Inside KC Tour...... Page 10 Farm Bill Update...... Page 5 Grazing Workshops...... Page 6-7 AAM Reunion...... Page 8-9 Kansas July/Aug 2013 Central Kansas tours to feature agritourism, wildlife, history, stargazing

By Nick Levendofsky

Kansas Farmers Union invites everyone to at - tend a day of tours in the Pawnee Rock, Great Bend, and Larned areas on Saturday, Aug. 10. The morning will start at 9 a.m. at the Pawnee Rock State Historic Site at Pawnee Rock. Ac - cording to the Pawnee Rock website, many of the Plains tribes reportedly used it as an obser - vation point from which they could track and

Continued on Page 2 photo courtsey Heartland Farm Food Hub Development Workshop: Aug 29 By Mercedes Taylor-Puckett What is a Regional Food Hub? -Carries out or coordinates the aggregation, The second workshop in the “Food Hubs and distribution, and marketing of primarily Co-ops: How local family farms can feed our locally/regionally produced foods from multiple communities” series will be offered August 29, producers to multiple markets 9 a.m. - noon in the Douglas County Fair’s -Works closely with producers to ensure they Dreher Building, 2110 Harper St, Lawrence. can meet buyer requirements by either provid - The workshop will provide farmers, community ing direct technical assistance or finding part - ners that can provide this technical assistance. organizations, and local governmental entities with information on the multiple phases of food Kathy Nyquist is a strategy consultant pro - hub development. viding business development services for re - Using the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative gional food system coalitions and as a case study, the workshop will explore best entrepreneurs. As principal of New Venture Ad - practices in food hub development and outline visors, she has led multiple feasibility studies the project phases including: identifying oppor - which investigated the commercial viability of tunities and need, conducting a feasibility regional food system infrastructure projects. study, developing a business plan, and launch - She completed the 2011 feasibility study for ing the food hub. Dane County, WI. “With numerous Kansas food hub initiatives WFU Executive Director Tom Quinn and in various stages of development, we are so for - Sarah Lloyd represented the organization dur - tunate to have representatives that are able to ing the development and launch phases of the share the back story of the Wisconsin project Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative. Quinn ex - from research to launch,” stated Mary Howell, plained, “Our food hub project started with a KFU Membership Specialist. study sponsored by a local governmental initia - Scheduled speakers include Kathy Nyquist, a tive, and was incubated in a partnership be - principle at New Venture Advisors, and Wis - tween government, university, community consin Farmers Union (WFU) Special Projects organization and farmers. The business start- Coordinator Sarah Lloyd. Continued on Page 3 Page 2 Kansas Kontact—July/Aug 2013 Pawnee Tour draw for visitors. Their gentle, also enhances understanding humming ways, beauty, won - of the continued development from Page 1 derful fleece, and inquisitive of the Trail. The Santa Fe Trail nature have “added value” to Center does charge an admis - swoop down upon buffalo the farm. sion fee of $4 for adults, $2.50 herds and wagon trains. At around 11 a.m., we’ll for students (12-18), $1.50 for At times, travelers on the make our way to Great children (6-11), and admission Santa Fe Trail regarded it as Bend where we’ll grab boxed is free for kids under 5. the most dangerous place they lunches and drive up to the At 5 p.m. we’ll have had to pass. However, it was Kansas Wetlands Educa - some time to let KFU also a welcome landmark for tion Center for a self-guided members Tom and Sheryl travelers, signaling that about tour of the facility. According Giessel show us around half of their journey was now to its website, The Kansas their “neck of the woods.” behind them. Wetlands Education Center is There are other historical sites Unfortunately, much of dedicated to educating the such as Sibley’s Camp, Zebu - Pawnee Rock was destroyed in public about wetland commu - lon Pike Plaza, and the farm of the 1870s by the railroad and nities, their importance, and a past NFU president. We may by settlers who were in need of the need for conservation and even get lucky and have the building stone. The remaining restoration, with emphasis on opportunity to visit Tom and portion was acquired in 1908 Cheyenne Bottoms and Sheryl’s farm near Larned. by the Woman's Kansas Day Quivira National Wildlife For those who need a break Club. The next year it was Refuge. They accomplish this from the long day of touring, turned over to the State of through interactive exhibits you’re more than welcome to Kansas as an historic site. On and interpretation and educa - relax for a few hours until we May 24, 1912, a stone monu - tional programs. head back up to Heartland ment was dedicated. Pawnee Following the KWEC tour, Farm for the BBQ and Rock was listed in the Na - about 2 p.m., we’ll drive to stargazing at 7 p.m. The tional Register of Historic Larned where we’ll tour event costs $15 per family Places in 1970. the Fort Larned National (two adults and up to four At 10 a.m., the group will Historic Site. Both Fort children) and that includes make its way north to Larned and the city of Larned the cookout, live music, fel - Heartland Farm, a regis - were named to honor Col. lowship, and stargazing when tered agri-tourism operation Benjamin F. Larned, paymas - the annual Perseid meteor situated on an 80 acre home - ter general of the U.S. Army, shower streaks across the stead. According to its web - when the post was established Kansas sky. site, Heartland Farm, a in 1859. It is recommended that you ministry of the Dominican Sis - In a time of change and con - bring lawn chairs and blankets ters of Peace, is a Christian flict, Fort Larned was on the for the evening, and the farm community committed to front lines. According to its does have space available for working for the healing and website, the Fort's mission those want to bring tents and care of the Earth and its in - began to protect the and camp, or you may want to habitants. Members of the culminated in Hancock's War book one of their guest houses community are committed to and the Medicine Lodge for the evening at $25 each. exploring and living the prin - Treaty in 1867, and then Please make reservations in ciples of community, simple ended with the completion of advance by calling (620) 923- living, nonviolence, justice the railroad in less than two 4585 or and peace, and the nurturing decades. Today it remains the [email protected]. of all God’s creation. best-preserved fort of its time. For those who stay in a guest During the morning, we'll At 3:30 p.m., we’ll tour house or camp, a cookout tour the farm, where we'll the Santa Fe Trail Center breakfast is available for $15 enjoy ample space for hiking, Museum in Larned. Ac - per family or $5 each. There strolling, meditating, or walk - cording to the website, the are other hotel accommoda - ing the labyrinth. Spiritual Santa Fe Trail Center is a tions in the Larned and Great companioning, experimental unique educational institution Bend area in case Heartland art, and educational tours are devoted to the interpretation Farm is booked. also available, as well as the of the historic transportation Please RSVP by calling purchase of organic produce route known as the Santa Fe the KFU office at (620) in season. Visitors are also Trail. It preserves artifacts and 241-6630 or email welcome to browse through manuscripts related to the [email protected] by the gift shop. The farm’s al - blending of the major cultures Aug. 1. pacas are another unique along the Trail. The museum www.kansasfarmersunion.org Page 3

Food Hub could offer a significant op - fication as well as develop - from Page 1 portunity for farmers to have ment of marketing materials more direct control over their from each farm, helping to tell up phase required the direct markets and to re-build an ef - our farmer-member stories in leadership of the core group of ficient and sustainable con - the marketplace are additional farmers who were making an nection between the food they services that will be provided initial investment of produce and local consumers. by the co-op. both money and product. It The organization believes “Wisconsin Farmers Union also required a core sponsor that retaining even a is happy to be in a position to and investor like WFU to pro - percentage of total food pur - be part of these exciting efforts vide a stable source of initial chases within a region offers a to build a diverse regional funding and essential staff huge potential market for food system that works for support.” farmers. both farmers and eaters,” said According to Quinn, WFU "To be successful and grow WFU’s Sarah Lloyd. became involved in organizing market share, local food sys - Complete event information the food hub co-op for several tems need efficient infrastruc - and registration can be found reasons. “First, our board de - ture and marketing systems. at foodhubsandco- cided as part of our strategic One of the most important les - ops.blogspot.com. For ques - planning process that we sons we've learned is that we tions, contact: Mary Howell – wanted to re-engage with our don't need to completely re - [email protected] or Mer - original roots in cooperative place conventional distribu - cedes Taylor-Puckett – development. The link be - tion systems, which [email protected]. tween cooperative enterprise are generally very efficient, Presentations and resources and Farmers Union member - but that we need to provide a from part one of the series, ship was a real strength in bridge that allows local prod - “How to Start an Online Food building the organization.” ucts to gain access to existing Cooperative” can be found on “Second, we wanted to pro - distribution channels and use the series blog: foodhub - vide that same opportunity to those to service the exploding sandco-ops.blogspot.com our current membership. We demand for local foods. Food Sponsoring organizations wanted to hold a share of our Hubs come in many shapes for this session are KFU, long-term investments in and sizes, and use a variety Kansas Sustainable Agricul - something that could directly of business models, but to be ture Research and Education benefit our members, provide successful they need to allow (KS-SARE), Douglas County a long-term income source for local food production to access Food Policy Council, Kansas the organization, and foster markets efficiently and prof - Center for Sustainable Agri - ancillary economic develop - itably," Quinn explained. culture and Alternative Crops ment opportunities in rural In 2013, the main service (KSCAAC). Collaborators in - communities. The unique co - that the co-op will provide for clude the Kansas Health operative structure of the Hub its farmer members will be Foundation’s Healthy Com - is designed with these goals in sales and logistics and trans - munities Initiative, USDA mind," said Quinn. portation planning. Rural Development, KC WFU determined that local Assistance with Good Agri - Healthy Kids and the Douglas food system development cultural Practices (GAP) certi - County Food Policy Council. Kansas Kontact STAFF: Lauren Clary, communications specialist ([email protected]) and editor; Callie Kramer, membership secretary and bookkeeping ([email protected]); Mary Howell, membership spe - cialist ([email protected]). Nick Levendofsky, special projects coordinator ([email protected]); Mercedes Taylor-Puckett, grant specialist ([email protected]).

OFFICERS: Donn Teske ([email protected]), President; Lavern Potuzak,Vice President. Herb Bartel, Treasurer. Callie Kramer, Secretary.

Board of Directors President Donn Teske, Wheaton Vice Presiden t Lavern Potuzak, Agenda North District Gerard Steinlage, Seneca South District Linda Hessman, Dodge City David Heiens, Abilene Herb Bartel, Hillsboro Chris Schmidt, Oberlin Jason Schmidt, Newton

Volume 41 - Number 4 Page 4 Kansas Kontact—July/Aug 2013

President’s Report By Donn Teske

The KCC held a public hear - do it them over the next few competitive to neighboring ing on July 11 in Topeka on years because this is not going states and over the long-term Westar Energy’s proposed rate to stop.” benefit from having strong increases on residential (8.77 “These are big impacts, some companies with good paying percent) and small business of which are necessary. I don’t jobs.” (6.18 percent) customers to mean to tell you that all of Or, as Springe put it, “Westar the Kansas Corporation Com - these have been completely claims residential and small mission (KCC). At the same unnecessary. Westar’s doing a business customers are not time they are proposing to cut lot of things, the EPA is mak - paying their fair share,” but rates to medium general serv - ing a lot of requirements,” that Westar used a different ice (6 percent) and industrial Springe said. formula to calculate this than (8.3 percent) customers. “But the question we have is, usual. Not to mention the two ‘spe - facing these types of increases Rate increases have hap - cial contract customers’ that and these types of challenges, pened fast enough in recent they are going to decrease by what are we doing to actually history for the residents that 15.1 percent. They didn’t list try and help consumers. what utilize Westar and our bills those companies in this and are we doing? What choices is have become more of a notice - didn’t mention who they were this commission and our leg - able burden than they use to until they were specifically islator making to help soften be in the past. they really have. asked that at the hearing. the blow and lower the in - I always felt blessed because My question is why these creases?” we had really cheap rates and two? I doubt rather they’re the Westar Energy said in a we can’t say that any more. biggest customers for Westar. press release the increases are what kind of precedent is this “a result of EPA requirements What can you do? setting? why they being picked to upgrade one of its power Contact your legislator and out as being two special con - plants.” the KCC. tracts situations? it would be They’re response to “Why is “Ultimately, there are leg - really interesting to look at Westar asking residential cus - islative solutions to some of who they’ve donated to in the tomers to pay more?” (on their the things that we can do to last election cycle. website): “Re-examining rates stop these rate increases and The feeling I had while we is necessary to make sure rates to increase the public’s access were sitting at that hearing are fair and reflect the cost of to things that will help them was that it was just like sitting providing service to each type with their bills,” Springe told in the Kansas legislature this of customer. WIBW. “The public has to be year. They’re just finding ways A class cost of service study involved, I cannot do this by to sock it to the average con - shows that large commercial myself.” sumer for the benefit of the and industrial customers are KCC can be reached at 800- corporations and wealthier. paying more than it costs to 662-0027 or At that meeting David serve them and residential [email protected]. Springe, counsel for the Citi - and small commercial cus - A good resource (CURB): 785- zens’ Utility Ratepayer Board tomers are not paying the full 271-3200. curb.kansas.gov. (CURB), said “the question is cost of their electric service. Note: Donn broke his wrist and what have we really done to We believe that taking steps was unable to type. Lauren Clary your bill over the last few toward correcting cost differ - dictated Donn’s opinion and years and what are we going to ences will help Kansas remain wrote this on his behalf. NFU Fly-in: September 8-11 If you would like to attend, RSVP by Aug. 7: 620-241-6630 or [email protected] The issues discussed during the fly-in will center primarily around the 2013 Farm Bill , any legislative challenges it may face, and its implementation. Other topics that may come up during the fly-in include implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the status of immigration reform efforts, and protecting the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). As NFU fly-in participants visit Capitol Hill, the timing should be excellent to weigh in on these important matters. www.kansasfarmersunion.org Page 5 Unprecedented Vote Erodes Historic Bipartisan Farm Bill Support WASHINGTON (July 11, “Today’s strictly partisan it can to get a reasonable bill 2013) – National Farmers vote to pass the farm bill apart through the conference Union (NFU) President Roger from the nutrition title under - process. Any final legislation Johnson issued a statement mines the long-time coalition must continue existing perma - today following the U.S. of support for a unified, com - nent law provisions and in - House of Representatives’ prehensive farm bill which has clude meaningful safety net passage of H.R. 2642, the Fed - historically been written on a protections for both family eral Agriculture Reform and bipartisan basis. farmers facing difficult times Risk Management Act: “NFU will continue to do all and the food insecure.” House ignores the agriculture community and splits the farm bill By Brittany Jablonsky farm portions of the farm bill it would be sent to conference also erodes two legs of the his - along with the farm and rural WASHINGTON (July 11, toric “three-legged stool” of programs passed today. How - 2013) –Today the U.S. House farm bill support from the ever, this could look drasti - of Representatives voted to re - agriculture, nutrition and con - cally different from the move all nutrition programs servation community. NFU is Senate’s nutrition title, or from its version of the 2013 certainly concerned that, in even from the nutrition title Farm Bill and pass all remain - the future, Congress will be originally included in the ing sections of the bill, as hard-pressed to muster the House bill – just take a look at amended during House floor will to pass farm and rural the House’s Fiscal Year 2014 consideration in June. The programs and nutrition pro - budget and its $133.5 billion legislation passed, 216-208, grams separately. This con - in cuts to nutrition programs on a purely party-line basis, cern is shared with the 531 for an example of what is pos - with all Democrats and 12 Re - other organizations that sible; publicans voting against it. signed an NFU-led -The Senate could drop its NFU opposed the bill. coalition letter urging the nutrition title and conference The legislation also repealed House to move a unified farm the remainder of the farm bill the farm bill’s existing perma - bill forward. with the House. This scenario nent law provision and re - The next steps are unclear. is very unlikely. placed it with a provision House Agriculture Committee Even if the bill moves di - making the 2013 Farm Bill the Chairman Frank Lucas would rectly to conference, there is new permanent law. In like the bill to move to a con - no guarantee that conferees essence, this action eliminates ference committee with con - complete their work reconcil - much of the incentive for farm ferees from the House and ing the bills in time for both bill reauthorization since Senate to work out the differ - houses to pass the confer - there would be no conse - ences between the two bills, enced version and the Presi - quences for failing to pass a but clearly the lack of a nutri - dent sign it. Even though the new farm bill or extend exist - tion title in the House bill existing farm bill expires on ing legislation. For example, presents a challenge. A few Sept. 30, conference proceed - last September, there was lit - scenarios could play out dur - ings extend either until the tle political will on the part of ing conference negotiations: final legislation is signed into House Republicans to extend -The House could choose to law or until the Congressional or reauthorize the 2008 Farm forgo consideration of a nutri - session ends Dec. 31 of next Bill until leadership realized tion title and then, during con - year, and Congress could sim - that milk prices would in - ference with the Senate, ply pass a temporary exten - crease dramatically, to demand additional cuts on top sion of the 2008 Farm Bill to $38/cwt, once the existing bill of the Senate’s $4.5 billion in cover the interim period. Re - expired and permanent law cuts in exchange for reuniting gardless of scenario, it’s clear enacted in 1938 and 1949 all parts of the bill; there is still a long way to go kicked in. -The House passes a nutri - before a new 2013 Farm Bill is Splitting the nutrition and tion title later this month and enacted. Page 6 Kansas Kontact—July/Aug 2013 Amazing Grazing kicked off July 1

By Mary Howell vided Mercedes and I the opportunity to get to Project Director’s Meeting know the North Central Mercedes Taylor-Puckett Staff that is overseeing and I traveled to Minneapolis, the grant and help with Minn. July 8-10, to attend the valuable information North Central Risk Manage - that is needed to im - ment Education Center Meet - prove program delivery. ing for the project leaders of Stay tuned for the the 2013 grants. NCRMEC is many fine learning op - funded by USDA National In - portunities that await the oping strategies, implement - stitute of Food and Agricul - Farmers and Ranchers of ing and evaluating the ranch ture. Kansas and surrounding plan. This meeting was to train states. We are grateful to our These two workshops will be the project directors regarding many partners who agreed to August 26, Emporia NRCS the various grants that were help with this effort. Office, 3020 W 18th, Suite B awarded. These grants pro - (North side) and August 27, vide training to help farmers Upcoming 2013 Salina NRCS Conference and ranchers learn new strate - Grazing Events Center, 747 Duvall. Registra - gies to manage complex and tion 8:30 a.m. meeting starts growing agricultural risks. How to write a Ranch and at 9 a.m. Registration re - The center funds results- Drought Plan – The first quested for planning food, fa - based, producer-focused, workshop will be two one-day cilities and handouts, competitive grants annually to workshops on How to evaluate [email protected]. provide producers with the the ranch and write a plan to tools they need to improve manage it. Livestock Water and Elec - their risk management skills Ranchers will evaluate their tric Fencing Workshop and capabilities. operation and decide how to On Sept. 10 , Mark Green, For the 2013 round of best manage it in all condi - NRCS Specialist, from Mis - grants, 66 pre-proposals were tions and be ready should a souri will return to Kansas for submitted; 31 were chosen to drought happen and a plan of a second workshop that is al - submit full proposals and 16 action is needed to best care ways in high demand. Water were awarded funding. Of for land, animals, and the availability is the number one those 16 grants selected ranching enterprise. limiting factor in grazing pos - Kansas Farmers Union was These two workshops will be sibilities. the only non-profit organiza - led by our own Kansas NRCS Fence is also extremely im - tion to be selected. The 15 re - Range Specialists David Kraft, portant. The use of electric maining grant awards went to Dwayne Rice and Doug fence offers many more op - Universities and Research and Spencer. Also added to the tions for managed grazing that Extension. Kansas Farmers program will be experienced in turn benefits the health of Union in partnership with the rancher Ted Alexander from the soil and range, as well as Kansas Graziers Association is Sun City who has written and improved production and administering the Amazing implemented a drought plan profitability. Grazing Grant. that he strongly believes in. A What makes Mark such an A wide range of projects plan for the ranch helps enjoyable speaker, is that he were selected for funding in ranchers evaluate and manage brings his many years of ranch project areas of Dairy, Succes - the risk factors within their experience to share with his sion Planning, Lease Educa - own operations. audience. Mark also has two tion, Mitigating Drought, Topics will include ranch re - big wooden boxes of fencing Specialty Crop Labor Needs, source inventory, setting goals and water equipment options Farm to Schools Food Produc - and objectives, planning ap - with him. During the presen - tion, Forage Production with propriate actions, creating a tation Mark will go through Small Scale Irrigation, Eco - strategic plan, examining his boxes and share the good, nomic Decision Making, Farm ranch vision and objectives, the bad, and they ugly of those Bill Education and Grazing taking inventory, identifying parts and pieces of equipment. Education. critical dates and conditions, Producers always enjoy his The trip to Minnesota pro - monitoring resources, devel - cowboy humor and expertise www.kansasfarmersunion.org Page 7 as he tells it like it is! Nothing like having been there, done Amazing Grazing that to make one a good teacher! Calendar of Events The workshop will have an Aug. 26-27: How to Write a Ranch and Drought Plan indoor portion at the Abilene Civic Center, 201 NW 2nd September 10: Livestock Water and Electric Street, and then later in the af - Fencing Workshop in Abilene ternoon the group will go to the country for some actual September 17: Short Grass Prairie Grazing Basics fence building exercises. Reg - and Research in Hays istration requested for plan - ning food, facilities and October 28-31 : Two Workshops on How Animal handouts, [email protected] Selection and Grazing Management Improves Pro - ductivity, Profitablility and Personal Satisfaction . Short Grass Prairie Graz - ing Basics and Research November 1-2 : Fall Forage Tour : Converting Sun - Keith Harmoney, KSU Agri - light, Soil and Water into Beef near Courtland. cultural Research Center, 1232 240th Ave, Hays has extended the invitation to tour Questions? Contact Mary Howell at the station and learn from var - [email protected] or 785-562-8726 ious research trials that have been conducted in the short Kansas for two, 1 ½ day work - business should take the op - grass prairie area of Western shops. portunity to learn from the Kansas. Keith will team the Jim will share his knowledge many years of research and education for this tour with and wisdom of managed graz - experience that Jim brings to John Jaeger also of the center. ing, animal production and Kansas from his being the Di - The tour will be Sept. 17 . performance, as well as plan - rector of the Forage Research Topics for the day will in - ning the ranch to also provide Center in Linneus, MO as well clude: perennial cool-season profit and satisfaction. as experience with livestock grasses for grazing in western His workshops are always production and ranch man - Kansas, stockpiled native well attended with producers agement. Sites are Salina rangeland for winter grazing, leaving with a different way of and Pratt . Specific locations distillers grains supplementa - looking at why they do things are yet to be determined. The tion for late season stocker the way they do, and perhaps dates are Oct. 28-29 for one production on native range - explore ways that make less and Oct. 30-31 for the other. land, precipitation effects on work and more profit. Stay tuned for final details. animal production and forage Topics for the workshops Registration is requested for yield from native rangelands, are: What really matters in planning food, facilities and early weaning of calves as a grazing management, how to handouts, [email protected] drought management strat - build a better solar panel (for egy, results of the early forage growth), the dollars Fall Forage Tour: Con - weaned calf performance and sense of grazing, using verting Sunlight, Soil and studies, along with a tour of winter annuals and swath Water into Beef the facilities and forages grazing to extend grazing, Dale Strickler is a passionate grown there. Registration managing beef cow costs, the agronomist that loves to teach will start at 8:30 a.m. with the functional cow, the cow’s job people about soil, plants and workshop/tour starting at 9 description, why should the the environment. He is a for - a.m. Meet at the Auditorium cow work for the ranch and mer college instructor. He at the center of the station. not the other way around, cow now shares his knowledge on Registration requested for size…feed efficiency…and ge - a much larger scale as an ad - planning food, facilities and netics, breed differences ef - visor/consultant/teacher for handouts, [email protected] fecting different health and farmers, ranchers and the performance factors, selecting seed industry. How Animal Selection for disposition, setting goals Every year Dale has a test and Grazing Management for the individual ranch oper - plot of a very wide variety of Improves Productivity, ation, and to hay…or not to forages used for grazing. His Profitability and Personal hay…why one should be out of tour last year attracted 108 Satisfaction the hay business. Jim Gerrish returns to Everyone in the grazing Continued on Page 11 Page 8 Kansas Kontact—July/Aug 2013 American Ag Movement 35th reunion

By Donn Teske quantity of water keeps getting less and less. Had quite a road trip last Word from the New Mexico week. Took a carload of former / eastern Colorado people was AAM (American Ag Movement that farmers were starting to for the youngsters reading chisel ridges in the native this) tractorcade participants prairie to try and hold the soil. down to the 35th reunion of We are really blessed here the tractorcade to D.C. in Lub - where we live. the ranching industry of bock, Texas. It was hosted by Back to the road trip. Rather America. Texas Tech’s Southwest collec - than shoot down like one nor - Then the second part was tion. The intention was to get mally does through Liberal we held at the American Museum them together to hear their went down to Meade and then of Agriculture in Lubbock. stories, and record them and straight south, made a quick (www.agriculturehistory.org) their mementos for posterity. stop at the Meade State Lake Great museum. It had a lot of It was extremely successful. and hatchery, a CCC works strange stuff that I wasn’t fa - The Southwest collections project, and then headed on miliar with because of the cot - administrator, Andy Wilkin - south. There is a pipe sticking ton and peanut influence in son, is an old friend of mine out of the ground from an that part of the country. and I was able to help him a artesian well that used to shoot They had a 1915 Titan trac - little setting it up and made water 30 ft. Now with the drop tor. I sent the picture to 3 year the contact between himself in the Ogallala Aquifer it is old grandson, Titan, and he and the keynote speaker for dry. loved it! He was home on the the event, current administra - The aquifer has dropped farm this past weekend and he tor of GIPSA Larry Mitchell, over 30 feet in that area of asked me where HIS tractor another old friend. Larry got Kansas. It used to be a prob - was so he could drive it. his start in D.C. representing lem for them to clean out the Whoops? Zach thinks I should AAM many moons ago. fish ponds because they never paint “Titan” on one of my The road trip was startling. I dried out, now they have to tractors now for him… I might started driving from my home line the ponds just to try and just do that. in NE Kansas and it just got hold water in them. Larry started the event out drier and drier the further we We drove south through with a fascinating chronicle of went. The wind was very Canadian, Texas then headed the evolution of the AAM and strong and gusting. We drove south / southwest. My inten - the state tractorcades to where through blowing dust storms tion doing this was to show my it became a true movement from Great Bend to Oklahoma passengers the rough terrain where tractors started heading that made seeing the road dif - of the Palo Duro canyon and to D.C in 1977. This was the ficult. the breaks on the caprock time before cell phones and A multi-mile wildfire broke where one jumps up onto the other social media that would out just west of Dodge City as flat-as-a-skillet high plains. have made this so much easier we were driving south. It was If one drives down through but was accomplished with threatening the home of one of Liberal and Amarillo one phone trees where one farmer. my passengers, Linda Hess - never even sees or is aware of One participant said, “we got man from Dodge, son’s home the magnificence of the it done with $600 a month NW of Dodge. They were evac - breaks. We struck paydirt on phone bills that we paid for uating the important things the highway we traveled and ourselves!” from the home and we were the view from the top of the Afterwards when I was visit - going to turn back when the caprock down into Palo Duro ing with Linda about this she fire fighters got it controlled canyon was truly breathtaking. had to wonder if it would have about 50 yards from the It dropped straight down for been successful in today’s so - house. hundreds of feet into the most cial media, because when one At the meeting we were told jumbled mess one could imag - farmer called another there that Texas is planting cotton ine. was a trust involved that might but they don’t really know The reunion was hosted first not have bloomed in today’s why. Those irrigating said that at the National Ranching Her - social media times. Linda said they were re-tipping their piv - itage Center at Texas Tech. that the AAM movement had a ots every 2 weeks to try and (nrhc.ttu.edu) This is an maintain an even spray as the amazing facility documenting Continued on Page 9 www.kansasfarmersunion.org Page 9 life of it’s own and that it built large letters and then “Okla - wouldn’t take a cent for it. momentum that couldn’t be homa” in tiny letters beneath My very good, now deceased, stopped. it. When she was asked once friend Vernon Dienes was part Linda said that the AAM par - what the “hooker” pin meant of the tractorcade out of Her - ticipants came from all av - she responded with “you don’t rington. He often told me the enues and organizations think I was able to buy this fur story that during the blizzard working toward a common coat by farming do you?” that hit D.C. he was busy blad - goal and that is what made it a Linda Hessman told the ing snow and pulling out stuck movement. story of the Stude’s from motorists (who appreciated his During Larry’s opening re - Copeland. She said that help immensely), when the po - marks he made the comment Howard and Ruth were really lice came and arrested him and that he didn’t know why he was active in the AAM and that confiscated his 4020 JD trac - asked to be the keynote and Howard was in DC all the time tor. He said they never did give that others deserved it more and Ruth always stayed home him his tractor back and Farm - than he. He said it couldn’t and took care of the farm. ers Union insurance had to buy have been because of the However, Ruth and other him another tractor. He said AAM’ers, he was the one to ladies made quilts to be auc - he bet that tractor is still out achieve the highest position in tioned off to help bring some there somewhere doing work government because it wasn’t income into the AAM to help around D.C. true. That honor would have to offset expenses. Linda said that David Heiens from Abilene go to current governor of Texas they were so proud when one rode down with me and he was Rick Perry. of Ruth’s quilts was selected by a young man of 24 at the time Yep, Rick Perry drove a trac - the Smithsonian to be part of of the tractorcade. He said that tor in the AAM tractorcade to the AAM exhibit in the mu - the real leaders at the protest DC! I knew he used to be a seum of American History on in D.C. were the WWII veter - strong Farmers Union member the mall! Linda said that Ruth ans who knew how to organize having participated in our Fly- had never been to DC and and knew discipline. He said Ins to DC but I did not know Howard was adamant that he the police told them not to about his AAM history. It’s a was going to take Ruth to DC cross a line, the veterans lined pretty easy statement to say to see her quilt on exhibit. The everyone up on the line and that the Rick Perry of those day they were to leave for DC then an old sergeant bellowed days was a far cry from the Ruth suffered a major stroke! out “one step forward.” They Rick Perry of today. She never saw her quilt there. did. Then he bellowed “gas After Larry’s presentation Linda said that Howard was masks on,” those that had the cameras were turned on active in going over and help - them did, they were gassed. the crowd and people just ing Wayne Cryts remove his When it was over the sergeant started talking, telling the most grain from the bankrupt eleva - bellowed out “gas masks off.” interesting and amusing sto - tor. She said that Howard Can you imagine 3,000 trac - ries. One man told that when helped change an unjust law tors taking over the mall for the southern route of tractors because before the Cryts inci - two months? There were ar - came to a turnpike they were dent if one had stored grain in rests, tear gas, guns, and all told they were to use just one an elevator that then went kinds of threats. The farmers lane and to have the exact bankrupt the grain automati - were peaceful but the press change. The tractor drivers cally became assets of the ele - was not kind to the protesters. didn’t think much of that so vator to pay debtors. The AAM I’m glad Andy went to the ef - they took all the lanes, hun - got the elevator law changed. fort to bring these people who dreds of tractors, and they paid This was the first time I ever made history together before it their 35 cent toll in pennies! heard a discussion about trac - was too late. There should be a He said they had to have had tors and the gas mileage they good record of the history of the traffic backed up for 200 got. One told of a Ford diesel the AAM and tractorcades now miles… tractor that made over 40 in the Southwest collection. Another man told that when miles per gallon. They had I had to wonder as I listened they picketed the Chicago planned on fueling up their what kind of crisis it would Board of Trade there was one own tractors and hauled trac - take today to get the farmers of very attractive young woman tor fuel in their support vehi - America to do what they did who was a part of their group cles but they never once filled then? I don’t think there has and that she was from Hooker, their tanks from their own sup - been anything like it since the Okla. She had on an imitation ply. Every night when they Shays rebellion of 1786 to fur coat and hat; and on the stopped and camped the local today. hat she had a button pin on her fuel supplier would come out It was a special movement. hat that said “HOOKER” in and fuel up their tractors and Page 10 Kansas Kontact—July/Aug 2013 KC Tour gives insight into science, research side of agriculture By Lauren Clary velops calibra - tions for the Kansas Farmers Union standard for 15 hosted a tour of three Kansas major grains City facilities that impact agri - that are used at culture every day: USDA’s Na - grain elevators tional Grain Center, Kansas in the U.S. Pro - City Board of Trade and Re - tein levels are gion 7 EPA Science and Tech - calibrated on a nology Center. machine that The day started off at USDA measures nitro - Federal Grain Inspection gen. Service (FGIS) National Grain After enjoying Center, where they determine some Kansas the standards for grain grad - City barbecue, ing and measurements for the the group U.S. viewed the “FGIS was born to oversee Kansas City that process (U.S. Grain Stan - Board of Trade dards Act) and insure that floor. The facil - there was integrity in the grain ity will be mov - grading process,” Mary ing to Chicago Alonzo, the Center’s director, on June 28 after said. “What we do here in the over 150 years grain center is we establish the in Kansas City. standard and the method that “The history Visitors get a behind the scenes tour at the EPA Region are used for grain grading. behind KCBT is 7 headquarters. What we do in the U.S. often important to sets the standard for the entire every producer director, said about monitor - world, as to how the grain is and consumer, and I hope that ing contaminated waters. marketed at an international history is preserved in some After walking around the level.” fashion where it can be appre - Center, the group received up - Attendees toured several ciated and enjoyed by many,” dates about SPCC (Spill Pre - labs inside the Center and had Nick Levendofsky, KFU Spe - vention, Control and the opportunity to talk with cial Projects Coordinator, Countermeasure) and the Pes - the employees who set those said. ticide Program. The group standards. They saw where The final stop on the tour also had the chance to ask grains are graded (every U.S. was EPA’s Science and Tech - questions of the Regional Ag grain except rice) and where nology Center in Kansas City, Advisor, Damon Frizzell. the master measurement Kan. The facility is full of labs SPCC only affects containers equipment is maintained. with $4.3 million in equip - over 1,320 gallons. These con - As one tour guide stated, ment that generate data for tainers have to provide sec - “the grading lab makes sure Region 7 (Kansas, Nebraska, ondary containment to every human sees grains the Iowa and Missouri). The Cen - prevent fuel from contaminat - same way, and the equipment ter handles 26,000 different ing water. There are over lab makes sure every machine analysis each year. 60,000 facilities that are reg - sees grains the same way.” Due to the possibility of ulated, Mark Aaron, EPA Re - They also toured the labs dangerous chemicals, the gion 7 SPCC Coordinator, where moisture, protein and group was only allowed to said. micro-toxins/pesticide view the labs through a win - Aaron said the EPA only residues are measured. The dow. Although, they did get to regulates those with a poten - micro-toxin lab makes sure tour one lab where fish and in - tial impact to surface water the micro-toxin test kits are sects are collected to analyze and inspects those that pose working and that users are water quality. the greatest threat or are re - getting the correct results. “Victory is not having to test ported. The moisture meter lab de - fish tissue,” Mike Davis, lab www.kansasfarmersunion.org Page 11

Amazing Grazing will have another test plot On a personal note, we have from Page 7 this year and invites all pro - attracted some nationally ducers to come take a look. known and state experts to people, who were able to walk To accommodate the offer grazing education for the out across the test plot, among working person as well as the ranchers of Kansas. I cer - his cattle and visualize the rancher, his tour will be of - tainly hope that you will take grazing results. fered on two days; the first on advantage of the opportunity Cattle know what tastes best Friday, Nov. 1, and the second to learn from these folks. and vote accordingly with on Saturday, Nov. 2. The tour We have several other work - their consumption. The re - will start at his farm 1 mile shops after the January 1, sults were stunning. Some south of Courtland at 1 p.m. 2014. We will give you those forages were eaten to the Registration is requested, but details in the next newsletter. ground practically, roots and not required, although we like Please make plans to join us! all, while others were avoided to have enough Please refer to our blogspot until all other offered forage handouts, [email protected] for up-to-date information. had been consumed. Dale kansasgraziers.blogspot.com.

Patronize Your Local Farmers Union Agent A portion of the gross income sales in Kansas comes back to Kansas Farmers Union to support your policies without any influence on what those policies should be. Agent County Represented Telephone Stacey Addison Hamilton, Grant, Morton, Stanton, Wichita, Kearny 620-384-5402 Art Alcala Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Douglass, Jefferson, 785-266-2708 Shawnee Matthew Anderson Mitchell, Lincoln, Ottawa 785-738-5701 Fred Behrens Marshall 785-562-3789 Roger Blaken Clay, Washington 785-632-3306 Richard Boxum Osborne 785-454-3870 Ron Buddenhagen Labette, Montgomery, Cherokee, Crawford 620-421-4360 Jerry Cady Marion, Chase, Lyon 620-382-3282 Phillip Chaney and Neosho, Allen, Wilson, Labette, Woodson, 620-431-6290 Roy McCoy Crawford Ron Clark Logan, Gove, Trego, Thomas, Cheyenne, Rawlins, 785-672-3231 Sherman, Wallace Tom Clark Republic 785-374-4446 Tim Dycus West District Manager 785-201-2202 Nicole Faulconer Finney 620-275-6741 Greg Frank Smith 785-282-6658 John Geier Ford 620-225-0999 Jim Gierhan Clay, Dickinson, Washington 785-632-3264 Jeff Kindel Cloud, Republic, Ottawa 785-243-1571 Rick Lindblom Eastern District Manager 785-825-2941 Katie Limon Haskell, Morton, Seward 620-649-2840 Rick Lindblom Saline, Dickinson, Ottawa 785-827-1011 Mario Lopez Finney 620-271-0844 Randy Mader Ellis, Ness, Trego, Russell 785-628-6134 Kevin Moege Pottawatomie, Riley, , Wabaunsee, Morris, 785-456-9077 Jackson Jerry Nolte Nemaha, Brown, Atchison, Doniphan 785-336-2040 Jason Ortman Jewell 785-378-3212 Nicole Schaller Comanche, Clark, Edwards, Hodgeman, Kiowa, 620-659-2011 Meade Ty Racette Pawnee, Barton, Edwards, Kiowa, Rush, Stafford 620-804-6131 Thomas Rice Norton, Phillips, Rooks 785-543-3103 David Snyder Pawnee, Pratt, Stafford 620-285-6867 Todd Whitehilll McPherson, Reno, Rice 620-241-1918 Steve Yearout Sumner, Harper, Cowley 620-326-2021 Jeff Downing General Manager Midwest Agency 402-483-1045 R $ J m D D N O k N s D A J A S A t k S S e i u a f e a 8 e e a t o u u u c r a r o o

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