Tag Archives: Meghan Grebner

Behind the blue and gold

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If you didn’t know it already, the National FFA Convention is underway in Indianapolis this week.  It’s a big deal.  National FFA Convention coverage is featured on the Brownfield Ag News website and on the Brownfield Ag News radio network.  Looking out at the crowd during the general session, you see an ocean of blue and gold.  It is an awesome experience.

It is amazing when you think about the sheer numbers in this organization.  There are currently 523,309 FFA members, aged 12-21,in 7,487 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Meghan Grebner and Dave Russell from our broadcast team are covering the convention and reporting on some activities that are held in conjunction with it.

Meghan spent some time with FFA members participating in National Days of Service.  One of the projects is restoring an old farmstead on 4 acres in the middle of Zionsville. The FFA has been part of this project since they moved the convention to Indianapolis and this is the kitchen that they’ve restored so far.

The work is certainly not limited to indoors.  Meghan found these these FFA members bracing one of the outdoor sheds.

Seeing pictures like these and listening to the stories that are coming out of Indiana this week takes me back to my first National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri in 1977. 

Do you remember your first National Convention?  Tell us about it!

 

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

We’ll see you at Ohio Farm Science Review

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Coming to Farm Science Review? This is where you’ll find Brownfield’s Cyndi Young, Meghan Grebner and Dave Russell, we’ll be in the Elgin Service Center building at the corner of Friday and Kottman. Stop by, let one of the OSU Ag Comm students help load Brownfield Mobile on your smartphone, pull up a seat, listen in as Dave Russell talks with folks from the Ohio Soybean Association and Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association about the issues they’re facing, the discussion will take place opening day from 10 – 10:30 a.m., or if you’re at FSR Tuesday afternoon you may want to stop in and listen to Ohio Department of Agriculture Director James Zehringer and State Vet, Dr. Tony Forshey talk about Ohio’s Livestock Care Standards. Dean Bobby Moser joins Dave on Wednesday morning to talk about The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Ohio State Ag Economist Matt Roberts has been invited to stop by Thursday morning to talk about grain marketing.

We understand that with over 600 exhibitors there’s plenty to see at Farm Science Review and you may not have a lot of time to visit, but stop in if for no other reason than to say hello, it will be good to see you.

Meghan’s day with Dad

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When I was little I always went to seed meetings with my dad. To this day – when I’m home – I still do. For me it’s like old times. I don’t remember going to a lot of field days as a child because my dad isn’t a huge fan of them.

My parents are visiting this weekend (because I happened to snag tickets to the Packers/Colts preseason game for this evening) and I asked my dad if he wanted to tag along with me why I went to cover Becknology Days in Atlanta, IN. He accepted and this morning after I did some work in my office we headed that way. I had a chance to catch up with some of my old Illinois friends and chat with some of my new Indiana friends.

One of my friends, Jason Webster, runs Beck’s Practical Farm Research in Downs, Ill. He also gives the tour about technology, crop scouting and field health at Becknology Days. He does an amazing job – in fact if you ever have an opportunity to talk with him about it – you should. He’s smart,  down to earth and is quite frank about how we scout our fields and why we need to be doing a better job of it. When I worked in Illinois, I spent a lot of time at Jason’s PFR – learning about his research and how they can help farmers when it comes to their bottom line. It’s great to have a teacher that is so passionate about what he does.

Today my dad and I took some tours, sat in on some sessions, talked about our farm back home over lunch and had some pretty quality daddy/daughter bonding time. He even brought samples of his corn from home to show one of our DSM’s that was working the show. (For as poor as the growing season, it doesn’t look too shabby – and Craig agreed).

When I finished interviewing Scott Beck, Beck’s Hybrids Vice President I mentioned that I had brought my dad with me today.

 

Scott introduced himself … they talked a little corn, a little farming and some football.

-Meghan Grebner

 

Teamwork!

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Tom Steever and Meghan Grebner teamed up to help make the 2011 Illinois Master Showmanship Contest in Illinois the huge success that it was.  Tom’s great pipes (voice) and Meghan’s practical knowledge in the show ring were put to great use last Friday night at the Illinois State Fair.

“The Drive”

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Meghan Grebner, Indiana Brownfield, shares some thoughts about exhibiting livestock:

Monday night at the Indiana State Fair was incredible. Experiencing “The Drive” for the first time at The Pepsi Coliseum was amazing. My uncle judged the barrow show in Indiana and I’ll use one of his lines “I come from one of the other ‘I-states’ west of here and after being at shows all over the nation, Indiana really does it right.” I couldn’t agree more. I loved showing livestock in Illinois and it was a great show all around – but experiencing the Grand Championship Drive inside the Pepsi Coliseum gave me goosebumps from the time it started until it wrapped up.

I love watching kids show livestock – they are all so different… but you could see it in all of those kids faces, they were intense, focused and determined to do their best and win. For the first year 4-H’ers that made it to the Coliseum to the kids that finished their showing careers there and everyone in between – you can tell, there is nothing better than “getting’ to the Coliseum” .

Brennen North, winner of the Grand Champion Barrow with his Champion crossbred barrow got caught up in the excitement and hugged the Indiana Purebred Pork Queen. 

The Sale of Champions is this Saturday, in the Pepsi Coliseum.

-Meghan Grebner

Texas cotton crop

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Brownfield Ag News radio network does not cover Texas, but we know that farmers in the Midwest like to know what is going on with other crops in other parts of the country (and world.)  Meghan Grebner is “Facebook friends” with Texas Farm Bureau and was intrigued by some pictures posted on the social network showing what appears to be a darned good cotton crop. 

The good folks at Texas Farm Bureau put Meghan in contact with farmer James Faske, whom she interviewed.

 Faske told Meghan that so far this year, the state of Texas has only had 6.53 inches of rain. That sets the record for least year-to-date precipitation to this point. While the majority of the state has suffered detrimental losses in the agriculture industry, Faske, a Bishop, Texas farmer and his family are counting their blessings.

 Faske farms with his father south of Corpus Christi, Texas and because of the subsoil moisture and their only rainfall that totaled around an inch in May, they were able to have a decent sorghum and cotton harvest.

Faske told Meghan that along with the rest of the state of Texas, they are in dire need of rainfall and without tropical storm-like rainfall totals, preparing for next year’s cotton crop will be really bad. He says they plan to begin planting cotton at the end of March, beginning of April.

Matt at Texas Farm Bureau also sent along these photos of the harvest and a picture of James Faske at work.

Meghan’s week. . .so far

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I had the opportunity to travel around Central Indiana this week. Last night ( Wednesday evening), I joined the REAP tour in Middletown at Howell Farms. I ended up being really early and had the chance to visit with Mr. Howell about his farm, their operation and his take on agriculture in general. I have always loved visiting with farmers – the stories, their view on how technologies have changed and how things used to be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a perfect summer evening – we sat in the rockers on the front porch of their beautiful home and there was a nice breeze.

Howell Farms hosted dinner for the REAP group and it was a great opportunity for fellowship and talking about farming in different area.

This morning I headed up to our affiliate, WHBU in Anderson to visit with Doug Zook from 8am until 9am. It’s nice to have the opportunity to visit with the stations that carrying Brownfield programming. Doug’s studio is in the Mounds Mall and he has the opportunity to see and visit with listeners every morning. I am excited that Doug’s invited me back for another visit and can’t wait to return.

I am gearing up for my first Indiana State Fair… which kicks off tomorrow with my first Ham Breakfast!

-Meghan

Indiana Update from Meghan Grebner

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There’s nothing like getting your motor running… literally. I’ve been a resident of Indiana for about 6 weeks and have been touring places, getting to know my way around and most importantly getting to know the people and the agriculture. And if I haven’t met you yet… Don’t worry – I’m not bashful – I will surely introduce myself as soon as the opportunity presents. Last week I had the opportunity to cover two of the more unique events in my history of as a reporter.

To celebrate 75 years – Beck’s Hybrids commissioned two bikes designed by their staff and Orange County Choppers. Last Thursday they unveiled the bikes to their over 800 dealers that were gathered in Indy for their Summer Meeting. I didn’t get to meet Paul Sr. (super sad face) but the bikes and the event were just AWESOME.

Keep in mind I never really followed NASCAR until a few years ago, but I always knew who some of the bigger names were. Friday – I had the chance to briefly visit with Jeff Gordon about his #24 AARP Drive to End Hunger car and about the campaign. At Lucas Oil Speedway (btw, until Friday I also had no idea Indianapolis had two large race tracks) Gordon presented Gleaners Food Bank with a check for $10,000.

Throughout the race season the team has been presenting checks to food banks in conjunction with their race stops. The $10,000 presented in Indy on Friday will provide 50,000 meals for those in need in Central Indiana. Talk about a great program! After the check presentation Gordon signed autographs for adoring fans for about 30 minutes. And let me tell you… his fans LOVE him. . .

Meghan