Merry Christmas!

I am DONE shopping! Unfortunately, I have to wrap yet...a lot! Oh well... I hope all of you have a very Blessed Christmas Weekend. I have just a few numbers. While getting together for the holidays be sure and ask Mom and Dad how long the farm has been in your family. The Wisconsin State Fair is looking for applications for their annual Century and Sesquicentennial Farm recognition. You can get an application by going into KFIZ.com and go into agri-business and the datcp website is on my link list. The phone number is 1-414-777-0580. The deadline is March 1, 2008. Don't forget to ask!

If you know anyone that would make a great 61st Alice in Dairyland, the applications are due on Jan 22nd at 4:30 p.m. It is a great opportunity for some very capable and deserving young lady.

Until next week...

It is almost Christmas!

First some information. I will get more information on the census as soon as it is available. I heard you will be able to fill it out on the internet, so we will see. The website I have now is http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/.

On Tuesday I talked with Casey Langon from Wisconsin Farm Bureau about the Carbon Credit Program they will help initiate this year. For information you can go to http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/ or http://www.agragate.com/ The meetings will start in January on the west side of Wisconsin. Stay tuned!

On Wednesday I talked with Phillipe Coquard the wine maker and owner of Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac. The were able to harvest grapes for ice wine this winter and are also currently selling the ice wine from 2006. Check out their website at http://www.wollersheim.com/.

If you are still looking for that special Christmas gift check out http://www.savorwisconsin.com/ for a directory of more than 200 companies that carry the Something Special from Wisconsin logo and link to their Web sites for more information.

On Monday evening the FDL Co. Holstein Assn. held their Annual Meeting at the K of C Hall in Fond du Lac. A gathering of people with one thing in common, that being their LOVE for the Holstein Cow. Congratulations to Mark and Mary Ryan for being presented the 2007 Service Award. The Junior Holstein Assn. presented Ray and I their Service Award. We do not work with the younger members for the purpose of receiving an award. We do it because we LOVE the kids. They are smart, ambitious, witty, fun, did I say ambitious. etc.etc.etc... There are not enough adjective in the english language to explain these exceptional young people. We are better people for associating with them. Thank You FDL Co. Junior Holstein Assn. The pleasure is ours.

Until next time...

Just some Info!

I just have some dates and times to remind you about this week. UW-Madison Farm Short Course has preview days on December 5th and 6th. If you are interested in attending you need to make a reservation to 1-608-263-3918. There are two more opportunities on February 20-21.

Byron Historical Society is selling 2008 a commemorative calendar. They cost $10.00. You can purchase them at Anderson Garage on Hwy 175 in Byron, and American Bank in Brownsville or by mailing a check or money order to Byron Historical Society PO Box 466, Byron, WI 53006. Add $3.00/calendar to cover mailing costs.

Check out wwwsavorwisconsin.com for any or all of you Christmas Shopping.

Until next time...

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am not going to get to wordy (I don't know if that is a word) but I want to cover a few things.

I talked with our 60th Alice in Dairyland on Wednesday. With gas closing in on $3.50 per gallon what a better way to save some money this Christmas but by shopping on the internet. Check out www.savorwisconsin.com and go into Something Special from Wisconsin and do all of your christmas shopping. The products are primarily made here in Wisconsin. Send a taste of home to your out-of-state family members and friends.

Don't forget about the Professional Dairy Producers seminars. Go to pdpw.org for the complete information.

If you are interested in taking the Master Gardener training call Mike Rankin at 929-3171.

AAANNNNDDDD this a biggy! The Lomira FFA Alumni is holding its 25th Annual Breakfast with Santa on Sunday December 2, 2007. 13 and over is $7.00, 4-12 is $3.50 and 3 and under eat free. Support the Lomira FFA at their 25th Annual Breakfast with Santa from 8:30 -12:30 on December 2 in the Lomira High School Cafeteria.

Enough business...I want to wish each and every listeners and their families a Blessed Thanksgiving. We have soooooo much to be thankful for in this country. Please, attend the church of you choice.

Until next time...

Lots of Stuff!

This week on 4-H/FFA On the Air I talked to Cheryl Zimmerman, Executive Director of Wisconisn FFA. We talked about the FFA project Operation Stand Solid. They collected lots of pairs of shoes at the State FFA Convention to send over to Iraq. The problem is the postage cost. They are short about $4000.00 from the first shipment and still have 260 more boxes to send, hopefully. If you would be interested in donating money to help them with their project you can send it to Slinger High School attn: Rob Selzler 209 Polk, Slinger, WI 53086

On Saturday, November 17th, Alice in Dairyland, Jill Makovec will be cutting the first official Wisconsin Christmas Tree in Random Lake. You can be part of this festive event from 2-4. Greenview Tree Farm offers over 35,000 choose and cut trees or pre-cut trees, fresh evergreen wreaths and gifts. Directions are Hwy 23 east to Hwy 57 then south to County D and 1.5 miles east. There will be wagon rides as well as visits with Santa, Christmas Carolers, hot cider and cookies. I will be emceeing the official tree cutting at 2:30. Hope to see you there!

I will be talking to Ashley Yager on Monday about Wisconsin Holstein Assn stuff. If you are interested in information from the Holstein Assn, you can call 1-800-223-4269 or for the summer internship position you can send a resume with two letters of reference to WHS Summer Internship, 902 Eighth Ave., Baraboo, WI 53913

I will be on the road Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week. The National Assn of Broadcasting holds their annual meeting there every year. It is a time to learn from your peers and I still have a lot to learn.

Til next time...

More from Indy!

Well, I finally have my act together to tell you more about Indianapolis. They redirect their entire traffic pattern for the week of Convention. As you can see this street is renamed FFA Way for the week. There are cars on the middle lanes during rush hour but the rest of the time there aren't any cars allowed. Just Kids... The other photo is the stage area where all of the sessions are done. This stage holds State Officers, motivational speakers, high school talent and lots more. The Convention is extremely professional. Stay linked!

Lots of information!

I have not even scratched the surface on the National FFA Convention but I NEED to get phone numbers and websites out so the trip will have to wait a few days. The Lomira FFA is having their bird seed sale on Saturday Nov. 3rd from 8-noon at Jacobson's Farmer Supply on Hwy 49 in Brownsville and their Buck Fever Night on Wednesday November 7th at the Brownsville Community Club at 7:00. Both excellent community events.

The corn growers, in the quest to educate consumers along with the producers, developed an educational website. It is www.farmersmatter.org. It includes interesting farming facts, an interactive timeline, videos and more.

Evidently, there is a report on the verge of release on red meat and its effect on cancer. There is new info coming out all of the time but you can check out www.beefnutrition.org. Stay tuned to KFIZ for more on that.

I did a story on bats on Wednesday. As disgusting as they seem and look they really are vital to our environment. They kill many different bugs and mosquitoes. For information go to www.batcon.org.

On Monday I am doing a story about the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center. They just wrapped up their Fall recipe contest and are kicking off the one for winter. They also have a Cooking with Cranberries day on Saturday November 10th at the center.

The center information is as follows...the address is Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center, P.O. Box 187, Warrens WI 54666 and the website is www.discovercranberries.com. The new recipe contest is Berry Best Cranberry Muffin. I KNOW we have lots of great cooks in the community! While on the website do some early Christmas shopping and send your friends and family real Wisconsin Ag products

One last thing...Last summer the Wisconsin FFA collected shoes to send over to the children in Iraq. It started with the ag teacher from Fort Atkinson going back over there. Up to know 729 boxes of shoes have successfully been distributed. They still need some help. The shipping cost of each box of shoes ranges around $15.90. They are short about $4000.00 in postage. With that said, if they don't get enough money they will not send the remaining shoes. If anyone is willing to make a financial contribution to assist with the postage expense contact Rob Selzler at 262-644-5361.

Until next time...