June Growing in The Heartland

JUNE 2015
NUTS, BOLTS
AND LAPTOPS
PRESERVING
THE HARVEST
Tips for safe canning
Qualified technicians
trained at VU John
Deere program
FIREBALL
Mule foal wins

familys heart
SHOWING SHEEP
Decker family enjoys

showing flock, advocating
BLANN FARMS: 14 YEARS OF STRAWBERRY FIELDS

p1CoverJun15.indd 1
5/22/15 10:28 PM
Swimming. Gardening.
Mowing the lawn.
Being overweight has stolen a lot from you.
Its time to start enjoying summer again.
How many medications do you take? Are you cured yet?

Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, these are all serious conditions. The NutriMost Resonant Frequency
Technology is a scientific breakthrough that allows us to map your hormonal fingerprint, which unlocks your bodys
innate healing abilities. Through our one-of-a-kind program we will specifically target your problem areas, burning all of
that unwanted fat as well as targeting the toxic visceral fat around your heart and other internal organs. When you lose
this fat, your other underlying health conditions can actually disappear. Most patients end up dropping most if not all of
their prescription medications. How much will you save every month without that cost? But saving money is just part of it.
Youll also save your life. You will lose 1-2 pounds every day and permanently keep it off.
Ask anyone whos tried it. NutriMost just works.
You will lose 20-45lbs or more in 40 days GUARANTEED!

No tricks, no asterisk, no legal mumbo jumbo.
812.254.0246
TOLL-FREE
844.567.LOSE (5673)
312 East Main Street Washington
WashingtonFatLoss.com
p2DrBowlingJun15.indd 1
5/22/15 10:02 PM
(812) 424-5507
(812) 874-2233
(812) 634-1717
(812) 659-2101
Evansville
Poseyville
Jasper
Newberry
Mayfield, KY | Morganfield, KY | Newberry, IN | Poseyville, IN | Princeton, KY | Russellville, KY

Paducah, KY | Clarksville, TN | Clinton, KY | Cypress, IL | Evansville, IN | Jasper, IN | Hopkinsville, KY
From your lawn

to your farm...
Hutson can help you get the
job done with our new
Southern Indiana locations
Evansville | Poseyville | Jasper | Newberry
w w w . h u t s o n i n c . c o m
p3HutsonJohnDeereJun15.indd 1
5/21/15 5:44 PM
EDITORS PAGE
STAFF
Ron Smith
Publisher
(812) 698-8788
Melody Brunson
General Manager
(812) 254-0480, Ext. 127
Lindsay Owens
Editor
(812) 254-0480, Ext. 123
Natalie Reidford
Design Editor
(812) 568-8991
Sara Hornback
Advertising Sales
(812) 254-0480, Ext. 111
Kim Schoelkopf
Advertising Sales
(812) 254-0480, Ext. 116
Wanita Tetreault
Advertising Sales
(812) 254-0480, Ext. 121
Alice Schwartz
Graphic Artist
PHOTOGRAPHY
Matt Griffith, Terri Talarek King,
Angie J. Mayfield, Angie Lucas,
Kelly Overton, Lindsay Owens,
Bill Richardson, Jenna Schaffer
and John Stoll
WRITERS
Terri Talarek King,
Karel Kirschner, Damian Mason,
Angie J. Mayfield,
J. Scott Monroe, Lindsay Owens,
Dan Ravellette, Bill Richardson,
Jenna Schaffer, Rama Sobhani,
Jennifer Stefancik, John Stoll
and Gary Stuckey
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Growing in the Heartland is published
five times a year, serving primarily the
Daviess and Knox county areas. The
subscription price of $20 per year can
be mailed to P.O. Box 471, Washington,
IN 47501.
4 | JUNE 2015
p4EditorJun15.indd 1
SINCE THE WEATHER has warmed, Ive spent every chance Ive had
outside. Even on drizzly, not-so-nice days, Ive logged my time outside. In fact, only
a downpour of rain or severe storm can keep me from being outside. Planting is one
of my favorite things to do. Theres something about being outside with no distractions from technology and the hustle and bustle of my office
job that I find relaxing.
Many mornings, I can be found out planting the fields
with my grandfather before I head to the office. Those
mornings are some of my favorites and seem to help get my
days off on the right foot. We recently spent one morning
planting rows of various colored beans. We use an old John
Deere two-row planter to do the rows that seem to stretch
on forever (or at least when Im trying to pick them). Using
the planter, while easier than depositing tiny bean seeds in
the sandy soil by hand, doesnt mean its an easy task. While
Rabbit, my grandfather, drives the tractor, I walk behind covering the little seeds the planter doesnt quite drop correctly. Usually there arent
too many seeds to cover up, but on this particular day, it seemed like tons.
One of our rows was a little rough, mainly because it was an end row that met
up with the adjacent field that had already been planted in soybeans, but I just
wasnt expecting this. If youve ever planted green beans before, you know that different varieties of seed are different colors. On this particular day, we were planting
royal purple pods, Burpee stringless and dragon tongues. While the dragon tongues
are a mottled white and purplish seed, the others are more on the brown or mottled brown side, making them nearly impossible to spot on top of the soil without
paying close attention.
As I hurried trying to cover all the seeds, the tractor creeped ahead slowly but
yet fast enough that after only a minute or so, I had fallen several yards behind.
In fact, by the time I was finished, the old Case was preparing to turn the row.
Instinctively, I ran toward the tractor, flip flops flipping on the warm sand. Then it
happened my $1 flip flops died there at the far end of the field. The part that goes
between the toes had snapped in half, leaving me with only one sandal and more
than a quarter-mile of row still to plant. Not wanting Rabbit to know what happened, I tossed the flip flop over by a tree in hopes it wouldnt be found until I could
retrieve it later, and hobbled the rest of the way. When I made it to the house, my
right foot was caked in freshly cultivated sand I managed to track in (I blamed it on
Ellie Mae and Freddie, our dogs).
I knew better than to wear my favorite summertime footwear to the field as
this was not the first time Ive experienced footwear difficulty in the big field (last
year my rubber boot died in a downpour of rain while I was trying to pick cantaloupes. The sole has still not been located). More importantly than finally agreeing
with my grandfather that flip flops are not the most suitable field footwear, Ive
learned something else too. If its a sunny day, and you work with one shoe on and
one shoe off, theres a good chance youll end up with one nicely tanned foot and
ugly tan lines on the other.
Lindsay Owens, editor

Send Lindsay your story ideas at lowens@washtimesherald.com.
x GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

5/22/15 10:25 PM
Frank Stepp, Vice President of Thompson & Associates,

is a national leader in estate planning. He has helped
thousands of Americans draft estate plans which reduce
estate taxes and increase the assets which they can
leave for their heirs.
Franks services are a gift to the community provided by
Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation.
Frank Stepp
Vice President
Thompson & Associates
p5GSHFoundationJun15.indd 1
TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CONTACT:

Jennifer Pacheco
Foundation Director
Good Samaritan Hospital
Foundation
812-885-3377
5/21/15 5:46 PM
CONTENTS
JUNE 2015 | VOL. 2, ISSUE 3
EDITORS PAGE
Flip-flops are not farming

footwear
By Lindsay Owens
GROWING FOOD,
GROWING CHILDREN
Kids Harvest Garden a
hands-on experience for
children of all ages
By Lindsay Owens
10 FARM KIDS
CORNER
Sweet summer time
17 STRAWBERRY

Wild pink roses

By John H. Stoll
Blann Berries enjoys serving

return customers
By Dan Ravellette
20 COUNTY FAIR
INFORMATION
Daviess and Knox County 4-H
fair schedules
21 DIESEL
COMPETITION

REVVING UP
Wagler Diesel Competition
inaugural event in Elnora
By Lindsay Owens
11 DOWN ON THE
FARM
31
FIELDS FOR YEARS
22 AG EDUCATION
Get ready to bring in the
harvest!
By J. Scott Monroe,
Jennifer Stefancik and
Karel Kirschner
33
23 AN ENTHUSIASTIC

ANGUS QUEEN
Maddi Butler shares

knowledge about industry
By Lindsay Owens
24 NORTH DAVIESS

FFA AWARD
PROGRAM
Photo by
Jenna Schaffer
12 MANAGING

INVASIVE PLANTS
FFA announces new officers

during annual banquet
Submitted by Gary Stuckey
26 CALENDAR
Southwest Purdue Field Day,
performances at the Boot
City Opry
Knox County Cooperative

Weed Management Area
By Terri Talarek King
14 SHOWING, RAISING,
27 MY RURAL ROOTS
Decker family enjoys showing

sheep while educating public
By Rama Sobhani
28 NUTS, BOLTS AND
ADVOCATING
16 THE FUNNIER SIDE

Spring babies: Train early

By Angie J. Mayfield
LAPTOPS
OF FARMING
A flavorful discussion on
agriculture and obesity
By Damian Mason
6 | JUNE 2015
p6ContentsJun15.indd 1
John Deere Program at

Vincennes University
develops qualified
technicians
By Bill Richardson
Photo by Terri Talarek King
31 THE NATURAL SIDE

OF THINGS
Its the little things ...

32 IN SEASON
Corn and zucchini
By Lindsay Owens
33 GOOD TO THE
EARTH
Envirothon teaches high

school students about good
earth stewardship
By Jenna Schaffer
ON THE COVER: Jeff Blann

of Blann Farms in his 1949 Chevy
pickup with a giant strawberry. The
truck and the berry advertise that
its harvest time for the sweet, red
berries once again.
| PHOTO BY MATT GRIFFITH

5/27/15 11:07 AM
p7GermanAmericanJun15.indd 1
5/21/15 6:49 PM
GROWING FOOD, GROWING CHILDREN

Kids Harvest Garden a hands-on learning
experience for children of all ages
By Lindsay Owens
WHAT STARTED AS a way to
expand the Washington Central Christian Churchs widely popular Backpack
Food for Kids program, which provides
food for the weekend for school-aged
children at risk for going hungry, is
now growing in more ways than one.
Just a few weeks ago, several children
of all ages gathered just outside the
church to plant what was for nearly all
the children, their first garden.
The children are already learning
what certain vegetable plants look like
as well as how to plant and maintain a
garden.
Sally Christie, president of the
Kids Harvest Garden, said many
hours of hard work have gone into
turning the four 4x8 raised beds into
a reality.
The Kids Harvest Garden would

not be possible without the vision and
support of the board and congregation
of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), said Christie. Many
hours of hard work have gone into the
construction and filling of the raised
garden beds.
Funded through a grant from the
Daviess County Community Foundation, a partner with the community
Foundation Alliance, Inc., Christie said
the garden, which contains potatoes,
tomatoes, peppers, green beans,
onions, sweet corn and more, can only
be harvested with permission from
the church and the Backpack Food
program is also funded through grants
and donations from the community.
Were very grateful to the people
and organizations that support the Da-
Sally Christie shows one of the many children participating in the Kids Harvest Garden how
to plant potatoes. The garden is an outreach of Central Christian Church in Washington.
| PHOTOS BY LINDSAY OWENS
8 | JUNE 2015
p8-9KidsGarden.indd 1
viess County Community Foundation,

she said. Their generosity helps the
Foundation fund worthwhile community projects like our Kids Harvest
Garden.
Compost and topsoil were added
to the beds and on May 6, the children
began planting. Part of the first harvest
should be ready later this month.
Christie said several months ago,
she surveyed children and families
involved in the Packpack Food for Kids
program about what they would like
to see in the gardens. All the children
involved in the Kids Harvest Garden
are participants in the Backpack Food
program.
They told us what they would
like to have and what they would use,
Christie said. We didnt want to plant
things they didnt want.
While the primary goal of the
gardens is to provide fresh fruits and
vegetables to the children, Christie
said that isnt the sole purpose of the
gardens.
The goal of the garden is not just
to provide fresh fruits and vegetables
to the children during the summer but
to hopefully inspire a love of gardening and instill a sense of pride and
accomplishment in growing their own
food, said Christie, adding that the
available produce items will hopefully help children make healthy food
choices as well.
The availability of nearly every
type of produce nearly year-round and
the number of people living on farms
dropping has caused many people to
not realize how that food gets to their
table.
Theres a disconnect between
the food on our tables and where that
food comes from, said Christie. Participating in the Kids Harvest Garden
can help kids make that connection
again.
Also purchased with the grant was
a bench made of recycled plastic from
Greentree Plastics in Evansville. Christie said the bench is made from plastic
lids and caps collected by members of
the congregations over the last couple
of years. To make the 6 long bench,
400 pounds of plastic caps and lids
are needed. The bench will be placed
outside so parents have a place to sit
while their children tend the garden.

5/21/15 9:20 PM
Above, participants listen carefully as Sally Christie explains the rules for the Kids Harvest
Garden. Below, for many of the children involved in the Kids Harvest Garden, this was the
first time they had planted a garden. Participating children are also part of the Backpack
Food for Kids program.
GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

p8-9KidsGarden.indd 2
x JUNE 2015 | 9
5/21/15 9:20 PM
Sweet Summer Ti
FARM KIDS
CORNER
Sweet Summer Time
Across
5. sometimes referred to muskmelon
6. Jet Star & Roma are varieties
9. a cousin of the watermelon plant
11. Squash light yellow in color
12. comes in head or loose leaf types
14. this melon is typically green inside
15. these can be black, red or gold
18. purple pods & Top Crop are varieties
19. Peppers these add a kick to salsa
Down
1. often dark red in color and pickled
2. sometimes used for bread
3. can be eaten on the cob
4. edible roots, either round or long
5. used for ants on a log treats
7. usually fried, long and slender pods
8. often paired with cucumbers
10. one of Indiana's biggest crops
13. orange, edible roots
16. called mangoes in Indiana
17. a purple vegetable
Sweet
Summer Time
Across
5. sometimes referred to muskmelon
6. Jet Star & Roma are varieties
9. a cousin of the watermelon plant
11. Squash light yellow in color
12. comes in head or loose leaf types
14. this melon is typically green inside
15. these can be black, red or gold
18. purple pods & Top Crop are varieties
19. Peppers these add a kick to salsa
Down
1. often dark red in color and pickled
2. sometimes used for bread
3. can be eaten on the cob
4. edible roots, either round or long
5. used for ants on a log treats
7. usually fried, long and slender pods
8. often paired with cucumbers
10. one of Indiana's biggest crops
13. orange, edible roots
16. called mangoes in Indiana
17. a purple vegetable
10 | JUNE 2015 x GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

p10KidsCornerJun15.indd 1
5/20/15 9:14 PM
DOWN ON THE FARM
Wild pink roses

By John H. Stoll
MY MOM DIED of brain cancer

on Sept. 3, 2000. She was 53 and had
been diagnosed just six weeks earlier.
I was an 18 year old lad at the time
living my lifelong dream of teaching
school at one of the many Amish parochial schools in my
home community.
As all mothers do,
mine left a significant impact on my
life and the lessons
learned speak louder today than ever
before. Today, I
shall share a simple
childhood memory
as it is particularly relevant this time of
year for two reasons; moms birthday
is June 26 and its the time of year that
the wild pink roses are in bloom on the
farm.
Mom was a simple woman; she
wore no makeup and no jewelry. She
was a full-time stay at home mom. She
was a farmers wife. She worked in the
barn helping with the milking, feeding,
and other chores. She could drive a
team of horses hitched to a plow. Then
she could go to the house and cook a
scrumptious meal or sit down at a quilt
and make tiny intricate stitches - all
with the same pair of hands.
But at the core of all that made up
who my mom was lay a heart of gold
- tender, caring, quiet, and Christ-like.
What other qualities are required?
We were among some of the
worlds most fortunate children and
were totally unaware.
In the summer, around the time of
her birthday on June 26, the wild roses
would bloom in the old cow lane that
led to the back pasture. Prickly, and
full of briars, there was a huge bush situated right in the middle of the barbed
wire fencerow. One of my siblings, or
myself, might surprise her that day
with a big bouquet picked with love
for moms birthday.
About 10 years after Mom passed,

I wrote the following song inspired by
the sight of a bouquet of wild pink roses that still bloom in the old fencerow.
Wild Roses
(Verse 1)
Down the trail of yesteryear; back to
when a child
Up the old cow lane just south of the
house; the roses grew so wild
And often times in the days of June we
children in our play
Would pick a bouquet of wild pink
roses for our moms birthday.
Wed sneak em to the house and put
em in a jar with a little bit of honeysuckle too
Nothing is sweeter than a wild pink
rose shining in the morning dew
Now my mamas gone but the roses
bloom just as sweet and fair
And mama did you get your birthday
roses in your home up there?
(chorus)
Wild roses, wild roses
Today I placed a spray of roses on my
mamas grave
(verse 2)
Itll be ten years since my mama died
and left us struggling here

We think of her most every day and
often shed a tear
But memories live on today in our
minds and hearts
To comfort us until someday we never
more shall part.
I can still see that lopsided grin that
we all came to love
I know there is no other like it in that
home above
Oh, how Id love to take a walk up that
ole cow lane
And pick a bouquet of wild pink roses
for my moms birthday.
While not employed on the family
farm, John does enjoy helping out his
brothers there during planting and
harvest seasons. He is very appreciative of his heritage and is thankful he
was given the opportunity to be raised
a farm boy.
PHOTOS BY JOHN STOLL

p11JohnStollJun15.indd 1
x JUNE 2015 | 11
5/22/15 10:21 PM
MANAGING INVASIVE PLANTS
Knox County Cooperative Weed Management Area

A NEW ORGANIZATION, the

Knox County Cooperative Weed Management Area, is helping woodland
owners, farmers and others recognize
and control invasive plants. Current
members represent a wide spectrum of
concerned citizens: landowners, local
officials, agency employees, farmers,
and local volunteers.
KCCWMA is an arm of Southern
Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM), a volunteer organization covering 35 counties. Troy Hinkle
and Ray Chattin, of the Knox County
Soil and Water Conservation District
(KCSWCD) have been members of
SICIM since 2008.
It became clear that the only way
to effectively address the problem was
on the local level, said Chattin. Hinkle
describes the formation of KCCWMA
as a response to the recognition of a
problem when a group of aware local
individuals work together as a way to
address it.
When alien plant species are
introduced to a new area, a lack of
natural controls can allow them to

multiply rapidly, grow aggressively,
and out-compete native species. They
can change an ecosystem, affecting
all wildlife. Invasive plants become
hazards and expenses.
Almost all invasive plant species
were introduced by people as ornamental plants. The problem centered
in urban areas, then radiated out
INFORMATION ABOUT
INVASIVE PLANTS IN INDIANA
Indiana Native Plant
and Wildflower Society
(INPAWS): www.inpaws.org
Midwest Invasive Plant
Network (MIPN):
www.mipn.org
Southern Indiana
Cooperative Invasives
Management (SICIM): www.
sicim.org
Report invasive plants:
www.entm.purdue.edu/
iisc/reportfinds.php
Overabundance
which makes everyone responsible,

said Chattin. Gardeners and landscapers should be especially aware some
invasive plants, such as burning bush,
vinca, and English ivy, among others,
are still sold by nurseries.
Many are aware of invasive animal
species, such as Asian carp. One little
insect has destroyed 7 percent of the
forest inventory in Indiana. Thats millions of dollars of economic damage,
plus the environmental consequences, said Chattin, who was discussing
the emerald ash bore.
Invasive plant species have the
same impact. One way the KCCWMA
informs and educates is by visiting
concerned landowners. A landowner
might say, Ive been noticing this plant
taking over. We have a conversation,
and the landowner understands
what it is, said Hinkle. Using familiar
invasive plants, Chattin illustrates
that a landowners failure to control
becomes a problem for others.
Imagine farming 100 acres and every
side is infested with Johnson grass
and Canada thistle, and the adjoining
landowners dont care, he said.
The Knox County Cooperative Weed Management Area booth at the 2014 Knox County Fair. | PHOTOS BY TERRI TALAREK KING
12 | JUNE 2015
p12-13NoxiousWeeds.indd 1

5/21/15 6:51 PM
One control method, the Weed

Wrench, helps to remove shrubs
and small trees, as well as their root
systems. It can be borrowed from the
KCSWCD office.
Chattin said a realistic goal is to
stop new invasive plants before they
gain a strong foothold in Knox County.
These include purple loosestrife, phragmites (common cane), Japanese knotweed and callery pear, among others.
KCCWMA started teaching others
to recognize and control invasive species in 2014. A public call-out meeting
featured Kathy Paradise of the Brown
County Native Woodland Project and
the Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District, who discussed how
her heavily wooded county has been
addressing invasive plant problems. A
walk in Ouabache Trails Park helped
participants identify invasive plants.
Ron Rathfon, Purdue Extension Forester for Southwest Indiana, presented
information and hands-on training in
invasive species control. Group volunteers educated Knox County Fair-goers
with an invasive species booth. Members worked to control winter creeper
(Euonymus fortuneii) at Ouabache
Trails Park, and worked with the Knox
County Highway Department, which

sprays roadsides. Members also attend
various workshops and seminars.
An Invasive Species Seminar will
be offered for the public in August
2015 (time and place to be announced)
with speaker Ellen Jacquart, chairman
of the Invasive Plant Advisory Committee. Information and a brief questionnaire will be sent to area woodland
owners, but all interested persons are
welcome to attend this free event.
Invasive plants are a problem
belonging to everyone, and which all
can help control. Its more than just
a problem. Its a threat to ecosystems,
habitats, forest production and wetlands and that threat is growing
exponentially, said Chattin. At some
point in time weve got to clean up this
mess, because we made it.
For information about the Knox
County Cooperative Weed Management Area, the Invasive Species
Seminar, and invasive plants, or to
borrow a Weed Wrench, contact the
Knox County Soil and Water Conservation District office at 604 Quail Run
Road, Vincennes, Indiana or by phone
at 812-882-8210.
One weed control method, the Weed Wrench, helps to remove shrubs and small trees,
as well as their root systems. It can be borrowed from the KCSWCD office.

p12-13NoxiousWeeds.indd 2
x JUNE 2015 | 13
5/21/15 6:51 PM
SHOWING, RAISING,
ADVOCATING
Decker family enjoys
showing sheep while
educating public
By Rama Sobhani
FOLLOWING EACH OTHER is

part of the popular lore that follows
the animals from which we get wool,
meat and, perhaps, sleep. However,
for the better part of six decades, the
Decker family has been following their
sheep, raising them for show and for
food, all the while keeping ravenous
coyotes away and talking to the public about how the fluffy animals can
enrich their lives.
Steven and Darlene Decker started their flock in the early 1980s, after
getting the idea from a family member
who had raised sheep. The Deckers
children, Rex and Ann, grew up around
what always remained a small flock
that was raised for wool, meat and
showing at livestock events around the

country. Its always been just a hobby
for them and what was a family affair
from the start has remained that way
through decades of caring for and traveling with the sheep.
We went to livestock shows all
around the country, Darlene said.
Weve met different people, traveled,
trying to get people to understand that
lamb is a good meat.
The Deckers have shown their
sheep at the Indiana State Fair for 33
years, at the North American International Livestock Exhibition and last
year, Steves and Darlenes granddaughter, McKayla Hitt, showed some
of the family flock at the All American
Junior Sheep show in Hutchinson,
Kansas.
Getting positive reaction to the
idea of eating lamb has been one of
the things that Darlene, in particular, has had a hard time trying to get
people to embrace. Ever since her
family has been raising sheep, Darlene
has made rounds to advocate for lamb
being used as meat, making appear-
ances at local schools and agricultural

events around the area, like Ag Day
at Vincennes University. There, she
said, she found it was difficult to get
area residents to embrace the lamb as
meat notion, something that may go
back to a lingering perception of it as a
low-quality meat.
Soldiers in World War II had bad
experiences with what they were
calling lamb, but it was really mutton,
which is an older sheep used for meat,
Darlene said.
Real lamb, the meat from a young
sheep, doesnt have the poor flavor
that mutton often does and thats what
she tries to get those wondering to
understand.
Rex, who has mostly taken over
the duties of caring for the small flock,
said its not just the difference between
lamb and mutton, but the way the
meat is prepared and how the animal
was raised as well.
What the sheep are eating also
affects the flavor, Rex said. The
grain fed tastes different from the
grass fed.
Of course, sheep are also famous
for wool and thats another thing that
the Deckers dabble in, but because its
so physically demanding, they outsource it to a specialist.
You have to get out and (shear the
sheep) at least once per year, Darlene
Decker said. Its a back-breaking job.
Steven and Darlene Decker, left, started raising sheep in the early 1980s. Ever since then, sheep have remained an enjoyable hobby for the family,
which now includes four grandchildren. Rex Decker, right, feeds some of the sheep as family dog Diesel, a Great Pyrenees who looks after the
livestock, wants some attention as well. | PHOTOS BY MATT GRIFFITH
14 | JUNE 2015
p14-15DeckerSheep.indd 1

5/21/15 10:06 PM
Above, a curious sheep at the Decker farm. Chloe Decker, right,

bottle feeds one of the sheep the Decker family raises.
Steves brother had a guy who did it.

He had a trailer and he traveled around
shearing sheep. Its hard to find people
who will do it.
While Steven and Darlene are not
quite as involved as in the past, their
daughter, Ann, hopes to expand the
flock from the roughly 15 sheep the
family tends to now. Rex said he would

like to sell more of the meat, but the
flock will have to grow before that
happens.
The future of the Decker family
sheep, however, lies with Steve and
Darlenes grandchildren.
Anns children, Makayla and
Corban, and Rexs children, Chloe and

Adron, have already started working
with the family sheep for 4-H shows.
Makayla has even started practicing
with the 4-H livestock judging team.
Im glad theyre keeping the family tradition going, and they enjoy it,
Darlene said.

p14-15DeckerSheep.indd 2
x JUNE 2015 | 15
5/21/15 10:06 PM
THE FUNNIER SIDE OF FARMING

A flavorful discussion on
agriculture and obesity
By Damian Mason
Acceptance
MARK SCHATZKER, FOOD journalist and author, spoke in my hometown recently. I missed his presentation because I too, was on the road
speaking about food and agriculture.
Ive since communicated with Mr.
Schatzker, read his articles, and even got
on the mailing list for his latest book, The
Dorito Effect, released May 5.
Political correctness dictates its

impolite to point out Americas weight
problem. Meanwhile, self-esteem
pushers from Oprah Winfrey on down,
have told Americans they should feel
good about themselves, despite how
winded or uncomfortable they actually feel when they cant navigate a
staircase.
Economics
Food is cheap. For 50 million welfare recipients, food is free. Most modern jobs dont require physical labor
and obesity is not a fire-able offense. If
you are too fat to work, well gladly put
you on disability. So what economic
incentive does an individual have to
stay thin?
Portion size and

exercise
His premise on the current state

of food: Weve dramatically increased
food production but sacrificed taste in
the process. The result is a flavor-hungry society, gorging itself into obesity
on artificially-flavored, otherwise bland
food.
Im a farm boy. I support agricultural advancement. Furthermore, Im
all for letting people eat whatever they
want. But Mr. Schatzker is right. We
do have an obesity epidemic in this
country. Hes also right in his assertion
that North American agriculture has
prioritized production
and cheap
food over the past century.
First, lets talk about the huge
problem of advancing human hugeness. Thirty-five percent of American
adults are obese, another one third are
closer to obese than fit.
The quest for satiating our taste
buds might be a factor in obesity. Id
also point out these reasons:
16 | JUNE 2015
Daily caloric consumption has

increased by more than 500 calories in
just 4 decades. What used to be a large
is now a medium, what was once a
plate for two is a single serving. At the
same time, physical activity is at an
all-time low.
Now then, about production.
Through innovation, agricultural production has outpaced world population growth. No small feat given the
dire predictions of mass starvation
weve heard from prognosticators
throughout history.
Agricultures obsession with volume has been steadily reinforced for a
century.
Starting with the Industrial Revolution, people left farms for factory
jobs. Those who remained picked up
the slack by making more food. The
depression brought hunger, the Dust
Bowl wrought devastation. The response: Hey ag, please produce more
food.
Winning World War II required
rationing, along with a strong message
to ag that victory depended on our
ability to outproduce the enemy.
Winning the Cold War required
technological advancement in our nuclear weapon silos, as well as our grain

silos. Ag responded with efficiency
and production. Soviet premier Nikita
Khrushchev reportedly marveled at
the productive capacity of Iowa. The
Russians could launch Sputnik but
they couldnt feed their people the way
we could.
Enter the 1970s: Legendary Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz tells
American farmers to plant from fence
row to fence row.
Then came the 80s. Agriculture
melted down, a victim of its own surplus output. I had a front-row seat from
my Indiana dairy farm. We watched
our neighbors farms (and their lifes
work) sell at auction. And how could
we keep our own farm from foreclosure? Control expenses and increase
production, of course.
Times change. Consumer preferences change. The customer of tomorrow will demand more natural flavor. I
dont blame them. I like tomatoes but
they taste better out of my garden than
from the store. Same goes for the beef
I raise myself. Americas groceries are
amazing, but its true weve focused
more on quantity, conformity, and
ship-ability than flavor.
Mr. Schatzker represents a rapidly
expanding and profitable segment of
our customer base: foodies. Foodies
arent anti-agriculture radicals hell
bent on putting us out of business.
Theyre well-heeled eaters seeking
a delicious strawberry rather than
synthetic, strawberry -flavored yogurt.
Theyll pay a premium for a tastier
chicken.
Need proof the foodie trend is real?
Witness the success of Whole Foods or
the specialty section at your local grocer. Even Walmart is pushing upscale
food.
Cheap food in large quantity was
the goal of a developing nation; flavorful food is the goal of a developed
nation.
Agriculture, theres business
opportunity in front of us. This time
its about taste buds, not bushels. Lets
keep the flavor discussion moving forward, and lets keep it in good taste.
Damian Mason is a farm owner, ag-vocate, and in demand agricultural speaker.
Find him at www.damianmason.com
p16FunnierFarmingJun15.indd 1
5/2/15 12:29 PM
STRAWBERRY
FIELDS FOR
YEARS
Jeff Blann of Blann Farms began growing strawberries in a 5-acre field behind his shop in
2000. Today the farms strawberry crop spreads across 25 acres and draws customers ready
to purchase or pick the berries from mid-May to mid-June. | PHOTO BY MATT GRIFFITH
Blann family enjoys serving customers who

return each year for red, juicy crop
By Dan Ravellette
JEFF BLANN WASNT even born
when the Beatles hit the music scene
with the song Strawberry Fields Forever in 1967, but since the year 2000,
his Strawberry Fields have topped
the charts with hundreds of loyal,
repeat customers every year at Blann
Berries. Hes extremely proud of what
has been accomplished in the past

14 years on Blann Farms just outside
of the northern Knox County town of
Oaktown.
It all began when Jeff, now president of Blann Farms, Inc., thought
he would like to produce a crop that
was not grown much in this area. He
decided on strawberries and started
out with a five-acre field behind the

shop. Today, 25 acres of beautiful, sandy Knox County farmland are covered
with bright, red, juicy, sweet strawberries every year from mid-May until
mid-June.
One of the most unique features
of Blann Berries is that the berries are
picked fresh every day and are ready
to be purchased at the market near
the office managed by Lori Edwards.
You can also give the entire family a
chance to go to the farm and enjoy
some quality time together while
picking your own strawberries. No
matter how many strawberries you or
your children may eat while picking
in the fields, youll only be charged for
the weight of the strawberries in your
boxes.
While there, patrons can have
pictures taken with a giant strawberry
on an old, antique truck, stick a face
in the hole of an oversized plywood
strawberry and smile for the camera,
or have a contest to see who picks the
most strawberries while eating the
least. Just a few hours at Blann Berries
could add up to a lifetime of precious
family memories.
These are not just your run of the
mill, everyday, ordinary fields either. To
keep the strawberries clean, healthy
and easy to pick, Blann said his berries
are grown on raised beds about six
inches above the ground.
This years crop of plump strawberries will actually be harvested
from plants transplanted in the spring
of 2014. Speaking of ordinary crops,
Blann Farms, Inc., also offers a tremendous selection of sweet corn, watermelon and cucumbers.
Service, pride and quality are the
three key promises on which the Blann
Berries reputation has been built.
We enjoy our customers. Its a
family-owned business and its a pleasure for us to see the same friendly faces coming back year after year, Blann
said. Weve tried to build this business
around quality.
There are some differences between the berries you find on the
shelves of local supermarkets and
those available at Blann Farms.
Our Indiana berries that we grow
here are a lot different than what
youll find in large grocery stores, said
Blann, adding that California berries
are bred and produced for shipping
and a longer shelf life.
Blann berries are planted with the
local peoples pleasure in mind and
Jeff is more than happy to
444

p17-19BlannBerries.indd 1
x JUNE 2015 | 17
5/22/15 9:59 PM
are sold wholesale and can be found

in local grocery stores and farmers
markets but the bulk of the springtime treats are sold right on the farm.
Convenient eight-quart flats; individual
quart boxes or 10-pound boxes with
wire handles are provided as part of
the overall Blann service promise. He
emphasized that its vitally important
that customers take their berries home
in a nice package with the Blann name
stamped on it.
With the advent of social media,
its easy to learn more about Blann
Berries by logging on to www.blannberries.com. Even though its located
outside of Oaktown, the signs and banners along the way will direct you to
Blann Berries and all the delicious and
nutritious strawberries you can eat.
Blann Berries is open from 9 a.m. to 6
p.m., Monday through Friday; from 9
a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, and from
noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Whether you pick the berries right
out of the field, or choose the ones that
are ready and waiting for you, youll
see why Blann Berries is known by
their slogan A family of caretakers
who cuts no corners.
Young strawberry plants rest in the field with the grain silos as a backdrop on the Blann
farm. | PHOTO BY MATT GRIFFITH
trade the shelf life of a foreign-grown

strawberry for what he describes as a
juicy, red berry with lots of sugar and
lots of flavor grown right here in his

own backyard.
Blann said that many strawberries
SENIOR
NIGHT
We still peel our potatoes.
RESTAURANT $ 99
ENJOY OUR HOMEMADE
AMISH BUFFET
AND
AKERY
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Every Wednesday 4-8 PM
Adult Dinner Buffet
Mon.-Thurs. 11 AM-8 PM
Fri. & Sat. 11 AM-9 PM; Sun.11 AM-3 PM
GROUPS WELCOME
Call ahead for parties of 10 or more.

Meeting & Banquet Facilities Catering
GASTHOF
FLEA
MARKET
Open every
Tues., Wed,
& Sat.
9 AM-3 PM
Now thru
Nov. 1st
Ages
55+
00
OFF
ADULT
DINNER BUFFET
(drink not included)
On-Site Hotel
Group Rates,
Discounted Meals,
Free Wi-Fi & Audio
Visual Equipment
Monday-Saturday 4-8 PM Only
Limit 4 adults per coupon. Not valid with other coupons, discounts or
promotions. NOT VALID ON HOLIDAYS. Expires 7/31/15. Growing mag.
GASTHOF SUMMER FESTIVAL

SAT., JUNE 13 10 am-4 pm
BANQUET ROOMS
Variety of Craft Vendors

Flea Markets Kettle Korn
Gospel Entertainment in our
Gazebo (bring your lawn chairs)
Barrel Train Inflatable Fun
Amish Made Fried Pies
2 Banquet Buildings
Allow 24 hour access
Gift Shops: The Blue Door and

The Pig & Fiddle will be open too
4 Private Meeting Rooms

Accommodate up to 300 people
Gasthof Restaurant Open 11 am-9 pm
Let us host your... Anniversary Party,

Class Reunion, Family Reunion,
Birthday Party, Business Meeting,
Wedding Reception, Religious Retreat
JULY 4TH
LABOR DAY SEPT. 7TH
Gasthof Restaurant Open 11 am-8 pm
SAT. SEPT 19TH
Gasthof Quilt Auction & Fall Festival
6659 E. Gasthof Village Rd., Montgomery, IN

1/2 Mile N. US Hwy. 50 www.gasthofamishvillage.com 812-486-4900
18 | JUNE 2015

5/22/15 9:59 PM
Not only are strawberries delicious,

theyre healthy, too. They protect
your heart; increase HDL (good)
cholesterol; lower blood pressure
and
guard
against
cancer.
Strawberries are packed with
vitamins, fiber and have particularly
high levels of antioxidants known as
polyphenols. They are sodium- free,
fat-free, cholesterol-free and low in
calories. Strawberries are among
the top 20 fruits in antioxidant
capacity and are a good source of
manganese and potassium. Just one
serving, about eight strawberries,
provides more vitamin C than an
orange.
Source: WebMD
Strawberries in the field, top left, are ready for picking. Blann also sells strawberries wholesale, top right, to local grocery stores and farmers
markets. | PHOTOS PROVIDED
A 1949 Chevy pickup complete with a giant strawberry promotes some of the Blann Farm products. | PHOTO BY MATT GRIFFITH
x JUNE 2015 | 19
5/22/15 9:59 PM
COUNTY FAIR INFORMATION

2015 DAVIESS COUNTY
4-H SHOW SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern)
July 14
Consumer Clothing Notebooks due
in Extension Office by 4 p.m.
July 15
6 p.m. Dog Agility 4-H Grounds
Consumer Clothing & Sewing
(Construction plus Fashion Sewing
Revue judging). Barr Reeve High
School - Refer to Consumer Clothing
& Sewing letter for judging times.
(NO judging for the Sewing project
on July 18th).
7 p.m. Public Fashion Revue and
Awards presentation for Sewing &
Consumer Clothing projects, (Public
Speaking & Demonstrations activity)
Barr Reeve High School.
July 17
4-7 p.m. - Project Check-in non-perishables (Grades 3-12 Only)
4-7 p.m. Photography Check-in &
4-H Community judging - CHANGE
July 18
8:30 a.m. - Horse & Pony Show, 4-H
Arena (Mini Horse & Pony classes)
9 a.m. - Noon Mini Projects Check-in
& meet with Judges
2015 KNOX COUNTY 4-H

SHOW SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern)
July 11
8-11 a.m. 4-H Non-perishable General
Projects judged. Non-perishable Mini
4-H exhibits accepted.
9 a.m. Project judging Exhibit

building closed
July 19
5 - 8 p.m. Livestock check-in BEEF,
DAIRY, SHEEP, GOAT, SWINE,
RABBITS, & POULTRY MUST BE
ENTERED ON SUNDAY EVENING.
(Includes mini livestock projects)
7-9 p.m. 4-H Exhibit Building open
to public
July 20
Grandstand Admission prices: TBA
July 19
Livestock may arrive after 4 p.m.
and must be in place by 10 p.m. (except horses). Livestock superintendents will determine weigh-in times.
20 | JUNE 2015
p20FairSchedules15.indd 1
5:15 p.m. Goat (Wether) Auction

photos
July 21
5:45 p.m. Opening Ceremonies
8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. 4-H Exhibit Buildings open to public
6:00 p.m. Goat - Mini 4-H Goat Class

followed by 4-H Goat Show
10 a.m. Action Demonstrations, 4-H

Building
Livestock not consigned to 4-H

auction released after Goat show is
completed.
5:30 p.m. Swine Sale photos
9 a.m.-noon 4-H community judging

for Flowers, Foods, Cake Decorating,
Garden
9:30 p.m. Exhibit Building closes
12:30 p.m. - Judging of 4-H projects,

4-H exhibit buildings closed.
12:30 p.m. 4-H livestock exhibitors
& parents meeting, 4-H arena - 4-H
steers will be weighed immediately
following the meeting.
1 p.m. Feeder calves and Beef
weigh in.
2 p.m. Poultry judging, 4-Her or a
representative must be present at
the judging.
6 p.m. Swine Mini 4-H Swine Class

followed by 4-H Swine Show
July 22
8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. 4-H Building open
to public
9 a.m. Rabbit - Mini 4-H Rabbit Class
followed by 4-H Rabbit Show In
Arena.
1 p.m. Dairy - Mini 4-H Dairy Class
followed by 4-H Dairy Show
8 p.m. TRUCK PULL In Grandstand

8 p.m. Free Entertainment at the VU
Pavilion
8 a.m. 4-H Poultry Show Small

Animal Barn
July 22
7 p.m. 2015 Knox County Fair Queen

Contest at the VU Pavilion
8 p.m. TRACTOR PULL - (ORVTPA)l
in Grandstand
July 21
7:30 a.m. 4-H Swine Show Livestock Arena
8:30 a.m. 4-H Dog Show, Obedience
& Showmanship - Old 4-H Building
3:00 p.m. 4-H Cat Show - Old 4-H
Building
5:30 p.m. 4-H Goat Show - Livestock
Arena
7 p.m. Tiny Tot Contest at the VU
Pavilion. ($5.00 entry fee must be to
the Fair Office by FRIDAY, July 19
at 5 p.m. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL
BE ACCEPTED.) Check in from
6-6:45 p.m.
9 a.m. Dog Mini 4-H Dog obedience and showmanship followed by

4-H Dog Show 4-H exhibit building
1 p.m. - Round Robin Showmanship
Contest, livestock arena
6:45 p.m. 10 year member presentations in livestock arena
7 p.m. - Livestock auction (clean-up
& pizza party to follow auction at
approximately 10 p.m.)
July 25
8:30-11 a.m. Clean-up
9:30 p.m. Exhibit Building closes
711 a.m. Open Class Department

exhibits accepted.
9 a.m. 4-H Rabbit Show Livestock

Arena
July 24
7 p.m. Beef Mini 4-H Beef Class,

Feeder Calves followed by 4-H Beef
Show followed by County Bred
and Owned classes
July 20
4 p.m. 4-H Hose & Pony Fun Class
8-10:30 p.m. Knox County Rodeo presented by Wotten Rodeo Production.

NEW this Year!
7 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 4-H Building open

to public.
8 a.m.-noon Regular 4-H check

in perishable projects (see list in
newsletter)
1 p.m. 4-H Tractor Driving Contest at

Fairgrounds
Open Class (non-perishable) entries

accepted.
7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. - All 4-H (non-livestock) exhibits released
11 a.m. Cat, Mini 4-H Cat Class followed by 4-H Cat Show, Decorated
Cat cages classes (exhibit building)
July 12
8-11 a.m. 4-H Cake Decorating, Corn,

Create-a-Mix, Flowers, Foods, Food
Preservation, Garden, Microwave
Cooking, Potatoes, Soybeans, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Wheat, and ALL
Sewing exhibits entered; also Mini
4-H exhibits.
July 23
7 p.m. Sheep Mini 4-H Sheep Class

followed by 4-H Sheep Show
7-10 a.m. Beef & Dairy (if possible

please check in Sunday) all other
species must be entered on Sunday.
Noon-3 p.m. Open Class judging
July 18
6:30 p.m. Sheep auction photos
3 p.m. Ag Olympics Live Stock

Arena
7 p.m. Round Robin Showmanship
Livestock Arena
8 a.m. 4-H Beef Show Livestock

Arena
8 p.m. FREE Entertainment VU

Pavilion
5:30 p.m. 4-H Sheep Show - Livestock

Arena
8 p.m. MUD HOG WRESTLING In

Grandstand ($30 per team entry fee
must be to Fair Office by Wednesday, July 22 at 9 p.m. NO LATE
ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.)
6 p.m. Childrens Pedal Tractor Pull

($5 entry fee per child. Children must
be between 4 & 10 years old. All entries due to the Fair office by 9 p.m.
Tuesday, July 21. NO LATE ENTRIES
WILL BE ACCEPTED.)
July 24
8 p.m. Free Entertainment in the VU

pavilion
5:30 p.m. 4-H Livestock Auction

Livestock Arena
8 p.m. MUD DRAG RACING In

Grandstand
5:30, 7 and 8:30 p.m. FREE Entertainment in VU Pavilion
9 p.m. Mud Hog Wrestling entries

close. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE
ACCEPTED.
8 p.m. MOTOCROSS RACING in

Grandstand
8 a.m. 4-H Horse & Pony judging:

Performance Classes in Horse Arena
July 23
9 p.m. 4-H and Open Class exhibit

building close.
8 a.m. 4-H Dairy Show in the Livestock Arena
9:30-10:30 p.m. 4-H and Open Class

exhibits released NO EARLIER
9 a.m. 4-H Horse & Pony judging:

Halter Class in Horse Arena
July 25
3 p.m. Premiums may be secured for

exhibits in the 4-H Building.
8 p.m. FREE Entertainment in VU

Pavilion
8 p.m. DEMOLITION Derby in
Grandstand ALL seats $8
5/22/15 10:18 PM
DIESEL COMPETITION REVVING UP

Wagler Diesel
Competition inaugural
event in Elnora
By Lindsay Owens
DIESEL ENTHUSIASTS, PREPARE to get your engines running
on June 5 and 6 when the inaugural
Wagler Diesel Competition makes its
way to the Daviess County Fairgrounds
in Elnora.
The Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League,
which has a large following, will offer
truck pulls, garden tractor pulls, ShowN-Shine and Dyno contests and more.
Event organizer Jeremy Wagler said
the diesel competition is something he
has wanted to see in the area for quite
a while now.
The nearest show thats similar to
this is Scheid in Terre Haute, said Wagler.
Its really a big deal to be able to get
something like this to come to our area. A
lot of the people that will be there travel
the circuit all summer and this will be one
of the first events of the year.
While the garden tractor pulls are

only open to competitors on the Lucas
Oil tour, the truck pull, Show-N-Shine
and Dyno contests are all open to those
brave enough to put his or her diesel
to the test. Registration and entry fee
is required and the winners receive a
cash payout.
Powered by CountryMark Premium
Dieselex-4 and delivered by White River
Co-op, the truck pulling events will
feature multiple classes including super
stock diesel trucks, 3.0 diesel trucks
and 2.6 diesel trucks.
This is going to be a really nice
two-day event for diesel enthusiasts
from around the Midwest, said CountryMark Business Development Manager Joe Rollins, in a press release on the
competition. We are thrilled to be the
official fuel for this event and to be able
to demonstrate the power and performance of our Premium Dieselex-4 in
this environment.
Vendors, live entertainment,
demonstrations, concessions, and radio
controlled truck pulling events will also
take place.
The event opens at 9 a.m. both
days with the Lucas Oil Pulling League
Points Series taking the track at noon.
The Shine-N-Show and Dyno contests
will run from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. each
day. Vendor row closes at 5 p.m. daily
and the Live Country Band will take the
stage from 9 to 11 each night. The garden tractor pull will take place Saturday
from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
We are really going to have
something for everyone to enjoy, said
Wagler.
Admission is $25 per person
per day or $40 per person for
weekend passes. Children age 10
and under are $10 per day. For more
information, visit www.facebook.com/
WaglerCompetitionProducts/timeline
or call 812-636-0391.

p21DieselEvent.indd 1
x JUNE 2015 | 21
5/21/15 9:25 PM
AG EDUCATION
Get ready to bring

in the harvest!
By J. Scott Monroe, Jennifer
Stefancik and Karel Kirschner
SUMMER HAS ONCE again

returned to the area. With the weather
continuing to warm up, gardens will
soon be bursting forth with natures
bounty. As we all enjoy fresh produce
from the garden and work to preserve
food for the winter that we know
will return, it is important to manage
produce in such a way that we dont
create opportunities for the introduction of foodborne pathogens. Following
a few simple steps can reduce the risk
of microbial contamination.
In the garden, care should be
taken to minimize the presence of
both wild and domestic animals. Dogs,
deer, and other wildlife can introduce
foodborne pathogens. It is also a good
idea for everyone to wash their hands
before picking or otherwise handling
produce. Placing harvested produce
into clean containers (ideally cleaned
before each harvest) can also reduce
contamination risk. Gardeners should
have one or two containers that they
keep clean and use exclusively for
holding harvested produce. Irrigating
from a clean water source (such as a
municipal system or well) is a good
way to reduce
the
22 | JUNE 2015
p22MonroeJun15.indd 1
risk of contamination.
Whether items are from the garden
or the local produce stands or farmers markets, fresh produce should be
preserved as quickly as possible. The
time to start thinking about preserving produce is prior to harvest. Start
by checking your equipment and
supplies. Proper equipment in good
condition is required for safe, high
quality home canned food. A pressure
canner is essential for canning low-acid vegetables (pH less than 4.6), meats,
fish, and poultry. Two basic types are
available. One has a dial gauge to indicate the pressure inside the canner;
the other has a metal weighted gauge.
Dial gauges must be tested for accuracy before each canning season. For information on testing a dial gauge, call
your county Extension Office. Check
the rubber gasket if your canner has
one; it should be flexible and soft, not
brittle, sticky or cracked. Also make
sure any small pipes or vent ports with
openings are clean and open all the
way through.
A boiling water canner is needed
for canning other foods such as fruits,
pickles, jellies and jams. The canner
should be deep enough to allow at
least one to two inches of water to boil
over the tops of the jars. Both types
of canners should have a rack in the
bottom to keep jars off the bottom of
the canner. Inventory your jars and
decide if you need to buy new
jars this year. Inspect
those you have for
nicks, cracks or chips,
especially around
the top sealing edge.
Nicks can prevent lids
from sealing. Very
old jars can weaken
with age and repeated use, causing
them to break under
pressure and heat.
Consider investing
in new jars if you
need to, and watch
for specials at the
stores. New jars are
a better investment over time than

buying used jars at yard sales or flea
markets. Mason-type jars specifically
designed for home canning are best.
Jars that use two-piece self-sealing
metal lids are the recommended container in USDA guidelines. A must
every canning season is new flat lids.
Used lids should be thrown away. The
screw bands are re-usable if they are
not bent, dented or rusted.
A final must is reliable, up-to-date
canning instructions. Publications and
information are available at your county Extension Office, or the National
Center for Home Food
Preservation website (http://
nchfp.uga.edu/). The most recently
revised edition of the USDA Complete
Guide to Home Canning is dated
2009; all recommendations in this
book are current. To order, visit the
Purdue University Education Store
(https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/). The
University of Georgia Cooperative
Extension Service also sells So Easy
to Preserve, a comprehensive book
with information on all types of home
food preservation. The order form for
the book can be printed from (www.
soeasytopreserve.com). Directions for
payment and mailing or faxing orders
are on that order form.
Be sure to look at the instructions
for what you want to preserve well
before you are ready to prepare the
food. You may need time to purchase
some ingredients and small pieces of
equipment that are necessary to prepare the food exactly as the directions
indicate. For example, there are a few
products listed in the USDA Complete
Guide to Home Canning (starches) that
are only available through mail order
for most locations. Planning ahead can
save you time, money, and frustration
with home canning. Make it a happy,
successful canning season by getting
prepared.
This summer, Purdue Extension
will be offering Hands-On workshops
for making salsa (July 30), and vegetables (Aug 20). Contact Jennifer
Stefancik at jstefanc@purdue.edu or
812-254-8668 or Karel Kirschner at
kkirschn@purdue.edu or 812-882-3509
for more information. Cost is $10 per
class and class size is limited.

5/20/15 9:41 AM
AN ENTHUSIASTIC
ANGUS QUEEN
Miss American Angus Queen Maddi Butler started showing cattle when she was 10 years
old. | PHOTO BY KELLY OVERTON
Maddi Butler shares

knowledge about
Angus industry
By Lindsay Owens
IF YOU ASK Knox County native
Maddi Butler to tell you about the
Angus cattle industry, be prepared. As
the reigning Miss American Angus, its
her job to promote the industry; but
when Butler talks about her beloved
Angus, the passion for what she does

is evident and she can provide you
with more information than those unfamiliar with the industry may have ever
imagined.
Its a really neat honor and the
Angus is a really neat breed, said
Butler, who is studying animal science
at Hutchinson (Kansas) Community
College. Throughout the year I get to
travel to all the Angus shows and promote the industry at shows, schools,
grocery stores and anywhere else that
will have me.
Butler said her uncle encouraged
her to start showing the cattle when

she was just 10 years old. She showed
in 4-H and Indiana Angus Association
shows but always heard about the bigger shows and national competitions.
I would hear people talking about
Junior Nationals, which is a weeklong
event filled with contests and competitions, said Butler, who always wanted
to attend the big shows. When Junior
Nationals were in Louisville in 2012,
it was close enough I was able to go.
I think I signed up for about every
contest there was. I was hooked on
showing.
Butler said while the number of
shows one can compete in each year
is not limited, the Angus can only be
shown until they are about 2 years old.
Those taking part in the national
competition were announced at the
National Junior Show in July and were
the five highest placing scholarship
winners.
Preparations for Miss American
Angus, held each fall, required Butler
to know specifications for certified
Angus and other information pertinent
to the industry. The National Junior
Angus Association does a really
great job when it comes to educating
youth among other things. That really
helped me prepare for the national
competition.
During the national competition,
Butler said she and the other four
finalists had to give a speech, answer
impromptu questions and a 20-minute
interview in addition to the test on
industry knowledge.
I didnt think Id make the top
five, said Butler. When I went to
Kansas City, I was really happy to
just be there for the experience. I just
thought it would be a great opportunity to bond with others who share my
passion.
Until November when the next
Miss American Angus is crowned, Butler will continue to promote the industry and appear at some of the shows
she always dreamed about attending
when she was little.
Most of the events are in June
and July so theres a lot of traveling
but I am so excited to share my love of
the Angus industry with everyone. Its
been such a rewarding experience so
far, said Butler.

p23AngusQueen.indd 1
x JUNE 2015 | 23
5/21/15 12:31 PM
NORTH DAVIESS FFA AWARDS PROGRAM

FFA announces new officers
during annual banquet
Farmer award. Rena Byers won the

Star Greenhand award.
Abigail Clifford, North Daviess
FFA chapter president, introduced
Submitted by Gary Stuckey
gathered throughout the year and
NORTH DAVIESS FFA

celebrated its annual awards banquet
recently. More than 140 members and
guests attended.
The officers presented the awards
a few special awards. Erin Abel
the guest speaker for the evening,
received the CPS award and the Star
Indiana FFA State Secretary Skylar
Ag Placement award. Taylor Mallett
Clingan. He spoke of his time in the
was awarded the Dekalb award,
FFA and the impact it has had on his
Scholastic award and the Star Chapter
North Daviess FFA members pose for a photograph during the annual awards banquet.
| PHOTO PROVIDED
life. Clingan also gave his advice to

the North Daviess FFA members, and
told of the joys of the FFA.
After Clingans presentation, Erin
Abel introduced Bryce Knepp to say
the official creed for the guests.
During the banquet, new officers
were officially announced. The new
officers for the 2015-16 year are: Jessa
Newby, president; Abigail Clifford,
vice president; Carrie Winklepleck,
secretary; Abby Holstine, treasurer;
Deion Archer, reporter and Brandon
Arne, sentinel.
Congratulations to all the FFA
members for a great year and their
accomplishments.
Complete the form below, include your check, money order or credit card information and mail to:
P.O. Box 471, Washington, IN 47501
Name:
Sign me up
to receive Address:
GROWING
Magazine Phone:
5 Issues per Paying by: Check or Money Order
year
Credit Card:
24 | JUNE 2015
p24NDFFA.indd 1
Exp.

5/21/15 10:01 PM
C OME JU DGE
for Yourself.
GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill. Bring your clubs
and come take on Judge hole number 1, voted the favorite hole on the Trail. Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining, firepits and
guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course. With the Marriotts 20,000 square feet of meeting space, 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential
Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses, business and pleasure can definitely interact in Prattville.
THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course
September 18 to 24, 2014. The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabamas Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
Visit www.rtjgolf.com or call 800.949.4444 to learn more.
p25RTJJun15.indd 1
RTJ746JudgePRATT_CNHIMags.indd 1
5/21/15 7:04 PM
3/28/14 12:17 PM
CALENDAR
EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY
Farmers Market of Historic

Vincennes at the Riverfront
Pavilion
Open every Wednesday from 4 p.m. 7:30
p.m. and every Saturday from 8 a.m. 1
p.m. Locally grown produce, plants, crafts
and more.
58 and comedian Brad Tassell, vendors,

tractor pull and more and more. Visit
www.carlislebicentennialcelebration2015.
org for more information and a complete
list of events.
JUNE 12-13
Shelburn Old Fashioned Days
JUNE 5-6
Call 812-607-0040 or find them on Facebook

for more information.
Wagler Competition Pull
JUNE 13
Daviess County Fairgrounds, Elnora.

Champions Tour:ARPSuper Stocks Diesel
FWDs TS PerformanceSilver Series:
Air dog3.0 Diesel Trucks Ag Protect
1Midwest Region: Scheid Diesel Service
Co., Inc.2.6 Diesel Trucks.
Chris Girton at the Boot City Opry
JUNE 5 -7
Daviess County Fair
7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased

online at www.bootcityopry.com or by
calling 812-299-8379.
Elnora
Featuring vendors, food booths and more.

Contact Emily Condon at 815-674-1302
or visit www.meronindiana.org for more
information.
JUNE 20
JUNE 6
The Marlins at the Boot City Opry
JULY 3-4
Travis Burkhart Foundation Annual

Ride for Recovery Open Top Poker
Run
Call 812-257-4492 for more information.
JUNE 7
West Boggs Park and Spark Car

Show
West Boggs Park. Call 812-295-3421 for more
information.
JUNE 10-14
Carlisle Bicentennial Celebration

Featuring Silly Safari, carnival rides, live
entertainment by the group Highway
Wheatland. Great entertainment for the

whole family. A chicken noodle dinner will
be served Friday evening at the Methodist
Church from 5 p.m. 6 p.m. with bands
performing at 7 p.m. Saturday will feature
games, food, a car show and tractor show.
JULY 11
Summer Fest featuring Sammy

Kershaw and David Ball
Montgomery Ruritan grounds.
Mary Pfeifer: A Tribute to Patsy Cline

Boot City Opry at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15
and can be purchased online at www.
bootcityopry.com or by calling 812-299-8379.
JUNE 6
Wheatfest
JUNE 19-27
Merom Bluff Chautauqua
7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased

calling 812-299-8379.
JULY 10 11
Horse Progress Days

Nick Grabers Farm (9334E CR 800N,
Montgomery). Demonstrations and more.
Fourth of July festivities

Sullivan Park and Lake, the George Rogers
Clark Memorial in Vincennes and Eastside
Park in Washington.
JULY 9
Southwest Purdue Field Day

Southwest Purdue Ag Center in Vincennes.
Field Day will begin at 8:30 a.m. until lunch.
Youth activities, high tunnels, vegetable, corn,
soybean, canola, grape and biomass tree
production. PARP credit available immediately
after lunch. For more information, call the Ag
Center at 812-886-9661.
PHOTOS BY KELLY OVERTON
JULY 18
Emily Portman at the Boot City

Opry
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased
calling 812-299-8379.
JULY 25
David Ball at the Boot City Opry

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased
calling 812-299-8379.
AUG. 1
Knox County Watermelon Festival

and the Great American Grill-Off
Vincennes. Featuring a color run, games,
crafts, flea market, pet contest, free
watermelon, Miss Watermelon pageant
and more. Call 812-882-6440 for more
information.
AUG. 1-2
Washington Conservation Clun 3D

Archery Bow Shoot
26 | JUNE 2015
p26CalendarJun15.indd 1

5/13/15 3:42 PM
MY RURAL ROOTS
Spring babies: Start training early
for a well-mannered animal later
By Angie J. Mayfield
MY FAVORITE PART of spring

is all the new babies on the farm. I am a
fifth generation farmer and equestrian,
so spring foals are a common sight in
one of our pastures. Growing up, my
family raised, trained, worked, and trail
rode various breeds
of equines, but the
mules quickly became my favorite. A
cross between a male
donkey (a Jack) and a
female horse (Mare),
their personality,
intelligence, sure-footedness, and stamina made them irresistible not to mention those adorable
long ears.
I wasnt expecting a mule baby
this year. We tried to breed one of our
older mares, but she didnt take and I
decided to wait. After all, with 150 students, three magazine columns, a garden, plus a husband, three kids, eight
equines, three bottle-fed raccoons and
lambs, and numerous chickens, ducks,
and pigs to care for on the farm
didnt I have enough to do?
Still, I was disappointed. Theres
just nothing cuter than a baby mule.
Then, the first week in April, a friend
sent me some pictures of a sorrel molly
(female mule) foal with a white star on
her forehead, and I was in love. We figured out a trade that included guineas,
chickens, and two months of training
for one of her equines (yes, we are rednecks) and Dixieland Delight and her
Quarter horse momma, Moonshine,
came into my life. Doug didnt even
argue when I told him I was driving to
Tennessee to pick them up. Hes seen
that look in my eyes before.
I was a little worried at first. Im a
huge believer in foal imprint training.
Before it had an official name, except
what we called bonding with the new
baby, I had seen firsthand over the
past 45 years the difference spending
time with a foal (or any animal) immediately after birth can make. Handling
that baby from the beginning when it
is most vulnerable and open to receiving new stimuli can produce dramatic
results and a positive human/mule

relationship.. Our presence, touch, and
training leads to submission, not fear,
and the foal sees us as a dominant
equine or leader and trusts us and
becomes dependent on us.
Since the mule foal was already
two weeks old and not accustomed
to human contact, I worried that I
wouldnt be able to produce that trust
or strong relationship as easily. My
fears dissipated considerably right
away. The mother, a large Percheron/
quarter horse mix, was a big pet and
not at all concerned about my presence. She allowed me to pet her, appreciated the alfalfa hay I brought, and
loaded right into the trailer. Although
the baby wasnt sure she wanted me
to touch her, she was curious.
Once at home, the desensitization
began as soon as she jumped out of
the trailer. She stayed close to her
mother and took it all in with curiosity. After a while, curiosity took over
and she approached me. She allowed
me to pet her on the neck and back
and scratch behind her ears and on
her backside a bit, but she backed
away quickly any time I tried to touch
her face.
The next day, I spent a couple
hours with my new baby. I fed Momma
some grain and petted and brushed
her, letting baby see I was not a threat.

She would prance around and watch
me, come close enough for me to touch
her, and then run off in a mad dash.
I caught myself calling her Fireball
more than once, and the nickname
stuck. That fiery red color, ornery personality, and sudden bursts of energy
seemed appropriate.
By the third day, Momma came
running from her hay bale when she
saw me because she knew Id have
grain or treats. Therefore, Fireball ran
to greet me too, though I could tell she
really didnt know what all the fuss was
about. This time I drove the four-wheeler, and I brought the kids and the dogs.
Fireball was a little nervous at first, but
after she decided the four-wheeler and
dogs were just other strange-looking
creatures that were annoying but no
threat, she calmed down.
Fireball is a month old now, and
each day we become a little closer.
I continue to introduce her to new
noises, objects, and stimuli. Quite the
character, she has now started trying
to push Momma out of the way so she
can steal her grain. After finally gaining enough trust to put a halter on her,
we are now working on learning to
lead and tie. Her patience needs work
as does mine.
Angie J. Mayfield is an Associate Professor at Vincennes University, author,
equestrian, and organic farmer who lives
near Loogootee, Indiana. She can be contacted at profmayfield@yahoo.com
Fireball, a young sorrel molly, has joined Angie Mayfields family farm and stolen
their hearts.| PHOTO BY ANGIE J. MAYFIELD

p27MyRuralRootsJun15.indd 1
x JUNE 2015 | 27
5/7/15 3:14 PM
NUTS, BOLTS AND LAPTOPS

Vincennes University student Joseph James of Leopold is enrolled in the John Deere Program at VU. The program pairs VU students with John
Deere dealerships to provide hands-on education for future technicians. | PHOTOS BY BILL RICHARDSON
John Deere Program at Vincennes

University develops qualified technicians
By Bill Richardson
IF YOU CAN comprehend the
idea that machinery can be fixed with
a laptop rather than a wrench, then the
two-year John Deere Program offered
by Vincennes University might be just
what youre looking for.
Started in the fall of 1993, the program pairs a VU student with a John
Deere dealership in order to put what
he or she learns to use. All students
work at a dealership during the summer between their first and second
years in the program, and some are
able to work part-time while attending
VU. When they leave the university,
theyll graduate with associates in science degrees.
Tim Hale, chairman of the program
after spending 28 years working for
John Deere, said the object is to devel28 | JUNE 2015
p28-30VUJohnDeere.indd 1
op qualified technicians.
John Deere looked at this several
years ago, and there was an increasing
demand for good technicians, said
Hale. The technology was growing.
People were retiring and we needed to
fill that gap.
The program at VU is one of 16 at
colleges throughout the United States.
Outside of Vincennes, the nearest
program is located in Mattoon, Illinois.
Most are in the Midwest, as well as the
southern states, according to Hale.
The best part of the whole program is that the graduates will have
jobs waiting on them.
There are more job openings than
there are technicians out there, Hale
said. So anyone who graduates can
get a job with a John Deere dealership
throughout the country.
According to Hale, approximately
25 students enter the program at VU

every year. A large majority of the
students survive and end up working
for John Deere.
Once upon a time, most of the
students enrolled in the program had a
rural background Hale said but thats
not necessarily true anymore.
Were seeing less and less come
from farms because the family farm is
kind of going away, said Hale, a native
of Worthington who has been with the
program for 16 years. We have some
come from farms and we have some
from metropolitan areas. Every once in
a while well get a student whos never
been on a farm tractor before.
Hale is joined by instructors Larry
Stremming, Levi Lumm and Larry
Bland. Lumm and Bland are graduates
of the program.
Weve all got a John Deere background, Hale said. We all worked in
John Deere dealerships and then came
here and started teaching what we
learned.
Students like the fact that the pro-

5/21/15 10:12 PM
gram is hands on.

First-year student Jeremy Lane is
a 2014 graduate of Vincennes Lincoln.
Hes already working part-time for
Alliance Tractor, the Vincennes John
Deere dealer, and will serve his 10week internship there this summer.
We gain a lot of first-hand working
experience, he said. Thats going to
help when you get into the real working world. Its like were getting a head
start.
First-year student Tristan Knicely, who graduated from Oblong High
School in Illinois in 2014, works for the
Alliance Tractor franchise in Newton,
Illinois.
Weve already learned a lot, he
said. When were finished here, we
should be able to make good money.
I hope to get on full-time at the store
where Im working now.
According to Hale, students spend
70 to 80 percent of their time in the lab
working on equipment.
But the other 20 to 30 percent of
the time, spent on laptops diagnosing
issues, is equally important.
We try to make it as real-world as
we can, he said. (The students) are
constantly on the computer. Thats
where we get all of our service information. Thats another avenue, while
theyre here. They learn how to get
through that computer and diagnose
problems.
Unlike the traditional college
students, those in the John Deere program often develop a bond because
they spend so much time together.
We have a limit of 25 students, so
its a small group, Hale said. We get
to know each other, personally, pretty
well. So yeah, we have fun. But when
its time to work, its time to work.
Students in the program take
traditional college courses on the main
VU campus. The laboratory part of the
program is conducted at the Purdue University Extension Offices, located just a
few miles north of Vincennes on U.S. 41.
Hale estimates that about onethird of the students are able to
commute from their homes, while the
others live either in the VU dorms or
off campus.
A lot of our students are from the
northern part of Indiana, he said. We
also get a lot of students from Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois.
First-year students take their traditional classes, such as English or math,
during the morning then meet Monday
through Friday at the lab from 1 p.m.
until 5 p.m.
Its just the opposite for the second-year students, who work at the lab
during morning hours, then return to
campus for classes.
By the time they are finished, the
students generally rack up 80 credit
hours or more.
Hale stresses that graduates are
qualified to work on all John
444
John Deere Program students Jeremy Lane and Tristan Knicely are both employed with the
Alliance Tractor franchise. They say working in the field has given them hands-on experience
and believe the experience will help them after graduation.

x JUNE 2015 | 29
5/21/15 10:12 PM
Stephanie Forshey, of Richmond, Virginia, lifts a piece of equipment, left. Tim Hale, chairman of the John Deere program at VU, looks over a piece
of equipment with Levi Burgess of Mooresville, Indiana, right.
Deere products from the tiniest

weed-eater to the largest piece of farm
machinery.
What does someone want to do
when he graduates? Does he want
to service small equipment or large
equipment? We try to get them experi-
ence while theyre here to work on all

of those things, said Hale.
Hale said he finds it rewarding
when the students succeed.
I like seeing the achievement and
advancement, he said. Some of them
come in here really knowing nothing
about repairing equipment. To see them

achieve their goals and graduate, to see
them doing well, makes me feel good.
For more information about the
program go to www.vinu.edu/dieseland-john-deere.
We understand the importance of family and

farming traditions, and well bring safety, security,
At Midwest Ag, we are
ag people
serving
ag people.
30 | JUNE 2015
and a personal approach to your table. At Midwest Ag,

we keep our promises. Its about being dependable and
doing what we said we were going to doprotecting
and taking care of you.
Put your trust in usyour future
and those that will fill your shoes
depend on it.
Loan officers Mike Cecil and
Brandon Decker, and crop insurance
specialist Kallie Burke-Schuckman
(812) 257-8801 |
www.midwestag.com

5/21/15 10:12 PM
THE NATURAL SIDE OF THINGS

Its the little things ...
I WAS IN Colorado in mid-April

in the Rockies. One cannot help but
marvel at the majesty and largeness
of mountains cloud-piercing peaks,
ancient rock towering like giant ships
prows, and tall conifers like frilly sticks
on the giant mountainside.
My friends had
wanted me to see the
tundra, an amazing
place where tiny
mosses, lichens and
other plants grow like
a miniature forest.
But, due to a freak snowstorm, the
roads were blocked to that area.
Just think of it looking down at a
tiny forest under your feet while the
Notice the small things.

The rewards are inversely
proportional.
Liz Vassey
huge Rockies loom all around. But, I

know places like this, right here in Indiana. All one needs is a magnifying lens
and, more importantly, a good eye, for
whole diverse, teeming, fantastic and
even bizarre worlds to appear.
The older I get, the more

Im conscious of ways very
small things can make a
change in the world, but
the world is made up of tiny
matters, isnt it?
Sandra Cisneros
You can travel quite far within a
bed of moss. Or a square foot of soil. Or
in a drop of pond water under a microscope. Under a rock. On the head of a
sunflower. You will see utterly beautiful things that most people never notice, and you will see things so strange
that could not be made up even by the
A patch of moss growing on a rock is its own little ecosystem.| PHOTO BY TERRI
TALAREK KING
Terri Talarek King on the ground,

examining small worlds with a
magnifier.| PHOTO BY ANGIE LUCAS
best creators of science fiction.
The thing is these tiny things are
what drive the world. The largest cannot exist without them.
The miniature tundra forest is
essential to life in the mountains. Microscopic water creatures are essential
to the whole lake where we go fishing.
Those tiny beings thriving in a square
foot of soil also make up the health of a
whole farm field.
Its the little things that matter, in
life and landscape.
This summer is a great time to pay
attention to the little things while so
much is happening outdoors. In our
summer busy-ness, we can stop to rest
now and then, look, and consider those
tiny things that drive our world.
And send the children outside with
magnifying lenses. They will build
mountains of knowledge.
The real voyage of

discovery consists not in
seeking new landscapes, but
in having new eyes.
Marcel Proust
Terri Talarek King lives in Knox County
and is a naturalist and organic gardener, educator and writer. She is certified
as an advanced master naturalist and
grow organic educator.
p31NaturalSideJun15.indd 1
x JUNE 2015 | 31
5/20/15 8:26 AM
IN SEASON
Corn and zucchini

New recipes for summer staples
By Lindsay Owens
EASY TO GROW and often VERY

plentiful, zucchini and summer squash
can be planted by seed or plants. Typically, I use a combination of both so that
I dont have an overabundance of squash
coming off at a time. Squash seeds do
best when planted in hills with two seeds.
Dont worry if both seeds sprout they
can be thinned so that only the stronger
of the two plants remains or the weaker
plant can sometimes be transplanted (just
remember to water it after transplanting).
Because most varieties have plants that
will become fairly large, I would recommend making sure hills or plants are at
least 12 to 18 inches apart. Dont forget,
in addition to eating the squash, the blossoms can also be fried. Just remember no
blooms equals no squash. Heres a new
recipe I cant wait to try.
Mexican Zucchini Cheese Soup
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 (14.5 ounce) can Mexican-style
stewed tomatoes
2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise
and cut in 1/4 inch slices
2 medium yellow squash, halved

lengthwise and cut in 1/4 inch
slices
1 (8.75 ounce) can whole kernel
corn, drained
1 (4.5 ounce) can diced green chile
peppers
12 ounces processed cheese food,
cubed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black
pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Heat the olive oil in a large pot, and
saute the onion and garlic until tender.
Season with oregano.
Mix in the chicken broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Mix in the zucchini,
yellow squash, corn, and chile peppers.
Reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes, or until the squash is tender.
Mix the cubed processed cheese
into the soup. Continue to cook and
stir until cheese is melted. Season with
pepper. Mix in the cilantro just before
serving.
Sweet Corn
June also means sweet corn time is
just around the corner. Sweet corn on the
cob is served at my house every night
in the summer and because we freeze
a large amount as well, we have homegrown corn year round. If you have an
overabundance and are tired of traditional sweet corn recipes try this relish that
also includes plump, juicy blueberries.
Sweet and Hot Corn
Blueberry Relish
1 tablespoon corn oil or vegetable
oil
2 cups fresh corn kernels or one
10-ounce package frozen whole
kernel corn, thawed (2 cups)
1 -2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tomatillos, husks removed,
rinsed, and finely chopped
(about 1/2 cup)
2 fresh jalapeno or serrano chile
peppers, seeded and finely
chopped
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon finely shredded lime
peel
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh blueberries
In a large nonstick skillet, heat the
oil over medium heat. Add the fresh or
frozen corn and the garlic. Cook and stir
for 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatillos and
jalapeno peppers. Cook and stir about 5
minutes more or until the tomatillos are
soft (the corn should be cooked but still
firm). Remove from heat and cool slightly. Stir in the cilantro, honey, lime peel,
juice and salt.
Gently toss in blueberries. Transfer
the relish to a covered container and chill
for 4 hours to allow flavors to blend.
Bring relish to room temperature
before serving. Serve relish as a side dish
or with grilled steaks, chops, burgers,
chicken or fish. Makes about 2-1/2 cups
(ten 1/2-cup servings).
32 | JUNE 2015
p32InSeasonJun15.indd 1

5/22/15 10:10 PM
GOOD TO THE EARTH

High school students active in
environmental awareness through
Envirothon
By Jenna Schaffer
THE INDIANA ASSOCIATION
of Soil and Water Conservation Districts does not take soil health or water
quality lightly. The state believes it is
critical that awareness is raised for our
generation and future generations. By
keeping our soil and water clean, we
can provide food for the world for many
years to come.
With 92 Soil and Water
Conservation District counties in
Indiana, there are almost 400 volunteers
alone reaching out to do whatever they
possibly can for their environment.
Coordination becomes much easier
with each person that can spare some
of their time.
In an effort to help develop those
locally-driven solutions to the natural
resource concern, there are technical,
financial, public and private, local,
state, and federal sources. Watershed
organizations, public agencies, and
private landowners and managers are
all part of the IASWCD partnership.
To reach the younger generation

and to help them become more
involved, there have been several
events to get students active in the
environment, like Indianas Envirothon.
There are 45 states and nine Canadian
provinces that compete in the annual
Envirothon.
The Envirothon is a competitive
learning event for high school-aged
students. These students put a lot of
their spare time into this competition.
This event tests the knowledge
of the young boys and girls over
environmental resources. These
environmental resources include
aquatics, soils, forestry, wildlife, and
current environmental issues.
The teams are made up of five
students each, either representing a
school or organization. Your school or
organization may have more than one
team, but there is still a limited number
that can represent the school. Teams
may also bring their alternates with
them to the state competition in case
The Washington High School Envirothon team includes, front from left: Tia Webb and
Kaely Morrison. Back from left, Timothy Webb (alternate), Brady Turner, Ethan Clarke and
Marcus Thorne.
The Indiana State Envirothon

Competition was held in April at
Camp Illiana, near Washington.
| PHOTO BY JENNA SCHAFFER
they are needed that day.

Students not only have to be very
knowledgeable in all of the areas that
they are tested in, but must prove
they can show that knowledge in the
hands-on segment of the event. To
get to the state event, a team must
first place in one of the top spots. If
a regional had 12 teams or more, the
top three teams would move on to
state, and if there were less than 12
teams, only the top two would get to
compete at state level. There were
seven different regionals this year in
the state of Indiana alone. Thats a
definite positive for the future, with a
growing number of students showing
a wide interest in learning and solving
environmental issues.
The Envirothon State location
is never in the same place as it was
the year before. The committee
chooses a location in different areas
of the state so its a fair drive for each
school. Sometimes, the location is
in the Southern portion of the state,
Northern portion, or even right in the
middle. The 2015 State Envirothon was
held at Camp Illiana right outside of
Washington and the 2014 State contest
was at Beck Agricultural Center, Purdue
University.
This year, 13 teams, including one
from Washington High School, took
part in the state competition. Members
of the Washington team included Tia
Webb, Kaely Morrison, Timothy Webb,
Brady Turner, Ethan Clarke, and Marcus
Thorne.
The Envirothon is a fun way for
high school students to learn about
the environment and the issues facing
current and future generations, said
Washington High School
444
p33-34GoodToEarthJun15.indd 1
JUNE 2015 | 33
5/27/15 11:13 AM
science teacher and Envirothon advisor

Elizabeth Schaffer. The hands-on
component is especially appealing to
students.
State Envirothon is set up
differently than the regional event.
Regionals are only judged on the handwritten test. At the state level, not
only is there a hand-written exam, but
also the hands-on testing, and a group
presentation. The group presentation is
about a current environmental issue in
the state and the students must figure
out a way to solve the problem and
present in front of the judges.
The coordinator of the Indiana
State Contest, Darci Zolman said much
preparation goes into the Envirothon.
We prepare all year. We start in the
summer and put our test committee
together, choose resources, then by fall,
the information to study is put together
and sent out to every school in the
state, they have the winter to prepare,
regional is in March, and the State
contest is in April, she said.
The teams are unaware of which
activity they will be doing first. They
must first have a draw to decide
what groups test first, present first,
or have hands-on first. After the first
34 | JUNE 2015
p33-34GoodToEarthJun15.indd 2
More than a dozen teams, including one from Washington High School took part in the
Indiana State Environthon in late April.
round of tests, the team selection is
narrowed down to only a few teams
left. Those few teams get to present
their presentation again in front of the
judges for a second round. After that,
the winner is decided.
There are plenty of individual team
winners, but that is not the deciding
factor for the state event. The official
winners are based on each teams
overall score. The state winner, Gibson
County Homeschool, will go on to the

National Competition that will be held
in Springfield, Missouri in late July. The
team from Washington High School
placed fifth in the oral presentation
portion of the contest and seventh
overall.
Its a whole week of competitions
and events. Its a pretty intense week,
so we try to prepare them well at these
contests, said Zolman.
5/22/15 10:08 PM
p35MacAllisterJun15.indd 1
5/21/15 7:45 PM
p36ColonialJun15.indd 1
5/21/15 7:46 PM

June Growing in The Heartland

Transféré par

Informations du document

Description originale:

Titre original

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

June Growing in The Heartland

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

JUNE 2015

Tips for safe canning

Mule foal wins

Decker family enjoys

BLANN FARMS: 14 YEARS OF STRAWBERRY FIELDS

How many medications do you take? Are you cured yet?

You will lose 20-45lbs or more in 40 days GUARANTEED!

312 East Main Street Washington

Mayfield, KY | Morganfield, KY | Newberry, IN | Poseyville, IN | Princeton, KY | Russellville, KY

From your lawn

Evansville | Poseyville | Jasper | Newberry

Lindsay Owens, editor

x GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

Frank Stepp, Vice President of Thompson & Associates,

TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CONTACT:

Flip-flops are not farming

Sweet summer time

Wild pink roses

Blann Berries enjoys serving

FIELDS FOR YEARS

Maddi Butler shares

FFA announces new officers

Knox County Cooperative

Decker family enjoys showing

28 NUTS, BOLTS AND

16 THE FUNNIER SIDE

Spring babies: Train early

John Deere Program at

Photo by Terri Talarek King

31 THE NATURAL SIDE

Its the little things ...

Envirothon teaches high

ON THE COVER: Jeff Blann

x GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

GROWING FOOD, GROWING CHILDREN

The Kids Harvest Garden would

viess County Community Foundation,

x GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

10 | JUNE 2015 x GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

DOWN ON THE FARM

Wild pink roses

MY MOM DIED of brain cancer

About 10 years after Mom passed,

and left us struggling here

PHOTOS BY JOHN STOLL

GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

MANAGING INVASIVE PLANTS

Knox County Cooperative Weed Management Area

A NEW ORGANIZATION, the

natural controls can allow them to

which makes everyone responsible,

x GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

One control method, the Weed

County Highway Department, which

GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

FOLLOWING EACH OTHER is

showing at livestock events around the

ances at local schools and agricultural

x GROWING IN THE HEARTLAND

Above, a curious sheep at the Decker farm. Chloe Decker, right,

Steves brother had a guy who did it.