My usual blogs are nostalgic … this one is too, but just a bit.

My husband and I have charged ourselves with enclosing the three acres surrounding our new home. Important for a couple reasons: to contain the two beautiful beasts of canine companions I talk to while he goes off to work during the week, and second, to eventually house my dapple grey gelding (currently frolicking on my parents’ property and most likely enjoying the lack of lope circles and lead change practice).

What caught my fancy, as we sketched out drawings, trudged through pasture to measure dimensions, and laughed at ourselves as we said, “Can’t believe this home and connecting property is ours!” is how important building fence can be to a family. While our fence is small compared with the number farmers and ranchers that grew the majority of products in our well-stocked refrigerator, a lot goes on while building fence.

You have the occasional spats of, “Well, I grew up using fence clips and stretching wire this way,” and “Well I was thinking of doing this at this corner and then this other way at the next corner,” types of conversations.

You have the laughs while gloves and jackets get hung up on barbs when trying to roll out new fence.

You have the heartache in realizing the budget won’t let the next piece be added on until next month, or maybe the next month.

Then you have the happy tears. Because building fence takes a team and for a young couple employed by contemporary agriculture, building a new start on life together is quite the journey.

Blessings to those who built the miles of fence as they settled this great nation. And more so, blessings to those whose fences are home to the bounty of our nation’s back bone.

Megan

Megan Silcott is ILF’s President. She doesn’t let fences constrain her passion for farmers and ranchers. She wants to hear your voice. 

Howdy!

My name is Jacob House, and I am a new addition to American contemporary agriculture’s Catalysts for Conversation.

I am from a Dallas, TX suburb called Mansfield, where I am accustomed to big city lights and lots of urban sprawl built on concrete pavement. The world of agriculture is new to me, but I am quickly learning more and more each day. It’s funny; though I have played baseball since as long as I can remember, I learn something new every day about the game. I learn something new every day about agriculture, too.

Did you know this about TX?

Besides learning to communicate and advocate for family farmers and ranchers, I am training to win for the Texas A&M Aggie baseball team. Whoop!

I look forward to blogging about athletes and their connection to agriculture. Since I have been in Aggieland, it has been amazing how much I have realized the importance of my role as a consumer. The experiences, as a student first and an athlete second, will help me understand the various and limitless avenues that I can provide for future leaders. Learn from my different perspectives on athletes and their dependence on producers of our food and fiber.

I am excited to give you my points of view and insights. I hope to hear from ya!

Thanks for reading and supporting your agriculture.

Opening day is February 17^th, and Aggie baseball is hungry for an NCAA championship title.

See ya on the diamond!

Jacob

Jacob House is ILF’s first agvocate intern and an agricultural journalism and communications senior at Texas A&M University. He can hit anybody’s fastball. Contact him via anthony@ilovefarmers.org.

I finished the Beef Checkoff’s Masters of Beef Advocacty Program (MBA).

Clap. Clap. Clap. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Anyone can apply for the program, and I encourage you to do so. Contact American beef ambassador Daren Williams.

The program comprises six, one-hour sections: Modern Beef Prodution, Animal Care, Beef Safety, Nutrition, Environmental Stewardship, and Beef Checkoff. After reading and listening to the information in each section, you complete assignments, called Homework and Essays. You take quizzes as well.

I began the program before Christmas and have been sharing my progress with you. Though this is the final post pertaining to MBA, I’ll write more, don’t worry, because as an agvocate for all agriculture I take seriously my efforts to support farmers and ranchers. Whoop!

Section 6 - The Beef Checkoff

Homework

I was to talk with someone about The Beef Checkoff, and one person came to mind. Malorie Bankhead. She’s an agricultural communications junior at Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo, and has devoted her life to rallying support for Agrosphere and providing information to consumers about U.S. contemporary beef production.

Did you know? Checkoff dollars can’t be used to influence policy. It's against the law. This makes sense. Every time an animal is bought and sold, $1 goes toward Checkoff programs; cattle producers, importers, and some packers that sell or buy cattle pay the $1 fee. Any monetary support from Checkoff toward lobbying would be unfair. Even though dollars collect into a shared pool, lobbying efforts aim to benefit a group’s particular interests, and some producers, importers, and packers have different needs or goals.

She told me to tell stories, too. I like telling stories. In fact, we both like telling stories because a story is easier to remember. Statistics and jargon bombs overwhelm the disconnected consumer, leaving him or her in thick, black smoke. Ag communicators should convey, not cover up, agriculture’s story so everyone will appreciate the hard work and sacrifice put into food and fiber production. (Use stats, but make sure they don't suffocate readers.)

Malorie also said she’s learned to perfect her sound bites, “to make sure she educates consumers about beef production.” Conversations can be quick, so it’s important to have talking points armed and ready.

And have the guts to correct consumers who negatively perceive beef producers, and all sectors of agriculture. She told me a couple of stories about times during conversation when she felt what was said or thought was false. She should've educated with truths, but she didn’t act on her instinct. She’s made a commitment to change that about herself.

Essay

1. I trust the The Beef Checkoff Program is being managed well because cattle producers make up the local, state, and national beef councils chosen to determine how Checkoff money is spent to support and promote American beef. People who know the business call the shots, and that’s comforting because experts should represent whatever it is at stake. How much confidence would you have in an astrophysicist’s decision to vaccinate a calf? It's hard to believe a sports announcer who has never played sports, right? 

2. The Beef Checkoff has helped contribute to a positive trend in consumer demand for beef and here’s why. Money is invested in promotion, research, education, foreign marketing, and producer communications programs. Invest in the future—the key to success in any venture.

3. Over  the years, The Beef Checkoff has helped contribute to the profitability of my operation and here’s why. Though I don’t have a cattle operation, yetm I’d say profitability hinges on widespread support and educated decisions from all who depend on cattle production for food or livelihood, whether producer or consumer.

4. The Beef Checkoff has value even when the economy is weak because money goes into a communal pot that acts as reserves needed when tough times arise. A constant supply of money assures local, state, and national programs can continue education and promotion of American beef and, thus, family farmers and ranchers. 

Adios Compadres,

Anthony

Anthony Pannone is an agricultural leadership, education, and communications graduate student at Texas A&M University. He eats meat and respects those who don't. Contact him via anthony@ilovefarmers.org.

Facebook and Twitter blew up last week with a story on “the top 5 most useless majors.” I won’t mention any names, but we know who ran the story.

My first reaction was, “What a bunch of doofs.”  Topping out that list was agriculture. (Collective, “Huh?!”). Also listed were fashion design (at Arkansas, we call it apparel studies,) theatre, horticulture, and animal science.

It’s okay though, ag kids, don’t be discouraged, enraged, or start a riot. Instead, listen up, because we’re gonna school the Yay-hoo education bloggers. (And I’m gonna throw in a little statistical theory that I was supposed to be learning when I discovered this article in class.)

The entire article correlates projected change in number of jobs with usefulness. Statistically correlating one event with another is fine. I mean, studies show that the number of semi-automatic weapon owners and murders committed correlate. But having a semi-automatic weapon doesn’t mean you’re a murderer. Right? 

The problem lies when we say correlation is the same as causation. I study poultry science and ag business, and I’m glad to know that contemporary agricultural is evolving with consumer demand. We have to to remain sustainable!

I work closely with student leaders from the 13 major departments within Arkansas’ College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences. My friends in horticulture, animal science, ag business, ag extension, and ag education are studying because they love providing food and fiber to the people. And we know full well that our degrees aren’t useless.

I’d say in agriculture, the usefulness of our degrees is directly correlated and caused by our desire to feed, clothe, house, and help the people of our world.

That’s where the followers, you, and the consumers and producers of this blog, come in. I want to know . . .  What are you doing to change the perception of agriculture in your community?

Love,

Em.

Emily Lhamon is a poultry science student at the University of Arkansas. She's correlates things with agriculture. Contact her via anthony@ilovefarmers.org.

Here in Aggieland, the first week of classes is in the books and the spring semester officially has begun! For me the work has just kicked off. But for farmers and ranchers the work started long ago and has never stopped.

After a week wandering around campus looking for my classes and spending what seems half my savings on books, I couldn't think of a better way to relax than heading to the Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. 

And that's exactly what I did. It’s apparent when entering the gates that the show’s motto, “This Thing is Legendary,” is legitimate. Because I grew up up in a town about 90 miles south of Ft. Worth, I've always made it a point to exhibit at least one of my projects (if not all of them) at the show. I’ve been going for years and it holds a very special place in my heart. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity to take a trip to Cowtown to escape a hectic first week of college, but also to show support for contemporary agriculture.

For those of you not familiar, the Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is the oldest and longest running stock show—116 years and counting (est. 1896). Now that’s sustainability! There are numerous shows, so depending on the day you go, you might see miniature donkeys or any breed of cattle you can think of. 

Aside from livestock, the show also offers scholarship opportunities such as the Calf Scramble and the Superintendent’s Beef Heifer Challenge (a contest that yours truly won last year—not bragging, of course).    

Besides being part of the show’s amazing history, I love visiting with friends and family, as well as meeting new people. This time I got the awesome opportunity to share about this super cool movement called, yep, you guessed it, I Love Farmers…They Feed My Soul.

You’ve probably heard of it. You’re reading my blog so you’ve definitely “herd” about it. We thank you for supporting us, and more importantly, for supporting family farmers and ranchers.

Although most of the people I talked to were still in high school, they can’t wait to attend college. And they can’t wait to be part of ILF! They said they love our message, and the snazzy stickers and temporary tattoos that I gave them. If you don’t have a Where’s The Food … Without The Farmers sticker, get on it!

I hope our ILF family will be getting a few new members soon.

Keep spreadin’ the love.

Stay blessed!

Mallory

Mallory Mobly is an agricultural communications and journalism freshwoman at Texas A&M University. She doesn’t like when big, bad storms knock out her electricity. Contact her via anthony@ilovefarmers.org.

Recently I was asked, What am I doing to help contemporary agriculture?

We depend on agriculture and it depends on us, purely by being consumers. As an agvocate, but more importantly, as a consumer, I claim that buying meat and produce strengthens agriculture.

And by purchasing American food products, we send a small-but-vital message to farmers and ranchers. Higher demand drives progress, and when we buy U.S.-made agricultural products we’re voting—each cent counts. Most of us don’t realize this power we have, but with each purchase we help maintain domestic food independence. Without our monetary support, who are our farmers feeding? How do they know what they do matters?

I grew up on a cattle ranch in northeast Georgia. I believe, in addition to eating beef, that feeding cattle, checking their health, and sending them to market supports agriculture. My family is passionate about our herd, just as parents should be passionate about their children. Find your version of agriculture and support it.

Now, as I make my way through academia toward a career as an agricultural educator, I teach others about our most valuable culture—which employs over 23 million Americans. Talk about helping agriculture, and not only that, but everything else too. With less than 2% of our population remaining on the farm, it is important that we understand where our food and fiber come from. It is vital that we respect our creative and bold producers. They need a voice, and I know we are ready to aid them to find it.

Case in point, the recent chatter among young agriculturalists about some yay-hoo who dissed my livelihood. I hear you, students and colleagues, and I am with you, and I hope you’re with me too.

Let’s face it, social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter are popular among young people for catching up with news. Breaking news goes viral in no time. In my current research, I am evaluating the effectiveness of social media during outbreaks of food-borne illnesses. If young people are the future, they must understand how networking online can serve as a benefit to farms, veterinary clinics, and lobbying firms. Millenials!: Agriculture needs YOU!

I research the effectiveness of social media to know, 1) how much can we learn from a tweet or a post compared to a typical news brief or story, and, 2) what sources and pages do we follow and entrust?

Social media is a tool that students, producers, educators, leaders, politicians, and advocacy groups can use for a purpose. Furthermore, agvocates should use all the various forms to spread fact-based information instantly, to fight agricultural illiteracy.

The aftermath is over . . . Score: Yay-hoo 0 - Agriculture 1. Ag wins. Yet, for many, an agriculture degree may still seem a useless piece of paper. I believe students in the agricultural community would say otherwise.

Stand up for what you believe in. You have the tools to spread agriculture’s story.

Who’s with me?

Poultry and Peaches,

Caro B.

Caroline Black is an agricultural leadership, education, and communications graduate student at Texas A&M University. She hopes you send her a friend request on Facebook. Contact her via anthony@ilovefarmers.org.

Recently I heard that an agricultural degree is useless. I’m guessing the person who said it eats food and wears clothes, so I have trouble believing him. For without farmers and ranchers and other ag-related specialists, how would we live?

When I was 19, I signed a contract to play professional baseball in the San Francisco Giants minor league organization. Every Major League baseball player (the guys you see on TV) has played in the minor leagues, and often it takes years to make it out. Less than 2% ever actually make it to the big leagues, and even less stay there for longer than a season.

I played in stadiums in cities all over the U.S. I slept in nice hotels, I slept in not-so-nice hotels. I ate really good food, I ate not-so-really-good food. The people I met during those five and half years were both interesting and boring. The fans were loud, rowdy, and fun. Some of the clothes I bought I still own, and some I gave away long ago. The memories are as fresh as a just-picked apple.

I had worked hard to reach the top of the baseball mountain, and playing baseball everyday was the life I thought it would be, and more. I was so glad to leave college after my sophomore year and pursue the dream most young boys have. “Just show me where to sign,” is all I ever thought.

I was lucky to play ball for a while. Then the telephone call came. In short, I was told I was no longer needed (it’s called being released). I had had shoulder surgery and after recovering had made a dismal comeback. Part of me knew the day was coming. But as an athlete, as a competitor, I couldn’t think of defeat. I was in great shape and looking forward to redeeming myself. I never got the chance to do it, however.

I could’ve continued playing, perhaps by joining an independent league somewhere. Independent means the team has no affiliation with a MLB team. MLB teams can buy contracts of independent players, and then the player is placed at some level, single A, double A, or triple A, in the organization’s minor leagues. It’s complicated. . . .

Anyway, I was burned out. I didn’t want to continue the life I had been living. The minor leagues wear you down, mentally and physically. I decided to head to Colorado Springs, where I had lived for six years while attending high school and community college. My friend lived there and I thought I’d find a new life-path there. I didn’t, and after a month I returned home.

While in Colorado my mom told me I should apply to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly, SLO). So when I got back to California I did and was accepted. Today, because of the competition to get in, and because of the financial struggles of the state, if I were to apply there’s no chance I’d be accepted, so I'm very grateful I applied when I did.

The first year I was a biological sciences student. I felt like a 27-year-old freshman. It was weird being back in the classroom and I had to make adjustments. You have to make adjustments in life or you’ll fail at whatever you do. Call it survival instinct. The sooner you learn to adapt the better. 

Biological sciences, the major, was not my thing. I wanted to work with livestock, or real animals, not look at liver flukes and amoebas under a microscope. So I switched majors to animal science, because before I chased my dream to play ball, I saw myself as the next Crocodile Hunter. The Crocodile Hunter, a.k.a. Steve Irwin, who died after a horrible incident involving a sting ray, was passionate about his job. He was so enthusiastic it was intoxicating. I liked him and wanted to do what he did. I figured animal science gave me the best chance to accomplish that goal.

In addition to that, I was finding all sorts of cool stuff I wanted to do: journalist, baseball scout, cowboy. Cal Poly is an alluring and special place, and it was there at the right time. Without it who knows where I’d be right now.

After two quarters in animal science, I changed majors again, to agricultural communications, and this was the last time. I took an advanced composition class and an agricultural communications class at the same time and realized I loved to write. During my playing days I kept journals, but never did I imagine I’d be so passionate about writing. Everyone should learn to write effectively. Find your style, your voice. Writing is the number one skill people look for. I know because I’ve talked with many people in the so-called real world.

So I knew I loved writing, and it was great to channel my energy into the craft. And then I discovered agriculture.

It’s not like agriculture had been buried or anything. I just never paid attention to life outside of baseball. I never thought about where the food I ate to fuel my performance came from. I never thought about where the fiber used to make uniforms and baseballs came from. In my discovery I realized without agriculture, I didn’t exist.

Useless? I definitely know the answer. Sports, Hollywood, TV, and other stuff besides family, friends, and agriculture—they are useless.

Agriculture: horticulture, animal science, environmental science, biology, chemistry, soil science, dairy science, food science, forestry, bio engineering, hydrology, leadership, National FFA, beef production, poultry production, all animal production, and many more sciences and studies and more and more . . . oh agriculture!

I use it every day. I need it every day. And so do you.

Adios Compadres,

Anthony

Anthony Pannone is an agricultural leadership, education, and communications graduate student at Texas A&M University. He wants to play catch with you. Contact him via anthony@ilovefarmers.org.

I’ve been living in Bryan, TX, for five months, give or take.

The other day a couple buddies, Charles and Allen, and I went to a local food bank called  Brazos Church Pantry. I met Charles and Allen at a potluck in a park in what most people in the area refer to as “the bad part of town.” On Saturdays and Sundays people from the community share food and friendship. All, and I mean all, are welcome. And all, I mean all, are eager to hear your story.

On to the pantry. Charles and Allen, well, they needed a ride because neither of them have a car. While riding there they said I should get a bag of food, too. I had never thought about it before. I’m a college student, and so I thought why the heck not?

The pantry is downtown, off a side street, and it's inconspicuous. You wouldn’t notice it if you didn’t know what to look for, or if you’d never been there. Inside the room the size of a college dorm, black, brown, and white people sat in chairs arranged in a circle. I filled out a form and sat down. No one said much.

My name was called and I followed a woman into an office. The woman who helped me was nice. She asked for my ID and I showed it. Then she asked about California and I said I enjoy Texas and consider it home for now. She told me to pick an item from a box that was behind me and I chose a small can of diced jalapeño peppers. I finished the paperwork and sat down again in the silent circle.

A door opened and I could see stacks of canned food. A man exited and said, “Anthony Pannone?” I waved, and we walked outside and loaded my groceries into the back of my SUV. Then I dropped Charles and Allen off at their apartment, which they share with Dan, Quince, Tim, Troy, and sometimes Bender and whomever else needs a place to crash. After looking briefly at my stash, I gave the boys my laundry soap and toilet paper, figuring they needed it way more than me.

When I got home I unloaded the bag. Inside was a variety of goods. I want to share with you the items and one or two specifics for each:

1 small can of diced jalapeño peppers - Product of U.S.A.

3 medium cans of sliced yellow cling peaches in extra lite syrup - Packaged in U.S.A.

1 package of Anthony’s brand spaghetti (semolina) - Product of U.S.A.

2 lbs. of white rice in a bag labeled Houston Food Bank - Origin unknown

2 lbs. of pinto beans in a bag labeled Houston Food Bank - Origin unknown

1 large can of condensed chicken noodle soup - Label says, “Inspected by USDA for wholesomeness"

1 medium can of sliced carrots, low sodium - Allen’s, INC, Arkansas

1 medium can of cut green beans, low sodium - HART Brand, senecafoods.com

1 large can of beef stew - Made in the U.S.A.

1 medium can of leaf cut spinach, low sodium - Allen’s INC, Arkansas

2 medium cans of traditional spaghetti sauce, low sodium - contains HFCS, distributed by Red Gold, redgold.com

1 medium can of light red kidney beans, low sodium - Burnette Foods, INC

1 sm/medium jar of peanut butter, creamy - Product of Argentina

1 medium can of mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, potatoes, corn, lima beans, cut green beans) - Label says, “Your Assurance of Quality”

1 regular box of enriched wheat bran flakes, with 13 vitamins and minerals - Box says, “Whole Wheat Cereal,” “Smart For Your Heart,” “Running, Walking, Working-out,” “Contains 100%  Daily Value: vitamins B6, B12, C, E, and thiamin, panthothenate, zinc, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, and iron" - Made by Ralston, Division of Ralcorp Holdings, INC, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.

1 dozen Grade AA large eggs in Styrofoam carton - Label says, “Produced to Compliance with United Egg Producers’ Animal Husbandry Guidelines” - Produced and packaged by TX 23751 in Bryan, TX.

1 package of 4 quarter sticks of 52% vegetable oil spread - Made in U.S.A.

1 whole chicken cut into quarters - Origin unknown

You're allowed food from this pantry once a month. They are others in town, and if you can get to them you can load up if you need to. The pantry I went to uses the back of a business card to identify the next date on which to return.

One month is a long time, and I hope I have enough food. Luckily there’s only two mouths to feed.

Your voice matters,

Anthony

Anthony Pannone is an agricultural leadership, education, and communications graduate student at Texas A&M University. He accepts donations of any kind, especially comments. Contact him via anthony@ilovefarmers.org.

In my mind, McDonalds is the way for transparency of food products. They are taking consumers back to the farm and to the start of where their food comes from. On YouTube, they have 3 videos posted about the farmers that produce some of the food they eat including lettuce, potatoes and beef. I have posted them below.

Underneath YouTube video’s they have the following posted: “Our Commitment to quality food starts at the source. Meet more of the hard-working people behind your McDonald’s favorites.” I couldn’t agree more!

While these may be high budget 2 minute segments, it is a very big step. It utilizes social media to bridge the VERY LARGE GAP between the farm and the dinner table. This is exactly why I Love Farmers was started, to help consumers understand HOW their food is produced and WHO it is produced by.

Great job McDonalds J

-Mindy

Almost finished with Beef Checkoff's Masters of Beef Advocacy Program. Making progress hasn't been difficult, and I recommend you contact Daren Williams and sign up. Support your farmers and ranchers.

SECTION 5 - Environmental Stewardship

Homework

Identify a local school and develop a presentation about modern beef production. Main topic is environmental stewardship. Choose who I think would benefit from the presentation and provide contact info. Then identify two or three things would I focus on during the presentation.

Texas A&M University

Dr. Jason West

Assistant Professor

Ecosystem Ecology

To create interest in my presentation, I will focus on two things: farting and poop—a.k.a. gas emissions and manure. A little humor really lifts the edge off; make them laugh early and your presentation will be fun rather than a chore.

Then I’d change the mood and give a statistic: United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported in 2009 the entire agricultural sector contributed approximately 6.3% of greenhouse gas emissions. It’s important to throw out some hard data; a presentation too dressed with numbers will bore the audience; statistics can be manipulated, though, so be careful. Not to lose my audience in a sea of stats, which could seem meaningless to some, I’d weave humor and enthusiasm—but not too much—into the delivery of information about contemporary beef production.

I'd make sure to help students realize many things contribute to greenhouse gas emissions—not just beef production or, for that matter, contemporary agriculture. (Check this.) To target one group and blame them is unfair. What about all forms of transportation and industry? If Earth is experiencing global warming then we’re all to blame. What matters is cattle producers are stewards of the land and continue to innovate for their livlihood.

For example, cattle manure is an excellent fertilizer. Producers, whether on pasture or in feedlots, benefit from using a waste product as nourishment for crops and pasture. Farmers need manure to help their plants grow into high-quality machines; rangeland benefits in the same way. The goal of the partnership between cattle producer and the land is to grow the best product for consumers. So, consumers need not worry, for the EPA oversees all feedlot operations and has implemented regulations to protect our soil, air, and water quality.

About this time I’d continue with two examples, The Clean Water Act and Environmental Stewardship Award, and then talk about them. . . .

Essay

1. Protecting the environment and conserving resources is important to me because. . . .

Sooner or later we’ll have used up all resources. It’s inevitable. The key to our survival is progress. We must continue researching and experimenting with alternate forms of energy. Once all the coal and oil are gone, we’ll have to use something else, whether wind, sun, water, biofuel, or algae eating bacteria. I’ve read that people use restaurants’ leftover vegetable oil to power vehicles, so the possibilities are wide open.

Until the day comes when we depend on something else for fuel, we must be wise with what we got right now. I think we do an okay job conserving resources. I mean, sure, as a whole we pollute Earth and waste a ton of food and other stuff, such as electronics and brain cells. But we’re discovering new forms of energy that could take the place of coal and oil. Still, it’s a constant battle to efficiently push forward to find alternatives that would wean us from dependence on depleting reserves of fossil fuels.

2. I minimize my operation’s impact on the environment by. . . .

I don’t have a cattle operation, but I support the cattle producers that provide me with beef raised humanely and sustainably. Now, someday I want my own herd, but not now.

As a consumer, three ways I limit my waste are: I try my best to not waste food, electricity, and time. Food on the plate must be eaten or composted. Lights on in an empty room is not earth-kind and so are turned off. Time in between errands or school or TV shows are a good time to read. Basically, I'm always engaged in something that I believe can better me. And I keep my sense of social responsibility on at all times, and when it buzzes me I listen.

3. The accomplishment I am most proud of as an environmental steward is. . . .

Environmental stewardship means a lot of different things. Anything to help another living being can be considered stewardship. Me I try not to waste food because not wasting food feels great and I hope sets a good example for the future generation. I won’t sit here and tell you I never throw uneaten or unused food away, because I do—perfection is divine and unattainable.

Anyway, we aren’t meant to live in a perfect world. And actually, the joy in life is learning from mistakes, big or small. That's why it's important that a person’s stewardship begins with a true feeling and urge to do good for everyone. Anyone can do it. All that's required is a sense of global, judicial conscience. For no matter where you live on Earth, we’re in this thing together.

Adios Compadres,

AP

Anthony Pannone is an agricultural leadership, education, and communications graduate student at Texas A&M University. He has a suit made from 29 lean cuts of beef. Contact him via anthony@ilovefarmers.org.