News Release: Indiana students to be recognized during 3rd Annual Our Food, Our Farmers essay contest ceremony

INDIANAPOLIS (February 28, 2013) - As part of the 2013 celebration marking Indiana's Agriculture Appreciation Month in March, six Hoosier students were selected for their winning essays in the 3rd Annual Ag Essay Contest titled "Our Food, Our Farmers: Nourishing Generations of Hoosiers." For the 2013 competition, students in grades 4-12 wrote essays on the following prompt:

•  Describe how Indiana farmers nourish 1) our families, 2) our animals, and 3) our earth (soil). Please provide an example from each of the three areas.

On March 5, all winners will be recognized by Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann, secretary of agriculture and rural development during an Ag Appreciation Month luncheon reception and special presentation. The ceremony will take place in the Statehouse North Atrium at 11:45 a.m. 

"Congratulations to all who participated in the essay contest and highlighted the many ways Hoosier farmers excel in providing for others while protecting our natural resources," said Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann. "I look forward to recognizing our winners March 5 and the kick off of our Hoosier Agriculture Appreciation Month." 

More than 500 students submitted essays from across Indiana. The winning essays were selected from three grade levels: 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. First place winners receive an Apple iPad and second place winners receive Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones.

Essay contest winners are as follows:

Grades 4-6:

• First Place: Josie Edwards, 6^th grader home schooled, Plymouth, IN
• Second Place: Katelyn Schreckenghaust, 5^th grader at Galveston Elementary, Galveston, IN

Grades 7-9:

• First Place: Yijiang Zhao, 7^th grader at Central Middle School, Columbus, IN
• Second Place: Travis Koester, 9^th grader at North Posey High School, Poseyville, IN

 Grades 10-12: 

• First Place: Jessica-Lena Bohlin, 11^th grader at LaPorte High School, LaPorte, IN
• Second Place: Aubrey Fleck, 12^th grader at North White Middle Senior High School
• Monon, IN

Sponsored by Indiana's Family of Farmers and Indiana Humanities, the essay contest encouraged students to recognize and share all the ways Indiana agriculture plays a positive role in their own lives -as well as in the lives of those around them. In addition, teachers were able to apply a breakdown of the State Core Academic Standards met by the essay contest.

"This essay contest continues to be a 'win-win-win' for all. Teachers meet their curriculum needs, students participate in a fun and interesting project, and our Indiana farming community is recognized for its local and global impact," said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities. "We are proud to again partner with Indiana's Family of Farmers to celebrate our rich agricultural history through the collection of student stories." 

The winning essays will be posted soon on www.indianafamilyoffarmers.com andwww.indianahumanities.org but can be made available upon request.

This contest is part of Indiana Humanities' two-year Spirit of Competition initiative. Spirit of Competition will celebrate the role competition plays in our lives by examining core elements of competition such as civility, rivalry, innovation, passion and failure.

###

About Indiana's Family of Farmers

Indiana's Family of Farmers grows the grains, produce and meat you eat every day. We believe that quality farming means quality food that is good for you, your family and the environment.  Food for your family, from our family.  More at www.indianafamilyoffarmers.com.

About Indiana Humanities

Indiana Humanities connects people, opens minds and enriches lives by creating and facilitating programs that encourage people to think, read and talk. Learn more at www.indianahumanities.org.

  

More Than a Jacket

What do Bo Jackson, Taylor Swift, Former President Jimmy Carter, and Zac Brown have in common?

They were all FFA members.  While these people may be a little higher profile than the average member, FFA members are doing amazing things across the country and across our state. 

Take, for instance, the Shenandoah FFA Chapter.  These high school students work together every year to host a prom for those with cognitive disabilities in their community, a service that does not go unnoticed.

Or the 116 Indiana FFA members that earned their American FFA Degree this year.  These students all earned more than $7,500 through their hands-on work experience, held leadership positions, maintained a minimum grade point average, and gave over 20 hours of service.

Nearly every FFA chapter likes to compete.  The competitions range from livestock judging to parliamentary procedure, but the goal is the same in each: to develop leadership in the participants, and Indiana is often competitive at the national level.

“I believe in the future of agriculture.”  That’s how the FFA Creed begins, and with the future in the hands of current FFA members, we certainly have to agree!

Want to learn more?  Check out these links!

Indianaffa.org/association

ffa.org

What's the Beef?

Beef, and red meat in general, have a reputation for being high fat and unhealthy.  But what if we told you that there are 29 cuts of lean beef that provide iron, protein, heart-healthy B vitamins, and great taste all for an average of 150 calories per serving?

A“lean cut” is a cut of meat that contains less than 10 grams of total fat,4.5 grams or less of saturated fat, and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per serving.  That’s only one more gram of saturated fat than a skinless chicken breast, and beef contains much more zinc, iron, and vitamin B12 than its poultry cut counterpart.  Strip steak, filet mignon, t-bone, sirloins, and strip steaks all qualify as lean cuts.  Why not try some of these lean beef recipes today?

Tarragon Steak Dinner Salad from Cris at Goodeness Gracious

Crock Pot Round Steak from Leah at Beyer Beware

If you’re more of a traditional steak person, check out these tips from Beyer Beware on how to grill one perfectly! 

Friend a Farmer

By Jackie Barber of Winners Drink Milk

Do you have any dairy farmers in your circle of friends? Today could be the day to change that. In honor of National Make a Friend Day (earlier this week), why not befriend a dairy farmer? Or to make it a bit simpler, why not “friend” a farmer on Facebook or follow their Twitter feed or blog?

Many dairy farmers are reaching out to new friends on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. The farmer’s friends and followers can  experience life on a dairy farm from the adorable, like the birth of a new calf, to the truly miraculous, like people actually waking up for a 3 a.m. milking. Troxel Dairy Farm shared a picture of their triplet (triplet!!) calves on Facebook. 

Other Indiana dairies like Willemsen Dairy and New Generation Dairy share pictures and information about their cows and life on a dairy farm.

On Twitter, AllWrightFarms and SchwoeppeDairy tweet about the challenges of caring for dairy cows on cold winter mornings and the care farmers put into producing healthy, wholesome milk.

The Dairy Mom's blog tells stories from life on the farm and can answer some FAQs about dairy farming. 

Two Maids a Milking offers recipes and down-home cooking tips from two dairy farming women, but also explains how dairy cows are a part of the farm family.  You can also see that dairy farmers deal with the same everyday problems—like what to cook for dinner or how to convince a kid he needs to wear a winter coat to school. 

Indiana’s dairy farms are a true family affair, with many farmers working alongside brothers, sisters, parents, in laws, and children. When you get to know a farmer, you’ll also witness first-hand that farmer’s commitment to animal care, human nutrition, and environmental responsibility. Connecting with a farmer online can be a great opportunity to arrange a farm tour and actually meet some dairy cows! So, take your coat off and stay awhile, you're part of the dairy family now!

Some Like It Hot!

It’s February, and we all know what that means.  No, not the Superbowl.  Not Valentine’s Day.  It’s National Hot Breakfast Month!  Breakfast has been cited as the most important meal of the day, and to celebrate it, below are links to recipes you could whip up for tomorrow's breakfast-- all from some of our favorite blogs.

Crock Pot Blueberry French Toast Casserole from A Latte with Ott, A

Lighter-than-Air Potato Rolls from Two Maids a Milking

Quick Breakfast Tacos from the Wife of a Dairy Man

Breakfast Crescent Roll Ring Bake from A Latte with Ott, A

Breakfast Freezer Burritos from GOODEness Gracious

Brown Sugar Baked Oatmeal from Pinke Post

That’s six recipes to get National Hot Breakfast Month started!  

Tell us…  What is your favorite hot breakfast food?

News Release: March to be Agriculture Appreciation Month

INDIANAPOLIS (February 4, 2013) Governor Mike Pence has declared March Agriculture Appreciation Month in Indiana. The Hoosier celebration is an extension of National Ag Day, March 19. 

Indiana’s Family of Farmers (IFoF), a coalition of more than a dozen ag-related organizations, is sponsoring a kick off to the month-long celebration on Monday, March 5 in recognition of the significant economic and cultural contributions agriculture makes to the Hoosier state. The event is at the Statehouse and includes:

Indiana’s Family of Farmers Statehouse Reception

Tuesday, March 5, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

An Ag Appreciation Month luncheon reception and special presentation is in the Statehouse North Atrium for legislators and staff. Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, is announcing the winners of the Ag Essay Contest and Cameron Mann, Indiana FFA state president, is reading the official governor’s proclamation.

Food Trucks Celebrate Agriculture Appreciation Month

Tuesday, March 5, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Ten food trucks are serving outside the Statehouse on Robert D. Orr Plaza from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.to celebrate Indiana’s Agriculture Appreciation Month. The public is encouraged to come out and support these local businesses and learn more about Indiana agriculture. All were featured regularly at the Statehouse Market, a State Personnel Department wellness initiative. To show their support of that program, dieticians from the Indiana Dietetic Association are also on hand to answer questions.  Indiana FFA state officers are available to answer questions on agriculture. 

2013 Ag Essay Contest: “Our Food, Our Farmers”

The winners of the 2013 Ag Essay Contest, sponsored by IFoF and the Indiana Humanities, are announced during a presentation at the Statehouse reception.  For the 2013 competition, we have asked the same question of all three grade levels:

Describe how Indiana farmers nourish 1) our families, 2) our animals, and 3) our earth (soil). Please provide an example from each of the three areas.

There  are first and second place winners from each grade level. First place winners receive an Apple iPad and second place winners receive Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones. 

This contest is part of Indiana Humanities’ two-year Spirit of Competition initiative. Spirit of Competition celebrates the role competition plays in our lives by examining core elements of competition such as civility, rivalry, innovation, passion and failure.

###

About Indiana’s Family of Farmers

Indiana’s Family of Farmers grows the grains, produce and meat you eat every day. We believe that quality farming means quality food that is good for you, your family and the environment. Food for your family, from our family. More atwww.indianafamilyoffarmers.com.

About Indiana Humanities

Indiana Humanities connects people, opens minds and enriches lives by creating and facilitating programs that encourage people to think, read and talk. Learn more at www.indianahumanities.org.