Don't Fear Your Food: Agriculture and the Environment

I spent weeks trying to figure out a way to write this blog that will satisfy both me and my readers.  I want very much to thoroughly address every single aspect of agriculture's interaction with the environment.  However, I have discovered that to do so would be a huge job.  I also think that I would bore my readers by talking about minute details they may or may not fully understand.  So, I have decided that with this topic, and perhaps with others, I will speak in broad terms and talk about the motives behind actions, rather than talking about details.  I will, however, provide some links to further reading, should my readers want to know more about the topic.

A while ago, I watched a documentary called "Cowspiracy".  I had an inkling that this documentary would threaten the agriculture industry in some way, so I was wary about watching it.  However, I know that if I hide from the concerns that non-farmers have about agriculture, I will never be able to address those concerns.  I will not be an ostrich, hiding my head in the sand, so I watched the documentary.  There were several concerns brought up by the producer, but the over-arching issue that drove the film project was the impact of animal agriculture on the environment.  I can't respond to everything that was brought up unless I write a very thick book on the subject, but I would like to talk a bit about agriculture's impact on the environment.

There is no doubt that agriculture is deeply linked to the environment.  Every production activity performed by a farmer impacts the surrounding environment in some way, whether we are putting something into the environment, taking something out, or modifying the landscape for some project.  This is true for both crop production and animal agriculture.

Farmers' interactions with the environment are largely driven by economic benefit.  When farmers take care of the land that they farm, it is because they recognize that taking care of the land now will lead to increased or sustained economic benefits in the future.  When farmers don't take care of their land properly, it is because they cannot see the future benefits that will arise from the costs incurred today.  Allow me to illustrate this with two different (very simplified) scenarios.

Scenario 1: Crop Farming
In crop farming, soil health is a major factor in crop yield, and crop yield has a direct link to profits for the farmer.  A farmer who wants to take care of his soil in order to sustain a high crop yield in the future (or to increase crop yields) might test his soil, put nitrogen and other fertilizers into the soil to replace what the crop took out, chop the straw and leave it on the field as organic matter, use reduced tillage techniques, and use other practices to sustain or improve soil health.  Another farmer may look at his options and decide that a soil test is too expensive or takes too long to do properly.  He may decide that fertilizer is too expensive, or that he wants to bale his straw to sell as bedding.  The new equipment required for reduce tillage seeding may also seem like too much of an expense.  All of these expenses might become barriers to the farmer, so he will look like the one who cares less about the environment, even though both farmers were equally driven by economic benefits and costs.

Scenario 2: Cattle Ranching
In cattle ranching, access to good drinking water is key.  Studies are finding that cleaner drinking water causes increased gains in cattle and keeps them healthier.  A farmer who wants to take extra good care of his cows might fence off access to streams, lakes, and other water sources, and have the water pumped into tanks from which the cows can drink.  The water is clean because the cows aren't getting into their drinking water.  The riparian areas around the water sources get an added benefit, too, though.  The trees, shrubs, and other plants grow back along the banks of the streams (or lakes, etc.), which take pollutants out of the water, making it cleaner.  I could go on about the benefits of restoring riparian areas, but I'll just direct you to the "Further Reading" section.  A different farmer might look at the costs and time associated with fencing off potentially large areas, installing new watering systems, and (in some cases) training the cows to use the new watering system, and decide that the small gains aren't worth it right now.  As a result, the riparian area will continue to be knocked down by the cattle, the banks will erode into the stream, causing it to be shallower, and the cattle will be drinking dirtier water.

In each of these scenarios, each farmer is motivated by financial cost or gain, not necessarily by the need to care for the environment.  Don't get me wrong; most farmers do care about the environment and enjoy spending time in nature (for example, I just saw a fisher in the bush when I was hauling bales this morning - it was SO cool!!).  However, farms are businesses - big businesses with tiny margins.  Farmers have to make decisions based on economics.  Fortunately, when we look towards the future to see what can be gained from decisions and practices that benefit the environment, we can usually see that those decisions and practices also benefit our bank accounts.  Yes, there are things that the farming community needs to work on in terms of how we care for the environment.  However, we need non-farmers to give us the chance to figure out how we can benefit both the individual farm and the environment.  Without our bank accounts, we farmers can't do anything to benefit the environment, because we wouldn't have our farms.  Please keep that in mind when you have questions about how agriculture impacts the environment.  No one has all of the answers, but we are working on finding the best way to produce different types of food on different types of land in ways that benefit both the food industry and the environment.

For Further Reading
Cattle Producer's Guide to Managing Riparian Zones
The Effect of Clean Drinking Water on Cattle
General Soil Health and Soil Testing Information
Video on the Economic Benefits of Soil Health
A Picture of What Happens When Farmers Don't Care for the Environment

Don't Fear Your Food: Decoding the Marketing Hype in the Grocery Store

The more I scroll through social media, listen to the radio, walk through the grocery store, and generally interact with the world and the people in it, the more I hear and see some key words and phrases.  Over time, I have discovered that consumers assume that certain phrases have meanings, but those assumed meanings are not accurate, and marketers take full advantage of the average consumer's lack of expertise.  To help you understand the marketing labels that are floating around, I've decided to write a brief guide to common marketing terms and what they really mean.  Since this is a brief guide, I will not have time to go into great detail.  If you have further questions about a certain term, please let me know in the comments section and I'll do my best to answer your questions.  I also hope to give a few of these terms their own blog post in the future.

Organic - This is the one label you can trust if you know what it means.  Anything that is labeled "organic" must comply with the Canadian Organic Standards.

• What do consumers think this means?
• I'm really not sure what most consumers think organic means.  It seems as though many people don't know what it means at all, but they assume it is a good thing.  Others seem to think that it means the food is raised exactly as it would have been a few hundred years ago.  
• What does it actually mean?
• Organic food is raised in accordance with the Canadian Organic Standards.  These standards differ depending on the type of food being raised (vegetables vs. grains vs. livestock, for example), but they generally limit the types of inputs that may be used in raising the food.  You can check out the standards online to find out exactly how the organic food you buy has been raised.

Natural - Consumers love this word.  I hate it.  It's incredibly ambiguous and not regulated.

• What do consumers think this means?
• Again, I'm not totally sure, but I think consumers generally assume that "natural" means that the food is raised as if it was just growing in the wild.
• What does it actually mean?
• This is why I hate this term.  "Natural" means absolutely nothing.  It could mean that your cows were raised with other cows, thus fulfilling their natural social inclinations, even if those cows are crammed into dirty, over-crowded pens and fed very unnatural diets.  This is just an example, but can you understand how "natural" just doesn't describe anything accurately?

Grass Fed - Again, this term is not federally regulated.

• What do consumers think this means?
• I think consumers think this means the animal ate grass for every meal of it's life.  Others understand that it might mean that the animal ate a diet of grass for some amount of time while it was alive.  They also generally assume that animals fed grass are healthier and give better meat than those that are fed grain.
• What does it actually mean?
• Think about it for a moment: grass fed beef (or lamb, bison, whatever you're eating) is beef that has been fed grass.  Since this term is not regulated on labeling, all we can safely assume is that the animal was fed grass at least once.  Many consumers seem to have caught on to this, which brings us to the next term.

Grass Finished - This term is not federally regulated, but it is more specific than the previous one.

• What do consumers think this means?
• Some consumers don't understand that grass-finished and grass-fed are not the same thing.  Others understand that this should be a guarantee that the animal was "finished" on a grass diet.  ("Finished" means that the animal reached it's slaughter, or finished, weight).
• What does it actually mean?
• In theory, this should mean that the animal was on a grass diet while it was being finished.  Many producers using this label use it to mean that the animal was fed a grass diet throughout its life.  In theory, someone could call an animal grass finished just by feeding it a last meal of grass, but I don't think that actually happens.  I would like to also note that grass finished or grass fed animals are not necessarily healthier than grain finished animals and the meat is not necessarily better either.

GMO and non-GMO - Genetically modified organisms and labeling related to them are federally regulated.

• What do consumers think this means?
• I wish I knew what consumers think GMO food is.  From what I can gather, consumers seem to think that GMO food is created in a sketchy underground laboratory by mad scientists who work for companies owned by evil greedy corporations.  These GMO foods are then sold to stupid, backwoods farmers who naively obey whatever the corporation tells them to do.  Consumers know that GMO foods are incredibly unhealthy and cause all kinds of health problems.
• What does it actually mean?
• I will eventually devote a blog post to this, but briefly, genetically modified organisms are organisms (plants or animals - only GMO plants are currently grown and sold as food) that have been genetically modified to achieve certain characteristics that could be achieved by genetic selection (breeding) perhaps a few hundred years from now.  If they are sold as food in Canada, they are safe and have undergone rigorous testing to prove it.

Hormone/Steroid-Free - All food has hormones in it.  Labels should read, "Raised without added hormones," but some marketers get lazy and just say "Hormone free."  Unless the meat is raised under organic certification, this term is not federally regulated.

• What do consumers think this means?
• Consumers do seem to understand that conventionally raised animals are injected with hormones.  They don't seem to understand what type of hormones these are.  They also assume that the hormones appear in the meat in dangerous levels, causing their food to be unhealthy.
• What does it actually mean?
• Let me first say that steroids are hormones.  Any company that advertises food as hormone and steroid free is just cheating and trying to make themselves look doubly trustworthy.  Now that I've got that out of the way, I'll tell you what it means for meat to be raised without added hormones (I will devote a separate blog post to this later).  Conventionally raised animals have certain hormones injected into them, usually in the ear.  The hormones are released into the animal's bloodstream over time,  helping them to process their food in a more efficient manner (we call it being feed efficient), which makes them grow a bit faster and has a side benefit of causing them to release fewer harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.  The hormones do not appear in the meat in harmful levels.

Antibiotic-Free - Again, the labels should read, "Raised without the use of antibiotics."  Also, just like with "hormone-free" meat, this term is not federally regulated unless the meat is raised under organic certification.  This topic will also get its own blog post in the future.

• What do consumers think this means?
• I think consumers fear that their food could be full of antibiotics.  They think if an animal is treated with antibiotics or fed antibiotics, the meat and milk is tainted.  The average consumer doesn't understand the complexities of antibiotic use in agriculture, so they assume that "antibiotic-free" food is just safer.
• What does it actually mean?
• There are never antibiotics in meat, milk, or other food products in Canada.  If you are eating it, there are not antibiotics in it.  However, antibiotics may be used to prevent or treat disease in living animals, and certain types are fed to animals to make them more feed efficient.  All antibiotics have a withdrawal period, so an animal cannot be slaughtered or milked until the antibiotic is out of its system.  Animals raised without the use of antibiotics are raised without being fed or treated with any antibiotics.  There are no antibiotics in their feed, and no antibiotics are given to them to prevent or treat disease.  I would like to point out that there are a few circumstances in which antibiotics may be used in organic programs.

Free Run - This term generally applies to poultry.  It is not federally regulated.

• What do consumers think this means?
• I haven't run into consumers talking about this term very much, so I'm not sure what consumers think it means.  I think they generally realise that it means that the birds are not kept in cages.  The may think it means the birds are running free around the farmyard, with no fences or restraints, happily scratching in the garden and pecking at stray insects.
• What does it actually mean?
• Free run birds are raised in an environment without cages.  They are not outside.  They live in a barn with perches and nesting areas.

Free Range - This term also applies to poultry.  It is not federally regulated, but has a specific definition.

• What do consumers think this means?
• I think consumers are generally unfamiliar with the difference between free run and free range birds.  They use the terms interchangeably and imagine free range birds to be running around outside without restraint, as they were in the free run imaginings.
• What does it actually mean?
• Free range birds are raised in barns similar to free run barns, but they are also allowed to "range" outside, likely (but not necessarily) in an enclosed area.

Sustainable - This term is not federally regulated and is incredibly ambiguous.  There are currently programs in place to put a definition on this term.

• What do consumers think this means?
• Consumers don't seem to know exactly what this term means, since it is a very ambiguous term, even in general use.  However, the general idea seems to be that sustainable agricultural practices are those that ensure that food can continue to be produced for centuries to come, usually in an environmental sense.
• What does it actually mean?
• At the moment, sustainable doesn't mean a whole lot.  There are programs in the works to find a definition for sustainable agricultural practices.  When farmers talk about sustainability, we want to know if the practice is environmentally and economically sustainable.  Marketers push the environmental aspect, but those companies supporting the programs to define sustainability also support the economics side.

Humanely Raised - This term is not federally regulated, and raising livestock is incredibly complex, so it can be difficult to pin down if certain practices are more humane than others.

• What do consumers think this means?
• I'm not sure, but I think that consumers generally just want to know that the livestock producing their food are getting sufficient food, water, and shelter, and are not being cruelly beaten by irresponsible farm workers.
• What does it actually mean?
• Livestock that are humanely raised should go through programs on farms, in feedlots, and through slaughter in which they are handled using low-stress handling techniques, and in which they have their basic needs met.

Note: I have stated that certain terms are not federally regulated.  They may be regulated by independent programs, but these programs may or may not be enforced.  Federal regulations are strictly enforced.

More Helpful Resources:

• Free Run vs. Free Range
• Egg Labels and What They Mean for Chicken Health
• Canadian Organic Standard and Regulations 
• Information about Hormone Use in Beef
• Information about Antibiotic Use in Beef Cattle
• Accepted Animal Welfare Standards in Alberta (Alberta Farm Animal Care)
• Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
• Verified Sustainable Beef Pilot Project

Meet Bandit, The Super Awesome Farm Dog

HELLO PEOPLE!!!!  I LOVE YOU!!!!  YOU'RE AMAZING!!!  Whew!  Now that we've got that out of the way, let me introduce myself (seriously, you're so cool).  My name is Bandit.

I'm the official super awesome farm dog here at Ehrenholz Farms.  My job is fantastic!  I get to chase cows, ride in the side-by-side, hang out with some terrific people, and train The Kid.

Let's take a moment to talk about The Kid before I go into detail about my other duties.  The Kid is a young pup that came to live on the farm earlier this year.  His name is Max, but I call him The Kid because he's my sidekick.  The Kid is a pretty great guy and we get along really well.  He's sort of like a little brother.  I do my best to bestow upon him all my wealth of knowledge, just as my mentor, the late, great Wolfie did for me.  Enough about him, though.

I love to chase the cows!  It's the most terrific part of my job!  Sometimes I'm allowed to chase them along with the humans, and other times I sneak a quick chase in when the humans aren't looking.  If I get caught, the the thrill is almost worth getting scolded.  Cows aren't the only thing I chase.  I'm also an expert in chasing birds, butterflies, and vehicles.  Chasing and running are my absolute FAVOURITE things to do!  And just to make sure everyone knows that, I try to chase anything I can when someone drives onto the yard.  Sometimes there's nothing to chase, so then I pounce on The Kid.  That's pretty fun, too.

Let's talk about the side-by-side now.  The side-by-side, also called Ranger by the humans, is the BEST THING EVER!  I can't even describe how amazing it is!  The humans get to ride in it all the time, but sometimes they let us dogs join them.  The best is when they let us sit up front on the seat!  I stick my face above the windshield and let the wind rush through my fur!  It's absolutely exhilarating!   The only bad part is that sometimes the humans have to hit the brakes extra fast and then I smack into the dashboard and fall on the floor.  It doesn't hurt much, though, and sometimes the humans even remember to catch me before I go flying forward!  My humans are AWESOME!  Other times the dogs get sent into the back box of the Ranger.  I suppose it's safer back there when they hit the brakes, but the wind doesn't rush through my fur in quite the same way.  Still, it's better than running alongside.  That can get a wee bit dangerous.  One time I got distracted and stopped right in front of the Ranger.  Getting run over sure did hurt!  Valerie let me ride in the front seat after that until I got my wind back and jumped out to chase some cows.  Now I have a pretty sweet limp.  The Kid thinks I'm even cooler now!

My final official duty is to be a guard dog.  The humans say I'm terrible at this job, but I think I'm a pretty amazing guard dog.  My mentor, Wolfie, taught me that guarding is a twofold job: firstly, it means keeping the coyotes away, and secondly, it means greeting absolutely EVERYONE who walks or drives onto the yard.  I take running coyotes off the yard very seriously.  It was those mangy beasts who killed Wolfie a couple of years back.  I was too young to help him fight, and he was too old to get away.  All I could do was save myself and show the humans where Wolfie was the next day.  I promised myself that when I got big enough, I would show those coyotes that they are not welcome on this farm.  I run and bark every night, scaring those creepy wimps right back into the bush!  The second part of guarding is far more pleasurable!  I LOVE people!  I would never want to scare anyone, so I run up to them without barking at all and wag my tail until they pet me.  It's so much fun!  

Well, that's about all I've got to say about myself right now.  If you ever make it out to the farm, I will be so EXCITED to meet you!  We can hang out and you can pet me and rub my tummy, and I'll lick your face and lean on you!

"I'm Gonna Ride the RED Tractor!"

I don't complain much about what I see on social media, even to myself.  The endless pictures of food and pets are mildly annoying at best.  Passionate political arguments are, at the very least, slightly informative.  Sure, I cringe at poor spelling and horrid grammar, but I can just skip past those posts.  Anyone who uses too much profanity or gets too annoying with promoting some fad is simply deleted from my social media feed.  But this latest thing I cannot ignore.  It's despicable.  I can't stand it!

"What has happened?" you ask.  I'll tell you.  I've got this friend who occasionally posts on social media.  He usually posts fun pictures, bits of news, and a few political things.  All interesting stuff.  But now he's started sharing promotions from his place of work.  He is using social media to promote John Deere!

Ok, so it's not that bad.  I just thought that would be a fun way to introduce how farmers feel about their equipment.  Most farmers are as passionate about the make of their equipment as sports fans are about their teams.  For example, there are farmers who like to only use John Deere equipment.  Then there are the sensible farmers who know that John Deere equipment breaks far too easily and won't go near it.  As you can tell, I am not a John Deere fan.  The equipment on our farm ranges from Massey-Ferguson to White to International to New Holland, and includes a few relics like Cockshutts, Olivers, and even a little old Ford tractor.  We aren't fanatically tied to any one make of equipment, although Dad does like to collect old Oliver tractors that don't actually run, but we generally avoid John Deere.  There are those who are fans of makes other than John Deere, of course.  Some farmers only drive the blue equipment of New Holland, or the red Massey-Ferguson equipment, for example.  No company builds perfect equipment, and each has its pros and cons, and all farmers know that.  However, I've become convinced that city folks are woefully uninformed about the variety of equipment.

If I can say anything good about John Deere, it's that they have consistently had an excellent marketing policy for many years.  Have you ever looked for material with tractors on it, or some farm toys that don't come directly from the equipment manufacturer?  Almost everything you find is John Deere, or has the green and yellow John Deere colours on it.  My city-dwelling relatives used to proudly point out the farm-related toys, etc. that they had bought for their children.  All of the stuff was John Deere.  I would sadly shake my head and do my best to find something with red tractors on it for the kids.  Why red tractors?  It was mainly because there are several different companies that make red equipment (Massey-Ferguson, White, International, even some New Holland stuff).  As a result, I have succeeded in the past few years in reversing the John Deere indoctrination and have taught my relatives and their children that red tractors are best.

Those kids still have their John Deere toys, though.  So how do I know that I succeeded?  Well, in the summer of 2015 some of my cousins came to the farm for a visit.  I went to help one of my cousins unload her children from the minivan and opened the door to be greeted by a very excited preschooler who exclaimed, "Valerie, I'm gonna ride the RED tractor!" as soon as he saw me.  I was so proud!  His mom scolded him and told him to ask, instead of tell.  Even so, I gladly honoured his wish and took him and the rest of the kids for a ride on the Massey-Ferguson tractor.  This summer he was just as excited about riding in a red tractor, but the battery died, so we took the faded red Cockshutt out for a spin.  I think I may have done too good of a job.  Now I have to teach them that grey, blue, and some green tractors are also cool.

I should also mention, for the sake of fairness, that I have used John Deere equipment before.  I have driven a couple of John Deere tractors at school, I regularly use a John Deere lawn mower (which has the clutch on the wrong side) to mow the church lawn, and I used a small square baler to bale some hay this summer.  I have to admit, I liked the baler.  But, just as I will always look sideways at Calgray Flames fans and staunchly support the Olds College Broncos, I think I will always have fun teasing farmers who are John Deere fans and I will judge equipment at farm auctions by condition and colour.

One of my dad's old Oliver tractors.  The green and yellow on this tractor has nothing to do with John Deere.

Don't Fear Your Food: Animal Welfare on the Farm

There are few food-related issues that get consumers so riled up as reported cases of animal abuse on farms.  I have so many topics I want to cover in this blog series, some dealing with crops, and others with livestock, but I feel as if I will be stuck trying to deal with any of those topics without dealing with the topics that touch so many of the other issues.  Animal welfare is one of those topics that will continue to pop up as this blog series progresses.  Today, I am going to give you an overview of how farmers tend to view their livestock and of how animal welfare issues affect the production of your food.

From what I have observed (and know to be true in myself), farmers are often less attached to animals in general than others who own animals.  Pet owners often see their dogs, cats, etc. as a part of the family.  Farm kids grow up surrounded by animals, but they learn early not to get too attached to those animals because they will die.  Cattle, pigs and chickens are butchered for meat; kittens get killed by foxes, coyotes, or the farm dogs; and the farm dogs get run over or killed by coyotes or other predators.  You may tell me that death is a part of life and that we should not hold back from loving people and animals because of that.  Well, you try eating your beloved pet steer for supper.  Besides that, animals on the farm have a purpose.  Livestock produce food and fibre products, dogs keep predators away and help move the cattle, and cats keep rodents to a minimum.  I personally can't understand house pets.  Why would I spend a whole bunch of money to keep a cat, dog, fish, etc. alive if I'm not going to get anything out of it?  And no, I don't think companionship is adequate reimbursement when the animal can't even talk to me.

I know a lot of farmers who feel the same way as I do.  We would never cause an animal harm or distress, but we also refuse to own an animal that is useless to us.  Of course, we all have our soft spots.  My dad has rescued several kittens from the side of the road over the years.  We fight to save every calf that turns up with a broken leg from being stepped on or laid on by an inattentive cow.  I'll even admit that I cried a bit when my first dog was killed by coyotes a few years ago.  Farmers do their best to treat their animals right, but we just don't have the emotional energy to get attached to every one of them.  No one does.  So we put up a harsh front, which makes us seem uncaring at times, even though we will do all we can to save an animal and make sure it is well-cared for.  The vast majority of farmers take good care of their livestock.  Unfortunately, there will always be a few irresponsible, even cruel, people who make us all look bad.

Many of us have seen at least one horrifying video of animal abuse on the farm, whether it has popped up on a social media site, or been played on a local news stations.  I despise every aspect of those videos.  I am sickened by the farm workers who could treat the animals in such a fashion.  I am disgusted by the person taking the video for standing by and doing nothing to stop the abuse.  I am frustrated to the point of wanting to shut my eyes and ears to the entire thing by the uninformed masses who comment and protest and demand that the agriculture industry change when they see just a tiny percentage of what goes on.  Yes, the incident is horrible and clearly something needs to be done on that farm, but that doesn't mean an entire industry needs to change!

We are getting to the point where industry standards are being shaped by consumer demands, even when those new standards fly in the face of what science and experience tell us is best for the animals and the environment.  I willingly admit that there are a few issues that need to be addressed in the livestock sector of the agriculture industry.  The good news is that these issues are, for the most part, being addressed.  We are learning new animal handling techniques, investing in low-stress handling systems and methods of dealing with various issues our livestock may have.  Research is showing us what works best for our animals and what they need in terms of physical needs, as well as social and behavioural needs.  Each passing year brings new discoveries regarding what animals need and how they behave and thrive and the agriculture industry is trying to keep up.  Give us a little credit and a little time and we will get caught up once we figure out the best way to provide what our animals need without breaking the bank.  If it's too expensive for us to raise animals humanely, we will either neglect or abuse them, or we will sell out to someone who will ignore what is best for the animals.  Give us time to adjust economically and we will do what is best for the animals.

If you take just one thing away from this blog, let it be this: Farmers do nothing without a reason.  We are incredibly busy and work in a high-risk, low-pay industry.  If we do anything, it is to increase the productivity of our animals.  Research is now showing us what many of us have learned from experience: animals are more productive when all of their needs are met and they are happy.  So when we do things for the purpose of making our animals more productive, we are doing what is good for our livestock.

Before I end this post, I'd like to answer a few questions I couldn't figure out to answer in the main part of the post:

• Some folks aren't comfortable with how farmers "put animals out of their suffering".  How would you answer those who compare putting down an animal to euthanasia for humans?
• What I am about to say are my own personal beliefs and should not be attributed to anyone else.  I am not in favour of euthanasia for humans under any circumstances.  However, I will not allow an animal to suffer.  If I (or the vet) can't reasonably prevent the suffering, I will have the animal put down.  I believe that humans were put on earth to serve God.  Suffering cannot stop us from doing that.  Indeed, suffering can help us to grow closer to God.  I can justify suffering to a human (and yes, I have had to justify my own suffering to myself).  I cannot justify suffering to an animal.  An animal cannot grow from suffering.  Animals who suffer in the wild are killed by predators and thereby released from their suffering.  We do so much to protect animals from predators that we keep them alive beyond what nature would allow that we have lost sight of how much suffering might be too much.
• If someone suspects there is a case of animal abuse occurring at a farm, what can they do?
• The best thing to do is to notify the authorities.  Don't try to deal with it yourself.  A farmer won't take you seriously if he thinks you are just a busy body who doesn't know what you are talking about.  In Alberta you can call the Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) or Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) to report neglect or abuse.  You can find the websites for these organisations in the resources below.
• What exactly are the needs that an animal should have met?
• Alberta Farm Animal Care identifies "Five Freedoms" that should be met for animals.  They are:
• Freedom from Hunger and Thirst
• Freedom from Discomfort
• Freedom from Pain, Injury and Disease
• Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour
• Freedom from Fear and Distress

You may look at this and see the cow locked up, unable to move while the farmer stands by and watches.  I look at this and see my dad resting after a struggle to get a very hungry calf to suck without its mother walking away or trying to kill my dad for getting close.

Resources:

• Alberta SPCA - contact this organisation if you suspect neglect or abuse of animals
• Alberta Farm Animal Care - this organisation works with farmers to improve animal welfare on the farm level
• Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Livestock - the National Farm Animal Care Council sets out recommendations and requirements for the care and handling of various types of livestock
• Animal Use Spectrum - this is a great graphic to help one understand the various philosophies that guide how people view animals
• Articles Concerning Animal Welfare from the Western Producer:
• Animal welfare improving by 'light years'
• Does 'cage-free' really lead to better animal welfare?
• Supply management and animal welfare
• Animal welfare added to quality assurance
• Fragile contents: handle with care
• Student seeks producers for animal welfare research
• Feedlots adjusting to new animal-care program

Visitors to the Farm

I come from a fairly large extended family.  Many of my cousins grew up in the Barrhead area, some on farms, and some in town.  Others grew up further away.  One of my uncles raised his family in Alberta's capital city, Edmonton.  My uncle's three children seem to have enjoyed growing up in the city, but they also have an appreciation for the farm.  Those three cousins used to come visit us on the farm every once in a while.  Now that they are grown and have families of their own, they still come to the farm, usually once a year.  When they arrive, the kids pile out of minivans asking as many questions as they can.  "When do we get to ride the tractor?  Where are the cows?  Can we play with the dogs?  What is that?"  It's a bit of chaos, but it's so much fun to have my cousins and their kids over for a day!

Meeting Spike, the bull.

Yesterday was the day that my cousins were able to come out to the farm this year.  My aunt and uncle arrived first, with their youngest granddaughter, Audrey, napping in the backseat.  I wasn't quite ready for them and had to drag the over-eager dogs into their kennel before they climbed right in to the truck with everyone.  By the time I finished that, my cousin Sherisse had arrived with her two children.  Kasaya's questions started almost as soon as she was finished greeting me.  Canaan didn't get many questions in, but he did have two very nice pictures coloured for me.  We talked about the grain bins, augers, and cows until my cousin Sandy arrived with her husband, Neil, and four boys.  In case you've lost count, we now have a total of 7 children, five adult visitors, and one farmer.

The six oldest kids playing in our old squeeze chute.

Once the boys were all unloaded from the van and had put their rubber boots on, the fun began!  We started with a tour of our new cattle handling system.  The kids and "Opa" (my uncle) pretended to be the cows and I put them through the system.  Then we had to check out the whole system from the outside.  The kids were asking so many questions that I was hard put to remember the answers to all of them!  There were a few times that I had to stop and think, "what does that particular rope do?" before I could answer.  It was good practice for me to use the new system, and the kids seemed to think it was pretty cool, too.

The kids emerge from the squeeze chute.

After we had thoroughly checked out the handling system, we went for a short walk to look at some of the cows.  Then it was time for tractor rides!  The kids never wait long to ask for a tractor ride when they come to visit.  I had planned to take them for rides in the Massey, mainly because it has a cab, making it safer and warmer.  Unfortunately, the battery died in that tractor and it was blocking all of the other tractors, except for one.  So, there was nothing to do but use the old Cockshutt tractor, with the post-pounder hooked behind it.  It turned out all right, though, and we had plenty of fun with the tractor, and the lack of a cab allowed for decent pictures.  The most exciting part was giving Levi and Kasaya, the two oldest grandkids, the chance to drive the tractor "by themselves".  They are now the age I was when I first got to drive the tractor myself (with Dad working the pedals).  It was so fun to see their excitement when I told them they could drive it themselves (basically, I let them steer without my hands on the wheel).  Levi did an amazing job!  Kasaya almost hit a hay bale, but other than that she did a great job, too!  The rest of the kids got to help me steer, or just rode along, depending on their age.

Valerie and the kids with the old Cockshutt tractor.  Can you see all 7 of the kids?

The next activity of the day was feeding the cows.  I had originally planned to have the kids help me feed grain to the feeders.  Shortly after I made those plans, it began to rain - a lot.  The entire farm was very wet and muddy this weekend and poor Daniel got stuck just waiting for a tractor ride!  Due to the heavy mud in the corrals, I had already fed the grain to the feeders in the morning, but I knew that two groups of cattle needed their minerals topped up.  Each child got a bucket and poured their minerals into the appropriate tubs, then asked what else they could feed.  They really enjoyed getting to do simple chores.  Maybe I should keep them around...

Feeding minerals with the kids.

I didn't have any more to officially show the kids this year, and I had no field work for the men, so we returned to the yard so the kids could play with some old toys I had dug up, and with the dogs, which were finally allowed to come out of their kennel.  The dogs loved the kids!  By the end of the day, almost all of the kids had warmed up to the exuberant dogs, too.  Only Andrew was still rather hesitant, probably because the dogs kept running past him while playing fetch with Jayden.  I'm surprised they never ran right over him!

Bandit loved the kids!

I had so much fun showing the kids the farm and spending time with my cousins, aunt, and uncle!  I'm looking forward to the next time they all come for a visit to the farm!

Photo credits to Sandy Rysavy.

The Handshake Agreement

Often when folks think about the farming community and the way in which business is conducted in rural areas, they think of the classic handshake agreement.  In this process, two people chat about a business arrangement, agree to work together, and seal the deal with a firm handshake.  Business then proceeds as arranged and everything is peachy-keen.  Nothing ever goes wrong because rural folks are simple and honest and it all just works (I write this with deep sarcasm, of course).  If you were to take this business model to the city, you would quickly be laughed out of the office and would never make a deal, and if you did, you might find that the other party had taken advantage of your trust.

I think it is time to remove the handshake agreement from business because it simply doesn't work.  Of course, there will always be people who take advantage of another person's trust.  However, my dislike of the handshake agreement doesn't stem from distrust of my neighbours and potential business partners.  Rather, I am finding that handshake agreements simply leave too much unsaid.  Let me explain.

Let's say that I rent a 40-acre field from my neighbour (we'll call him Bob).  We agree that I will pay $55/acre to have the use of the field for a year.  We agree to these terms and shake hands to seal the deal.  Now that I have the use of that land, am I allowed to do anything I want with it?  There is nothing telling me what I can or cannot do.  Suppose this field is really nice and clean, with very few weeds in it.  I don't want to spend much money, so I buy low-quality seed from another neighbour and plant it.  The seed is full of of weed seeds and these weeds come up.  Still not wanting to spend money, I refuse to employ any method of weed control and the problem spreads.  Now Bob's field is full of weeds.  The next person to rent that field might demand a lower rental price since the land is not clean and they will have to spend extra money on weed control.  Not only that, but if there happens to be noxious or prohibited noxious weeds in there, Bob will have to pay the local weed inspector to control or destroy them.  Bob loses money because I was irresponsible with his land, but he has no written agreement to point to and say, "Valerie, you violated our agreement and my trust.  You are responsible for cleaning up this mess."  Instead he takes the financial hit and thinks twice about renting his land to me in the future.  As the renter, I can technically do whatever I want with the land and Bob will take the loss if I am irresponsible because there was no written agreement in place to guide my activities.

What about the owner's land use, though?  Bob owns the land.  Is he entitled to use it during the time I have it rented?  There is no agreement saying he can't.  Suppose I rent the land, plant my crop and carry on in a responsible fashion.  Bob accepts the rent cheque and carries on with his business, paying no attention to the field until one weekend when his grandkids come for a visit.  The grandkids enjoy taking their ATVs and dirt bikes for a ride.  The most convenient space for the kids to do this is on the 40 acres behind the house, the 40 acres I have rented.  Bob owns the land, though, so he allows his grandkids to ride all over the field, damaging my crop.  Whether that crop is lentils, wheat, oats, hay, or tame pasture, it doesn't matter.  My crop, which I own, has been damaged.  I will have to take the loss, however, because there is no written agreement saying that Bob and his relatives can't use the land while I have it rented.  I have nothing to point to and say, "Bob, you violated our agreement.  You need to pay for this damage."

In both cases, neither I nor Bob violated our agreement.  I paid Bob the agreed upon price and he let me use the land for the agreed upon period of time.  However, in each situation, one of us took a serious hit.  That is exactly what is wrong with the handshake agreement.  Now, you may say to me, "Valerie, that wouldn't actually happen."  And I will answer, "I have listened to a landlord complain to my dad about another renter who would not deal with his weeds properly.  I have also, in the past few weeks, seen the relatives of two different landlords ride ATVs and other off-road vehicles all over my dad's hay crop (and don't tell me it's just hay - it's a crop and it was damaged)."  These are real-life situations that could easily be avoided with a written agreement.

It's okay to trust your neighbours, but why not protect yourself and your business partners with a proper written contract?

Don't Fear Your Food: How to Get Accurate Information

Before I went to school to learn about agriculture, I followed the dreams everyone else had for me and set out on the path to become a teacher.  In pursuit of this goal, I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in history.  This education taught me how to properly research to find accurate information regarding whatever topic I needed to write about.  I also learned from professors and other students that it can be very easy to make this information say whatever you want it to say, but in the end, using information in this manner will ultimately result in a loss of respect and a low grade.  When I first abandoned the teaching path I thought that the years spent completing this degree had been wasted.  Now I realize that completing a history degree taught me how to correctly access and use accurate, reliable information.

In the past few years as I studied agriculture and related topics, I began to see people accessing inaccurate information and then passing it on as truth.  I also saw people twisting accurate information to make it say horrible things.  The end result was almost always the same: the general public began to fear their food and had no idea how to get to the truth or who to trust.

I would now like to teach my readers a few things about accessing accurate information about their food.  As in my last blog post, I will do this through a question and answer format.

Where are you getting your information now?

When I first came across some of the alarming misinformation that is floating around regarding food production I wondered, "Where on earth is this coming from?"  I didn't take long for me to figure it out.  Consumers often don't have time to actively seek out information about everything they eat, so they get their information from the most convenient sources possible.  These include marketing campaigns (TV ads, unique selling points emphasized by companies, etc.), social media, television personalities, and various internet sources.  Those who take the time to dig a little deeper quickly come across web sites, books, articles, and other sources, many of which cause me to cringe when I see them.  These sources may sound legitimate, but for someone who is obsessive about finding accurate information, a few quick checks often reveal these sources to be untrustworthy.  

Please note that I am not saying that everything you hear is always wrong about everything.  There are some good sites and other sources out there.  I just want you to be able to identify whether a source is trustworthy or not.  Here are a few tips I learned from my time in school:

• Check credentials.  If the person or organisation giving out information is not connected in any way to food production, that is likely not an accurate source.  For example, movie actors are not trustworthy sources in regards to information about climate change.
• What does the source look like?  If a website is plastered with ads, it is likely not trustworthy.
• Blogs (even this one) and web forums are not trustworthy sources of information.  Ever.  Blogs and forums may be a good starting point, but make sure you do your own research beyond what the bloggers say.  A good blog should give you links to additional readings (but be sure to scrutinize those sites as well), unless it is an opinion or personal experience type of blog, which does not need to rely on external information and should definitely not be trusted.
• Is the article/site well-balanced, or is there bias?  Bias tends to twist information so that it is not reliable.
• Where does the website or publication come from?  Sources from established institutions (like government sites) are more reliable.

Are marketers trustworthy sources of information?

No.  Marketers are biased towards their product.  They want you to buy their product and will convince you to do so two different ways:

1. Marketers want you to be drawn to their products by a unique selling point.  For example, a marketer selling beef might say, "Buy our beef!  It is more delicious than other beef!"  That would not be a very compelling selling point, though, so they might try to be more unique and say, "Buy our beef!  It comes from cattle that are only fed native grasses!"
2. Marketers want to keep you from buying their competitors' products.  For example, a marketer selling beef might say, "Buy our beef, because our cattle are not grain-fed (like those other guys)."  The marketer here is not saying that grain-fed beef is bad, but he is implying that grain-fed beef is not as desirable as his beef.  This can cause consumers to ask, "What is wrong with grain-fed beef?"  A quick internet search will scare the consumer off from ever eating grain-fed beef, without having them ask, "What is wrong with grass-fed beef?"

Are farmers trustworthy sources of information?

The answer to this question will not satisfy you.  Here it is:  It depends.  It depends on the farmer's mood, on what kind of information you are looking for, and the expertise of the farmer.  Here are some hints for when you do go to a farmer for information about your food:

• Ask questions instead of making accusations and expecting the farmer to defend himself.  That will put him in a bad mood and he will either not answer you or explode into a rant that will scare you off from ever talking to a farmer again.
• Ask your questions to farmers with the appropriate expertise.  So if you want to know about dairy farming, ask a dairy farmer.  If you want to know about canola, ask someone who grows canola.  Don't expect a chicken farmer to have reliable information about raising beef.
• Don't ask farmers about the latest research.  We do our best to keep up and know what's going on, but research and technology is not our area of expertise.
• Talk to a few different farmers with different backgrounds.  Talk to someone who grows organic products, someone who has a large conventional farm, and someone who is a mixed farmer, to name a few.  Don't just get your information from one person and expect it to be well-rounded.

Are doctors trustworthy sources of information?

Again, the answer to this question is not satisfying: sometimes, sort of.  In recent months I've had quite a bit of contact with the medical profession due to personal health concerns.  One day I hope to write a blog about my interactions with medical professionals, but I'll try not to get side tracked right now.  Doctors know how our bodies work and what makes us sick.  They know a lot about research and understand more about science (especially chemistry and biology) than most people do.  They can be great resources in a one-on-one setting.  I'm going to let my bias show for a moment and say that I do not trust doctors who write about food or health in popular magazines and best-selling books or talk about those topics on television.  If I want information about my health, I will go to my doctor and talk about what is best for me.  Additionally, doctors usually know next to nothing about how food is actually produced.  They are not good sources of information regarding food production.

Where do farmers get their information?

Farmers get their information from a myriad of sources.  Most of us talk to each other to learn new things.  Young farmers go through a steep learning curve when they go through an agricultural college program.  Farmers of all ages can get informed on almost any subject at seminars and conferences throughout the year.  Many farmers also subscribe to various publications - magazines and newspapers, either in print or online - which keep us updated about new advances in agriculture.  We also can get a lot of information from the government, once we figure out where to look.  Finally, we can get information from sources that scare us.  These are people, organizations, publications, and documentaries that threaten our industry.  If we can be brave enough to listen to what these people are saying and to hear their concerns, then we can truly understand what issues are of importance to society and we can be ready to show the world how we are already addressing these issues.

What do I recommend you do if you want to learn more about your food?

If you want to learn more about your food, get information from as many sources as you can.  Talk to farmers, check out government statistics, watch scary documentaries, read agricultural publications that outline advances in the industry, and find as many sides of the story as you possibly can.  Most importantly, ask questions.  Be relentless in your questioning.  Don't let anyone off easy and don't just assume that certain people or organizations can be trusted.  However, if you go down that path, be ready to not understand everything.  Understand that this is a huge industry and no one person can ever hope to understand every aspect of it.

For those of you unsure about where to find agricultural publications and government information about the agricultural sector, these sites might get you started:

• Alberta Famer Express
• The Western Producer 
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Alberta Agriculture and Forestry 
• Beef Cattle Research Council 
• Top Crop Manager 

It can be difficult to figure out which sources are reliable.

Are You Afraid of Your Food?

When I was a child, I was a picky eater.  Some things I just didn't like (for example, pineapple), but most things I wouldn't eat because I was afraid of them.  I was afraid of egg yokes because I thought they would taste gross.  I afraid of hot dogs for a while because I lost a tooth while eating one once.  I was afraid of lasagna because I didn't really grow up eating pasta and anything other than macaroni and spaghetti was just foreign.  However, I eventually overcame these fears.  I started eating hot dogs again and never lost any more teeth while doing so.  I tried lasagna and couldn't believe the deliciousness that I'd been missing all those years.  I tried egg yokes and discovered that I was right.  They do taste gross, but I'll eat them if I have to.  I will now eat almost anything put in front of me (except pineapple) and I am not afraid of my food.

Sometimes I think that the general population is afraid of their food.  I am getting my information on this  from the same source that consumers get their information about food.  I wish I could name that source, but I'm having a bit of difficulty pinpointing it.  It's sort of an amalgamation of restaurant and grocery store advertising campaigns, some farmer's market rhetoric, social media posts, and other odd bits.

Rather than going on a rant that is likely to offend a whole lot of people and help no one, I am going to ask you, my readers, some questions and then go into a brief discussion about each.

Are you afraid that the production of your food is harming the environment?

Farmers understand that if the land is properly cared for, it will produce more food that is healthier and will bring a higher price at market.  It is in our best interests to care for the environment.  Are you concerned about greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural operations?  We are too, and we are working to reduce and counteract these emissions.

Are you afraid that your food is full of pesticides and other chemicals?

Responsible farmers use chemicals responsibly to ensure that they do not enter the food chain.  There are ways to use chemicals that make food production more efficient, do not harm the environment, and do not put the chemicals into food.  If you are worried about chemical residues, wash your fruits and veggies, or buy organic.  If you buy organic, remember that the price will be ridiculously high (many farmers go organic for the high profits, not the environmental effects - can you blame us?) and that there are, in fact, some situations in which certain chemicals can be used in organic production.

Are you afraid that GMO crops will make you sick?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency must approve all food products produced and sold in Canada. They will not approve anything that will make you sick.  Genetically modified organisms are not evil, creepy things grown in petri dishes.  They are crops that have been genetically modified (I know, that sounds scary) in order to make them somehow better for both producers and consumers.  Remember that humans have been playing with genetics in both plants and animals for centuries, crossing species to make new species, and making crops and livestock able to withstand different climatic conditions so they can be grown in different areas of the world.

Are you afraid that the antibiotics used in livestock contribute to antibiotic resistance in human medicine?
There are several reasons to use antibiotics in livestock.  Some antibiotics used in livestock have great significance to human medicine, while others have no significance to human medicine.  Antibiotics that do correlate to human medicine are used sparingly and only when necessary.  You must remember that all inputs (feed, medicine, etc.) in livestock production increase the cost of production.  Producers don't increase costs without a good reason.  We know the pros and cons of using antibiotics in our animals and carefully consider these before using them.  We also know how to prevent those antibiotics from entering the food chain.

Are you afraid that industrialized agriculture is destroying farming culture and distancing you from your food?

Industrialized agriculture is indeed destroying the old way of farming.  That way was inefficient and not always the best for the environment.  Agriculture is changing with the rest of the world.  In fact, throughout history, agriculture has often been at the fore of technological advancement and scientific discovery.  There are now fewer farms and larger farms than ever before.  The rest of the world is becoming more efficient.  There is no reason that agriculture should stay in the dark ages.  As for being removed from what actually goes on at the farm level, it just isn't possible any more for that to be a reality.  Can I expect to fully understand how my equipment works and is produced?  Can I expect to see how my well is drilled and how my water is cleaned?  No, I can't.  But I trust that those who do know how that stuff works are doing their jobs properly.

Are you afraid that livestock are being inhumanely treated in the production of animal products?
Unfortunately, there are people who don't know how to work with animals properly.  Every producer knows that livestock can be extremely frustrating to work with at times.  However, those who understand how to properly handle and care for these animals also understand that calm animals grow better.  In is in our best interest economically to treat our animals humanely.  Farmers are beginning to invest in handling systems that make it easier to safely and humanely handle the livestock.  We are also learning new techniques to keep our animals calm as we work with them.

Are you afraid that it is impossible to get real information about your food?

Sometimes I'm afraid that even farmers will never be able to really explain to consumers exactly how their food is produced.  It's just a lot of information.  What I do know is that marketing campaigns like to play on people's fears and reassure consumers that "we are the safe company".  I'm not blaming big business or small businesses.  I just want you to pay attention to what advertisers are really saying. Don't just repeat negative rhetoric if you don't have concrete evidence of what you are saying.  Don't post and share stuff willy-nilly on social media.  If you want to do research about agriculture, look at what members the agriculture industry (i.e. experts) are saying.

I realise that my very brief responses to these fears may be frustratingly vague.  I would like to address them more fully and will endeavor to do so in the weeks to come.  The main point in all of my responses is that farmers do everything we do for specific reasons that most consumers don't see.

In reading my blogs, please keep in mind that I am a farmer writing for non-farmers.  This means that I have a few limitations.  First and foremost, I don't know everything.  I have hands-on experience, with a diploma in agricultural management.  I'm not a scientist, I don't have expertise in every possible sector of agriculture in the country, and I don't work in all parts of the agricultural industry.  That being said, I know how to access reliable information and I know how things work at the on-farm level.  Second, I don't know what you know.  I have no clue what preconceptions you bring to this blog.  Maybe you agree with me.  Maybe I offend you on a regular basis.  I don't know, and I can't cater to everyone, so all I can do is write what I know and what my experience is.  Finally, I am a farmer speaking to non-farmers.  I have terms in my vocabulary and education in plant and animal biology that you won't understand and that I just don't have to time to explain to you.  My explanations will have to be simpler than I would like for that reason.

If you have any questions or concerns with this blog post or others, please let me know in the comment section below.

I (Finally) Graduated from Ag School

Yesterday I graduated from Olds College, one of the major agricultural schools in Western Canada.  I graduated from the Agricultural Management diploma program with a double major in production and marketing.  I'd like to share a few themes that have dominated my thoughts of my graduation experience with you.

Worldly Honour

At Olds College, as at many other educational institutions, it is possible for a student to graduate with honours if he achieves a high grade point average (GPA) or to graduate with distinction if he achieves an even higher GPA.  At Olds, those who graduate with honours or distinction are given a gold-coloured cord with tassles as they cross the stage.  Three years ago I watched as my sister graduated and got her cord as she crossed the stage at Olds College.  This year it was my turn, as I graduated with distinction.  I've never really understood the point of pointing out students with a particularly high GPA.  The way I see it, the practice only breeds pride and humiliation.  Yesterday as I stood in line waiting for my class's turn to cross the stage, the graduate behind me began making comments about how those students with honours and distinction must think they are so much better than the rest.  I didn't say anything.  I could think of nothing that would have convinced the irritated young man that I don't think I'm better than he is.  I wish I could have.

Years ago, when I was in elementary school, my parents were informed that my sister and I are considered "gifted", which means we are in a certain higher-than-average IQ range.  It means I do well in academic pursuits.  It means that God has blessed me with the ability to do well in school.  It doesn't mean that I'm better or smarter than anyone else.  There are many forms of intelligence, but only one or two are tested and nurtured in schools.  Many of my friends and classmates work hard just to get average grades, but from talking to them and getting to know them, I know that they are extremely intelligent and have gifts that allow them to be good at things that frustrate me.  Yet only those of us with particular gifts are given honour.  It's a poor honour if it degrades others.

Scrap Metal

I didn't just graduate with distinction.  I was bestowed with another honour at the graduation ceremony yesterday.  A little over a week before graduation I received a phone call from the college, informing me that I was to be the recipient of the Governor General's Collegiate Bronze Medal for Olds College.  I was told that this is a huge honour and that I was receiving it for my high grades.  When I got off the phone I went on with my work for the day, which meant washing windows - a rather humbling job for someone having just received news of a big honour.

I know I'm supposed to be honoured to receive this medal, but all I can think is that I'm the one who put the hard work in.  This wasn't just given to me; I earned it.  And besides that, I know that some of my classmates worked far harder to earn the grades they did and put much more effort into their assignments than I did.  With these thoughts, I'm struggling with a battle between feeling above the honour and feeling like I don't deserve it.

Furthermore, I am reminded of Isaiah 64:6, which says, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."  This medal can ultimately do nothing for me, just like my hard work can do nothing for me.  One day I will die and no worldly honour will keep that from happening.  I cannot take my stuff with me when I join my Lord in heaven.  I won't want it then anyways.  On that day, if my righteous acts, the good things I do, will be like filthy rags - useless, gross things my dad burns - then this medal is, at best, a fancy piece of scrap metal.  I'm sure my attitude will surprise and offend some readers, but I really can't see the honour.  It's a nice chunk of bronze, and the artwork done to engrave it is impressive, but in the end, it is nothing.

Friends and Family

Now that I've likely killed the joy in reading this post, let us move on to happier topics.  The best part of graduation was spending time with friends I haven't seen in over a month.  These are friends I saw on a weekly, or sometimes daily, basis.  I've also gotten to know some of their families and I got to see them again at graduation, too.  There were many friends who did not make it to graduation and I missed them, but it was absolutely wonderful to spend time with those who did make it, even if it was just a few brief moments of visiting with some of them.  I was blessed to be able to spend more time with a few of my friends, reminiscing and teasing each other like we always do.

My parents were able to come see the graduation ceremony and spend time with me, my friends, and their families afterwards.  It's nice to have supportive parents who haven't grown exasperated by my many years in post-secondary school and my many program changes.  My sister, who lives on the other side of the country, was not able to come, but she was able to watch most of the ceremony from the live feed on the college website.  I am honoured that she would take time from her busy day to watch speeches and wait to see me cross the stage for a brief moment.  A good friend in Ontario also watched the live feed, and two of my Alberta friends took time out of their weekends to come watch in person.

My favourite times of the weekend were spent hanging out with friends.  I was able to spend time visiting with some people at Tim Horton's the night before graduation, which was amazing!  I was used to visiting with my friends after Bible study in Olds at Tim Hortons, so this was sort of like old times, with a bunch of people crowded around a table late at night (except the crowd was smaller this time).  I also had fun after the ceremony spending time with my friends and visiting over cake, fruit, and lemonade.  Had my friends not been there and had my family not cared, there would have been no point in going to my graduation ceremony.  I would have just had the diploma mailed to me.

Hugs

Those who know me know that I generally am not comfortable with hugs.  Somehow they often end up being awkward, probably because I don't give hugs very often.  Other times the hugs themselves are okay, but I just don't see the point.  You see, I'm used to giving hugs only on special occasions, for example, if I see someone I haven't seen in a long time or am saying goodbye to someone I won't see for a long time.  Weddings are also good for free hugs.  For some reason I just don't like hugs under any other circumstances.  Because of this, I just try to avoid hugs in most circumstances or try to get it over with quickly.  Of course, I know that isn't the best way to go, but it's how I cope in uncomfortable situations.

However, there are the rare few hugs that are really great.  They aren't awkward at all, they are meaningful because they show how much a friend cares, and I'm usually not trying to avoid them.  I got one of those hugs from a good friend as I was leaving yesterday.  I also got some okay hugs - ones that were expected and not awkward, but nothing super special.  The hugs helped make the day special.

Learning

I've been learning plenty in the last few years.  There is so much I didn't know that I didn't know about farming.  One of my favourite teachers is retiring now.  It's too bad, because he challenged me to learn for the sake of expanding my knowledge, instead of just learning enough to get decent grades.  I'm sure more students would benefit from his wealth of knowledge.

Now that I'm done college, I won't have the chance to learn through lectures and assignments, or just walk up to an instructor and ask my questions.  However, my instructors and friends from the college have given me countless tips and resources that will help me to continue expanding my knowledge.  I look forward to learning more as I enter my career in agriculture.

Overall my day (and my whole time at Olds) was pretty great, but not because of all the formal honours of crossing the stage with my classmates.  My day was great because I got to spend it with friends and family.  Graduation means I have ended school, but it also means I get to keep learning, but in different ways.

My parents and I after the ceremony.

The Misadventures of the Puppy, Max

Hi there!  My name is Max.  I'm about two months old (but I'm younger in this picture).

About a month ago I lived in a nice, warm little shed with my mom and a bunch of brothers and sisters.  A nice man and lady took care of us.  After a while, some of my brothers and siblings started to go away with other nice people.  I didn't mind too much.  There were still lots of playmates and plenty of food.  One day, two nice ladies came and looked at us.  The younger one climbed right into our shed to get a good look at us.  After we'd all had a good long time to climb on her and lick her and generally look cute, she picked me up and took me out of that shed.  I was the one she'd picked!  I guess she though I was the cutest and smartest of the bunch.  And why not?  It's true!

Anyways, after stopping for a moment for goodbye to my mom, we got into a pickup truck and the young lady drove us away, while the older one held me on her lap.  I didn't much like that ride, but it wasn't too long.  It was during that ride that I got my name.  The two ladies debated it for a few minutes, but they finally agreed that I would be Max.  I was pretty happy with that decision.

When the ride was over, I met a dog.  His name is Bandit and he lives at the farm where I live now.  We've been buddies the whole time!  He teaches me lots of things, like how to chase pretty much everything and dig holes (which is the best game ever!) and sometimes how to obey the master and my mistress (which is not so fun).  My mistress is the young lady, Valerie, and the master is her father.  The other lady is her mother.  She doesn't have quite as much association with us dogs, but we sure do have to obey her!  She pretends not to like us very much, but I know she loves me way deep down.

I was having a great life until a couple of weeks ago.  Valerie and Master took me to a man named Vet. He made me stand on a cold metal table with no grip.  I almost fell off!  And then he checked me all over and gave a needle.  How awful can a guy be?  And Valerie says I have to go back!

Since then, life has been pretty spectacular!  Every night Valerie puts me to bed in my very own kennel and she feeds me and I always have plenty of water.  During the day I dig holes with Bandit, run as fast as I can, and sometimes do what Valerie tells me to.  My life was great until Friday night.  I'm really not sure what happened, but while I was waiting for Valerie to come put me to bed, I got really far from home.  I couldn't find my way back.  By Saturday afternoon I was at a place that looked a bit like a house, except no one lived there.  There were some big metal boxes a ways off from the building.  It was rainy and cold out, so I just hung around those boxes.  It was pretty dry under there, so at least I wasn't wet.  I sure was hungry, though.  It was getting to be night again.  I hadn't eaten all day, I was cold, and I missed home.  Then a truck drove up and stopped.  I got out from under the boxes to check it out because it reminded me of Master's truck.  All of a sudden, there was Valerie!  I was so happy!  My whole body was wiggling all on its own and I couldn't stop licking her face.  She picked me up and Master drove us right home.  When we got out of the truck, there was Bandit to say hello and then Valerie took me to her mom.  She seemed both sad and happy (let's call it sappy), as if she'd really, really missed me and couldn't quite belive I was home.  I told you she loved me.

After that, it's all a bit of a blur.  I just know there was a lot of food around and I got a little grumpy with Bandit when he got too close to the food.  I bet he'd been stuffing his face all day!  I hadn't eaten anything in 24 hours or so!  I'll apologise to him tomorrow, though, and then we can dig holes and be buddies again.  For now, I'm going to snuggle up in my nice warm dog house full of straw and have me a good long sleep so I can get up extra early and bark the humans awake like I always do.

Paying the Price

I picked rocks today.  That's not an unusual thing for me to do at this time of the year.  In Western Canada (and other areas, I'm sure), there are a lot of rocks in our soil and we need to pick them every year so they don't break our equipment later on.  It's a hard job, but certainly not the worst job on the farm.  Sometimes we use a mechanical rock picker, but most of the time we walk through the fields and pick up the rocks by hand.  Some rocks are small, and we can carry several at a time.  Others are bigger and we can only carry two or three at time.  Some are so big that we can only roll them into the bucket of the tractor, and still others are so big that we have to use the tractor, or even a backhoe, to dig them out of the ground.

I've spent many hot, windy days getting covered in dust whilst picking rocks.  I can't remember a spring/summer when I wasn't picking rocks as a child (that was back before some people decided it was child abuse to teach children to do a good day's work).  It was always hard work, but I had fun looking for arrow heads (that fun sort of disappeared after I finally actually found one as a teenager).  There are large rock piles in every field that my dad owns and rents.  Even with all of the rocks I've picked, I can only take credit for a small portion of those rock piles.  My dad has picked tons (literally) of rocks in his lifetime.

Every once in a while a friend or neighbour will ask us if they can have some rocks, usually to use in their garden or as lawn ornaments, depending on the size of the rock.  We have always just given the rocks away.  Today while I was picking rocks I started thinking about what my professors tried to teach us at college, especially in the business-type classes.  According to my professors, farming today requires a good deal of money (who doesn't know that?) and it is just good business to charge a fair price for products from the farm.

For years, we been giving away rocks and composted manure for people's gardens.  I understand why we do it.  Those are just waste products that other people can use.  They come pick it up and take it away.  Why would we charge money for that?  On the other hand, why wouldn't we?  In the case of the rocks, unless the people come pick them or dig them out themselves, we have spent hours working hard to pick those rocks and put them in a convenient pile.  It's hard work that has to be done anyways, but it would be nice to get paid for it, especially when other people get the benefit of that hard work.  The composted manure takes a little less work, but it takes time and effort to clean out the corrals and get it all into a pile.  Again, that's work that has to be done anyways, but when people come to get it, we have to take the time to find the best pile and get the tractor out to load their trucks up.  Then again, what's a few minutes to help a friend take some waste products off of our hands?

Do you get the idea that I'm having a bit of an inner struggle here?  I want to be a nice person and help people when I can.  Then again, I want to be a good business person and when I look at this situation from a business perspective, all I can can see is that it only makes sense to charge a fair price for the products.  I don't think it's unreasonable to charge for these things, as long as the price is fair.

My parents are great people and they've kept the farm going for several decades.  I'd really like to be able to keep the farm going the same way that they have, but I don't think that's possible.  I'm going to have to figure out the best way to run the farm as a business.  The farm has to pay for itself and make me a living if I'm going to be able to keep it.  One of the ways the farm will pay for itself is if I can make money from waste products, like rocks and manure.  I haven't completely made up my mind yet, but I think once the farm is mine, I will start asking people to pay the fair price for products that have previously been free from this farm.

Let me know what you think.  I'd like to have feedback as I consider this.

One of the rock piles on some land that we rent.

You can see the variety of rock sizes we deal with.