While PETA is believed to be the leading group which pushes vegetarian lifestyles, many may be shocked to learn HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) also advocates this lifestyle on their website. While they claim to be a group which protects animals, they also have another mission, they are also advocating vegetarianism.

"Each one of us can help prevent animals from suffering...simply by choosing vegetarian options." This quote comes directly from HSUS' "Humane Eating" page on their website. As I continued to search the HSUS website, I found a page titled "The HSUS Guide to Vegetarian Eating."

What disturbs me the most is how HSUS continues to push misleading information about the livestock industry to our consumers, indicating that all farms using modern technology are mistreating their livestock. Nothing could be further from the truth. Modern technology, which includes modern livestock facilities, enables farmers to provide the best care possible for their livestock, which is the goal of any farmer and rancher. Modern facilities are found on many family farms today, and these facilities provide safe and secure housing for our livestock, protecting them from predators and the elements of the weather.

It's time we started telling our story and put a stop to the lies being told by groups like HSUS.

I was delighted by Meghan's Christmas Tree facts. Christmas tree farms across the United States play a key role in a diversified agricultural economy.

While I reflect on 2007, it is this same diversity in United State Agriculture that makes me think about my own operation. I am proud to say that this is the second season that I have been selling Christmas trees at my nursery. By bringing in trees direct from the grower, I have turned a traditionally slow period of the year for nursery stock into a busy one.

Sure, while poinsettias and cyclamen are popular, Christmas trees have added diversity and growth in our annual gross income. Farmers and ranchers need to entertain the idea of diversifying their operations. Whether it be "grower direct" gift baskets or a new crop for the coming year, ingenuity will keep United States farmers ahead of what continues to be a global marketplace for our products.

I hope this holiday season finds you and your family doing well. This year has been quite a blessing – and full of adventure and fun as well! In the spirit of the holiday season, I found a few Christmas tree facts to ponder while enjoying the company of your family and friends.

• Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.
• The best selling trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, Balsam fir and white pine.
• More than 2,000 trees are usually planted per acre. On an average 1,000-1,500 of these trees will survive. In the North, maybe, 750 trees will remain. Almost all trees require shearing to attain the Christmas tree shape. At six to seven feet, trees are ready for harvest. It takes six to 10 years of fighting heavy rain, wind, hail and drought to get a mature tree.
• In the United States, there are more than 21,000 Christmas tree growers.
• In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.
• Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and first family.
• The first decorated Christmas tree was in Riga, Latvia in 1510.
• Christmas trees take an average of 7-10 years to mature.
• Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.
• 100,000 people are employed in the Christmas tree industry.
• An acre of Christmas trees provides for the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.

Source: Illinois Dept. of Agriculture.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Did anyone catch the World Climate Summit broadcast from Bali? WOW. The United States is at the table. This is good as we indeed need to play a role. In fact, I'd say we play a leading role.

Climate change is a real hot topic at this point and the issue presents some opportunities for a wide range of interest groups. For example, have you noticed the beating agriculture has taken? Particularly when it comes to livestock. Several interest groups are using the climate issue to attack meat as an important part of the human diet.

While these discussions are being held thousands of miles away, they will indeed impact American Agriculture Producers. Not only should we monitor developments, we should be in regular communication with representatives through Farm Bureau and the White House.

The voice of agriculture must be heard.

A friend of mine recently told me about a neat conference coming up in April for women in agriculture to develop their leadership skills. The National Women's Leadership Conference is taking place April 25 - 28, 2008 in Louisville, Kentucky.

This conference will teach not only leadership skills, but help you improve your communications skills through workshops, seminars and tours.

Tours include horse farms, Churchill Downs, My Old Kentucky Home, Andersen Circle Farms and many more. To learn more or to register, click here.

Christmas must be coming early this year. The other day I received a call from Wendy’s corp. and was pleased to find out that our calls to there office had worked . Wendy’s has decided that eggs from caged chickens are ok and that the birds are treated humanely. For those of you that don’t know the history. HSUS ran an ad in the USA TODAY on Monday November 12, which stated Wendy’s attitude was frosty toward animal welfare. The reason for this malicious attack was Wendy’s continued use of egg’s from caged poultry. In the same ad, HSUS claimed that Burger King, Carl’s Jr., and Hardee’s had caved to HSUS heavy arm-twisting and agreed not to use caged eggs. This is one victory in a major war on the American Farmer -- if we stay vigilant we will win! The citizens of America trust us! They just need to hear our voice. Thank you very much to each and every one of you who called Wendy’s to let them know you support them. The next time you are looking for a quick meal, remember who supports the American Farmer. I hope every one of you has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Our family has just returned from the 88th Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Farm Bureau. What a great time!! I know that Christmas is just around the corner when I attend this annual event. All of the ladies and gentlemen are dressed in their Christmas Best and all of the kids are hopping around excited by all of the beautiful decorations and lights!
It's also a special time, because it's a time in the year where farmers and families from across the state get to be together for 3 days and discuss issues, concerns and family values under one roof (okay, a really big roof due to the over 1,000 in attendance). We get to see life-long friends every year at this meeting. It's such a joy to watch each others kids grow up before our eyes and discuss their futures in agriculture.

Many things are accomplished at this meeting from Ag. related seminars, such as a Forestry Conference, an Ag Chemical Conference to a Farm Labor Conference. Our State Women's Committee has a wonderful luncheon and a very successful business meeting.

Our Young Farmers conduct their Excellence in Agriculture Award Contest along with the Discussion Meet and an always sold out Young Farmers Luncheon that recognizes the top finalist for the Achievement Award.

Basically, what I'm saying is, if you've never attended your states Annual Meeting, please contact your local Farm Bureau and find out more information about it. It's an amazing way to connect with your own family and others!

Missouri is being hit by a winter storm this weekend, delaying many events and making travel difficult. On our farm, we began implementation of our emergency action plan. We fueled up tractors, hooked up generators, and double checked our alarm system, among many other jobs, to prepare for the bad weather.

Since our animals are housed indoors, they do not have to endure the high wind chills, freezing rain and snow. But, it is our job to make sure if the power fails, we are ready with the generators to ensure our animals never endure the cold temperatures. Our goal is to protect our animals from the cold temperatures so they are safe and comfortable. This is not only a humane way to care for our animals, but it also protects our animals from injuring themselves on the ice and snow.

Although the winter storm creates more work for us on the farm, our animals are safe, and so is our country's food supply.

Farmers and ranchers who raise animals on modern farms are not the only ones feeling the impact of animal “rights” groups. In the November issue of America’s 1st Freedom, a National Rifle Association (NRA) magazine, Chris W. Cox wrote an article that explained the two faces of animal rights groups, the one they present to the public and to potential donors. As Cox notes, “The two largest and best-funded animal “rights” groups, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), both rely on financial support that often comes from people who have not idea what their real agendas are. The NRA is opposed to groups like HSUS as they oppose all forms of hunting, yet hide this agenda by claiming to oppose some hunting. This sounds familiar to what the HSUS did in Arizona by supporting an initiative to ban veal production, knowing that there was no veal produced in the state. Their hidden goal in Arizona was to promote the vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. Consequently, I am grateful to Chris Cox and the NRA for sharing, with millions of its members, the truth about HSUS and other groups like them.