UTAH FARM BUREAU NEWS • SPECIAL EDITION The 2015 WOTUS rule was so broad and vague that a farmer or rancher would have no idea whether any ditch or pond on his or her farm was subject

COUNTRYSIDEWhat Little

Red Hen Knew2018 Photo Contest

WinnersGift Ideas for the Person Who ‘Has Everything’

U T A H F A R M B U R E A U N E W S • S P E C I A L E D I T I O N

Vol. 64 No. 11

WINTER 2018

Utah Family Takes Farm to

National TV Audience

No onecan see intothe future.And even if you could, you’d want to be prepared for what’s coming. That’s what we’re here for – to help protect the future you can and can’t see.

Let’s sit down, face-to-face and talk about your future as you imagine it. You talk and we’ll listen – one-on-one, the way we’ve done it for more than 75 years.

fbfs.comFarm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Company,* Western Agricultural Insurance Company,* Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company*/West Des Moines, IA. *Company providers of Farm Bureau Financial Services M205 (10-18)

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Winter 2018 | COUNTRYSIDE | Utah Farm Bureau News Special Edition 1

CONTENTSVol. 64 No. 11

W I N T E R 2 0 1 8

No onecan see intothe future.And even if you could, you’d want to be prepared for what’s coming. That’s what we’re here for – to help protect the future you can and can’t see.

Let’s sit down, face-to-face and talk about your future as you imagine it. You talk and we’ll listen – one-on-one, the way we’ve done it for more than 75 years.

fbfs.comFarm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Company,* Western Agricultural Insurance Company,* Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company*/West Des Moines, IA. *Company providers of Farm Bureau Financial Services M205 (10-18)

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2216128COLUMNS

3 FROMTHEFIELD Utah Farmers Want Clean Water and Clear Rules by Ron Gibson

4 THEZIPLINE A Refreshing Start to the New Year by Zippy Duvall

32 ONTHEEDGEOFCOMMONSENSE Goat Day by Baxter Black

DEPARTMENTS

6 SAFETY&WELLNESS Staying Safe at Home This Winter by A.J. Ferguson

20 PHOTOCONTEST Utah Farm Bureau 2018 Photo Contest Winners

22 ALOVEFORLIFE An Improved 2019 Gift Guide for the Person Who ‘Has Everything’ by Julia Misiego

24 FARMBUREAUNEWS 2018 Annual Convention Summary

28 MONEYMATTERS Budget to “Be Ready” in 2019 by Marilyn Albertson

29 PUBLICPOLICY Priorities for 2019 by Sterling C. Brown

FEATURES

8 WHATLITTLEREDHENKNEW by Susan Furner

12 HOLLYWOODCOMESTOAUTAHFARM by Matt Hargreaves

16 SOMEDECISIONSDON’TMATTER,ANDSOMEDO by Paige Norton

Note: For classified ads, please visit utahfarmbureau.org and click on the newsroom section.

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2 Utah Farm Bureau News Special Edition | COUNTRYSIDE | Winter 2018

Vol. 64, No. 11

(ISSN 1068-5960)

Matt Hargreaves, Editor

Business Address:9865 South State Sandy UT 84070-3205

Contact: General Inquiries: (801) 233-3000Address Changes: (801) 233-3009Farm Bureau News: (801) 233-3003Classified Ads: (801) 233-3010Fax: (801) 233-3030

FB News e-mail:[email protected]

Website:utahfarmbureau.org

Local Display Ad Information:Jennifer Dahl[775] [email protected]

UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION OFFICERS

Chairman and President:Ron Gibson*, West Weber

Vice President:Rex Larsen*, Spanish Fork

CEO and Secretary/Treasurer:Dale K. Newton, Draper

*Denotes member of the Board of Directors

Board of Directors:District 1: Rob Smith, TrentonDistrict 2: Jim Wayment, OgdenDistrict 3: Tyson Roberts, LaytonDistrict 4: Wayne Jarrett, NephiDistrict 5: Steve Hanberg, RandlettDistrict 6: Wade Eliason, MoroniDistrict 7: Craig Laub, Beryl

Farm Bureau Women’s Chair: Dot Jensen, Tremonton

Young Farmer and Rancher Chair: Kenny & Jamila McFarland

Agriculture Promotions Committee Chair: Andrea Schoenfeld, Tridell

Cover photo courtesy of Jenna Madsen

Magazine Design & ProductionHales Creative, LLC

Design DirectorKelly Nield

Periodicals Postage Paid at Sandy Utah and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, 9865 South State, Sandy UT 84070-3205.

Published quarterly for all Farm Bureau members (April/Spring, July/Summer, October/Fall, December/Winter). Published expressly for farmer/rancher Farm Bureau members and others who specifically request copies. February, March, May, June, August, September and November. All eleven issues published by the Utah Farm Bureau Federation ln Sandy, Utah. Editorial and Business Office, 9865 South State, Sandy UT 84070-3205.

W W W. D A I R Y W E S T. C O M

Jeff Hardy, Brigham City, UTJohn Brubaker, Buhl, ID

PARTNERS FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE


FROM THE FIELD

some time to sort out—and there may be room for improvement on the latest proposal. But there’s no question that this is good news for farmers and ranchers who have faced a tangled web of confusing and unclear rules that have left us uncertain of whether we can even farm our own land.

The 2015 WOTUS rule was so broad and vague that a farmer or rancher would have no idea whether any ditch or pond on his or her farm was subject to federal regulation. Farmers in the west have been cited and fined for doing things as common-place as plowing a field or switching crops, just because rainwater drains across the field. Farmers and ranchers aren’t the only ones who’ve struggled with this rule – home builders, small business owners, towns, cities, coun-ties and states have all waded through the mire to figure out which activities could open us to fines of more than $50,000 per day.

Federal regulations shouldn’t be a game of ‘gotcha’. Landowners should have fair warning of what activities are regulated and what landscape features

are protected as “waters of the U.S.” A farmer should be able to look across his or her farm and be able to tell what is and isn’t a federally regulated waterbody. We shouldn’t have to hire a team of lawyers, environmental engineers and consultants to help us guess whether we can farm our land.

Farmers care about clean water. We work to preserve and protect the natural resources on our farms for our children, so they can pass it on to their children. We want to protect the land and water resources on our farms and ranches because it’s the right thing to do—but also because we want to leave some-thing of inherent and lasting value for generations to come. It doesn’t end with us. We want to leave behind more than a business, we want to leave a legacy.

Farmers and ranchers in Utah sup-port clear rules that will protect water quality in our nation’s waterways. We are encouraged that EPA has proposed a new water rule aimed at providing a clear and reasonable definition of

“waters of the U.S.” and protecting our nation’s water resources for future generations.

I’m hopeful common sense will prevail, providing all of us with clean water and clear rules.

As a multi-generation farmer, I care deeply about the impact I have

in my community of West Weber, but I also care about the impacts my farm has throughout the state. While I take great pride in the thousands of people my dairy feeds, I take just as much pride in how I care for the land and water. You’ll find other Utah farmers and ranchers feel the same way.

Water impacts everything I do on my farm and affects so much of Utah agriculture—from fruit farmers in Utah County and dryland wheat farmers in San Juan County, to cattle and sheep ranchers in our mountain valleys and southern deserts, and everything in between. Farmers and ranchers have seen firsthand the impact water can have on our businesses, and on the ability of growing food for Utahns. This is why our industry has been so focused on the Clean Water Act.

In early December 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published for comment a new proposed clean water rule to replace the flawed 2015 “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule. The details will take

Utah Farmers Want Clean Water and Clear RulesBy Ron Gibson | President—Utah Farm Bureau Federation


of us the clarity we need on our farms and ranches. Farm Bureau is calling on all you again to submit your comments (https://bit.ly/2RqRAVi) to EPA and the Corps, but this time is far different than the last. This time EPA and the Corps want to hear from you too.

What a breath of fresh air it was to hear from EPA Acting Administrator Wheeler and U.S. Army, Civil Works Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ryan Fisher at Tennessee Farm Bureau’s event in December on the new rule. We all heard loud and clear from the EPA and the Corps that they want to hear directly from farmers and ranchers during the comment period to be sure the definitions are clear and work for agriculture. “If the definitions aren’t clear tell us—tell us how to fix the rule and make it better,” Administrator Wheeler said as he asked farmers and ranchers in the audience and across the country for our feedback.

EPA and the Corps are also focused on tearing down barriers, partnering across agencies and empowering state and local authorities. They recognize the key role USDA also will play in

implementing this rule and are work-ing with Secretary Perdue to be sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to interpreting and enforcing the rule. But first and foremost, the rule must be clear enough for any farmer or rancher to look out on his or her land and know what is regulated and what is not.

At Farm Bureau, we will be reading the rule thoroughly with that guiding principle in mind. We believe this proposal is already a huge step forward in that direction, and we are confident that EPA and the Corps are committed to getting this rule right. I encourage each of you to read the rule carefully (https://bit.ly/2Vk6Xhn), and then tell EPA what you like in the rule and what you don’t. If something isn’t clear or doesn’t work for your farm or ranch, now is the time to speak up. Let’s send the EPA our suggestions and work together to provide solutions—just like Acting Administrator Wheeler has invited us to do. This new clean water rule is a great opportunity for a fresh start in how regulations are shaped. Let’s resolve to do all we can to be sure we have the clear rules we need to protect our water and our farms.

Vincent “Zippy” Duvall, a poultry, cattle and hay farmer from Greene County, Georgia, is the 12th president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. You can follow him on Twitter @ZippyDuvall.

Happy New Year to you all! I love the optimism and hope the

start of a year brings. It’s a chance to press forward with renewed resolve. And who knows the importance of renewed optimism better than farmers and ranchers? One new beginning in particular that agriculture is looking forward to this year is a new clean water rule—one that promises to be rooted in common sense. Thanks to the resolve of the Trump Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers, America’s farmers and ranchers can expect a new clean water rule that both protects our nation’s water and provides clear rules for everyone to follow.

This new rule is a long time in coming, from five years ago when we rallied our grassroots members to call on EPA to ditch the flawed, and unlawful, 2015 Waters of the U.S. rule. We have come a long way in those five years, and we have much to be thankful for with this new proposed rule. Of course, we’re not across the finish line just yet. Now is our time to ensure we have a clean water rule that gives each

A Refreshing Start to the New YearBy Zippy Duvall | President—American Farm Bureau Federation

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By A.J. Ferguson | Vice President of Farm Safety, Utah Farm Bureau Federation

Most everyone enjoys being home during the holidays with family,

friends and loved ones. But statistics show that your home can be one of the most dangerous places you encounter during the holidays. In the months of December and January, most people spend a little more time at home and outdoors enjoying the snow. Being conscientious of the winter dangers can ensure your home is truly safe and as secure as you need it to be, as well as being attentive while outdoors to ensure the time spent won’t lead to time indoors recovering.

Sledding is a lot of fun and people of all ages are able to participate. Yet, sledding can lead to injuries such as skull fractures, facial lacerations or lower body injuries. According to the Center on Injury Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, more than 20,000 kids younger than 19 are treated for sledding injuries on average each year. Injuries often occur when the sled hits a stationary object, or the child falls off. Talk to children and teach them how to check for hazards.

Shoveling snow can be a good exercise. However, don’t shovel more than you can physically handle.

SHOVELINGQUICKTIPS• If you or family members have a

history of heart problems, be sure to consult with your doctor first.

• Take it slow. Shoveling, like weight lifting, can raise heart rate and blood pressure. Pace yourself.

• Pushing snow as you shovel is easier on your back than lifting snow.

• Don’t overload the shovel.• Always lift with your legs bent. Don’t

lift with the back.• Keep the back straight.• If you run out of breath, take a break.• If you feel tightness in your chest,

stop immediately.• Dress warmly.

STAYING SAFE AT HOME THIS WINTER

SLEDDINGANDSNOWDISCQUICKTIPS• Keep equipment in good repair.• Check for broken parts, sharp edges,

cracks and splits.• Dress appropriately for sledding and

weather conditions.• Check slopes for bare spots, holes or

other obstructions that might cause injuries.

• Make sure that sledding path doesn’t cross traffic and is free of fences, logs, rocks, telephone poles, or trees.

• Avoid excessively steep slopes.• Avoid sledding on or around frozen

ponds, lakes, or streams.• Proper position is important for sled-

ding; sit or lay with your back on top of sled, feet pointing downhill.

SAFETY & WELLNESS

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From:


Remember the childhood story, “The Little Red Hen”? Little Red Hen found a grain of wheat and asked who

will help me plant this? “Not I,” was the response from all her barnyard friends. So, she buried the wheat in the ground and after a while it grew up yellow and ripe. Little Red Hen approached her friends again, “The wheat is ripe now. Who will cut and thresh it?” “Not I,” was, once again, the response.

“Then I will,” said Little Red Hen. Little Red Hen then mills the wheat and makes the bread. She had the big picture of where her food started, how much work it was to grow the wheat, process the wheat and then turn it into a delicious loaf of bread to feed her family.

Because most Americans don’t have the opportunity to see the process of how our food gets from the farm to our plates, we may lack both the understanding and appreciation for those people who do help get our food from the fields to our dinner tables.

Little Miss Red Hen, let me introduce you to some new friends—Utah grain farmers who grow the wheat and Honeyville, Inc., a local company that mills wheat and other grains into a variety of amazing products and mixes that can be found on the dinner tables of Utah families.

Utah farmers grow wheat and other grains. Winter wheat is planted in the fall, usually September, and grows to about three inches tall and then goes dormant in winter. The whole plant freezes and it must in order to develop the head—which is where the individual grains of wheat are held. The wheat grows through the spring and summer and is typically harvested in August. Each active acre can produce between 40 to 60 bushels (a bushel is roughly 62 pounds of wheat).

Planting, harvesting, milling, and making bread have come a long way since Little Red Hen’s day.

Wheat is green and as it grows to maturity, and turns to a beautiful color of amber yellow. Combines are used to harvest the wheat. The combine derives its name from combining three separate harvesting operations—reaping, threshing, and winnowing—into a single process. Reaping is cutting the wheat stock. Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of grain from the husks and straw. Winnowing separates the grain from the chaff. One farmer, working alone, can harvest about 80 acres in a day because of the new technology used in combines. Some combines costs tens of thousands of dollars and can use up to $500 of

WHAT LITTLE RED HEN KNEW


WHAT LITTLE RED HEN KNEW By Susan Furner | Vice President of Administration, Utah Farm Bureau Federation

gas a day. Once the wheat is harvested it is then shipped to mills for processing.

Roughly 30 Utah farmers produce grain sold to Honeyville Grain, a milling company in northern Utah. Kari Pierson, Food Safety & Quality Assurance Director, explains the standards to which farmers must comply to sell grains to Honeyville. Farmers must demonstrate to Honeyville that the harvest equipment is clean and in good repair, that grains are transported in clean transports and trailers, storage facilities are clean, in good repair and are secure, and that pesticides and herbicides are applied following all federal, state and local regulations, just to name a few. These standards help ensure food safety and quality. Quality technicians sample and inspect each load of grain prior to unloading at Honeyville.

HOWWARSHAPEDACOMPANYHoneyville is a business with an interesting history. Honeyville’s founder, Lowell Sherratt Sr. had a good head for business. Sherratt worked as a citrus salesman in Southern California in the late 1930s and early 1940s. World War II was in full swing during this time, but no one could prepare the United States for Japan bombing Pearl Harbor

on December 7, 1941. Authorities questioned the loyalty of ethnic Japanese living on the U.S. West Coast and called for action. Japanese internment camps were established during World War II by President Franklin Roosevelt through his Executive Order 9066. From 1942 to 1945, it was the policy of the U.S. government that people of Japanese descent would be interred in isolated camps.

Some Japanese-Americans were given the opportunity to move inland, away from the designated restricted areas. Sherratt was asked to sponsor some Japanese-Americans—many of them clients from his citrus business—and help provide opportunities for them outside of California. So he sold his home, took his family, and helped his Japanese-American friends in their desperate move to Southern Utah.

The group left prior to a March 1942 deadline to leave the restricted area or face arrest and detainment. He led the group of more than 10 families from Los Angeles to Page’s Ranch, an isolated ranch 30 miles west of Cedar City. After staying in Page’s Ranch for a year or two, some in the group moved to Idaho or Colorado to farm, but Sherratt bought a mill in Parowan to provide cracked wheat for a feed com-pany in Southern California.


As an entrepreneur and skilled business man, Sherratt Sr. was always looking for new opportunities. Business was booming, and grew so much that he had to move the busi-ness to the Beaver County town of Milford, where he was near train tracks and began cracking corn as well as wheat. Lowell Sherratt’s business was growing at rapid rates and his location could not handle the supply and capacity that he needed. At this time, he visited Brigham City and came across an old mill in the nearby town of Honeyville. Lowell Sherratt Sr. purchased the mill, remodeled it, and business soared—starting what is now, Honeyville Grain.

Sadly, disaster struck not long after purchasing the Honeyville mill. An arsonist targeted the mill and burned it to the ground. Saddened, but not discouraged, Lowell Sherratt Sr. used his determination and ingenuity to rebuild from the ground up! Much of his own craftsmanship was used in building the new mill. Originally called Honeyville Grain and Elevator Inc., the new mill was complete and business boomed once again with expanded service offerings. Literally out of the ashes, Honeyville Inc. has endured, evolved, and risen into the whole grain leader that it is today!1

Today, Honeyville cleans, cracks, mills, hulls, and flakes grains with facilities in Utah and California. In a typical 20-hour day they can mill 240,000 pounds of product or roughly 65 million pounds of grain in a year. Their product line includes bakery mixes such as yellow cake mixes, scones, and pancakes, specialty flours which include coconut, rice and almond flour, grains, drink mixes, side dishes, hot cere-als, and breakfast mixes. Shelf-stable products like powdered milk, powdered butter, powdered cheese, powdered egg whites and even powdered sour cream are also available.

THEVISIBLE—ANDNOTSOVISIBLE—SIDESOFHONEYVILLEThere are essentially two sides of Honeyville, Inc. One side is consumer products, Honeyville branded items such as almond flour, cake mixes, brownie mixes, and churro mixes that are made available for sale through Honeyville’s website, shop.honeyville.com, and several products are also available through amazon.com and walmart.com. The other side, which represents the majority of Honeyville’s business, are products sold to the manufacturing sector of the food industry such as cereal companies, bakeries, tortillerias, as well snack and chip manufacturers. While they don’t carry the Honeyville name, you know the quality will be second-to-none.

Despite Honeyville’s own product line representing a small part of their overall business, it is a vital and important part of their business. Making products directly available to customers has been—and continues to be—a part of who Honeyville is. They are constantly striving to be on the front end of innovation. They work hard to understand current and future markets to identify potential areas for growth for their own products, as well as their business customers.

John Hadfield, vice president of sales, attributes their success to the fact that Honeyville has deep roots in putting people first. They have grown into the company they are today because of the belief that treating others the way that they want to be treated is always the right thing to do. That belief has guided Honeyville through many business decisions.

When you think of your busy life, aren’t you glad that you have friends to grow the wheat, friends that transport the wheat to the mill, friends who run mills to process the wheat into a useable form like flour, and baking mixes, and grocer friends who make food readily available to us. We are all connected by our common need for (and for many of us, a love for) food! Whether we know it or not, we have much more helpful friends than poor Little Red Hen!

1. Honeyville.com, Our Story

Out of the ashes, Honeyville Inc. has endured, evolved, and risen into the whole grain leader that it is today!

ORRIN HATCHS E N A T E S E � � E : 1 9 7 6 - 2 0 1 9

Thank you

2019 American Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award Recipient.

Constant support of Utah's farmers & ranchers.

Repeatedly recognized with 'Golden Plow' & ‘Friend of Farm Bureau’ awards.


HOLLYWOOD COMES TO A UTAH FARM

By Matt Hargreaves | Editor, Utah Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine


Some towns in Utah have to share the spotlight with towns of the same name in other states or countries—like

Jerusalem (Sanpete County), Washington (Washington County), Salem (Utah County), or Manila (Daggett County). While there is no Hollywood, Utah, the bright lights and cameras of the Hollywood scene recently came to a small farming community in Sanpete County.

Farmers Brett and Jenna Madsen of Chester, Utah are being featured as part of a new reality television show called The American Farm, set to premiere later in 2019 on History™ (formerly known as The History Channel).

BoBCat Studios, founded by Thom Beers, Jeff Conroy, and Sarah Bernard, is producing the new show to bring viewers an authentic view of the real-life struggles, failures, and triumphs of American farmers and ranchers. Two of the founders—Beers and Conroy—worked with History and Discovery Channel in the past to produce the hit TV shows Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, and Storage Wars.

In an interview with Variety magazine, Eli Lehrer, execu-tive vice president of programming for History talked about the reasoning behind the new show.

“[This show] will put viewers on the front line of the battle farming families wage to bring dirt to life and put food on our plates. Their compelling, genuine stories represent the ultimate quest for the American Dream and speak to the heart of our nation,” Lehrer said.

Jeff Conroy talked about what went into their idea to share the life of farmers and ranchers with a digital audience.

“We are always looking for authentic characters with real stakes, and it doesn’t get more real than the family farm. I’m not exaggerating to say that we have been passionate about telling this story for nearly a decade,” Conroy said. “These are honest people who are gambling almost everything they have every year. They fight against weather and market forces that are completely out of their control. It’s a rich backdrop for storytellers, and luckily, we found great charac-ters like the Madsens to bring it all to life.”

Brett and Jenna Madsen have made their home in Chester for several years. Jenna’s family, the Sunderlands, have been farming in Utah for generations in both Sanpete and earlier in Utah County. Recently, the farm has been transitioning to new generations of management, as Brett and Jenna manage the family’s crops and turkey barns.

Having served as chairs of the Utah Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Committee, and raising four young boys, all while keeping the farm going, it would be easy to wonder

when the Madsens would find the time to get involved with something like a television show. But like many farm families, the Madsens felt this was a way to represent their industry and values, and they needed to make the time.

“The turkey business has been hard lately, but we just felt like this could be an answer to prayer and a great opportu-nity for us to tell our story,” Brett Madsen said.

Jenna agreed on the uniqueness of the opportunity.“We saw an email from the Farm Bureau that this com-

pany was looking for people who might be interested in a show telling the farmer’s story, and we just thought it was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” Jenna Madsen said. “We just gave it a try, thinking we could be a good fit because of our multi-generation farm, the changes taking place on our farm, etc.”

After initial applications, the Madsens hadn’t heard much going into the spring of 2017, when the folks at BoBCat Studios told them that their family fit certain criteria they were looking for, and they wanted to visit with them further.

“Their compelling, genuine stories represent the ultimate quest for the American Dream and speak to the heart of our nation.”

—Eli Lehrer, executive vice president of programming for History


An interview of sorts was arranged via Skype in July with the Madsen family, including Jenna’s extended family.

Having presented themselves well, BoBCat Studios sent a skeleton production crew out to visit with the Madsens, bringing with them some camera crews, sound technicians, and Thom Beers himself. Adding to the complexity, Jenna learned during the process that their family was expecting what would be their fourth child—another boy.

While in Chester, the crew immersed themselves in all activities that were happening on the farm, including mov-ing cows, harvesting certain crops, and baling straw.

“I was hyper-aware at first, and was nervous at how we would be portrayed,” Jenna said. “But the producers of the show helped me relax and feel okay about simply presenting our family as we are. I still did get nervous at one point, when a cow charged at one of the production crew and pushed her into a stream. It was just how life really is on the farm.”

With the production crew living with the family and shooting film from September through January, the Madsens got to know a little more about the television industry, and in turn, the crew learned a lot about the real life of farming.

“This really shows how hard farming can be,” Jenna said. “The crew wanted to be up when we were up. So there was Brett, baling late at night and the camera was there with him. At one point, the tractor hit a bump and the camera smacked the back window of the tractor—completely knocking it out. Brett didn’t stop because he had to keep baling until the


job was done. That really surprised the camera man that he wouldn’t even stop for that.”

Beyond telling a fair story about agriculture, the show focuses on five different farming families throughout the country, and the qualities these families have. More than simply telling the “day in the life of a farmer” story, it’s giving viewers a much richer experience.

“There’s great energy surrounding this series, and a mixture of excitement and pride from everyone involved,” Conroy said. “Logistically, producing a show with five farms in five different parts of the country has been a challenge, of course. But the farmers themselves have made it all worthwhile. They’ve let us into their lives and have been refreshingly honest about both their personal and financial challenges. Sometimes the show is a real roller coaster ride, and the emotion of the characters comes shining through every frame.”

“The Madsens, like the rest of the farmers on our show, are a wonderful family who were fighting against some pretty long odds,” Conroy added. “The year stacked some tough challenges in front of them with an awful drought in Sanpete County and a turkey market that’s really difficult to make a living in. But the grace and humor they display while battling through, as well as the creative solutions they come up with to overcome obstacles, were really a pleasure to bear

witness to. They didn’t waste time feeling sorry for them-selves; they just dug in, made adjustments and kept fighting.”

With other details and plotlines under wraps, those interested will need to tune in once the show airs to catch up on the Madsens and the other four families participating. When asked if this taste of Hollywood intrigues the Madsens into possibly pursuing this Hollywood lifestyle, Jenna is quick to counter with a “definitely not,” but did share how happy she was to be able to share a little of their family and their life with others.

The American Farm will premiere on History later in 2019. More exact details of when the show will run will be shared as they are announced.

“The grace and humor they display while battling through, as well as the creative solutions they come up with to overcome obstacles, were really a pleasure to bear witness to.”

—Jeff Conroy, producer, founder of BoBCat Studios


SOME DECISIONS DON’T MATTER, AND SOME DO

By Paige Norton | Utah Farm Bureau Federation Agriculture Promotions Committee

I can’t imagine the total number of decisions a person makes in their lifetime, but my guess is that the over-

whelming majority of them don’t matter much. But in 1947 my grandpa, Dell Wheadon, made one single decision that chartered the course for our family forever.

Grandpa gave up both his spot and his scholarship on the University of Utah’s Championship Basketball team to help his dad on their family farm. The coach begged him not to, warning him, “You aren’t just giving up a scholarship. You’re giving up a career!” But family ALWAYS comes first and with that one decision Grandpa not only sealed his fate to be a farmer, but sealed our fate as a farming family forever.

In 1965 Grandpa and Grandma (Norma Ashworth Wheadon) bought the farm from Grandpa’s dad, Alma Wheadon (who had purchased it in 1915). By then, they had all five of their children. They set to work raising children by teaching their children to raise a farm. The crop changed throughout the years, eventually becoming what it is now – hay for the animals. Having gifted each of their children an acre of their 40-acre farm, my grandparents filled their days teaching their children, and eventually their grandchildren, lessons that are best taught on a family farm. Lessons like hard work, hard play, patience, persistence, perseverance, responsibility, cooperation, excellence, faith, and above all that family trumps everything.

Grandpa and Grandma had three daughters and two sons. In 1980 their oldest son’s wife died of a pulmonary embolism. Their son, Doug, brought his two very young girls and moved back in with Grandpa & Grandma so they could help him with the kids while he made his living as a truck driver. Ten

short weeks later Grandpa & Grandma’s younger son died suddenly when his artificial heart valve failed. With that my mom and her two sisters became Grandpa’s help on the farm. Grandchildren brought more farm helpers, but interestingly 13 of the 16 grandkids were girls. Therefore, Wheadon Farm has mostly been run by women and girls since 1980.

Growing up on my grandparents’ farm was an absolute dream come true for me. Living next door to all your aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents on one side of the family

AG PROMOTION


isn’t all bumper crops and pony rides, but I wouldn’t trade the life I had for anything!!

Thirty-plus years have gone by and I can still close my eyes and see my grandpa out there in the pasture. Grandpa has our gorgeous, faithful Shire (a British breed of draught horse), Molly, hitched up to the snow sleigh. While all the grandkids were away at school, he spent his day using his John Deere tractor to create bumps in an oval pattern that covered the entire livestock pasture. Attached to the back of the snow sleigh was a log pole with two inner tubes, one behind the other, strapped to it on each end. He was warm-ing Molly up for what was to come—sheer madness! All the grandkids who were old enough would jump off the school bus, race inside to change into mismatched snow clothes and moon boots that were anyone’s size but the child wearing them, and then race back outside to try to get the best of the four innertubes. Then the horse-drawn sleigh riding would commence. We’d ride for an hour or two until it started to get too dark or too cold. Then all the grandkids would go into Grandma’s house for hot chocolate with mini marsh-mallows—except for me.

I never cared for chocolate, so I stayed outside with Grandpa. I’d listen to him talk to himself and whistle while he put away the tack (saddle, stirrups, bridles, halters, reins, bits, harnesses). I would lead Molly around the backyard cooling her off. Besides our own, there weren’t any houses around at that point. The only sounds were Grandpa, Molly’s breathing, and the crunching of snow as we paced the yard. Eventually we’d turn Molly out to pasture and all us kids would go home to our respective houses for the night.

In the early 1990s things started to change. The farmer to the north passed away and his family sold the farm. Seemingly overnight the farmland and open space that we had enjoyed was filled with houses. Next, it was the farm to the east. Finally, the farm to the west. With that, our little farm was surrounded by urban development. South Jordan City grew, and grew, and grew. The little town we had known and loved had changed forever, but our family farm had managed to go unscathed.

Urbanization is a threat to a little family farm like ours. Eminent domain is the right of a government or its agent to take away private property for public use, like roads, schools, or hospitals, with compensation. Wheadon Farm has been required to sell property to the city for an underground water tank. When it comes to imminent domain, a farmer isn’t left with much of a leg to stand on. A few years later, another city plan proposed taking half of our farm for soccer fields. Although the proposal never got traction, we began to

When people ask us, “Don’t you know how much that land is worth?” our response is always the same: “Yes. But then all we’d have is money.”

*Program 36238: $500 Bonus Cash offer exclusively for active AL, AZ, AR, CA, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. Offer is valid through 1/2/2019 for the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2017/2018/2019 model year Ford vehicle. Not available on Shelby GT350®, Shelby® GT350R, Mustang BULLITT, Ford GT, Focus RS, F-150 Raptor and F-150 Diesel. This offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. Must be a member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase. Limit one Bonus Cash offer per vehicle purchase or lease. Limit of five new eligible vehicle purchases or leases per Farm Bureau member during program period. Visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com or see your authorized Ford Dealer for qualifications and complete details.**NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF U.S. OR D.C., 21 YEARS OR OLDER WITH VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE TO ENTER AND A CURRENT FARM BUREAU MEMBER. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes ends 9/30/2018. For entry and official rules with complete eligibility, prize description and other details, visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com. Sponsored by Ford Motor Company, One American Road, Dearborn, MI 48126.***Autodialed marketing messages will be sent to the number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase or entry. Message and data rates may apply.

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FORD SUPER DUTY®

Don’t forget about the Built Ford Tough F-150 Sweepstakes!**

Text the word SWEEPS to 46786*** to enter!

Members get $500 Bonus Cash* toward the purchase or lease of an eligible new Ford vehicle!

$500BONUS CASH

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*Program 36238: $500 Bonus Cash offer exclusively for active AL, AZ, AR, CA, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. Offer is valid through 1/2/2019 for the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2017/2018/2019 model year Ford vehicle. Not available on Shelby GT350®, Shelby® GT350R, Mustang BULLITT, Ford GT, Focus RS, F-150 Raptor and F-150 Diesel. This offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. Must be a member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase. Limit one Bonus Cash offer per vehicle purchase or lease. Limit of five new eligible vehicle purchases or leases per Farm Bureau member during program period. Visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com or see your authorized Ford Dealer for qualifications and complete details.**NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF U.S. OR D.C., 21 YEARS OR OLDER WITH VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE TO ENTER AND A CURRENT FARM BUREAU MEMBER. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes ends 9/30/2018. For entry and official rules with complete eligibility, prize description and other details, visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com. Sponsored by Ford Motor Company, One American Road, Dearborn, MI 48126.***Autodialed marketing messages will be sent to the number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase or entry. Message and data rates may apply.

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Don’t forget about the Built Ford Tough F-150 Sweepstakes!**

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$16 OFF per Ton

*counpon must be presented for discount*

valid through 1/31/19

realize that if we wanted to protect our farm, we needed to help others see its value.

Aunt Joan had an idea to put up a Nativity scene in the pasture. She told her cousin and go-to guy about her dream and the two of them were off and running. They determined that they would use mannequins for the people and then feed the animals right around the manger to keep them close by. With that the Wheadon Farm Live Nativity was born. Throughout the years we have added more and more to the Nativity scene.

To let people experience the farm, we started hosting a dinner and Night at the Nativity event a few years ago for elected officials, city planners, and other decision makers to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with us (and the animals) at the farm. We hoped that by bringing them to the farm they could feel the “Spirit of Place” there and fall in love with it themselves. We also hoped that they would see what a huge asset the farm has become to our entire community.

The Wheadon Live Nativity has been described as “inspiring” by people in our community. One man wrote, “It inspires me to contemplate the actual events of more than 2,000 years ago.” Many have expressed appreciation for our efforts and that it has brought special meaning to the season.

The lives of our loved ones, the memories we have made with them throughout the years, and the losses we have suf-fered have made Wheadon Farm sacred ground to our family.

It’s true, some decisions we make in our lifetime don’t matter much. Our hope is that we can prove our mettle as a farm family and prove the worth of our farm is much greater than real estate. We have absolutely no desire to sell the farm. When people ask us, “Don’t you know how much that land is worth?” our response is always the same: “Yes. But then all we’d have is money.” Our greatest desire is to keep the farm just as it is for generations to come, because we know some decisions make all the difference.


PHOTO CONTEST

UTAH FARM BUREAU 2018

PHOTO CONTEST WINNERSThese are the winners, plus an honorable mention recipient, of the three divisions in our photo

contest. Each winner will receive a prize of $100. Look for a new contest coming in 2019.

AKIDSINTHECOUNTRYDIVISIONWINNERChesnie Roper; Moroni, Utah


BTHEMIRACLEOFAGRICULTUREDIVISIONWINNERJenny Osguthorpe; Heber City, Utah

AREADERS’CHOICE(RURALSCENESOFUTAH)DIVISIONWINNERJessica Jacobs; Beaver, Utah

AREADERS’CHOICE(RURALSCENESOFUTAH)DIVISIONHONORABLEMENTIONDianne Campbell; Smithfield, Utah


“Imagine you buy a flat panel TV. You come to my house, and I have a bigger, clearer picture than yours. You’re bummed out,” said Thomas Gilovich, professor of psychology and co-author of the study in an interview in Cornell University’s newspaper, the Chronicle. “But suppose you go on a vacation to the Caribbean. You find out I’ve done the same, and mine sounds better than yours. It might bother you a little bit, but not nearly to the same degree because you have your memo-ries; it’s your idiosyncratic connection to the Caribbean that makes it your vacation. That makes it less compa-rable to mine, hence your enjoyment isn’t undermined as much.”

What does this mean for your gift giving in 2019? First, you can take the opportunity to test it for yourself and give an experience to your spouse or children. In fact, last year, one in three consumers planned to give “experi-ences” instead of traditional gifts, according to NBC.

Utah boasts many options for expe-riences, especially with an agricultural

flare. They can fall in all price ranges. Some ideas include:

• Working Ranch Staycations. There are many ranches in the west that offer lodging, hometown cooking and experience living on a working ranch. This could be done as a couple, or large family group. A simply internet search will reveal many great local options.

• Cheese Making Class. Connecting to agriculture is never easier than when cooking or creating with agricultural products. You could also skip the manual labor and go straight to a cheese tasting instead!

• Horseback Riding Lessons. To any child who begged for a pony for Christmas, but you live in the sub-urbs, this is a perfect substitution! All the riding experience without any of the horse care.

• Creative Cowboys? Cowboy Poetry has long been a tradition in the west and has a growing following. The big gathering is in Heber in the fall, but there are many upcoming events to immerse yourself in the

“What do I get to someone who has everything?”

“My husband is so hard to shop for, whatever he wants he buys.”

“I want to give my kids something meaningful, not just something I picked from wondering around the store.”

Do any of these sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Last year, Americans spent up to $16 billion on unwanted gifts, according to NBC. With the economy on the rise, and prosperity with it, many are finding more “stuff” isn’t bringing them or their families the excitement it used to. Many are more aware of their consum-erism, and with that awareness comes another rising trend—giving experi-ences as gifts instead of traditional

“things.”Experiences can be very meaning-

ful and can bring more happiness to the receiver than a toy or jewelry. A Cornell University study found that one reason why could be that experi-ences are uniquely your own and can’t be compared as easily as a physical gift to what someone else received.

An Improved 2019 Gift Guide for the Person Who ‘Has Everything’By Julia Misiego | Member Benefits and Women’s Committee Coordinator, Utah Farm Bureau Federation

A LOVE FOR LIFE


great storytelling experience. The national Cowboy Poetry gathering in Elko, Nevada, is in late January or early February. Closer to home, you can visit the Cache Valley Cowboy Rendezvous in early March in Hyrum, and the Antelope Island cowboy poetry and western music gathering in May.

Agricultural experiences can be especially memorable because of the opportunity to experience doing difficult or uncomfortable things. As I once heard from a presentation by a

see if you like it better than traditional gifts!

marriage counselor, “Shared adversity builds strong bonds.”

Second, Gilovich suggests that the findings of the study could also encour-age policy that builds opportunities for experiences, like hiking trails, parks, and other infrastructure. Many people don’t have the means to give a trip to Disneyland, or the Caribbean, but that shouldn’t prevent them from enjoying experiences with their families, even if it is as simple as a hike and picnic in the mountains.

Whether it is free or expensive, try out this trend for yourself this year and

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recommendations to address issues including positions on brand inspec-tions, wildlife management, public lands, taxation, and more.

The delegates also held elections to decide on leaders to guide the organization.

President Gibson greeted attendees with an encouraging message about the 102nd anniversary of the Utah Farm Bureau and how the organization has influenced the way agriculture looks in the state of Utah today. Gibson praised the ability of farmers to continue press-ing forward with a vision of success that provided a successful heritage and a promising future.

Inspiring Farm Bureau leaders to enjoy every day and move beyond discouragement was Chad Hymas, Thursday’s keynote speaker. No stranger to agriculture from his involvement in growing hay and operating a hunting lodge, Hymas shared his story of perseverance when an injury on his ranch left him in a wheelchair. His description of what truly matters to him now was an inspiration for all attending.

Farm Bureau members gathered later in the day for the awards show presentation, where many young farmers were awarded with trips to compete nationally at the American Farm Bureau Convention. Former State Women’s Committee Chair and board member Belva Parr of Utah County

Celebrating Utah Farm Bureau’s 102nd annual convention, farmers

and ranchers throughout the state gathered at the Davis Conference Center in Layton to talk about issues confronting agriculture in Utah.

The Farm Bureau delegate body deliberated and came up with policy

2018 ANNUAL CONVENTION:SUCCEEDING THROUGH THE“MIRACLE OF AGRICULTURE”

FARM BUREAU NEWS


was awarded the Utah Farm Bureau’s Distinguished Service Award, for her tireless efforts on behalf of Farm Bureau, education and agriculture. Ruth Roberts was also recognized with the ‘Advocate for Agriculture’ award from the Utah Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.

Those not participating in the delegate session were invited to a LIFT Fair, which included a breakfast and activities designed to encourage Farm Bureau members, reward them for their hard work during the year, and propel them forward for another great year. Included in the event were demonstra-tions on cooking from the hotel chef, humanitarian stations, and more.

Breakouts sessions were held Friday on topics such fire prevention

and forest management, minimizing conflicts between wildlife and live-stock, how to attract (and keep) quality volunteers in a County Farm Bureau, succession planning, and more.

The general session ended with Dale Newton, Utah Farm Bureau’s chief executive officer, congratulating members on their many achievements throughout the year, and highlighting some of the organization’s legislative efforts in Washington, D.C., as well as the state legislature.

Wrapping up the general session of the conference, attendees heard from Mike Styler, executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, and concluded with Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Duvall

joined Utah Farm Bureau leaders for an open forum session, where Farm Bureau members could ask a variety of questions—ranging from the priorities of the American Farm Bureau and what it is like working with congressional leaders, to how County Farm Bureaus can be more effective in their advocacy for local farmers and ranchers.

Concluding the convention, Farm Bureau members and invited guests were treated to a delicious banquet dinner and inspirational remarks from President Duvall. Lastly, the presenta-tion of the 2018 Leopold Conservation Award was made to Ercanbrack Livestock of Summit County.

Utah Farm Bureau members elect farm and ranch leaders at annual convention in Layton

Members from Utah’s 28 County Farm

Bureaus met recently in Layton to select

leaders for the state’s largest farming and

ranching organization. Delegates re-elected

Spanish Fork cattle rancher Rex Larsen to a

two-year term as vice president of the Utah

Farm Bureau Federation.

“It’s an honor to be elected to this post

and a great opportunity to continue support-

ing our president, board of directors, and

members of this organization,” Larsen said.

“Farm Bureau is strong in advocating the

interests of agriculture everywhere because it

is a true grassroots organization. We advocate

not simply what a board wants, but what

farmers and ranchers around the state decide

for themselves.”

Rob Smith, a cattle rancher and attorney

from Trenton (Cache County), Tyson Roberts,

a produce farmer from Layton (Davis County),

and Steve Hanberg, a grain farmer from

Randlett (Uintah County), were elected to the

State Board of Directors.

Craig Laub, a hay farmer from Beryl (Iron

County), was re-elected to two-year term on

the Utah Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

JaNae Titmus of Grantsville was re-elected

as of vice-chair for the Farm Bureau Women’s

Leadership Committee. Titmus and her family

are sheep ranchers in Tooele County.

Others re-elected to the Farm Bureau

Women’s Leadership Committee were Kitty

Young of Henefer (Summit County), Sara

Harward of Springville (Utah County), and

Nancy Harris of Richfield (Sevier County).

Four new couples were elected to serve on

the State Young Farmer & Rancher committee,

including Travis & Geneve Moore of Coalville

(Summit County), Addison & Jenn Hicken of

Heber City (Wasatch County), Kurt & Crystal

Hansen of Richfield (Sevier County), and

D.J. & Whitney Laub from Paragonah (Iron

County).

Andrea Schoenfeld of Tridell (Uintah

County) was chosen as chair for the State

Agriculture Promotions Committee, with

Andrea also serving as the committee

representative on the State Board of Directors.

Also elected to the Ag Promotions Committee

include the following: Daryn Westergard

of Ogden (Weber County), Paige Norton of

South Jordan (Salt Lake County), Brad &

Jenny Osguthorpe of Heber City (Wasatch

County), Bjorn & Shanna Carlson of Bluebell

(Duchesne County), and Marc & Hollie Henrie

of Panguitch (Garfield County).

Voting delegates also addressed a wide

range of policy issues including positions on

taxes, transportation funding, equine dentistry,

water, wildlife, and more.

Annual Awards and Recognition


T.J. and Amanda Atkin of Washington County were the winners of the Utah Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award.

Jared Buhler, president of the Millard County Farm Bureau, received the FFA Outstanding Service Award.

Ed and Dixie Ercanbrack and family members accept the 2018 Utah Leopold Conservation Award.

Ercanbrack Livestock Receives Utah Leopold Conservation Award

LAYTON, Utah—Ercanbrack Livestock of

Coalville has been selected as the recipient of

the 2018 Utah Leopold Conservation Award®.

Sand County Foundation, the nation’s

leading voice for private conservation,

created the Leopold Conservation Award to

inspire American landowners by recognizing

exceptional farmers, ranchers and foresters.

The prestigious award, named in honor of

renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, is

given in 14 states.

Ercanbrack Livestock is operated by

Ed and Dixie Ercanbrack, and their adult

children, Dane and Dusty. The family works

together at making their land productive by

targeting areas in need of water, regeneration

and soil support. They were revealed as the

award recipient at the Utah Farm Bureau

Federation’s Annual Meeting in Layton. They

were presented with a $10,000 award and a

crystal depicting Aldo Leopold.

A variety of range management projects

have improved the quality of wildlife habitat,

pastures for beef cattle, and the ranch’s many

springs and ponds. By restoring native grasses

and the health of the soil, they are reversing

damage from decades of sheep grazing and

coal mining. Prescribed rotational grazing

lowers the threat of wildfire, as native grasses

and vegetation are allowed to reseed, produc-

ing healthier forests.

The Ercanbracks host youth groups on

their ranch, have participated in pro-conserva-

tion videos for fellow ranchers and consumers,

and advocated for conservation issues to

legislators and agricultural organizations.

“We are extremely proud of the Ercanbrack

family and the pride they take in the land

and natural resources in their care,” said Ron

Gibson, President of the Utah Farm Bureau

Federation. “They represent the conservation

ethic found in Utah’s farmers and ranchers,

and we salute them for their efforts.”

Among the many outstanding Utah landown-

ers nominated for the award were finalists:

Basque Cross Ranch of Park Valley, and JY

Ferry & Son, Inc. of Corinne.

The Leopold Conservation Award in Utah

is made possible thanks to the generous

contributions from Western AgCredit, Utah

Farm Bureau Federation, Utah Cattlemen’s

Association, Utah Association of Conservation

Districts, The Nature Conservancy, Utah Wool

Growers Association, Producers Livestock

Marketing Association, and the Utah

Department of Agriculture and Food.

For more information on the award, visit

www.leopoldconservationaward.org.

Davis County farmer wins ‘Advocate for Agriculture’ Award

The Utah Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership

Committee recently named Ruth Roberts of

the Davis County Farm Bureau as the winner

of the 2018 Advocate for Agriculture award at

the organization’s annual meeting.

The Advocate for Agriculture award is

designed to recognize one Farm Bureau

woman each year for her outstanding

volunteer efforts on behalf of Farm Bureau

and agriculture. The winner goes well

above the mark, exceeding expectations

in supporting the Farm Bureau Women’s

Leadership Committee’s program of work,

agriculture education in the community and in

the classroom, membership recruitment, and

interfacing with legislators to list just a few

of the volunteer possibilities. All applicants

were nominated by a member of their County

Farm Bureau, with the winners taking home a

$500 cash prize.

“There are many women worthy of this

award, as they are active in their County

Farm Bureaus, are advocates for agriculture

to their elected officials and community, and

are overall great examples of women making

a difference,” said Dot Jensen, chair of the

Utah Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership

Committee. “Ruth has distinguished herself

for years by going above and beyond on

reaching out to her community on behalf of

agriculture. She served for many years on the

State Women’s Committee, and her influence

is still felt throughout the state.”

Ruth was nominated as a result of her tire-

less efforts to promote agriculture through the

Agriculture in the Classroom program, County

Farm Field days, and the service she has

rendered through her County Farm Bureau.

Young Farmers and Ranchers Win Awards at Farm Bureau Convention

The future looks bright for agriculture

in Utah—and in Utah’s Farm Bureau

specifically—because of the many great new

leaders coming up through the ranks. They

are energetic, innovative, and have a lot of

interest in advocating for agriculture. The


Brad & Jenny Osguthorpe of Heber, Utah, were recognized as the winners of the Utah Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Excellence in Agriculture award.

Erin Sorenson of Delta, Utah, won the 2018 Utah Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet.

whole industry wins with this group; however,

for one night at the Utah Farm Bureau

convention, they get a little competitive when

ATVs are on the line, as well as an expense-

paid trip to the American Farm Bureau

convention. Here’s a recap of who took home

the awards!

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

T.J. and Amanda Atkin of Washington County

were the winners of the Utah Farm Bureau

Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement

Award. They received a 2018 John Deere

Gator ATV courtesy of Cache Valley Bank and

Stotz Equipment.

The contestants are evaluated on a com-

bination of their farming operation growth and

financial progress of operation, Farm Bureau

leadership and leadership outside of Farm

Bureau. More specifically, the judges look for

excellence in management, growth and scope

of the enterprise, and self-initiative that are

displayed throughout the operation.

T.J. and Amanda are the 6th generation to

be involved in agriculture in Southern Utah,

dating back to 1868. The family runs a cattle

ranch on the Arizona Strip, just south of St.

George.

“We love the many opportunities we

have to engage with those not familiar with

agriculture and share with them the many

lessons that apply to everyone,” said Amanda

Atkin. “We feel fortunate to live in this great

part of our state and to interact with many

great farmers and ranchers, and look forward

to learning from others across the country.”

EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE AWARD

Brad & Jenny Osguthorpe of Heber, Utah,

were recognized as the winners of the Utah

Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher

Excellence in Agriculture award. The

Osguthorpes received a 2018 Polaris ATV

courtesy of Utah Farm Bureau and Zions Bank

Ag Group.

The Excellence in Agriculture award is a

competition that was initiated a number of

years ago to recognize young farmers and

ranchers involved in agriculture, but who

do not necessarily derive a majority of their

income from an owned production agriculture

operation.

“We are honored and humbled to receive

this award, and to represent Wasatch County

and the State of Utah at the national level,”

said Brad Osguthorpe. “We love being

advocates for agriculture and look forward to

the opportunities ahead to learn and share

what we get to experience every day.”

Brad is a third-generation farmer and

rancher, growing up working on his family’s

sheep ranch in Park City and Delta. Jenny

grew up in Layton, and yet loves the rural

lifestyle and the opportunity to raise the next

generation sheep ranchers on their family

farm. Brad and Jenny both graduated with

degrees from Weber State University.

DISCUSSION MEET

Erin Sorenson of Delta, Utah, won the 2018

Utah Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher

Discussion Meet. The Discussion Meet contest

is designed to simulate a committee meeting

where discussion and active participation are

expected from each participant. Sorenson

received a 2018 Polaris ATV courtesy of

Intermountain Farmers Association (IFA) for

winning the Discussion Meet.

Erin and her husband, Whitt, make their

home in Delta, where they are growing their

own sheep herd. Erin also works as a physical

therapy assistant in town, and Whitt works

in the agronomy division at IFA. Erin is active

in her community and is an ambassador

for agriculture by serving on the Utah Farm

Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Committee.

More than a simple debate, this competi-

tion is evaluated on an exchange of ideas and

information on a pre-determined agriculture

topic. The judges look for the contestant that

offers constructive criticism, cooperation, and

communication while analyzing agricultural

problems and developing solutions.

Participants build basic discussion skills,

develop an understanding of important

agricultural issues and explore how groups

can pool knowledge to reach consensus and

solve problems. Successful participants are

productive thinkers, rather than emotional

persuaders, and assist the group in creating

ways to implement the solutions discussed

and highlight Farm Bureau’s involvement in

those steps.

National winners of the Achievement

Award & Excellence in Agriculture awards

receive a new Ford truck, courtesy of the Ford

Motor Company. The runner-up receives a

Case IH Farmall 50A tractor, and third place

finalists will receive a prizes from Case, and

Stanley Black & Decker. All of the State Young

Farmer & Rancher Awards also received an

insurance policy for their ATV from Farm

Bureau Financial Services.

Belva Parr (second from right) accompanied by her family, accepts the Distinguished Service Award from Utah Farm Bureau president Ron Gibson.


list and assemble kits for work, home and car for each family member.

5. Plan, Shop and Request Gifts. Add a budget category to fund emer-gency supplies. Purchasing supplies over several months can make it more affordable. Buy supplies when there is less demand, not right before a storm or disaster. Shop end-of-season sales and thrift stores throughout the year. Suggest that family or friends give you preparedness supplies as gifts.

6. Create an Emergency Fund. Besides saving for emergency supplies, also start an emergency fund. This could tide you over if disaster strikes, your employment changes or you have to relocate.

7. Trade a Night out/Cut Back on Spending. Trade a night at the movies or another event and use the money for your emergency kit or fund. Find creative ways to cut back, give up habits or delay purchases so you can add to your fund.

8. Make Sure It Keeps. Store perishable emergency supplies and water in safe conditions. Store water in disinfected sturdy plastic containers (avoid buying bottled water). Rotate food items in kits at least once a year,

especially if stored in your car where temperatures fluctuate.

9. Have It Ready. Place copies of vital records, financial information, home inventory documentation, cash and change in your kit. Keep copies online or in another location.

10. Rest Easy. Making a plan and putting it into action can give you peace of mind and protect your financial security.

Other Resource: “Ready on a Budget” (Keys to Embracing Aging Fact Sheet) University of Kentucky & Kansas State Research and Extension, bit.ly/2StkgKn.

Every day the news highlights disasters that affect households

near and far. Are you prepared for an emergency? Here are some ideas to help you be prepared in 2019 while working within your budget:

1. Make a Plan. Make an emergency plan with family and neighbors for disasters that might affect your area. Practice the plan, including where to go and what to do. Download a family emergency plan and other templates at www.ready.gov/.

2. Update Contact Information. Gather contact information for family, friends, neighbors and medical profes-sionals. Post information in visible locations at home, work and on mobile devices.

3. Check Insurance Coverage. Review your homeowner’s/renter’s insurance policy, and update as neces-sary. Make sure you have adequate replacement coverage for your dwell-ing, personal and household items. Depending on location, you may need additional coverage for earthquakes, floods or other disasters. Be aware of financial resources available following a disaster at https://bit.ly/2QeMyGC.

4. Make a Ready List. Plan finan-cially for preparedness kits. Create a

Budget to “Be Ready” in 2019

By Marilyn Albertson | Associate Professor, Utah State University Extension

$MONEY MATTERS


STATECONCERNS

1.RIGHT-TO-FARMLAWSMost states in the U.S. have what are known as “Right-to-Farm” laws, which are used to help farmers and ranch-ers continue the challenging work of growing crops and raising animals, while providing some protections from frivolous lawsuits. In recent years, some have quickly turned to lawsuits to settle realities of production agriculture. Despite claiming lawsuits won’t harm small farmers because they are directed at corporate agriculture ownership, the reality is frivolous law-suits impact all farmers and ranchers because of the operational relationship between corporate ownership and small family farms.

Utah’s existing ‘right-to-farm’ laws reflect veterinary-approved and socially-accepted practices, and yet recent reviews indicate needs to strengthen certain areas. Many protec-tions under the current law only apply in agricultural protection areas, but those are mostly used in urban areas—leaving many farmers and ranchers in rural areas without the protections of the current law.

2.PRIVATEPROPERTYRIGHTSWith the amount of public land in

Utah, private property is a premium. As Utah’s population continues to grow, farmers and ranchers are increas-ingly dealing with the issue of urban encroachment—especially in urban areas.

The Utah Farm Bureau Federation (UFBF) has released a list of issues

to watch for in 2019 as we implement our policy priorities during the 2019 Utah general legislative session.

Though not exhaustive in scope, this list is based off the UFBF policy book, adopted at our recent conven-tion in November. The policy book will guide our public policy actions throughout this year—including the upcoming legislative session.

“It is important to know the policies we fight for come from the grassroots level, from actual farmers and ranchers on the ground and in the trenches—not simply from the ideas of one leader or board,” said Ron Gibson, a dairy farmer from Weber County and President of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation.

“These policies come to us through debate and deliberation on issues felt on the farms of the smallest towns as well as in the families of the largest cit-ies in Utah. These issues have a direct impact on our ability to grow and enjoy food in Utah.”

UTAH FARM BUREAU LISTS ISSUES TO WATCH FOR IN 2019By Sterling C. Brown | Vice President of Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau Federation

PUBLIC POLICY

“These issues have a direct impact on our ability to grow and enjoy food in Utah.”

—Ron Gibson, Utah Farm Bureau President


and existing water infrastructure. This is often ‘out-of-sight, out-of-mind’ for most residents.

The increased demand of water will need to be met by residential, agricul-tural, and industrial users. This growth will be met by (1) conserving existing water supplies, (2) implementing water efficiencies—agricultural users moving from flood to sprinkler irrigation, and (3) continued water development.

Additional issues include Greenbelt laws, transportation funding, water and air quality, and state wildfire prevention.

NATIONALISSUES

1.WILDFIRES&LANDMANAGEMENTAn emphasis on fire suppression, reductions in commercial timber harvest and thinning, additional permitting regulations and livestock grazing restrictions are preventing public and private forest land man-agers from making much-needed, significant improvements in forests. These policies increase the fire hazard and make it much more difficult to combat catastrophic wildfires, protect

In a growing economy, UFBF wants to make sure aggressive economic growth policies are not promoted at the expense of private property rights. Utah Farm Bureau wants to preserve and strengthen the principle of ‘willing buyer/willing seller’ and check abuses of eminent domain authority.

3.SALESTAXREFORMRecent legislative discussions have led to proposals and budget recom-mendations that directly impact Utah production agriculture and rural Utah. Utah Farm Bureau believes sound tax policy is best represented by fair sales, property, and income taxes. Legislative proposals to change this balance should not negatively impact Utah agriculture.

Over the years since the Utah’s tax code was developed, the state’s economy has change from a primar-ily goods-based economy, to that of services. Many of these services are not currently subject to sales taxes. This sets Utah up to be unbalanced in how it collects revenues. UFBF believes in the principle of expanding the base and lowering the rate in terms of tax

policy. However, in an attempt to tax services—which are most commonly used in urban areas—what kind of impact can this have on Utah’s rural communities? How will rural cities and counties make up the revenue when sources of previously relied sources upon have changed?

There are more than 190 examples of sales tax exemptions on the books, 35 of these exemptions are agriculture related. Utah Farm Bureau supports a healthy tax reform debate and imple-mentation but wants to ensure Utah farmers and ranchers are properly and adequately represented. Certain exemptions are appropriate to ensure continued sustainability of agriculture.

4.WATERISSUESWith three million new residents expected to come to Utah, and with the federal government increasingly bowing out from funding major water development projects, Utah taxpayers will have to meet the growing water infrastructure needs. This includes big ticket items like the Lake Powell pipeline, as well as the day-to-day maintenance and construction of new


lives and property, safeguard water supplies and prevent the destruction of farming and grazing lands. They also threaten jobs and payrolls in rural counties in the west.

Forest management and environ-mental protection are goals that can be accomplished simultaneously through targeted, active forest management practices, we offer the following recommendations for the federal and state land managers to consider:

• Strengthen milling infrastructure by lengthening timber contracts to 20 years and establishing higher minimum annual permitted harvest board-feet levels.

• Improve intergovernmental coordi-nation at the federal, state and local levels—including between federal and local wildland firefighters.

• Expand categorical exclusion eligibilities for both timber harvest-ing and grazing for fire rehabilitation, timber salvage and thinning, and to treat insects and diseases, among other things.

• Ensure biomass funding.• Prioritizing grazing as effective for

fuel load reduction

2.TRADEUtah farmers and ranchers favor negotiations to resolve trade disputes, rather than the use of tariffs or with-drawal from agreements. They also support the United States’ entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

In September, Canada joined the U.S. and Mexico in the successor to NAFTA, the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). The USMCA not only locks in market opportunities previously developed, but also builds

on those trade relationships in several key areas. This was a hard-fought win and we commend the administration for all the efforts to solidify the trading relationships we have with our North American neighbors.

In relation to trade with China, a U.S. delegation went to China to negotiate recently. There have been no formal announcements yet from the administration, and talks are continu-ing. Ag exports to China were down by $2 billion in 2018, and USDA forecasts exports to decline by an additional $7 billion in 2019. The biggest concern related to trade with China is that many countries grow soybeans and corn, and now there’s room in China’s markets for these commodities. The U.S. could lose the market even if the tariffs eventually go away.

3.REGULATORYREFORMThe Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which governs how regula-tions are set forth, has not changed substantially in the 72 years it has been on the books—meanwhile the federal government has expanded enormously. In 1946, when the APA was signed into law, the entire federal government raised $358 billion in revenue. In 2015, the deficit alone amounted to $439 billion. When the APA was enacted, the federal regulatory landscape did not include the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, Superfund, wetlands regulations, the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Taft-Hartley Act, Medicare, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, banking laws such as Dodd-Frank, or the Affordable Care Act. Yet, all of these laws generate regulations that affect Americans’ daily lives.

Policies today are also increas-ingly determined through the courts. Federal statutes have granted indi-viduals and organizations the right to file citizen lawsuits. This increase in litigation has been coupled with Supreme Court decisions that grant federal agencies, through the principle of “deference,” far greater latitude in interpreting the law. As a result, federal agencies can interpret federal laws in ways never explicitly approved by Congress. Other statutes, like the Equal Access to Justice Act, allow activists to have their court costs reimbursed. Many people have evaluated the existing system and found that it falls critically short in providing the trans-parency, openness and fairness that the system is supposed to provide.

4.IMMIGRATIONREFORMFarmers and ranchers need a reliable, skilled workforce. Farm work is chal-lenging, often seasonal and transitory, and it’s not easy to find American workers to take on these jobs. Farm labor can’t all be replaced by machines either. There are certain farm jobs, like tending livestock and pruning or picking fresh produce, which require a human touch. Where American workers are unwilling or unavailable, workers from other countries have stepped in.

Congress needs to pass responsible immigration reform that addresses agriculture’s current experienced workforce and creates a new flexible guest worker program. Instability in the agricultural workforce places our food supply at risk—increasing immigration enforcement without also reforming our worker visa program will cost America $60 billion in agricultural production.


We were waiting at the Tri County Airport when Mac dipped his wing and skidded down the runway. He crawled out on the wing. I noticed his hair was standing on end. He looked like he’d been castrating pigs in a metal building. You could almost hear his ears ringing. His eyes were glassy, his voice hoarse, and he was vibrating.

I opened the passenger side to the deafening chorus. The imprisoned smell of four enclosed goats hit me head on. The floorboard carpeting looked like Walden pond.

Goat day was the highlight of that Thanksgiving and Mac got proper recognition. But his plane was never the same. On hot west Texas afternoons when he planned to go flying he would spray Lysol, slice onions, sprinkle Old Grandad, and cook cabbage in the cockpit to mask the scent. It never worked.

No matter what he did, after riding in the plane for an hour he would smell like an army of goats had adopted him and marked him as their personal territory.

He eventually sold the airplane at a yard sale. On a cold winter day.

www.baxterblack.com

Twenty years ago when we still lived in Brighton, Colorado, I had invited several friends to have

Thanksgiving at my house. (A tradition my insurance agent later said I could no longer afford). Each of my guests were gracious and had asked if they could bring anything. When Mac asked what he might contribute I suggested he bring the goats.

“Goats?” he asked. I explained that Friday was Goat Day. We always built a big fire outside and spent the afternoon basting Spanish goat in sop made from Shriner’s beer. And, since the best Spanish goat came from west Texas, I figgered he could bring it.

“But I’ll be flyin’ my own plane,” he sputtered.“Perfect,” I said, “They’ll only be in transit a short time.”Although he did his best to talk me out of it, I remained

firm. So that fateful Tuesday morning he was out on the

San Angelo airport tarmac takin’ the back seat out of his twin engine Bonanza. The ever-vigilant Drug Enforcement Agency noted his suspicious behavior and took him in for questioning. His truthful explanation was so preposterous that they called me in Colorado to check his story!

Upon his release he flew to Junction, Texas, and picked up four Spanish goats. He hogtied each one and put it in a gunny sack which he taped around their neck. Sort of a goat head bota bag. He spread newspaper and scattered straw just in case.

Four hours later Mac was swingin’ wide around the busy metropolitan Denver air space in touch with the Stapleton International tower. The goats were in full chorus and bleat-ing each time he keyed the microphone.

“This is twin Bonanza . . . baa . . . baa . . . four zero . . . blat . . . blat . . . seven three . . . bleat . . . Whiskey . . . braaaack . . . ”

Goat Dayby Baxter Black | DVM

ON THE EDGE OF COMMON SENSE

After riding in the plane for an hour he would smell like an army of goats had adopted him and marked him as their personal territory.

Buy a Bundle. Save a Bundle.

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*Discount offer requires purchase of one Cat Compact Wheel Loader Ag Handler (eligible models: 906, 907 and 908M only), one eligible hydraulic Cat Attachment and one eligible simple Cat Attachment. Ask your participating Cat dealer for complete list of eligible attachments. Discount offer ends on the earlier to expire of Dec 31, 2018 or when program limit is reached.

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Contact your Wheeler Machinery Co. Sales Representative for details. Call 800-662-8650 or visit wheelercat.com/buy-a-bundle for a list of eligible machines and attachments.

FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

MEMBERSHIPADVANTAGE

For more information about the benefits of membership, visit www.utahfarmbureau.org and search for member

benefits, or download the ‘FB Benefits’ app in iTunes or Google Playstore.

LOVELANDLIVINGPLANETAQUARIUM—NEW!!Save on Aquarium entry tickets!

Tickets: $14.95 (Adult Reg. $19.95, Student/Military/Senior Reg. $16.95)

Call Julia Misiego at 801-233-3010 to order.

Tickets must be ordered at least three-four business days in advance and will

be mailed to your address or can be picked up at the Farm Bureau Office

at 9865 S State Street, Sandy UT 84070. If picking up in office, tickets

can be purchased the day of your visit, if the visit occurs during a week day

(Monday-Friday).

FORD/LINCOLNBONUSCASH—NEW!!Members get Bonus Cash toward the purchase or lease of an eligible new

Ford or Lincoln vehicle!

$500 on Ford

$750 on Lincoln

Now’s a great time to buy or lease an eligible new Ford vehicle!

How to access benefit:

1. You must be a member for at least 30 days

2. Visit www.FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com to print your certificate. You

must have your membership number.

3. Show your certificate at your local Ford dealer when you purchase your vehicleFor any questions, call Julia Misiego at 801-233-3010 or visit your local Ford

dealer today.

CHOICEHOTELSMembers receive a 20% discount off the rack rates of these participating

hotels worldwide.

To obtain the discount, make your reservation in advance by call-

ing 1-800-258-2847, state that you are a Farm Bureau member, and

request reservation rates with the Identification Code 00209830. * Specific roomtypes, inventory, and days available can be controlled through

Choice’s Central Reservations System (CRS)

* Discount subject to availability at participating hotels and is not for use

in conjunction with any other discount offer or promotional rate. Advance reservations are required through the 800# or at choicehotels.com.

UNIVERSALSTUDIOSDISCOUNTEDDAYPASSESFarm Bureau members save up to $20 per ticket.

Log in to your account on utahfarmbureau.org and click the “member benefits”

tab, then “Travel and Entertainment” to access link to purchase tickets.

Documents

UTAH FARM BUREAU NEWS • SPECIAL EDITION The 2015 WOTUS rule was so broad and vague that a farmer or rancher would have no idea whether any ditch or pond on his or her farm was subject