YF&R National Conference

 

The next generation of farmers and ranchers from around the country assembled together in Phoenix Arizona to connect with each other and learn how to improve the family farm. 6 members of the Clark County Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer’s & Rancher’s organization (YF&R) attended the National Conference February 9-11. Those 6 included Lucas and Lacey Tom, Betsy Hardy, Carly Alexander, Trina Dalley, and Stephanie Bunker.

The group of Farmers and Ranchers were able to take tours of farms, ranches, and dairy’s in Phoenix. The tours showed great examples of successful working farms that integrated tradition and change. One stop along the tour was an impressive dairy that consisted of 28,000 cows, and 2 milking carousel’s that hold 80 cows each. A wheat farm had found it’s own niche in the business world in order to survive. After growing and harvesting wheat stocks they have a contract with Hobby Lobby and Pottery Barn to put together bouquets and wreaths of wheat for decorative pieces.

The convention covered two types of topics, becoming a political advocate, and gearing towards the future of farming and ranching. These topics were taught through a series of speakers and classes. They heard from the former Navy Commander of the USS Benfold, Michael Abrashoff. He shared his experiences of bringing the Benfold from one of the very worst in the fleet, to the absolute best. The farmers and ranchers learned leadership qualities that can help their business be successful. Another highlighted topic was part of the theme of the conference, “Celebrating Tradition, Embracing Change.” To bring this point home they invited a professor of agriculture economics at Ohio State University, Dr. Bernard Erven to speak to them. He exaggerated that embracing change is vital to farm life.

Lacey Tom found networking to be one of the highlights of the conference. She saw how connections could be made through social media via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. She said, “The purpose is to connect with Young Farmers & Ranchers across the country, it’s a great opportunity to network with people that have similar situations, or to see another side of the market industry.”

Cindy Hardy, a member of Clark County Farm Bureau commented on how Young Farmers & Ranchers benefit from being apart of the organization. She said, “It gives them leadership opportunities and a role in Farm Bureau. Not only are they are being made aware of agriculture, but also the political side of it as well.” The Farm Bureau encourages its members to reach out to their legislators, bringing politics to the local level and making a difference on Capitol Hill.

　

Harvest For All

The YF&R Food Drive a Success!

Food Drive’s don’t just happen during the holidays, the Clark County Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) got together on Saturday February 2^nd to collect food for needy families. YF&R hosted the Harvest For All event in an effort to help families in the community. In order to achieve this goal they donated the food to Cappalapa Recourse Center. From 9:00 am to 4:00 pm members of YF&R set up a booth in front of Lin’s handing out a flyer containing food items that were needed. The system worked well for the members of the community to give back, with the list in hand they were able to buy something to donate right away and didn’t have to go through to much trouble. This also gave Cappalapa food recently purchased food without the danger of being expired.

The Young Farmers & Ranchers collected enough food to fill the bed of 2 pick up trucks, or about 1,400 lbs. Ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, ketchup, and mustard were big hit items donated. Noah Reid was an organizer of the event, he said, “Lin’s workers saw a major difference on the shelves, they want us to let them know what we will be asking for next year so they can stock up on those items.” Mica Leatham, President of YF&R commented that the food drive was good for many organizations and members of the community. It affected Lin’s business, it helped grow Cappalapa’s food stores, it was good for the needy families, and good for the YF&R organization.

Tuna Aki asks this local shopper for donations as he goes for his groceries

In an effort to combine service and educate people about agriculture, they had some fun things on display. A tractor parked out front got a few curious looks and they had Maggie the Milking Cow out for demonstrations. Maggie is a plastic cow that simulates milking a cow. Leatham said, “We wanted to combine service and agriculture. It also gave us an opportunity to get club members involved in the program.” Leatham explained that he is working to expand YF&R and get members to play and active role in it. Members of the Young Farmers & Ranchers would like to thank Lin’s, and members of the community for being so willing to give their time and money to helping make this possible.



2012 Annual Dinner

CCFB Annual Dinner was a success!

We held the Annual Farm Bureau Dinner on Oct. 16. This an event that all the members look foward to. They know there will be great food and can look foward to the free raffle. Not to mention the friends and aquentences to reconnect with!

 

Rick Eidie with Great Basin Cooking did a tremendous job with the dinner as usual.

 

Town and Country Insurance Company gave an update on how they are holding up, Trey Berkey remarked that 2012 was a down year, normally they have 80-85 advisors but they are down to 75 this year. But financial strength is important to Town and Country, they have been in business for 85 years and will continue to align themselves with these catistrophic times.

 

 Craig and Lynette Wolfley visit with Kessa Straton

 

 Steve and Irene Barlow enjoying dinner with their kids and Wade, Cody and Mesadie Hardy

 

FEED THE PIG YOUR "SCRAPS"

The Farm Bureau piggy has collected $97, we still have $155 more to reach our goal. The pig will be hanging out at Walley's, stop in for a drink and donate your change to feed the pig! The money goes toward educational materials for Nevada's students and teachers

 

 

Glen Hardy presented Craig and Lynnette Wofley with this beautiful quilt

Craig took over for Glen as the Ag teacher at Moapa Valley High School when Glen retired. Craig retired last year after 26 years of teaching Agriculture. Now Denise O'tool is teaching Ag at MVHS. The program is coming full circle, O'tool was in one of the last classes of Glen's before he retired. Thank you Craig and Lynnette for your service to Agriculture!

 

 Kessa Straton won a spotlight in the raffle

 

 Kevin O'tool and Terry Waite picked some prizes out of the raffle pile

 

 Quincy Walker won himself some gloves

 

 Lynea Waite was excited to win a knome! She better watch out, those knomes are sneaky

 

 It was a lucky night for the Strattons, they also won the Igloo jug

 

 



CCFB Annual Dinner

 

Annual Clark County Farm Bureau Dinner

PLEASE JOIN US AND FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN AGRICULTURE

Date: Tuesday, October 16

Place: OLSHAC's

3011 N Moapa Valley Blvd

Logandale, NV 89021

 

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Contact

 Cindy Hardy 398-3137

or

Shirley Hardy 398-3343

 

Dinner Provided by Great Basin Cooking Co.

 

 

LV Kids Take Feild Trip to MVHS Ag Farm

City Meets The Farm

Moapa Valley High School’s Ag Farm was filled with awe and curiosity last week as the 2^nd graders from Sandy Miller Elementary School learned about life on the farm. Instead of sending a lot of kids at one time, the Las Vegas school broke them up into three days, sending kids out on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday last week. The FFA and Agriculture teacher, Denise O’Tool said, “Last year when they came it was a big group of 500, so we decided to break it up and do smaller groups this year.” She found the new system to work smoother and could talk to the kids on an individual basis. According to O’Tool, the purpose of the kids going to the Ag farm was to teach them about food and where it comes from. The FFA and Ag students ran the show, the high school students researched and planned their presentations for the children. As they gave their presentation they included interesting facts about that particular item.

There were 4 stations for the children to rotate through. At one station the kids had their picture taken on a tractor and then got to go see the chickens. Students from Ag class let them go inside the chicken coop and pick out an egg. The kids also went inside the green house to see the hydroponic plants the farm is growing.

Roo’s N More Petting Zoo brought a few of their animals to show off. At this station they were able to pet a tortoise, kookaburra, baby kangaroo, and a caracal kitten. For many of the children, this was their favorite station. One little girls said that she liked it because the only animals she ever sees are dogs, cats, and snakes.

At another station the 2^nd graders got to learn how to churn butter, and start seed germination. Alex Jones had prepared “seed babies” for each child. Jones had began germinating the seeds by pre soaking them. The kids put their seeds in a small tube and were supposed to wear them around their necks. The warmth of their body keeps the seeds warm and allows them to sprout. Jones said, “It takes 2 to 3 days for them to sprout and the kids can watch the seeds grow.”

The Clark County Farm Bureau brought material to hand out to the students that taught about farms and where food comes from. Each child received a packet with a coloring book or magazine. The CC Farm Bureau also brought along their plastic milking cow. Maggie the Milking Cow simulates milking a cow without all the dangers of getting kicked.

Then the kids got to go see real cows, FFA students Kenna McMurray and Leah Bradbury explained to the kids that the cows at the Ag farm are for meat and don’t get milked. They also showed them a pile of corn that gets fed to the cows and then the kids got to see the pumpkin patch.

Bringing school kids out on a field trip to the Ag Farm is something the Agriculture Program and MVHS tries to do every year. O’Tool said she is hoping to write a grant to pay for the school buses to make the journey out here. She wants students to have a good experience with agriculture.

 

Young Farmer Rancher BBQ Success!

We had a great time visiting and eating at the BBQ Thursday evening. Thank You Jim and Cindy Hardy and Mica Leatham for organizing the party. There was a good turn out , and thank you to everyone that came. The food was good and the company was even better!

Jim announced Mica as the newly appointed President for the Young Farmer Ranchers in Clark County. Dan Bevan is the Vice President, and Stephanie Bunker as Secretary. We also had some new members sign up to be apart of the Young Farmer & Rancher's. We would like to welcome Dan and  Kory Bevan, Noah and Emily Reid, and Spencer and Ashley Bunker. 

Mica Leatham cooked the hamburgers and hot dogs to perfection

 Casey Marshall, Derek Cody and Wade Hardy

Betsy and Heather Hardy, Shelbie Leatham, Noah and Emily Reid

Lonnie, Lacey, and Kaley Sproul eating with Jim Hardy

Kaluna and Jenifer Aki, Cindy Hardy

Stewart, Stephanie, and Gus Bunker

YF&R BBQ

Young Famers & Ranchers

Come mix, mingle and

EAT!

The Young Farmer & Rancher's say Thank You to all of those that helped with the booth at the Clark County Fair. We have several new members signed up and we are also taking this opportunity to introduce them to YF&R. In honor of all this, there will be a BBQ, come mix and mingle with our farmer friends!

Logandale Park

May 24, 6:00 pm

Hamburgers and hotdogs served

Bring a salad or dessert

Drinks provided