A Glance Back
* In 1929 the Ohio FFA Association was founded in University Hall on the OSU Campus in Columbus. Eighty delegates from fifty-two Vocational Agricultural Departments were present including two from Washington County – Marietta and Westfield Local (Bartlett).
* In 1929 Robert Lane of the Marietta Chapter was elected Ohio FFA Vice President. The first state FFA Convention was held that May 1929.
* In 1943-44 in addition to serving as the Marietta FFA President, Harry Cogswell was also elected as an Ohio FFA Officer.
* 1960 – James Woodruff of the Barlow Rural (Warren) FFA Chapter was the first Washington County youth to be awarded the American Farmer Degree.
* 1978-79 Susie Barrett of the Warren FFA chapter was elected the first Ohio female FFA President. Susie was also the first female National FFA Officer after receiving her American FFA Degree in 1980. By Hugh Coffman

Cattle Trivia – a ruminant is an animal with four stomach compartments. Cattle eat by wrapping their tongue around the food then engulfing it. 1

All supporters of agriculture must communicate, using written and spoken word, to support agriculture. Agriculture is a target (program reductions or eliminations, upcoming ballot issues). Stay respectful, factual, and positive - refer to the enclosed poem. Remember, if you do strike a nerve with someone by sharing your opinion (written or spoken) then you are possibly being perceived as a threat to their power/authority, money, or to an ally of theirs. Share your support for agriculture with board members, administrators, and politicians at all levels.

Agricultural Organizations: Farm Bureau, NFO, Ohio Cattleman etc…. must join forces when positions are compatible! There are more than a half million FFA members in America and more than 23,000 members in Ohio.

Cattle Trivia - the heaviest live birth weight of a calf on record is 225 pounds from a British Friesian Cow in 1961.

Congratulations to the Fort Frye FFA soil conservation judging team consisting of Josiah Fryman, Heidi Heiss, Greg Heldman and Derek Kirkbride who placed 2nd in Ohio (300+ chapters). This qualified the team for the May national finals in Oklahoma. 2

Say What? Most school systems have what is known as a “use it or lose it” unwritten budgeting rule. An example would be as the budget year gets in the final couple of months, teachers, administrators etc. want to know how much money is left in their budget so they can spend it all before it is too late (budget year deadline). Employees realize that if budget cuts come then the school system, in determining your budget reduction, will first take a look to see if you spent your allotted budget in the past few years. If you spent your total annual budget, it is taken as an indication of need. Therefore, your cut is smaller. If you are thrifty you learn that you could actually end up being penalized. The majority of expenditures are for necessities however, this unwritten rule costs school districts and tax payers thousands of dollars in most years.

Coffman_ralph@yahoo.com 740-984-2567 The Agricultural View Issue 2 April 1, 2009

“Agricultural Food for Thought” In 1973 I had a farmer (multiple crop and livestock commodities) tell me that on most days he starts before daylight and works until after dark and in the 1950’s he said that he made really good money farming, and the government told him that he needed some help. Then, in the 1960’s, he said he still made some money and the government again said that he needed more help. In 1973 all he did was shuffle money back and forth, and didn’t make anything. Furthermore, the government was telling him that he needed even more help. E.T Benson the Secretary of Agriculture for President Eisenhower, became alarmed with talk in the 1950’s, by a few congressmen, who suggested increasing government involvement in farm commodities. He had witnessed the government’s involvement in the wheat commodity for more than a decade and wheat was worse off after the alleged “help.” He said, “the fundamental economics of the farm dilemma is simple it is the politics that is baffling.” Charles B. Shuman (AFBF 1960’s) stated that we need production for the competitive market (consumption) - not production in response to bureaucratic decisions.

The end to animal agriculture? Animal Rights Groups believe that humans and animals are equal. PETA and the Humane Society of the United States are two examples. One of PETA’s billboards:“FEEDING KIDS MEAT IS CHILD ABUSE.” Dr. Michael W. Fox (V.P. of the Humane Society of the United States. Note: this is not the local humane societies). Two examples of statements he made in his speech in Columbus in 1993:
1.The replacement of animal-based foods with plant-based foods could result in an 80-90 percent reduction in cancer (reference cited - Professor Colin Campbell Cornell University).
2. There is nothing miraculously different separating the existence of ants and earthworms from humans and tapeworms.
Major Alarm – there is a threat of a proposition on the fall ballot in Ohio that would be devastating to animal agriculture. The Human Society of the United States has already begun their intimidation tactics with agricultural leaders and the legislature! Call the Farm Bureau and other farm organizations for direction ASAP. 5