Category Archives: Feature/Human Interest

POTUS interview

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Your political viewpoint doesn’t really make any difference when, as an agricultural broadcaster/journalist, your request to interview the President of the United States is approved.  It’s even MORE cool when the White House calls you because they want to reach farmers and folks in rural communities across the Heartland of this great country.  

Brownfield’s Tom Steever, President-Elect of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and one of those really great people I get to work with every day, got that call from the White House and interviewed President Obama late yesterday afternoon. 

You can listen to the POTUS interview POTUS Interview August 17, 2011

(POTUS = President of the United States.)

At least the fish are biting!

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Agronomist Mike Toohill with Diversified Services in Central Illinois says the ground is tight from lack of rain and compaction problems from the spring. He also said there are a lot of nitrogen issues – especially Springfield south and the wind issues I-80 N.

The “good corn” in the central section of the state has had no rain. Mike fears it will be like ’88 if we don’t get rain and the heat doesn’t stop, too.

However, it’s not all bad in his neck of the woods!  Mike told Brownfield’s Meghan Grebner, “It’s hot here and crops are crashing but at least the fish are biting!”

Morel season

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For many of us who live on farms across the Midwest, hunting for Morel mushrooms is a Springtime tradition.  I went mushroom hunting last evening.  These mycological treasures are soaking in salt water in my refrigerator.  I’ll dip them in an egg & milk mixture, then flour and salt and fry them in a skillet. 

Without a doubt, Morel mushrooms are a treat to find and a treat to eat!

NIAA in San Antonio

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Brownfield’s Dave Russell travel to San Antonio, TX this week to cover the National Institute for Animal Agriculture’s annual meeting.  Brownfield was more than happy to be a sponsor for the annual meeting this year.  It is always a great event promoting animal agriculture and we look forward to partnering with NIAA. 

Dave has been very busy doing interviews and attending sessions, but he took some time out of his busy schedule to snap a few photos. 

Brines, Rubs and Marinades, oh my!

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I went to a cooking class at Chef JJ’s Backyard last night with two of my dearest friends, Roger and Jane Ade Stevens, where we learned about “Brines, Rubs and Marinades.” And did we ever eat well, pork loin with a salad, boneless chicken thighs and veggies and flank steak with a dry rub served with a potato stuffed with a mushroom/cheese ragu, and for dessert, pineapple upside down cake, all prepared on a Big Green Egg. Enough about eating all that delicious food. Sitting across from me was a guy wearing this t-shirt. I can’t tell you where he got it though, it was a gift from his niece.

-Dave Russell

The big dance in the feedlots

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When we think of the Big Dance we normally relate that to NCAA tournament time, The Sweet Sixteen, The Final Four and checking out those brackets. But on Wednesday al I could think of was the Big Dance feedlot operators were doing in the barn yard as cell phones played a happy tune of record high cattle bids.

Who could have imagined on March 30, 2011 live cattle contracts would set new all time highs and feedlot cattle on a dressed basis would trade at $200.00 a hundredweight in the North. And the Southern feedlots were dancing to the live prices of $120.00 to $121.00 and as much as $122.00 to $125.00 in the North.  Prices were $5.00 to $9.00 higher live and the dressed trade was $10.00 to $15.00 more than a week ago.

Optimistic projections for increased worldwide meat demand have a lot to do with the historic highs in cash and futures. Tighter supplies down the road figure into the equation too. But we have to be realistic, what may seem like huge profits to cattlemen are not there due to increased costs for feed and fuel.

I am glad I was here today to report the record breaking market, because it may be a long time before we see prices this high again.

 Jerry Passer

Brownfield Livestock Reporter

Really good people

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In this business we get to work with a lot of really good people, and one of those, really good people is retiring this Friday, April 1.

Mike McGovern has been working for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for 36 years and for a number of those he’s served as a Public Information Specialist. Mike is one of those people who understands his job, he understands what those of us in the media are looking for in a story. If Mike sent you something, you knew it was important. From Agriculture Secretary’s, to Congressmen, to Senators, to the Chief of the NRCS, if they were in Indiana talking anything about conservation, I would get a call from Mike wanting to know if he could help set up an interview. Mike was always on-site too, taking photos, making sure those of covering the story were getting what we needed, and that was always appreciated.

Mike, as you step away from NRCS, to spend more time doing those things you enjoy away from the office, I wish you well my friend and thanks for making my job a little easier. 

And while I’m on the subject of really good people, I ran in to Joe and Roma Meyer of Wayne County, Indiana last week at the Indiana Roof Ballroom for the Student Product Innovation Competition Awards Banquet and then again last night at Taste of Elegance. I’m not sure either how I made the same list as Joe and Roma, but you know you’re walking in pretty high cotton when you’re invited to an event at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, let alone two. Anyway, it was especially good to see Joe out and about, Joe had a triple bypass on January 18, on January 19, Joe and Roma celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.

-Dave Russell

The results are in!

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Indiana’s Family of Farmers continued their celebration of Agriculture Month in Indiana on Monday with a Cow Milking Contest on the Statehouse grounds. 5 contestants representing various media outlets in Indianapolis competed in the event emceed by Brownfield’s Dave Russell. In addition to seeing a 4-year dairy cow, named Sheila and a 4 day old calf, named Patty (born on St. Patty’s Day), provided by Purdue University, Indiana Pork Producers served pork burgers and Indiana dairy farmers provided Milk Chugs to a big crowd of State Government employees and others. 

The milking contest was won by Tracy Forner of WISH-TV’s Indy Style, who won the right to compete later this summer at the Indiana State Fair.

Go Jacks

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You may or may not know that both Tom Steever and Ken Anderson are graduates of South Dakota State University.  (If you worked with them, believe me, you would know.)  You also might know that in addition to Brownfield Ag News radio network, Learfield Communications also has a sports division.  Learfield Sports partners with more than 50 collegiate institutions, conferences and associations.  Tom was pleased as punch yesterday to discover that his beloved Jackrabbits are a Learfield Sports partner.