Why We Do What We Do

I thought today's snow day would be the perfect opportunity to sharpen my technology skills and look for new avenues to share agriculture news and my stories.  Of course the first hour has been nothing but playing around while attempting to thaw out after my cold walk to the barn to feed.  While playing, I stumbled upon one of Henson's blog post from May of 2013.  I thought it was quite interesting and felt compelled to share it.

"Ag research and extension work to help you make more money. Sometimes, that means spending less. Sometimes, it may mean spending more. But either way you cut it, our job is to help you optimize what you do, and the underlying factor, sometimes not well recognized, is, we work from independent, publicly funded science. Often it seems, everybody else is trying to sell you something, not that selling's bad, but sometimes it's oversold! This report, the Soybean Management Verification Program, has attempted to compare what some individuals do in soybean production, and compare it (Non-scientifically!) to a field specific set of recommendations based on UK research. As we'd expect, the results are somewhat mixed. In general though, the closer a farmer's system is to the research recommendations, the less difference there is between the systems compared. What that really means it, the more you succumb to gimmicks, fads and sales pitches, the more money you're likely to lose. What I appreciate most about it is, the better the partnership between a farmer and his county agent, the better the system works. Gives me a lot of satisfaction about what I've done the past 32 years."

Since taking this position as McLean County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, I feel like I have been asked 1000 times by friends and family "What exactly do you do?"  I feel like Greg did a pretty good job of explaining it.  In addition to the above, I also believe my job is to be an advocate for agriculture, promote McLean County, be the link between producers and our extraordinary UK specialist and be an educational resource for our county's producers and homeowners, whether they have 10,000 acres or 1/4 an acre.  I feel like McLean County and its Agriculture is the best kept secret west of 65 and our producers do not get the recognition and appreciation that they deserve.  We are blessed here in McLean County and I am so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with such great people and talented farmers.  I hope that in return for me being blessed with this opportunity I can help better someone's quality of living through sustainable agriculture, increase someone's farm income and make a positive difference in the lives of the great people of McLean County.

Hopefully between the above quote from the great Greg Henson, in addition to what I added, you know what we do as extension agents and more importantly, why we do what we do.   Hope everyone has a great week!  Stay warm and be safe out there!  God Bless!