The entire group at the Fred Provenza Short Course out at the Lewiston research facility.

Three stockmanship educators out standing in their field!

Fred, Richard, Tina, and Bruce

Several months ago Don Lucietta, assistant to Representative Roy Blunt, asked us if they could bring the Representative and an ag tour group to see our switchgrass field in August? We said sure, why not? Well, we didn’t hear much about it after that, though they did ask for some promotional information and photos about us a month or so ago for the printed packet of materials they handed out to the group.

Then, this morning things started happening! KOLR 10 TV station called and asked if they could come out earlier and interview us.

Here’s the link to their finished report which appeared on TV tonight!

And here’s the link to the Springfield News-Leader articles in the August 12 issue. We were front page, above the fold in the actual paper!

Richard was interviewed about our switchgrass field, our cattle business, and our low-stress livestock handling!

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We have enjoyed working the the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan three years in a row and wanted to share this great example of the work they do.

May 28, 2008

For Immediate Release

The smiling faces of Saskatchewan farm families will greet pedestrians and drivers alike with the launch of the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (FACS) 2008 Billboard Campaign.

“These are the faces of active farm families and employees committed to responsible animal care,” says FACS Executive Director Adele Buettner.

A total of 23 billboards are being launched across the province between May 26 and June 30 , and each will be showcased for a period of four weeks. The billboards can also be viewed on the FACS website at http://www.facs.sk.ca/proactive_billboards.htm

The faces include families involved in dairy, equine, poultry, bison, beef and pork operations.

“What is most encouraging about this particular campaign is the fact that these are Saskatchewan families with young people directly involved in the operation of the farm or ranch who take their responsibilities seriously,” Ms. Buettner noted.

Reflecting the Billboard theme “On our farms … we care,” a new component of the campaign will present some of the young people in conversation through a radio series. The conversations are scheduled to be aired on CJWW and 92.9 The Bull from June 9 to 29.

“Hearing these energetic young farmers discuss their operations and how they feel about agriculture will certainly add to the authenticity of the Billboards in depicting agriculture,” said FACS Chair Shannon Meyers.

The FACS Billboard Campaign ran from 1996 to 2001, and resumed in 2007. The 2008 campaign is sponsored by:

Saskatchewan Bison Association

North American Equine Ranching Information Council

Saskatchewan Agriculture

Saskatchewan Chicken Industry Development Fund

Saskatchewan Egg Producers

Saskatchewan Dairy Farmers

For more information, contact:

Adele Buettner, Executive Director of FACS
Telephone: (306) 249-3227

Here’s Richard with Vern and Brock, our travel companions. We happened to notice them when we were getting on the plane in Memphis heading to Jackson, Mississippi. We figured that, with the cowboy hats, they were also going to the conference. We shared a cab to cut expenses, and the cab driver asked, “So, is the rodeo in town?” Vern and Brock flew from Denver, which is where we flew to from Jackson, MS this afternoon for our two speaking events coming up in Colorado, so we got to share the entire flight with them.

Richard, Mom, Dad, and Joel Salatin at the SGF Money Conference. We learned a lot and had a great time visiting with old and new friends.

Click here for more photos.

We hurried home from West Virginia knowing that a massive ice storm had hit SW Missouri and our farm the week previous. This is part of what we found this morning. The tree damage is massive throughout the entire area, but we were incredibly lucky that no buildings, water lines, or animals were harmed. We were also a lot more lucky than many people in that our electricity was only off for five days and was on when we returned.