News Update
November 20, 2013
USDA Announces Additional
Support to Help Schools Buy Local
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Nov. 19 grants for 71 projects spanning 42 states and the District of Columbia that support USDA efforts to connect school cafeterias with local farmers and ranchers through its Farm to School program.
“In rural and urban communities across the country, Farm to School programs teach students where food comes from, while providing healthy foods that are grown locally on farms and ranches across the nation,” said Vilsack. “These programs also create new market opportunities for local farmers and ranchers interested in partnering with nearby school districts — and by helping to create an even more diverse and thriving agriculture sector, Farm to School efforts hold potential to create new jobs in rural areas.”
Selected projects will serve more than 13,000 schools and 2.8 million students, nearly 45% of whom live in rural communities.
These projects highlight the critical need for a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill now more than ever, said Vilsack. Producers need renewed and expanded access to farm bill programs to fuel the growing demand for local food in new markets, including school-meals programs, and to increase economic opportunities for America’s farmers and ranchers.
USDA Farm to School grants help schools respond to the growing demand for locally sourced foods and increase market opportunities for producers and food businesses, including food processors, manufacturers and distributors. Grants will also be used to support agriculture and nutrition education efforts such as school gardens, field trips to local farms and cooking classes.
For more information, please view the full release here.
AgriLife Extension Sets 4-H Livestock,
Showmanship Clinic Dec. 21 in Lubbock
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present the District 2 Livestock Ambassadors Steer, Swine, Lamb and Goat Showmanship/Feeding Clinic from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 21 at the Texas Tech Arena in Lubbock.
Admission is free to 4-H and FFA exhibitors who may bring their project lambs and goats only; no cattle or swine, according to organizers. For more information, contact Robert Scott, AgriLife Extension agent in Lubbock County, at 806-775-1680, rj-scott@tamu.edu .
“This is a chance for youth and their families to gain experience from older 4-H members who have ‘been there, done that,’ ” Scott said.
The Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador program consists of high school-aged 4-H members who receive in-depth instruction and are selected to represent the agricultural industry in Texas, Scott said. They are required to commit at least 30 hours of service annually, and, in most cases, the service consists of helping novice 4-H families with their livestock projects.
“We’ve selected six of our top ambassadors to conduct this training,” he said. “They are all 4-H veterans and know firsthand the ins and outs of competing in the showring. This is a real opportunity for youngsters just getting started to hear from the ‘old pros’ in a hands-on setting. And this experience should help to get them ready for the upcoming stock-show season.”
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
MCA Convention to Assist Farm Families in Estate Planning
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) will host its 46th Missouri Cattlemen’s Convention and Trade Show Jan. 2-4, 2014. The convention will feature Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis, and will include a session aimed at succession planning.
Kevin Spafford is the founder of Legacy by Design LLC. His firm is dedicated to succession planning for farm families and agribusiness owners. Spafford says he will share five keys to planning the success of handing the farm over to the next generation.
“Succession is the watershed issue facing America’s family farmers. Planning for a smooth ownership transition and preparing the next generation to lead is tough,” says Spafford. “Providing financial security and eliminating the estate tax can be complex and confusing. If multigenerational success is your goal, this presentation is for you.”
Spafford will be speaking Jan. 3, 2014 at 8:15 a.m. and again at 9:15 a.m. during the “Keeping My Family in Business” Cattlemen’s College sessions.
To register, click here or contact MCA Director of Membership Katie Steen for more information, at katiesteen@mocattle.com or call 573-499-9162.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Western Folklife Center Announces
YouTube Poetry Competition
The Western Folklife Center and its 30th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering has announced the launch of a spoken word poetry competition, Expressing the Rural West: Poetry of the Next Generation, on YouTube.com. Poets between the ages of 18 and 35 are invited to submit videos which include an artist introduction and do not exceed four minutes in length. Submissions must be original compositions, content should have a rural focus and poems should be performed and not read.
Poets must be currently living in one of the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Poems will be judged by the public, as well as by a committee of two professional poets and two staff members of the Western Folklife Center. There will be a winner of the public vote and a winner of the juried competition.
The winner of the public vote will receive two free 3-Day Deluxe Passes to the 30th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering and a free Gathering poster. The winner of the juried competition will be given a performance slot at the event and must be able to travel between Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, 2014. Travel and lodging will be paid by the Western Folklife Center.
Videos should be uploaded on the Expressing the Rural West: Poetry of the Next Generation competition YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/2014poetrycontest. Public judging will end on Dec. 19 and contest judges will select a winner by Dec. 21.
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