Rotaview - Current  Sep 7, 2010

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     "Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help."  Proverbs 3:27

     "Love and forgiveness set up a chain reaction: the more forgiveness, the more love; the more love, the more forgiveness." F.F.Bruce

     "No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause." Theodore Roosevelt

     Julian Griner brought us sunshine, but blamed it on D. W. Adcock, Jr. Julian began by saying that never ask a retired person a question, as they have more than enough time to elaborate on their answer. To wit:

     "Yesterday I was at my Walmart buying a large bag of Purina Dog chow, in the checkout line, when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. (What did she think I had, an elephant?) So I told her that no, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care unit with tubes coming out of everywhere. But I added that it was essentially a perfect diet and it works by loading your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eating one or two whenever hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well, so I was going to try it again. Horrified, she asked if I ended up in the hospital because of the dog food. I replied, no, I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter's butt and a car hit us both. Walmart won't let me shop there anymore."

     Our president introduced our own Chip Blalock.

     Chip began by saying that this was the 33rd annual Sunbelt Expo, and the 21st year for the "Farmer of the Year Program." 177 farmers have ended up in the Farmers' Hall of Honor.

     He and the three judges traveled 4100 miles, starting in Atlanta and ending up in Jessup, GA, 5 days later.

     First stop, Tennessee. Vonore, TN, to be exact.  http://sunbeltexpo.com/d/foty/2010/tn_10_swish_brad_black.pdf 

Brad Black is a pioneer in the biofuels industry, producing ethanol from switch grass. They were treated to sweet tea, fruit, and pastries.

     Then on to South Carolina, Marty Easler and his 7 children in Greeleyville, long-time tobacco growers, Marty is also a local magistrate judge. They grow 398 acres tobacco, 2500 soybean, etc.

http://sunbeltexpo.com/d/foty/2010/sc_10_swish_marty_easler.pdf

     Next stop, Rowland, NC, at the ? Steak House.  Bo Stone grows corn, wheat, soybeans, cattle, and has guided over 15,000 school children on farm tours. He also coaches basketball. http://sunbeltexpo.com/d/foty/2010/nc_10_swish_bo_stone.pdf

     Wallick Harding, in Jetersville, VA, treated them to hummingbird cake. State was the driest of the ten. http://sunbeltexpo.com/d/foty/2010/va_10_swish_wallick_harding.pdf 

     In Cadiz, KY, where they ate at Charlie's Steak House, Joe Nichols runs 136 separate farms in 5 counties. http://sunbeltexpo.com/d/foty/2010/ky_10_swish_joe_nichols.pdf 

     On to Gentry, Arkansas, where Bill Haak is a Holstein dairy farmer. His wife, Delia, is the CEO of the Illinois River Watershed Project. He also grows soybeans and various grasses. On the way home they bought bumblebee pie.

http://sunbeltexpo.com/d/foty/2010/ar_10_swish_bill_haak.pdf 

     In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, they feasted at Krepske Grill (great seafood), then on to Perkinston, MS, where Dan and Cathy grow trees and Crape Myrtle, they donated many plants after Katrina. They boast 100% water retention and hope to re-cycle up to 70% water in the near future. They were treated to Macadamia Nut cookies.

http://sunbeltexpo.com/d/foty/2010/ms_10_swish_dan_batson.pdf 

     Next stop, Shorter, Alabama, where Shep Morris grows varieties of cotton, corn, soybean, and timber. His 2 sons both served in the armed forces.

http://sunbeltexpo.com/d/foty/2010/al_10_swish_shep_morris.pdf 

     The next to last stop was Florida, where they ate at Stonewood Bar and Grill, steaks this time. John Hundley, in North Palm Beach, also operates a farm in Bainbridge, GA. His son plays tennis. They grow radishes, green beans, squash, and cotton in rotation.

http://sunbeltexpo.com/d/foty/2010/fl_10_swish_john_hundley.pdf 

     And last, but not least, Jessup, Georgia, from where they drove to Glennville to meet with Robert and Debbie Dasher, pioneers in Vidalia onion growing. They also grow corn, peanuts, and pecans, along with 8,000 acres of timber.

http://sunbeltexpo.com/d/foty/2010/ga_10_swish_robert_dasher.pdf 

     As an overview, Chip then discussed the expo in general. Wednesday is "Irrigation Day," with seminars all day long. Backyard Gardening, as well as Sheep and Goats, have been relocated. For 2011, Arkansas is the "Spotlight State." Field demonstrations are the cornerstone, including GPS-guided tractor harvest. They have demos of organically grown side by side with conventionally grown crops. There are livestock demos, equine, cattle, dairy seminars, small ruminants (sheep and goats) and even a cow milking contest.

     The tire auction, at 1:00 PM daily, makes money for GA FFA Foundation. There is an ice cream social, tractor parade at 2 PM daily, and one truck is being given away, GMC, Chevvy, or Dodge. There is a lawn tractor giveaway on Thursday, a John Deere Gator giveaway.

     The expo provides shuttles to downtown and the art center (quilting exhibit).

     In summary, Chip stated that farming is a national security issue, especially since the Feds are trying to regulate us out of business. 

                                                http://sunbeltexpo.com/