Good Reads

I've come across some great blogs and posts lately that are telling people about agriculture in various forms. I always enjoy reading what other people have to say, and these people are doing a great job! A couple of these sites have also featured my posts and one featured me as a rancher, which was very nice of them.
So, if you're looking for a good read over the weekend, here's what I've enjoyed reading lately:

Hoosier Farm Babe Tell Tail's post on hog gestation crates, found here.  Hog people are always getting slammed on their use of gestation and farrowing crates by people who have no understanding of raising hogs, and this was a great response to the benefits of using them. Very interesting, and I have no doubt that what I learned reading this post will come in very handy at some point.

High Heels & Shotgun Shells post on educating the misinformed, found here. She shows a response to a CBS article on the drought in Arkansas that was written by someone who obviously dislikes our industry tremendously. It's important to see what these people are saying, what their opinions are, and how they respond to anything ag-affiliated. Check out what this radical commenter said, and her response. Go respond to the article yourself if you're so inclined. She has a link to it included in the post.

Have you seen the Faces of Agriculture blog? I think this is best idea - the ladies running this blog send you some questions, then compile a feature blog post with your answers and photos. The idea is to show a more personal side of the agriculture industry through introducing readers to individuals. They've featured farmers, ranchers and other ag-affiliated folks from all over the country. Here's the link to their post on me. When you're done, be sure to click on home to see all the more recent posts. They are also always looking for new people to feature on their blog, and their contact information is available on their page.

If you're interested in reading more about agriculture in Wyoming, I highly recommend the RealRanchers site.  A good friend of mine heads this project of telling the story of Wyoming agriculturalists through social media, and she does a great job! You'll see a few of my blog posts on the site, in addition to posts from other Wyomingites on numerous topics. Always a great stop

More than Insurance

I spent Monday and Tuesday of this week in Cheyenne for the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WFB) Legislative meeting and the Young Farmers and Ranchers Legislative Session, held in conjunction.
The Federation side of Farm Bureau is separate from Farm Bureau Insurance. While they are the same company, the insurance side is - big surprise - insurance. The Federation side is one of the oldest and largest voices for farmers and ranchers in the country. A grassroots approach keeps power at the local level, but a large membership provides a voice locally, state-wide, nationally and internationally. Members vote on policy and legislation and local meetings, and that vote is carried to state and national lobbyists within the organization. In addition to lobbying for ag-related legislation, Farm Bureau also does educational and volunteering activities across the nation.
My family has a long-standing history of involvement in the organization, and I plan to continue that involvement. I believe strongly in what the organizations stands for and the policies it's based on.
If you're interested in joining an organization that provides a big voice for agriculture, this a great one. The Young Farmers and Ranchers arm of the Farm Bureau Federation is designed specifically for 18-34 year-olds, and if you have Farm Bureau insurance, you're already a member of the federation. Being a member allows you to vote on policy and issues the organization is involved with on the political front.
If you're not a person with an ag-background that's fine too. Volunteer, educational, travel and political opportunities are available to all members.