In his Thanksgiving proclamation, President Washington began with the following words:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

This week we should stop and give thanks to God for the many blessings we enjoy as Americans. I am thankful that despite the policy failings in Washington, we still live in the greatest nation on the face of the earth.

After gathering with family and friends to celebrate traditions, make memories, and give Thanks this week, your mind may shift to Christmas shopping. As you do, I want to call attention to key members of the small towns we call home – our small businesses. Not only do small business owners create jobs across the First District, but they are often our community leaders and our little league coaches as well.

Most small businesses employ fewer than 10 people. Many small business owners do their books late at night at the kitchen table after their kids have gone to sleep. They do not have an army of lawyers, accountants, and lobbyists to keep up with all of the changing rules and regulations coming out of Washington.

And far too often, Washington is more interested in what happens on Wall Street – rather than Main Street. And that is just backwards. Small businesses account for about half of the total economic activity in America. They create nearly two out of every three new jobs. They have historically led our nation back from recession. Strengthening our small businesses is vitally important to get our economy moving forward and putting millions of Americans back to work, many of whom have given up on finding a full time job.

As a member of the Small Business Committee, that’s why I am sponsoring a bipartisan resolution in Congress to call attention to the importance of small businesses in our communities. It would denote the Saturday after Thanksgiving as “Small Business Saturday.” It is only a symbolic measure, but it would serve as a reminder as to how important our small businesses are to our nation.

I also encourage you to join me in doing something more than symbolic. After giving Thanks on Thursday, please join me in shopping at a small business this Small Business Saturday. These businesses, their owners and employees, are the backbone of our American economy. Not big businesses. Not special interest lobbyists. And certainly not Washington.

May God bless and protect you, your family and our entire nation – both on Small Business Saturday –and the entire year.

by Marleah Augustine

Blackfish
directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite ( review from IMDb)

Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top killer whale trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity.

Blackfish is a shocking, unflinching, heartbreaking look at orcas in captivity. I was introduced to orcas when I watched Free Willy as a child: this modern classic first alerted me to the plight of killer whales and it has been an issue that I’ve followed off and on into adulthood. This documentary includes video footage of trainer injuries at SeaWorld and other parks around the world, as well as footage of orca capture in the wild. Former SeaWorld trainers are interviewed, focusing on Tilikum, who still performs in SeaWorld shows regularly.

Yes, it’s a sad film. Yes, it’s difficult to watch. But it’s also important to see in order to recognize some of the real issues going on with humans and animals today.

Marleah Augustine is the Adult Department Librarian at the Hays Public Library

You can see more of her blog here https://hayspubliclibrary.wordpress.com

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau

The challenge for farmers and ranchers will be to double food production by 2050 to help feed an estimated 9 billion people.

GMOs – or genetically modified organisms – have the potential to dramatically increase the world’s output in coming decades without causing significant environmental hazards. This new technology is affording us ways to improve plant characteristics to lower production costs and increase yields on existing farmland.

Today a wide variety of plants are products of genetically modified science. Some are being developed with the ability to withstand certain herbicides while yielding higher productivity with lower costs and less environmental impact.

Contrary to what you may have read or heard, the use of GMOs can be a win-win situation for everyone. Farmers can realize higher yields producing a more economical crop and consumers wind up with a safer, better tasting and healthier food.

In spite of these advances, some environmental groups in this country and some members of the European Union have resisted the use of GMOs because they fear genetic manipulation is unnatural. They believe the food it produces is dangerous and this technology is bad for the environment.

GMOs have already been tested, and field trials are being conducted. All indications are that GMOs present no danger, but this will need to continue to be proven in tests with sound science.

The future of agriculture will remain bright as long as technology is allowed to progress without being hampered by unfounded fears. GMOs are an important production tool for the American farmer and rancher. We must continue to talk openly with the public about this safe scientific procedure to promote complete understanding of the issue.

It would be a major blow to production agriculture if GMO research were slowed or stopped. Scientific information must be readily available to all consumers so they too can understand this vital issue.

Biotechnology has the ability to revolutionize medicine as well as agriculture. Already there have been significant medical breakthroughs.

Examples include gene therapy to build blood vessels that bypass clogged arteries; destruction of cancerous tumors by cutting off their blood supply; vaccines for AIDS, malaria and ear infections; an anticancer booster shot that could stimulate immune systems; tissue engineering that helps the body regenerate itself; lab-grown bone, cartilage and skin or even organs such as the heart are in the works.

Our future can be enhanced with GMOs and biotechnology if these advances are allowed to progress. It’s important we learn and inform others as much as possible about these upcoming advances.

John Schlageck is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas. Born and raised on a diversified farm in northwestern Kansas, his writing reflects a lifetime of experience, knowledge and passion.

The Food and Drug Administration proposed measures last week that would all but eliminate artificial trans fats from the U.S. food supply, proposing that partially hydrogenated vegetable oils—the source of trans fats—no longer be “generally recognized as safe.”
The agency’s preliminary the ruling is open to public comment for 60 days.
For the last several years, trans fats have been condemned as a major contributor to heart disease, and while its usage has declined significantly, the ingredient is still part of formulations for such foods as margarine, cake frosting, microwave popcorn, frozen pizza and coffee creamers. According to FDA officials, a total ban on trans fat could prevent 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths a year.

FDA’s proposal was labeled “a rare political victory” by The New York Times.
“This is the final slam dunk on the trans fat issue,” said Barry Popkin, a nutritional epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina.
Why all the furor over trans fats? If they’re so bad, why were they so ubiquitous in food products until very recently?

Trans fats were initially popularized because partially hydrogenated oils—which become solid when the liquid oil is treated with hydrogen gas—were cheaper than animal fats, such as butter. More importantly, they were initially considered to be healthier, and this is where the anti-animal agriculture activists enter the picture.
For decades, self-proclaimed experts, such as Michael Jacobsen at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, railed against saturated fat as the root of all nutritional evil. Jacobsen and his cronies used the meat industry as whipping boys, while trying to make the case that red meat was deadly dangerous and we had to save ourselves from dropping dead of a heart attack by switching from meat to soy, and from butter to margarine.

I can’t tell you how many times over the years I attended briefings and press conferences at which Jacobsen and other CSPI staffers preached about the horrors of beef, butter and cheese, which they condemned as the source of artery-clogging saturated fat. For many years, CSPI specialized in publishing “exposes” of Mexican food, Greek food, fast-food, junk food, snack food, supermarket food—all had too much fat from cheese or meat—in fact, just about every source of comestibles that offered so much as a whiff of animal protein was deemed verboten, according to CSPI’s nutritional Nazis.
Basically, they hated the meat industry, loathed meatpackers, despised ranchers and demanded government’s full and total intervention to ban meat and dairy from schools, public institutions and eventually—they hoped—from the consciousness of the American consumer.
An about face

But guess what? Scientific research—that is, the kind done by scientists, as opposed to the muck-raking favored by anti-industry activists—revealed that treating soy or canola oil with hydrogen gas actually didn’t produce a “healthier” ingredient. In fact, trans fats increasingly became associated with even worse cardiovascular outcomes than all the cheese in Wisconsin, since consumption of trans fat tends to elevate unhealthy levels of low-density lipoproteins, aka, “bad” cholesterol.
CSPI quickly switched sides and became a vigorous campaigner against trans fat, not because it was worse than animal fats, but because it was just as bad. Ironically, in the midst the group’s strident campaign to get trans fats banned, both foodservice operators and food manufacturers quietly substituted other oils for trans fats—all on their own.
So, to summarize: Here’s the guidance that the haters at CSPI (and plenty of other consumer groups) wanted their acolytes to follow:
1980s: Don’t believe the evil marketers employed by the Meat-Industrial Complex. The saturated fat in meat, poultry and dairy will kill you. Stop eating those foods and switch to vegetable alternatives, such as margarine and soy protein.
1990s: Don’t believe the paid-off shills at the American Heart Association: Too much soy protein can be harmful, so cut back on consumption of all those vegetarian analogs. But don’t switch to meat; that’s even worse.
2000s: Don’t believe the manipulative advertisers employed by Big Food: Trans fat is a killer and it needs to be banned immediately. But also stay away from meat, dairy, soy and processed foods. Don’t patronize fast-food restaurants. Don’t buy snack foods. Don’t purchase or prepare anything in a box with a brand name on it.
More recently, they’ve campaigned against sports beverages, energy drinks, herbal concoctions, protein powders and nutritional supplements. They want fortified food processors to stop making claims that their products boost immunity, promote regularity, encourage weight loss, provide extra energy or enhance in any other way a person’s sense of well-being.
Heck, CSPI even filed a lawsuit against a manufacturer of walnuts for claiming that the omega-3 oils contained in those nuts “may lower cholesterol [and] protect against heart disease and stroke.”
Look, there’s some value in cautioning against buying the product claims shouted at you during infomercials, plastered on packaging or hawked relentlessly in TV ads. But for all its venom against “unnatural” foods, CSPI and its allies fail to grasp the most salient fact that undermines every sentence of their screed on dietary choices: Meat and milk are the most natural foods you can buy!
As a nation, we certainly have problems related to poor nutrition. But you want to know the simplest and most effective way to change that dynamic? Stop sucking down soda.
Of all the “bad” food choices one could make, guzzling soft drinks is the worst. It’s the No.1 cause of obesity, which is our No. 1 health problem.
Here’s the bottom line to the FDA’s mandatory labeling initiative to force trans fats out of the American diet: None of it would have been necessary had misguided crusaders like CSPI not gone to war on animal agriculture and the food products it creates.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dan Murphy, a veteran food-industry journalist and commentator.

by Senator Jerry Moran

Americans come together each year on November 11 to celebrate and honor our nation’s veterans. These brave men and women sacrificed to provide their children and grandchildren with the opportunity to achieve the American Dream, so it’s imperative we make certain they themselves have the opportunity to live the American Dream.

In Kansas and across the country, veterans face a myriad of challenges when they return home from service — from braving mental health conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, to the basics needed to enter the workforce like creating or updating a resume. With 34,000 servicemen and women expected to return home by February 2014, practical programs and services must be in place to help them transition from one chapter of their lives to the next.

Whether it’s continuing their education, finding a job to support their families, or starting their own business, Kansans continue a strong tradition of working to help our servicemen and women attain their goals.

For soldiers and their families looking to obtain a college degree, universities across the state offer flexible and affordable options such as online coursework and accelerated programs. Fort Riley and Kansas State University also have an unconventional collaboration connecting eight Division I sports teams and four club-level teams with combat units at Fort Riley. From scrimmaging to attending deployment and return ceremonies, the fellowship creates a mutual appreciation and has even inspired some soldiers to become the first in their families to attend college upon separation from service.

A real concern for veterans when returning to civilian life is finding a job and business owners in Kansas should strongly consider hiring our heroes. According to extensive interviews conducted last summer by the Center for a New American Security, business owners hire veterans because of their leadership and teamwork skills, character, discipline, effectiveness and loyalty. Numerous large companies like Garmin and Sprint have veteran-employment initiatives, so it’s encouraging to see small businesses also taking steps toward proactively recruiting our heroes.

National initiatives are important, but support at the local level such as the job fairs at all of our Kansas military installations also make a difference.

Veterans are offered this kind of community networking and support through organizations like GallantFew, which was founded by Army Ranger veteran Karl Monger of Wichita in 2009. GallantFew exists to reduce veteran unemployment, homelessness, and eliminate veteran suicide. The nonprofit organization changes lives by pairing “seasoned” veterans who have successfully established their civilian careers with “new” veterans to mentor and facilitate a seamless transition from active military service to civilian life. You can get help or get involved by visiting www.gallantfew.org.

For many veterans, entrepreneurship is becoming an increasingly valuable way of providing for their families. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 2.4 million businesses, 9 percent of companies nationwide, are owned by veterans. And according to the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation — the largest foundation in the world devoted to entrepreneurship — today, 45 percent of veterans start their own businesses upon completion of their military service.

In April, I convened a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee roundtable with business owners and veteran organization representatives to discuss the state of veteran entrepreneurship, ideas on how current programs may be improved, and gaps not being addressed. I’m also a sponsor of the Servicemembers’ Choice in Transition Act, which includes a provision to empower military members who seek to own a small business the ability to pursue that dream as part of the Transition Assistance Program.

On Veterans’ Day, we express our gratitude for the service of those who have protected our way of life and allowed us to remain the strongest and freest nation in the world. Let’s make certain whether veterans wish to start their own business, commence a job search, or go back to school, they are able to achieve the same American Dream they sacrificed so much to protect.

God bless our veterans: we respect you, we thank you and we love you.

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau

To say the farm bill has moved like molasses through Congress the past three years is a gross understatement. This branch of our federal government continues to be mired in the mud of partisan politics.

Congress seems hell-bent on infighting while this nation’s business is left undone. Kansans and other farm-state lawmakers are urging their colleagues to look back to more bipartisan times and do something Congress hasn’t done much of lately – pass a major piece of legislation.

Remember the old axiom: politics is the art of compromise?

Farm country needs a farm bill and we could have used it yesterday. Much of the fall corn, beans and milo are out of the fields and farmers are ready to look toward 2014 and next year’s crops.

Kansas farmers and ranchers need the certainty of a completed farm bill in order to make business decisions for next year, says Kansas Farm Bureau President Steve Baccus, an Ottawa County farmer.
A strong, affordable crop insurance safety net will help producers develop individual risk management plans, he adds. Reauthorizing livestock disaster programs will protect Kansas ranchers from catastrophic losses such as those suffered by South Dakota ranchers after the recent blizzard.

Baccus urged Congress to fund all titles in the new farm bill to avoid abandoning important conservation, research and trade programs to the mercy of the appropriations process. He also called on lawmakers to preserve traditional rural-urban cooperation on nutrition issues.

“A farm bill without a meaningful nutrition title will make it difficult, if not impossible, for the House and Senate to reach agreement on a bill that can be signed by the President,” Baccus said. “Congress must pass a unified farm bill that continues the partnership between the nutrition and farm communities and their constituents.”

Seems the main challenge in arriving at a new farm bill is the differences on food stamps, officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The House has passed legislation to slash approximately $40 billion annually, or about 5 percent including changes in eligibility and work requirements. The Senate wants to cut a much smaller $4 billion.

SNAP funding has more than doubled during the past five years as the nation’s economy struggled. Democrats contend it is working as intended, providing food to those in need when times are tough. Republicans believe it should be focused on the neediest people.

When most Americans think of a farm bill they think of farm subsidies. Few think of all the other things that are covered in this nearly $1 trillion program.

Few Americans know that 75 percent of the farm bill is actually helping feed folks who need nutrition assistance. Let me repeat, 75 percent of this bill goes to feed hungry people.

Most of the current law’s ag provisions expired in September. Direct payments would have been eliminated and our lawmakers could have taken some of that money applied it to deficit reduction as well as an affordable crop insurance program.

If we don’t have a farm bill by 2014 and Congress allows dairy supports to expire, 1930s and 1940s-era farm law would kick in. Some estimates conclude the government will then pay up to four times more for dairy products. If that scenario plays out, many farmers would sell to the government instead of commercial markets, decreasing the commercial supply while raising prices for shoppers at the supermarket.

So the question remains – can the House and Senate pass a farm bill?

John Schlageck is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas. Born and raised on a diversified farm in northwestern Kansas, his writing reflects a lifetime of experience, knowledge and passion.

Linda K. Beech

Silver has been prized for centuries for its beauty and durability. Harder than gold, it has long been used for currency, jewelry, utensils and housewares.
Silver flatware is probably one of the most prized possessions in a home. But, unfortunately, many people store their silverware away only to use it once or twice a year for special occasions (that is, if they remember to unpack it!)

Actually, silver is very durable and can be used and enjoyed on a regular basis without fear. With time and use, silver develops a satiny patina, a soft lustrous finish which results from a blending of the fine lines and scratches. So, regular use enhances the beauty and value of the pieces.

Tarnish is one problem you will encounter with silver. Regular use and washing reduces tarnish significantly. Certain steps can be taken to further minimize tarnishing, however nothing will eliminate it completely because it is the result of a natural chemical reaction that occurs when silver comes in contact with sulphur-containing substances in the air.
Silver should be cleaned when it begins to show tarnish or a yellowish dulling of the luster. Here’s a simple technique for cleaning silver: line a plastic or glass container with a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the silver directly on the aluminum foil, making sure every piece is touching the foil. Sprinkle dry baking soda over the silver (use two to four tablespoons per quart of water needed) and pour over boiling water to cover the silver pieces. Let stand about five minutes, then rinse and wipe immediately. You many need tongs to lift the silver from the hot water to protect your fingers.

If the silver is only lightly tarnished, all of the tarnish will disappear within several minutes. If the silver is badly tarnished, you many need to reheat the baking soda and water mixture, and give the silver several treatments to remove all the tarnish.

This works through a chemical reaction which transfers the tarnish from the silver onto the aluminum, releasing a bit of sulphur gas in the process. So if the baking soda solution bubbles and you smell a whiff of rotten-egg sulphur, you’ll know the reaction is working!
This process works for silverware and larger silver serving pieces, too. But be aware it removes ALL the tarnish. So, if you’re used to a trace of tarnish in the deep crevices to highlight the design on your silver items, understand that will go away, too.

There are also a variety of liquid, cream or paste products on the market that clean and polish silver nicely. Be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions for use.

Many of you may be using your silver flatware for the upcoming holiday season. Keep the following pointers in mind to hold tarnishing to a minimum and protect the beauty of your silverware:
* Don’t let salt and high-sulphur foods such as eggs and mayonnaise remain on the silver items for an extended length of time. They speed the tarnishing process and salt can corrode the silver if left long enough.
* Wash silver as soon as possible after meals in hot, soapy water and dry with a soft cloth.
* Avoid draining silver pieces on a rubber mat. The contact with rubber can promote tarnishing.
Don’t be afraid to use your silverware for Thanksgiving and Christmas. If the silverware set is a family heirloom, be sure to tell the children about the relatives who used it before. Teach them how to properly care for the silver pieces and if they’re old enough, let them help with cleaning and polishing. Having an heirloom that can be handled, used, and cared for will help the whole family appreciate and enjoy a treasured possession.

Deadline Wednesday Gazette
Welcome to this week’s edition of Deadline Wednesday Gazette.
Here you will find information about deadlines and other exciting things going on at the Hays Recreation Commission!
Please feel free to e-mail us with comments, questions or concerns.
We love to hear from you!

CLASSES ADDED/DEADLINES EXTENDED
ADDED – CLIMBERS
Let your tot climber crawl, climb, scoot and slide in and on an incredibly soft & safe environment. Your child will explore with plenty of bright and bold colors while they have the opportunity to work with puzzles, puppets, manipulatives & musical instruments. Let your toddler develop skills through these activities while building social skills interaction.
Entry Deadline: Session 3: NONE
Entry Fee: $8.00
Held on: Thursday’s – Now till Dec. 12th
Time: 10:00 – 11:00am
Ages: 6 – 24 months w/an adult
Location: Recreation Center
Limitations: Min. 5 Max. 10

DEADLINE EXTENDED – MOVIN & GROOVIN
Kids & caregivers explore the world of music, dance and fun stories with music, movement and rhythm of motion. Kids will make music, sing songs, and dance while playing their own homemade instrument. Let’s be creative in our play.
Entry Deadline: Session 1: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Entry Fee: $10.00
Held on: Session 1: Wed.’s – November 13 – 27
Times: Session 1: 2:00 – 2:45pm
Ages: 3 – 5
Location: Recreation Center
Limitations: Min. 5 Max. 12

DEADLINES FOR NOVEMBER 13TH
If a class is full PLEASE put your name on the waiting list. We always do our best to accommodate everyone so if you are not on the waiting list and we add an additional class you will miss out!

YOUTH SPORTS
BIDDY BASKETBALL
Come and be a part of this exciting basketball league. The size of the balls, the height of the goals, and the distance of the free throw lines are modified to fit each age division. These simple modifications permit the players to learn the fundamentals of the game and develop their ball handling skills with regard to their age and physical abilities. Practices are conducted by volunteer coaches, at the time they choose, two times a week for one hour, and games are played on Saturdays.
Entry Deadline: November 13
ABSOLUTELY NO REGISTRATIONS AFTER DEC. 4
Entry Fee: $25.00
Practice begins: The week of December 9
Play will begin: Saturday, January 11
Grade Divisions: 3rd Grade Boys/Girls
4th Grade Boys/Girls
5th Grade Boys/Girls
6th/7th Grade Boys/Girls
Location: Recreation Center
Coaches Meeting: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7:00pm

TINY TAS (2-5 YEAR OLDS)
COOKIES FOR SANTA
We all know that Santa loves cookies! Join us as we make a decorative plate for cookies down at Pottery Works. Santa will surely enjoy his special treat.
Entry Deadline: November 13
Entry Fee: $25.00
Held on: Saturday, November 16
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Ages: 3 & older w/an adult
Location: Pottery Works – 126 West 9th
Limitations: Min. 5 Max. 12
Instructor: Pam Fellers

TWEEN TAS (5 & OLDER)
COOKIES FOR SANTA
We all know that Santa loves cookies! Join us as we make a decorative plate for cookies down at Pottery Works. Santa will surely enjoy his special treat.
Entry Deadline: November 13
Entry Fee: $25.00
Held on: Saturday, November 16
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Ages: 3 & older w/an adult
Location: Pottery Works – 126 West 9th
Limitations: Min. 5 Max. 12
Instructor: Pam Fellers

ADULT LEISURE
COOKING FOR TWO/ LEFTOVERS FOR ONE
Do you find it hard to cook for two people or do you live alone? If you answered yes, this is the class for you. We will show you how to cut down recipes for two people or how to take the leftovers and store them for another time. You will receive recipes and sample some of the meals. Come hungry!
Entry Deadline: November 13
Entry Fee: $7.00
Held on: Wednesday, November 20
Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm
Ages: 18 & older
Location: Recreation Center
Limitations: Min. 5 Max. 12

ACTIVELY 55 CLUB
COOKING FOR TWO/ LEFTOVERS FOR ONE
Do you find it hard to cook for two people or do you live alone? If you answered yes, this is the class for you. We will show you how to cut down recipes for two people or how to take the leftovers and store them for another time. You will receive recipes and sample some of the meals. Come hungry!
Entry Deadline: November 13
Entry Fee: $7.00
Held on: Wednesday, November 20
Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm
Ages: 18 & older
Location: Recreation Center
Limitations: Min. 5 Max. 12

BRAIN FITNESS & FUN
Keep your brain challenged! Start you day with a one hour program that stimulates thinking, enhances memory, and entertains you at the same time. You will be lead through a number of puzzles and trivia & mind games to give your brain an enjoyable workout. During the hour enjoy snacks and a drink.
Entry Deadline: November 13
Entry Fee: $2.00
Held on: Monday, November 18
Time: 1:00 – 2:00pm
Ages: 55 & older
Location: Recreation Center
Limitations: Min. 5 Max. 12

SPECIAL POPS
To participate in these activities, a person must:
-be diagnosed with intellectual disabilities
-have a significant learning or vocational problem

To sign up for these activities by the deadline you can contact:
-Haley Nixon at HRC @ [email protected] or (785)623-2650
-DSNWK Members – Scott Stults @ [email protected] or (785)625-5678
-ARC Members – Beth Pfiefer @ [email protected] or
(785)628-6512
-Visit haysrec.org and sign up online!

SPECIAL POPS BINGO NIGHT
Come get your BINGO on with us! We’ll have snacks provided and prizes for our winners! Don’t miss this fun evening.
Entry Deadline: Session 1: November 13
Session 2: March 19
Entry Fee: FREE
Held on: Session 1: Thursday, November 14
Session 2: Thursday, March 20
Times: 6:00 – 7:00pm
Ages: All Ages
Location: Recreation Center
Limitations: Min. 5 Max. 30

UPCOMING DEADLINES
Wednesday, November 20
Basketball Turkey Shoot
Shopping Trip
Special Pops Cookie Jar & Cards

Kansas Farmer Derek Klingenberg  produced this video parody, “What does the Farmer say?”

Stacy Campbell
K-State Research & Extension

October has traditionally been weaning and culling time for spring-calving herds. This is a time when producers decide which cows no longer are helpful to the operation and which heifer calves will be kept for future replacements. Selecting against ill-tempered cattle has always made good sense. Wild cattle are hard on equipment, people, other cattle, and now we know that they are hard on the bottom line.

Mississippi State University researchers used a total of 210 feeder cattle consigned by 19 producers in a “Farm to Feedlot” program to evaluate the effect of temperament on performance, carcass characteristics, and net profit. Temperament was scored on a 1 to 5 scale (1=nonaggressive, docile; 5=very aggressive, excitable). Three measurements were used: pen score, chute score, and exit velocity. Measurements were taken on the day of shipment to the feedlot. Exit velocity is an evaluation of temperament that is made electronically by measuring the speed at which the animal leaves the confinement of the chute. Exit velocity and pen scores were highly correlated. As pen scores increased, so did exit velocity. As pen score and exit velocity increased, health treatments costs and number of days treated increased, while average daily gain and final body weight decreased. This outcome makes perfect sense. Other studies have shown that excitable temperament can diminish immune responsiveness, with more temperamental calves having a reduced response to vaccination when compared with calm calves.

In the Mississippi study, as pen temperament score increased, net profit per head tended to decline. Pen temperament scores and net profits per head were as follows: 1=$121.89; 2=$100.98; 3=$107.18; 4=$83.75; 5=$80.81. Although feed and cattle price relationships have changed since this data was collected, one would expect similar impacts from the temperaments of cattle under today’s economic situation.

“Heritability” is the portion of the differences in a trait that can be attributed to genetics. The heritability of temperament in beef cattle has been estimated to range from 0.36 to 0.45. This moderate level of heritability indicates that real progress can be made by selecting against wild cattle. Whether we are marketing our calf crop at weaning or retaining ownership throughout the feedlot phase, wild, excitable cattle are expensive to own and raise.

Feeding distillers grains to cattle
Infrequent delivery did not affect cow performance
Infrequent feeding did not negatively affect cow performance
At the Agricultural Research Center in Hays beef scientists John Jaeger and Justin Waggoner conducted a study in which pregnant Angus-cross cows were fed Dried Distillers Grain Solubles (DDGS) as a protein supplement daily, every 3 days, or every 6 days from December 27, 2011, through March 20, 2012. All cows were maintained together in a common native range pasture, sorted daily for feeding, and provided the equivalent of 0.5 lb crude protein/cow per day in the form of DDGS (29.5% crude protein). Cow body weight and body condition scores were collected every 28 days throughout the duration of the study.
The Bottom Line: Supplementing cows with protein as infrequently as every 6 days did not negatively affect cow body weight or body condition score. Producers can reduce cost using DDGS as an inexpensive protein source and can reduce labor and fuel costs with infrequent delivery. View the complete research report at www.asi.ksu.edu/cattlemensday.
If you have any questions contact your local County Extension Office or John Jaeger (785-625-3425; [email protected]) & Justin Waggoner (620-275-9164; [email protected]).

By: Lucia Bain, Kansas Room Librarian, Hays Public Library

November is a month to be thankful. I am thankful for my health, my home, my family, my job and this year I am incredibly thankful because my husband and I are expecting our first child! As busy as my life has been in the last two years, I suspect that, come April, it will become a lot more hectic. I’ll be taking a few weeks off when the baby comes, but I have plenty of projects and programs to get through before the big arrival. November is no exception.
There are some new print items available in the Kansas Room, including Dragging Wyatt Earp by Rober Rebein, The Big Divide by Diane Eickhoff and Aaron Barnhart, Hooked Rugs of the Midwest by Mary Collins Barile, and Green Town U.S.A., by Daniel Wallach. Stop by the Kansas Room to check out these and other new titles!

The Kansas Room is sponsoring three programs in November – a line dancing class, a wheat weaving demonstration, and a wine tasting event. The line dancing class will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6 PM in the Schmidt Gallery. Vanessa North from the children’s department will be teaching participants how to slide, shimmy and shuffle their way through popular line dances. Wear comfortable shoes and leave your fears at the door. Vanessa’s classes are easy to follow and entertaining.

On Friday, Nov. 22 at 2 PM in the Schmidt Gallery, local resident Patricia Albrecht will be leading a wheat weaving demonstration. Audience members will have the opportunity to see some of Patricia’s handiwork, as well as watch her weave a simple, braided wreath. For those who want to try their hand at weaving, Patricia will also be teaching participants how to construct a simple wheat braid on their own. Wheat weaving is a beautiful folk art and a great way to appreciate Kansas’ most abundant crop.

Finally, on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 6 PM in the Schmidt Gallery there will be a wine tasting event led by Clayton Cutter. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about and sample eight different wines from some of the best wine producing regions of the world. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn about different varieties of wine and maybe even get a few ideas for what to serve with this year’s holiday meals. This event will be free to the public, but spaces are limited. Only the first twenty five people to sign up will receive a ticket to the event, so if you want to attend, be sure to contact me right away. You can either call me at 785-625-9014 to request a ticket or email me at [email protected]. You must be 21 years old to attend this event.

Last month I attended a meeting in Topeka to discuss the Turning Points film project, for which Hays was selected. Don’t forget, our community’s turning point is the formation of the Hays Arts Council in the mid-1960s. It looks like things will really start rolling in the next couple of months as the story is mapped and the interviews are scheduled! The premier of the film will take place in late spring. Keep watching my column for more updates on the Turning Points project as it develops.
The Kansas Room is open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM on Mondays, 9 AM to 6 PM Tuesday through Friday and by request.

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau

With more than three decades of collective service under their belts, six former U.S. agricultural secretaries discussed and cussed climate change, international trade, subsidies, crop insurance, food stamps and a bushel basket full of other ag issues Oct. 21.

As part of Kansas State University’s Landon Lecture series, participants included Kansan Dan Glickman, John Block, Mike Espy, Mike Johanns, Ed Schafer and Ann Veneman.

Glickman, who served as ag secretary under President Clinton from 1995-2001, said there are great things happening in agriculture.

“Food and agriculture are hot topics today,” Glickman told those who packed McCain Auditorium. “They’re high up on the agenda, agriculture is part of the international agenda and people all over the world know about this industry.”

The farm economy has never been better, Glickman continued.

“After years, and years, and years of low prices and bad economic conditions, we’re in an era of a much stronger farm economy,” the former Kansas ag secretary noted. “That’s not to say there won’t still be ups and downs, but the era of agriculture being the weak sister of American economics is over.”

The challenge for farmers will be to double food production by 2050 to help feed an estimated 9 billion people, Block said. Block served as ag secretary under President Reagan from 1981-1986.

“We can’t let the critics stop us from using new technology,” Block said. “We have to use it or not meet our objectives.”

Mike Johanns, who served under President Bush from 2005-2008 stressed the importance of hammering out a farm bill but said this wouldn’t be enough.

He said this country’s farm economy will grow and flourish with an enlightened approach to taxation, university research and world trade.

The lack of consensus on a new farm bill demonstrates the deep philosophical divide in Congress threating the future of farm legislation, Espy said. He served under Bill Clinton in the early ‘90s.

The political middle no longer exists, Espy said. Urban Democrats are drawn to food programs and away from production agriculture while rural Republicans push to cut federal programs to the bone.

“The attitude in the House and Senate has changed,” Espy continued. “In the line of fire will be agriculture. We’ve got a real problem, guys.”

California’s Ann Veneman was sworn in as the first woman Secretary of USDA on Jan. 20, 2001, Secretary Veneman presided over one of the most historic times in American agriculture. Her tenure included record farm income, record agricultural exports and the creation of stronger pest and disease protection systems for the country

During Veneman’s tenure, the Food Stamp Program and child nutrition program were reauthorized and funding increased. As Secretary, Veneman focused on new approaches to help feed the hungry around the world.

Today she continues this challenge to feed the world as well as reduce obesity.

“In addition to the 842 million people that are always hungry, the World Health Organization estimates there are more than 1.4 billion in the world who are overweight,” Veneman said.

Veneman says this country faces the same challenges associated with obesity that causes all kinds of additional diseases including diabetes, heart disease, cancer as well as increasing the cost of health care and decreasing individual productivity.

“For far too long we’ve addressed the issues of hunger and malnutrition by throwing calories at it,” the former ag secretary said. “Our focus needs to look at getting nutrition to people today.”

Schafer, who served under President George W. Bush, said grains and meats exported throughout the world were accompanied by delivery of American values to countries desperate for stability.

“When you touch the land, you know about responsibility,” Schafer said. “Hungry people make unstable governments. Hungry people don’t learn. Hungry people don’t work.”

John Schlageck is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas. Born and raised on a diversified farm in northwestern Kansas, his writing reflects a lifetime of experience, knowledge and passion.