2012 Farm Bureau® Photo Contest Winners Announced

Last Updated on Thursday, 20 December 2012 05:08

MichelleShooter

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 19, 2012 – Twenty-five photographs submitted by 20 Farm Bureau members and staff were chosen as the winners of the 2012 Farm Bureau Photo Contest.

The contest, held by the American Farm Bureau Federation together with the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, selected winners in five categories that accurately portray today’s farm and ranch families and their efforts to keep farms a safe place to work and a healthy place to live.

The winners by category are:

Safety & Health: Mary Ann Renner, Ferndale, Calif., first place; Sydney Edwards, Wendell, N.C., second place; William Burleigh, Tavares, Fla., third place; Andy Lucas, Montrose, Ga., honorable mention; Staci Lee, Kindred, N.D., honorable mention.

At Work on the Farm or Ranch: Sydney Edwards, Wendell, N.C., first place; Tina Witte, Atkinson, Ill., second place; Robert DeGrandchamp, South Haven, Mich., third place; Peggy Gannon, Jefferson, Iowa, honorable mention; Brenda Hastings, Chardon, Ohio, honorable mention.

At Home on the Farm or Ranch: Michelle Shooter, Rowland, N.C., first place; Tina Witte, Atkinson, Ill., second place; Rita Kleve, Holyoke, Colo., third place; David Sean Hinton, Carrollton, Ohio, honorable mention; Jacki Picco, Richmond, Va., honorable mention.

Consumer Outreach: Dani Walker Kreutter, Waterloo, Ind., first place; Raquel Landry, Lake Charles, La., second place; Barb Iverson, Woodburn, Ore., third place; Claire Smith, Belmond, Iowa, honorable mention; Brenda Hastings, Chardon, Ohio, honorable mention.

My Scenic Farm or Ranch: Laurie Link, Meadville, Mo., first place; Barb Iverson, Woodburn, Ore., second place; Cynthia Elder, Fancy Farm, Ky., third place; Peggy Gannon, Jefferson, Iowa, honorable mention; Tom and Kay Luxton, Hillpoint, Wis., honorable mention.

Winners will be highlighted at the AFBF Annual Meeting, Jan. 13-16 in Nashville, Tenn., and the top three placing photos in each category will receive monetary prizes. First place winners will be awarded $200, second place, $150 and third place, $100. Placing photos will also be used by AFBF and related companies, publications and promotions in the future.

The 2012 Farm Bureau® Photo contest was a coordinated effort between American Farm Bureau Federation and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. This contest was open to all state and county Farm Bureau members and employees over the age of 18 at the time of entry, including professional photographers.

We held this contest to obtain usable and appropriate photos which accurately portray today’s agriculture and safe practices of farmers and ranchers for use in future publications and promotions.

The winners are listed below by category:

At Home on the Farm or Ranch
1st place	Michelle Shooter – Rowland, North Carolina
2nd place	Tina Witte – Atkinson, Illinois
3rd place	Rita Kleve – Holyoke, Colorado
Honorable Mentions	David Sean Hinton – Carrollton, Ohio Jacki Picco – Richmond, Virginia

At Work on the Farm or Ranch
1st place	Sydney D. Edwards – Wendell, North Carolina
2nd place	Tina Witte – Atkinson, Illinois
3rd place	Robert DeGrandchamp – South Haven, Michigan
Honorable Mentions	Brenda Hastings – Chardon, Ohio Peggy Gannon – Jefferson, Iowa

Consumer Outreach
1st place	Dani Walker Kreutter – Waterloo, Indiana
2nd place	Raquel Landry – Lake Charles, Louisiana
3rd place	Barb Iverson – Woodburn, Oregon
Honorable Mentions	Claire Smith – Belmond, Iowa Brenda Hastings – Chardon, Ohio

My Scenic Farm or Ranch
1st place	Laurie Link – Meadville, Missouri
2nd place	Barb Iverson – Woodburn, Oregon
3rd place	Cynthia Elder – Fancy Farm, Kentucky
Honorable Mentions	Tom and Kay Luxton – Hillpoint, Wisconsin Peggy Gannon – Jefferson, Iowa

Safety & Health
1st place	Mary Ann Renner – Ferndale, California
2nd place	Sydney D. Edwards – Wendell, North Carolina
3rd place	William Burleigh – Tavares, Florida
Honorable Mentions	Andy Lucas – Montrose, Georgia Staci Lee – Kindred, North Dakota

Thank you to all the members and staff who entered the contest. We look forward to even more entries in 2013.

Mariposa County Master Gardeners Reminder For Preventative Care Of Peach Leaf Curl

Last Updated on Thursday, 20 December 2012 03:05

Mariposa County Master Gardeners remind you that if your peach trees had crinkled, thickened leaves last spring, now is the time to do something to prevent that. The disease is called peach leaf curl and in most cases can be controlled with an application of fungicide after the leaves fall. If you sprayed before the recent storms, you’ll need to do it again. Get it done ASAP, but certainly by the end of the year.

If you had a bad infestation last year, you’ll need to spray again in early February. A memory trick is to set Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day as your target dates.

The disease affects the blossoms, fruit, leaves, and shoots of peaches, ornamental flowering peaches, and nectarines. You’ll need a fungicide known as fixed copper, which you can pick up at most nurseries and home centers. You’ll need a sprayer. Don’t use the same sprayer you used for weed control or other garden jobs.

Fixed copper has an MCE (metallic copper equivalent) listed on the label. The higher the MCE, the more effective the fungicide. The letters PLC should be on the label.

Thorough coverage of the tree in all its nooks and crannies is a must. Spray till it’s dripping or running off. Of course, read the label to tell you what precautions you need to take and follow mixing and application directions.

The Integrated Pest Management website run by the University of California (www.ipm.ucdavis.edu) also suggests that if you have had uncontrolled peach leaf curl for years, it might be time to remove the tree, thoroughly clean the area of all debris and buy a new tree. Peach leaf curl resistant varieties include Frost, Indian Free and Q-1-8.

For more information on peach leaf curl, see the website above. Curled leaves on apple or plum trees are different – they are likely caused by aphids.

The Master Gardener program is overseen by the University of California Cooperative Extension. We are volunteers who help home gardeners with their problems and questions. Website: http://cemariposa.ucdavis.edu/Master_Gardener. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Phone: (209) 966-7078; and in north county, (209) 852-9711.

Coulterville Rebekah Calendar For 2013

Last Updated on Thursday, 20 December 2012 03:02

Starting in January 2013 the Coulterville Rebekah's will start serving a delicious Pancake Breakfast on the third Saturday of each month. Breakfast will start at 8 a.m. and continue until 11 a.m. Cost will be $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children. Have your eggs cooked the way you like them along with pancakes, sausage or ham and fruit. You can choose coffee, tea or milk for a beverage. Whether you are on your way to the local dump to make your weekly deposit or on your way for a day of sightseeing or shopping, stop and have a great start to your day with a wonderful breakfast. Our first breakfast of the year will be Saturday, January 19, 2013.

We will continue with Bingo on the first Friday of each month. Early bird bingo starts at 6 p.m. and regular bingo starts at 7 p.m. We will have several new games starting in January. There will be more White Elephant prizes and a game or two with your choice of a baked good. Cost for early bird bingo is $5.00 and regular bingo will cost $10.00. Be sure to start bringing your white elephant items to bingo to add to our store of items for prizes. Mark your calendar for Friday, January 4, 2013 for the first bingo of the new year.

In June 2013, the Rebekah's are making plans to have a flea market in the parking lot of the Lodge. Prices for spaces will be announced later. But you can start now to set aside items you might like to sell at the flea market. More information as the time gets closer.

As you know the Rebekah's were not able to participate in Christmas in Coulterville 2012 due to scheduling conflicts. But we are making big plans for Christmas in Coulterville 2013. Debbie Cook has agreed to perform again and she says she has a big surprise for 2013. So mark your calendars for Saturday, December 21, 2013 for an exciting day in Coulterville.

Money raised at our fund raisers go to help our Rebekah Charities and local needs. If you are interested in joining the Rebekah's, contact Gail at: (209) 878-3792 or ask any of our local Rebekahs for an application form. For more information on any of our events or just more information on what is a Rebekah, contact us at: (209) 878-3792.

Reusable Packaging Grants Available

The StopWaste Partnership and Reusable Packaging Association are offering grants of up to $30,000 to companies, non-profit organizations, institutions and public agencies who would like to incorporate reusable packaging into their transport and distribution. Eligible projects include those that replace single- or limited-use transport packaging with durable pallets or bins, reusable pallet wrap, expanded use of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and other projects that significantly reduce expendable packaging.

Eligible projects must focus on waste prevention--specifically reusable transportation packaging--and be implemented within six months of application, or have been implemented in the six months prior to application. Grant monies can be used to fund equipment costs, labor costs, and other costs that are essential to the implementation of the project, such as educational materials for employees or customers. Projects of all sizes are encouraged.

Although, 33% of funds are reserved for projects that are based in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Central Valley, pilot projects out of the area that have the intent for replication in the Bay Area are eligible.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, January 15, 2013. For more information, go to: www.usereusables.com, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call: 510-891-6500.

To learn what types of materials businesses and organizations can recycle in Mariposa County, go to: www.mariposacounty.org/solidwaste, email the County Recycling Coordinator at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call: 209-966-5165.