Category Archives: Feature/Human Interest

A good wintertime read

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Ken Anderson writes:

I was fascinated by this book:

After reading a recommendation for this book on Facebook from Cindy Cunningham of the National Pork Board, I went to our local library and picked up The Children’s Blizzard.

I read it on the plane while traveling to and from Nashville for the Cattle Industry Convention.

Warning—once you start reading, it’s hard to put down.

It’s the story of the ferocious blizzard of January 12, 1888 that killed hundreds of newly arrived settlers, including more than a hundred children in the Dakotas and Nebraska as they tried to make their way home from school.

If you live on a farm or ranch—or if you grew up on one—I think you will find this to be a dramatic, heartbreaking, and haunting story. It’s also offers an interesting description of the very early days of weather forecasting in the U.S.

Can you imagine what life was like in the Midwest and Great Plains without radio, TV, newspaper or Internet to keep us informed on the weather?

After reading The Children’s BIizzard, I now have even greater respect for the brave, hardy souls that settled the American frontier.

Tradition

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From Brownfield’s Nebraska-based farm broadcaster Ken Anderson:

 I love state the tradition of state fairs. I also love historic old buildings. So I was happy to hear that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has found a way to preserve—at least the exterior—of the 99-year old Industrial Arts Building located on the former state fairgrounds in Lincoln.

The Nebraska State Fair relocated to Grand Island in 2010 and the university is in the process of converting the former fairgrounds site in Lincoln into a new research and technology park called Innovation Campus. UNL officials—who originally wanted to tear down the old Industrial Arts Building—have announced a plan for renovation of the structure to house research space and mechanical equipment on the first floor and greenhouse space on the second floor.

Although I didn’t actually grow up with the Industrial Arts building, I was hooked the very first time I saw it in 1977. After reading about its long history—which included serving as an aircraft assembly plant—I was hopeful that the university would find some way to keep it alive.

Some things are just worth keeping around. (Hope our kids feel that way about me in about 30 years.)

Here’s a link to a web site dedicated to saving the Industrial Arts Building.

What’s that?

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A few of you in the radio business might recognize this tube.  Brownfield’s Meghan Grebner shared the photo and the details:
This is a picture Wayne R. Miller took of a 1940′s RCA tube from the old Westinghouse 5kw transmitter at WIRL in Central Illinois. Wayne said it’s a RCA tube on the Westinghouse transmitter because Westinghouse didn’t make tubes.

Wayne is President of Peoria Network Associates and is always posting those type of treasures he finds.

Now that’s old school radio at its finest!!

-Meghan Grebner

Thanksgiving poem from Iowa Soybean

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We receive a LOT of emails here at Brownfield Ag News.  From news releases to inquiries to comments.  Thanks to our friends at Iowa Soybean Association for passing along this poem, is authored and read by Aaron Putze, director of external relations for the Iowa Soybean Association and coordinator of the Iowa Food & Family Project:

Giving thanks for America’s farmers
By Aaron Putze

They don’t seek attention or verses that rhyme;

Nor features or spotlights, none of any kind.

For farmers it’s not a headline to rise each new day;

Often before sunrise as they get on their way.

They say it’s part of the job to get soaked by rain;

To plow through snow and work through pain.

To move augers and wagons and make quick repairs; To volunteer their time at local churches, schools and fairs.

They don’t mind working alone, some prefer it that way;

But don’t be mistaken for they have plenty to say.

About markets and weather, soil types and fields; The status of regulations and a neighbor’s yields.

About rainfall, the stock market and global ag trade;

Barge transportation and the way stuff is made.

They’re focused and driven to get their work done;

Unless a neighbor needs help and then off they’ll run.

They don’t admit perfection because things can go wrong;

Accidents will happen but they make the will strong.

To put in a good day’s work before there is rest; Continually improving and doing one’s best,

Like innovative ways that protect the water, soil and air;

Being a good neighbor and raising livestock with care.

Of providing more food using less energy, water and land; And offering choices to meet customer demand.

For these things and more we recognize this Thanksgiving;

America’s farmers and what they bring to living.

Like thousands of food items, many easy to prepare;

Fuel to power vehicles and clothing to wear.

Then there are life-saving medicines, tires and blue jeans;

The sheets on our beds and soaps to keep us clean.

In fact, about everything we need to live, work and play;
Is derived from the work that farmers will do today.
With that in mind, we pause, take stock and remember; What farmers bring to life as we gather to give thanks this November.
You can listen to Aaron read the poem by clicking here:  Aaron Putze Poem

Iowa State Fair #1 fan

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Cumalene Carroll is without a doubt, the number #1 fan of the Iowa State Fair.  You may remember that Julie Harker produced a feature story about Cumalene not missing a single Iowa State Fair in her entire life.  That’s saying something.

Cumalene and her husband Richard visited Brownfield’s Jefferson City studios this morning.  Clyde Lear gave them the grand tour.

You just never know what you may find…

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Brownfield’s Meghan Grebner shares this story to which many of us can relate:

I headed back to Illinois midweek for what is a mix of business and plain quality time with my family. I have mentioned before my 84 year old grandmother very much rules the roost on our family farming operation. She is still as active as she can be for her age and what she calls her “shrinking condition”. This morning when I went down the farm to visit – I was in for a surprise… She was making jam. I took the opportunity to chat with her and help out a little bit in the kitchen. During our “pear preserve” making she brought up her infamous “one of these days” projects (now I could tell you some stories about those projects… but she prefers to tell them – because there is always a lesson learned at the end of her stories). Her task, next time I am home, is to go through some boxes of “things” she has acquired over her years. She reminds (or warns) that she won’t be around forever and wants to tell me the stories that go with what is in some of those boxes.

Since I was a child, I have always marveled at her cookbook. It’s the original Betty Crocker cookbook. It’s been not so gently used, it is falling apart at the binding with pages falling out and other pages tucked in the back of the book.

The other thing I have always loved in her kitchen is the recipe box. It is filled with note cards that have yellowed with time, written in pencil that has faded over the years. She received the cookbook over 55 years ago as a wedding present, the recipe box was started I’m not sure when.

Today, I pulled out a postcard from 1938 mailed to my great grandmother.

 On the back was the recipe for macaroons. I haven’t made those yet… But I think I may need to try.

I love being able to come home and spend some quality time with my family. Tomorrow, if the weather holds up, I’m spending some time with my dad in the field before we head to our other favorite thing to do together… Watch the Packers play football.

Here is hoping you and your family have a safe and bountiful harvest season.

-Meghan

About those spiders. . .

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I’m not exactly afraid of spiders, but I am not a big fan, either.  I know to watch for Brown Recluse, or “Fiddleback” spiders in the attic of our big old farmhouse and for Black Widow spiders lurking in webs in the corner of the barn or in the woods.  A bite from one of these venomous spiders can be painful and require medical attention.

I know that those enormous Wolf spiders I see climbing over hay bales in the barn are doing good work elimating some of the insect pests around.  The ones that jump, I have to admit, freak me out a little bit.  The “Grandaddy long legs” looks like a spider, but isn’t really a spider at all, and there is absolutely nothing about “him” that causes me to shudder like I do when I find a spider of some ilk trapped in the bathtub.

My favorite spider is the the gigantic black and yellow garden spider.  There are several on the farm right now that I see every day.  One has woven its web across the door frame in the feed room of the barn.  One has a beautifully crafted web reaching from an orange mum plant to an antique rose bush in my front flower bed.  Another set up housekeeping on my front porch. 

Brownfield Affiliate Relations Manager Mike Cady was welcomed to the day by this one, whose web reaches across the Cady’s front door.

 

I remember taking these big spiders to school in mason jars and placing them in a dry aquarium so the entire classroom could enjoy their delicate beauty.

Year of extremes

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2011 has been a year of extremes.  While many areas are suffering from drought or near-drought conditions, others – and sometimes the same areas - are suffering the effects of flooding. 

One of our listeners passed this picture along to Julie Harker.  The listener’s comment was “This is what the flood has done to our local roads and interstates.”  This picture was taken near Cresent, Iowa.  It is from I-680 Looking east off the Mormon Bridge.

Photo courtesty of Richard Oswald, via Daily Yonder