We're on facebook!

And you should go check out our page to keep up with all of our activities!

www.facebook.com/fftgroup

Miss America Event

The countdown is on! Miss America is coming to Kansas State!

Let us know if you'll be in the area to attend this amazing lecture. We've created an event on facebook, so let us know if you plan on attending.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=221046731295250

If you haven't heard about this event, here's the original Miss America post.

Happy Halloween!

Tera

The Farmer in the Dell - not the HP

Hi, my name is Brandi. I'm 24 and technologically challenged.  I have difficulties using my internet phone, changing my blog design takes an inordinate amount of time and I don't know how to load music onto my iPod. It's embarassing, I know.

While I'm not so hot at managing a RSS Feed I am pretty good at internet surfing and today I found this little gem while I was rummaging for blog ideas -

Ten Technical Terms About Computers And What They Mean To Farmers
Log on: when you want to make the homestead warmer
Log off: Timberrrrrrrrrrrr.
Mega Hertz: when you're not careful getting the firewood
Lap top: where the cat sleeps
Hard drive: maneuvering through rocky fields on the northern range when there is snow on the ground
Windows: what to shut when it's cold outside
Byte: what mosquitoes do
Modem: what I did to the hay fields
Keyboard: where the keys hang
Mouse: critters that eat the grain in the barn

While the info on this list may have been true 5 years ago, today more and more farmers are logging onto their computers and utilizing social media (Twitter, blogging and Facebook) to connect to consumers and tell the story of American agriculture.

Do you have a question for a farmer or rancher? Now it's easier than ever to reach out and ask a farmer or rancher about how food is produced. Check out these farmers' blog and Twitter feeds:

@JeffFowle  - Conservative, Christian, rancher, farmer, cattle, horses, hay, animal welfare specialist, Agvocate, husband & father
@farmerhaley - 5th generation Ohio Family Farmer, Raising grain and purebred Simmental cattle. Passionate about farming and Animal Welfare! email: farmerhaley(at)gmail.com
@DebbieLB - A cattle rancher in Kansas, raising 5 teenagers!
@OHDairyFarmers - Meet Ohio Dairy Farmers! We care for our cows, respect our land and produce safe, high quality milk.
@thefarmvet - We love animals, food and traveling! A large animal veterinarian and his wife working in California with today's farms.

http://kansascattleranch.blogspot.com/
http://cdycattle.blogspot.com/
http://dustonthedashboard.blogspot.com/
http://kansasgrains.wordpress.com/
http://webelfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/

I hope these resources, in addition to Food For Thought, will aid you in learning more about agriculture and food production!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Top ten list and image courtesy of www.guy-sports.com

Meet a Farmer

We live in a society that is increasingly urban and suburban. In fact, the average person is two generations removed from the farm. However, there is research that indactes people consider farmers and ranchers reliable sources of information about food and food production.

The problem is less and less people have a personal connection with a farmer or rancher. In that spirit, I decided to share some of my favorite ways you can connect with real producers online. This is just a sampling. Many farmers and ranchers are active online. Feel free to share your favorite producer information sources too.

Blogs :
Debbie Lyons-Blythe blogs at “Life on a Kansas Cattle Ranch” about raising cattle and kids in central Kansas.

South Dakota rancher Troy Hadrick share about his ranch and his take on current events in agriculture in his blog “Advocates for Agriculture.”

Facebook :
Kansas rancher Mark Smith shares about his operation – often through fabulous pictures – on the facebook fan page for Pleasant Valley Ranch.

YouTube:
Kansas Farm Bureau’s YouTube channel offers profiles of various Kansas farmers and ranchers.

Twitter :
Many farmers and ranchers are active on Twitter. I recommend following California farmer and rancher Jeff Fowle @JeffFowle, Ohio farmer Mike Haley @farmerhaley, California dairy farmer @RayLinDairy and Kansas farmer Darin Grimm @kansasfarmer.

If you’re itching for an in-person tour of a farm or ranch, search the Internet to see if there is a program in your area. If not, local and state Farm Bureaus and Livestock Associations also may be able to get you in touch with a farmer or rancher willing to give a tour. You’d be surprised how willing many producers are to open up the farm gate and share what they do.

Best,

Chelsea

Come Creep On Us!

Readers -

Just wanted to let some of you know that we are on facebook, so come on over and creep on our page.

facebook

We are also on twitter. Join the twitterverse and follow our tweets.

twitter