• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Preparation key to Mundt’s Excellence in Agriculture award By Donna Sullivan, Editor I moved here to Kansas crease the availability of In a time when meet- I got connected with the broadband internet. “If ings have been canceled Pratt County Farm Bureau the sky was the limit and or presented virtually due and the collegiate chap- I had all the resources, I to the COVID-19 pandem- ter,” she said. Her commu- would deploy broadband ic, the 102nd American nity involvement includes to every home in Ameri- Farm Bureau Federation helping with 4-H, FFA, the ca,” she said. “Issues like convention held January collegiate Farm Bureau that drive me more than 10-13 was no exception. chapter at Pratt County recognition. When I think Farmers, ranchers and in- Community College and of the opportunities we dustry professionals still serving on the Chamber of miss on our farm and what met to discuss issues im- Commerce Board. rural America could gain portant to agriculture, it “One of the benefits of if they had that connection was just from computers the competition, whether – people deserve that the in their homes and offices you win or not, is it re- same as water and elec- rather than the San Diego ally does make you think tricity, to level the playing Convention Center as orig- about, how am I making field for rural communi- inally planned. a contribution?” she re- ties.” Contests were held via lated. “What is the true A lifetime of hard work Zoom as well, one of which impact I am trying to make and a whole lot of prepa- was the Excellence in here? How can I tell my ration put Mundt in the Agriculture competition, story and how can I be position to compete for which recognizes young more effective?” and win the Excellence Farm Bureau members While awards are nice, in Agriculture Award, who are active in their it’s the actual impact of but she deeply respects communities and avid sup- her work that Mundt most the work being done by porters of agriculture, but values. “It’s an opportuni- her fellow competitors. do not earn the majority Marc Rundell and Jackie Mundt farm near Preston and are members of Pratt ty to talk about the things “I saw their applications of their income from their County Farm Bureau. Jackie, who is also the communications and marketing I’ve been doing in my com- and they are really doing own production agricul- munity from an advocacy tremendous things.” she ture enterprise. manager for Kanza Cooperative Association, recently won the American Farm perspective in agricul- said. “This whole process Pratt County Farm Bureau Federation Excellence in Agriculture Award. The raccoon was borrowed ture,” she said. “That work was very humbling – to be Bureau member Jackie for the photo from a truck driver on their harvest crew. Courtesy photos is really important and we recognized with those peo- Mundt was among the 26 need people to step up if ple that are doing great contestants in the Excel- well, you want to be very faze her. “It was my ex- points I needed to be suc- we want to have success.” work all across the coun- lence in Agriculture com- prepared going in,” she pectation far out, even this cessful.” For winning the If there were no limit- try. Young Farmers and petition, and when the win- said. To that end, she first summer, that it would go competition Mundt will re- ing factors, Mundt says the Ranchers are doing great ner was declared, it was filled out the application virtual,” she said. “Doing ceive a new Ford pickup best way she could think of things. People should be her name that was called. right after winning the the presentation on Zoom as well as a paid registra- to use her platform going proud.” “I felt confident that I had discussion meet two years is not that much different tion to the AFBF Fusion forward would be to in- put together a great appli- ago. “I filled it out as a than doing it in person. It Conference, which will be cation and done my best in practice opportunity,” she benefitted me because I held virtually in March. the presentation,” Mundt explained. “But I request- had easier access to the It’s the second time she said. “So I was confident ed not to be considered Farm Bureau network of has won a new Ford pick- that I’d made the top ten, for the award because I supporters, so I gave my up, the first being when and thought I had done knew I needed more time presentation every day she took top honors in the the things I needed to do to work on it. Then last for nine days in a row to Discussion Meet in 2019. to finish in the top four and year at the Young Farmers people Farm Bureau had While the award was maybe get that top spot.” and Ranchers Conference lined up. When I turned on earned in 2021, Mundt The application pro- state-level competition she my Zoom link, I felt like I’d says the actual work was cess is worth 80% of the was selected to go on to the been through every pos- done over the last fifteen total score, with the final national contest, and filled sible scenario. I got lots years or so of her life. 20% earned in the live out the application for the of feedback, coaching and She grew up in Wiscon- in-person competition, third time. All along the perspectives, and felt con- sin, where she honed her which this year was held way she sought input and fident in my ability to give speaking skills in 4-H and via Zoom. feedback from other Farm a stellar performance.” FFA, entering and winning If one word could de- Bureau members to make “You go through a lot of numerous competitions. scribe Mundt’s approach the application as com- emotions during that pro- She said her involvement Mundt is shown giving her presentation at the Dis- to the competition, it plete as possible. cess,” she continued. “But with Farm Bureau began Having the meeting I felt like I went into the when she was a student cussion Meet finals at the AFBF Convention in 2019. would be preparation. “If She went on to win the competition and a new Ford something is important to switch from live and in room and did what I need- at Fresno State University you and you want to do person to Zoom didn’t ed to do and hit all the in California. “Then when pickup. Biodiesel and renewable diesel rise to meet carbon reduction opportunities The biodiesel and renewable diesel industry kicked reduction of smog and pollution from drivers staying the Vision of six billion gallons of biodiesel and renew- off the first ever Virtual National Biodiesel Conference home and using less petroleum. able diesel by 2030, Rehagen added. And that demand and Expo last week. The temporary move from in-person Beyond the growth in demand for traditional bio- will require equivalent increases in feedstocks that will meetings to a virtual gathering has not dampened spir- diesel and renewable diesel in on-road and off-road unfold as related markets rise to meet global demands. its, however, as the outlook for America’s sustainable transportation applications, the increasing use of Bio- “The continued growing demand for animal protein petroleum diesel replacement remains strong among heat® as an oilheat replacement, as well as interest in alone, driven by worldwide population growth, will environmental regulators, biodiesel and renewable die- renewable jet fuels, are expanding new markets for the lead to increased fats and oils in the market available sel producers, and marketers. industry. for industrial uses,” Rehagen said. “Our U.S. farmers In his annual State of the Industry address, themed Rehagen also reminded virtual attendees that at will continue to lead the way in feeding this growing “Rise 2021,” National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell last year’s conference in Tampa, the industry was cele- population and we will use the additional availability Rehagen pointed to several factors contributing to in- brating the recently reinstated biodiesel tax incentive, of vegetable oils, used cooking oil, and animal fats that creased demand for biodiesel and renewable diesel. which continues to encourage growth. comes with it.” “Last year we unveiled Vision 2020, our plan to grow “By renewing the biodiesel tax incentive through Next year’s conference will mark the 30th anniver- to over six billion gallons by the year 2030, and, with 2022, Congress sent a strong signal that it supports growth sary of the biodiesel industry with plans to meet in Las advancements in feedstocks, 15 billion gallons by 2050,” in the biodiesel market and provided a much-needed Vegas, January 17-20, 2022. he said. “The biodiesel and renewable diesel industry economic lifeline to biodiesel producers and farmers Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources believes, with strong data I might add, we will have the across this country,” he said. such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal production and market demand to reach this previously “At the beginning of 2020, markets began to reflect fats, biodiesel and renewable diesel are better, cleaner unimaginable goal by 2030.” our ambitious industry goals. We saw biodiesel pro- fuels that are available now for use in existing diesel Specifically, Rehagen said states across the country duction reach more than 130 million gallons in the first engines without modification.

Load more

  22

Copy Link