the rumen to attempt to edit the microbes inside of it. Other scientists are strictly looking into genetics because they believe a specific gene causes the methane release. Better yet, there are scientists trying to do all three of those things and more.

Scientists are looking to breed the perfect cow. Cattle with less methane emissions have been bred, but there’s more to look at than the effects on climate change. Scientists must find the perfect breed for reduced methane release while maintaining productivity. Diminishing productivity isn’t a feasible option. Commercial cattle production is entirely too important to our economy. Part of the issue lies in the fact that cattle were designed to be grass fed. Over the years we’ve strayed away from that and added unnecessary items to their diet in order to make them larger and better to eat. With this, has come the change of the microbial makeup of their rumens. A simple solution would be to switch cattle back to only being grass fed, however, this wouldn’t solve the issue completely and productivity would be limited.

The hope is that the answer lies in the genetic make-up of cattle. Countries all over the world have looked into the idea, and one of these days they hope to find an answer. If editing the DNA of cattle can cause them to release less methane, then we’re taking a leap in the right direction. However, finding the answer doesn’t necessarily solve it. Once we’ve found what causes cattle to release methane at such a high level, we have to get all cattle to release methane at a lower level and maintain productivity.

It’s been and will continue to be a long journey, but when the answer is found the industry will jump for joy!

My name is Jennifer Schwerer. I had the privilege of growing up on a family farm not far from Macomb. I am currently a Junior at Western Illinois University studying agricultural business with a minor in Accounting. In my free time you can catch me riding four-wheelers, hanging out with friends, or playing with my dog!