Lindsay's Lessons

The summer is off to a very good start as we've had the opportunity to hit the road once again visiting with listeners, meeting new acquaintances and renewing old friendships during our annual county fair circuit. One of the most common questions I am asked during the summer is, "After going to that many fairs, don't they all just looks alike?." Since it seems a number of you are curious about that, I thought maybe I ought to give you an update of our travels thus far and observations from this year.

First, in response to the question, every county fair has it's own unique flavor and while many share a lot of the same features and activities, they also have characteristics that set them apart. That being said, the follow-up question I'm usually asked is if I get tired of going to the fairs. My answer is a resounding, "no." I am blessed to have a job that lets me travel the state and spend my days at fairs without having to operate the merry-go-round. I would be wrong to complain too much about that. Yes, there are some days that get pretty hectic during the summer when a fair stop and other meetings all fall on the same day and that can be a little challenging, but all of those things separately are both important and fun.

That being said, here's recap of what we've seen thus far:

We kicked things off at the Paulding County Fair this year - this being the first time that Paulding County has been the first fair of the season and the earliest fair visit we've ever made. Part of the reason for the move to the earlier fair date was to try and separate the fair from the many that take place later in the summer as Paulding is a very rural area so there's not a ton of businesses to support the fair making every penny count for that fair board. I give credit to the businesses that are in that area for going the extra mile in support of the fair. It was also great to see the return of a small midway to Paulding County as that was something they were unable to afford in the past. And, I commend the Paulding County fair board for coming up with fun and creative activities for their young people. One of the highlights is the annual mud volleyball contest.

I might also add that Paulding County was the first midday stop for our returning farm broadcast talent Gary Jackson and folks were certainly glad to see him back behind the microphone. And, it was also the first county fair visit for our new summer intern, Andrea Blamble, of Canal Winchester.

The next stop was the Putnam County Fair where our Andy Vance and Gary Jackson had a wonderful time visiting with the folks in northwest Ohio. It was Senior Citizens day when they visited and Gary did a special interview with a WWII veteran. They said attendance was great the day they enjoyed the fair and the hospitality was even better. This fair marked the first stop for our other summer intern, former Ohio FFA state president Dustin Homan, of Shelby County.

The following day, Andrea and I headed to Circleville for the Pickaway County Fair. This one is always a favorite as we get to see a number of friends and they take wonderful care of us while we're there. Pickaway County also had something new to offer as I was introduced to two young ladies who are serving as ag ambassadors this year, in lieu of your normal county fair queen. In seeing this I knew that this is a county that really gets the importance of agriculture, its roots in the county fair and the opportunity to have young people educated enough about the issues that they can share the farm story with others. Kudos for those efforts!

Andy hit the road again for a stop at the Two-Cylinder Tractor Expo in Springfield. That's a terrific group of folks and we look forward to hosting some of the members in the Great Buckeye Tractor Cruise later this month. That same day, I made a visit to Price Farms Organics in Delaware County with members of the Ohio chapter of NAMA. Owner Tom Price is not only a recent inductee into the Ohio Ag Hall of Fame, but a true industry pioneer. And, I'm glad to say a good friend of the ABN. HIs operations is amazing and if you haven't seen it, you should. We could all learn a lot from Tom (and many of us have).

My next visit was to the Marion County Fair with Andrea, and it was the first experience for both of us in Marion County. We had not only beautiful weather, but one of the best middays ever. The fair management is just top notch and I was extremely impressed with all aspects of their fair. I learned that they, like many other counties, have experiences a significant increase in their small animal projects and have a pretty impressive array of poultry entries.

Gary joined Andy once again for a rainy visit to the Old Fashioned Farmers Days in Van Wert. Despite having to dodge a few raindrops, they had a great time. It's always fun to see which model they feature at the event and folks in Van Wert are equally hospitable. And it's fun to see a handful of folks that stop by each and every year at that event.

After a quick break for the July 4th holiday, we were back on the road this week as Dustin and I spent a couple of days at my home fair in Logan County. Of course, I'm going to be totally bias and say this is my favorite fair because it's my fair and I love the traditions and the people I get to see each year. A highlight for me this year was the tractor pull - yes, you read that correctly. While I'm not normally overly excited about tractor pulls I was incredibly excited to watch Ground Force, the entry from the Whitney Family of Spencerville, take first place in their heat. Of course, the Whitney family will be hosting the lunch stop of the Great Buckeye Tractor Cruise at their education farm and antique equipment museum.

With no time to waste, Andy and Dustin made their way to Clinton County yesterday which is almost like old home week for Andy since he grew up in neighboring Highland County. He raved about his visit and the fun he had while at the fair. He also mentioned something about free ice tea, which certainly may have contributed to his delight. Also, a big thanks to Ohio Director of Agriculture Robert Boggs for stopping by to spend some time with the ABN. We look forward to catching up with Director Boggs at every opportunity as he's also pounding the pavement making visits to fairs around the state.

The resounding concern this year among all of the fairs has stemmed from fuel prices and concerns about attendance. The question of whether folks would choose to stay home in lieu of spending money at the fair, or if they would spend even more time at the fair in lieu of traveling farther distances for entertainment. Our observation would be that both are true. Fairs that cut back on entertainment and attractions to cut expenses have seen a similar response in attendance. Whereas those that have managed to continue full steam ahead have seemingly had folks streaming through the gates. Keep in mind, that I don't have the actual attendance figures for each fair, this is simply just an observation based on our experiences thus far.

All of that to say, we are thankful to those of you we've already had the pleasure of visiting this year and we look forward to catching up with everyone else in the days ahead.

I received an email this morning that really caught my attention. I'm not one to pass along forwards or believe everything that falls into my inbox, but this seemed worth sharing. According to the email, this was written by Jay Leno. I can't say for sure that it was or was not, but regardless of who wrote it, there are some things that probably need to be said. I guess it caught my attention because it sounds an awful lot like something I might post right here (with a few philosophical differences). So while I can't take credit, I can share the story. Just be sure to read it all the way through to conclusion.

 As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.
 
    'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe.  It must be true given the source, right?
 
           The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with  the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is  unhappy with the performance of the President. 
 
In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''
 
A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day,  7 Days a week?
 
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
 
C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
 
D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time  and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
 
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move  through each state?
 
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
 
G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from  around the world is just not good enough either.
 
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you  to the hospital.
 
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
 
J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
 
K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
 
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where  90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
 
M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
 
          Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.
 
          Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen.  No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens.  They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
 
          I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out?   The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11?   The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession?   Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
 
          Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?   Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.  Make no mistake about it.
 
         The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom.  There is currently no draft in this country.  They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
 
          So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?
 
          Say what you want but I blame it on the media.   If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news.  Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts.  How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations.  They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their  actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like OJ. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

 Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage.  Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad.  We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.'  'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

Today as I was perusing the web, I came across an AP story talking about a meeting at a local Optimist Club and pointing out that even members of the Optimist Club can find it hard to be happy this Fourth of July because of our economic situation. Upon reading this, I immediately wanted to unleash a few fireworks of my own!

The fact that anyone sitting in the United States of America can so much as even think that they shouldn't be grateful on Independence Day is ridiculous. And if you are one of those people, might I suggest that we send you over to Iraq for a few months and then maybe you'll feel a little better about living here in the U.S.A.

We have amazing military men and women that are giving up time with their families, jobs and even their lives so that we might sit around enjoying picnics and watching fireworks. Even if you think the President is wrong, gas prices are too high or Congress is made up of crooks - you still live in the best country in the world. And if you don't agree, I encourage you to leave and seek greener pastures.

This is a time for our country to be grateful and every American should pause and remember why we are so blessed.

Today, the International Dairy Foods Association filed a lawsuit against Ohio Director of Agriculture Robert Boggs regarding milk labeling regulations proposed for dairy products derived from cows not treated with the artificial growth hormone rBST. The Organic Trade Association has also filed a complaint against Boggs with regard to the labeling issue.

There is a lot to consider in this matter of dairy labeling and we must also remember that any time this type of lawsuit comes forward, we are not only establishing policies, but potentially precedents for further action down the road.

We must first consider why the proposed regulations for milk labeling in Ohio came about. The use of rBST, an artificial growth hormone that is used to enhance production in dairy cattle, had become common place in the industry. FDA had concluded that the use of rBST posed no threat to human health and producers, by and large, were pleased with the results yielded when using the product.

However, animal right and anti-agriculture activists countered that use of the product may be harmful to cattle that were treated with the synthetic hormone. And, organic producers demanded a way to stipulate that their products were free of rBST. The challenge being that a label indicating that a product was rBST free, also seemed to imply that products containing rBST were somehow potentially harmful. Add to that confusion, the fact that there is no test available that will accurately determine the presence of rBST because when tested, the hormone shows up identically to BST, the hormone that occurs naturally in dairy cattle. In essence, everyone wanted a label requirement for varying reasons, but no one could agree on what the label should actually say.

In the meantime, in a reaction to perceived concern among consumers about the use of rBST in cattle, retailers such as Kroger and others came forward and declared that they would only sell dairy products derived from animals not treated with rBST. The move was an immediate win for animal rights activists, but it also meant a shot in the foot of organic producers who lost the ability to further differentiate their products from those being produced with rBST. With few places to market products derived with the use of rBST, producers had little choice but to stop using the artificial hormone.

In the midst of all of this, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, under the leadership of Robert Boggs, came forward with a bold proposal that would regulate the labeling of dairy products sold in Ohio. The ruling stated that rBST-free claims must be accompanied by wording in a similar size and style of font that indicated that FDA had found no harmful effects from the use of rBST. At first blush, the ruling seemed a potentially fair and reasonable conclusion to all of the drama.

Reasonable that is, unless you are a dairy manufacturer forced to comply with the ruling. Compliance requires all companies marketing milk in Ohio to change their labeling practices, and for companies that market outside of the state, it means producing a label that is different from labels allowed outside of Ohio. One of the key points in the suit brought forth today argues that ODA has violated the "Commerce Clause" of the Constitution by placing stipulations on interstate shipment of products, which can only be regulated by federal government.

The result of all of this is that no one will win in this situation. Producers who wished to use rBST, can no longer do so because the market is lost as retailers refuse to sell the product. Organic producers who wished to use "hormone-free" as a differentiating factor between their products and others can no longer do so, and as such can not charge a premium for milk that doesn't contain artificial hormones. Manufacturers have been caught in a tug of war between producers and retailers. Retailers are caught between two sets of consumer demands and two sets of producer philosophies. And consumers have become confused, which ultimately isn't good for anyone in the industry.

When consumers become confused and mainstream media gets involved, the message tends to be misinterpreted or mistakenly oversimplified. The average consumer listens to the story and simply hears that milk isn't safe. When in fact, the safety of milk has never been in question. Just as when tomatoes, spinach or lettuce have been recalled, consumers have mistakenly heard that those products aren't safe, or those products will make you sick, instead of recognizing that a small quantity of overall production was found to have problems. The end result - the entire industry takes a hit.

There is no easy answer in the milk labeling debate and I stand in judgement of neither side. ODA saw that action was needed and strived to take appropriate action in consideration of all those involved. Nevertheless, IDFA has to uphold the rights and concerns of their members whose points on the matter are not only valid, but understandable given the costs those manufacturers could incur in creating specialized labels. And, the Organic Trade Association may have validity in their stance that the Ohio ruling oversteps the boundaries of regulating interstate commerce.

Let's hope that this situation is somehow quickly resolved. And that in the end, the message to consumers is that our milk and dairy products are derived safely from cows treated with care by some of the hardest working people in America - our dairy farmers.

I guess I should preface this post by pointing out that when Barbara Mandrell sang, "I was country, when country wasn't cool," she was actually referring to me. My love of country music goes back to my childhood and while I enjoy music from various artists and all different styles, I will always be country to the core. Unfortunately, it would seem that my beloved music is becoming overshadowed by folks who know little, or care little, about the roots of country music.

Case in point - this year's Academy of Country Music Awards Show, or should I say Awards Concert. For years, the ACM's have been regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in country music and were deserving of a show to honor those recipients. In recent years however, the awards have been cut shorter and shorter, in favor of letting artists perform a concert. While I enjoy seeing the various performances, that's not why I turn on my television. I want to see who wins, how they react and what they have to say about it. However, this year, very few awards were actually presented during the televised show. Instead, awards were presented prior to the show, and the recipients names were flashed across the screen so fast you could barely read them. Even the illustrious Pioneer Award, which recognizes lifetime achievement, was announced during the televised coverage with no fan fare or pomp and circumstance. If I wanted to see a concert, I would turn on CMT or buy tickets, but I expect to see some awards in my awards show.

Then again, it's getting hard to find country music on CMT anymore either. It seems that CMT, which used to stand for Country Music Television, is now just a place for redneck reality shows. Shows such as My Big Redneck Wedding, Mobile Home Disaster and Country Fried Home Videos clutter the channel that used to be a place to showcase country music. Thank goodness we now have GAC, Great American Country, on our television service, so I can still find a place to watch music videos and the Grand Ole Opry. Let's hope GAC learns from the mistakes of CMT and doesn't follow that path of disaster.

As for the concerts, we used to attend several concerts every summer, and it was something I really looked forward to. However, when ticket prices soar above $50 per ticket, it forces fans to become a bit more choosy. Nowadays, between paying for gas, meals, tickets and snacks a night out at a concert is akin to a small vacation. As such, it's getting harder and harder to support the artists we love. I think the repercussions of sky high ticket prices will be felt a little further down the road. Concerts have always been a way for singers to connect with their fans. If fans start having to pick and choose who to see, they'll be less likely to take interest in as many different singers, and that could hurt the artists and the industry down the road.

Last but not least, why are we welcoming folks like Kid Rock and Jessica Simpson into country music? I don't care what they say, they aren't country and they never will be. Are we that desperate for talent that we have to take in strays with big names to try and keep our music alive?

Of course, if you've been watching this season of Nashville Star, you may believe that we are indeed that desperate for talent. I was so excited when Nashville Star got picked up by NBC, after having watched it on the USA Network the past couple of years. Unfortunately, the choice of Billy Ray Cyrus as host, combined with some rather lacking talent, has resulted in a show that almost mocks country music more than celebrating it. I almost want NBC to drop the show, just to help country music keep its dignity.

Then again, maybe what Nashville Star is lacking is simply representative of what the industry as a whole is lacking. Let's hope some of the newer artists coming along actually embrace what country music is about and help us find the roots of country music once again.