For Best Results, Go Topless

With the holidays upon us, an oven roast is the ultimate comfort food, for family and for guests. And what better way to entertain than going topless!

With a combination of both culinary and consumer research, the Beef Information Centre (BIC) is putting forward its findings for oven-roasting best practices. Oven roast enthusiasts across the nation can take comfort, confident they have the information they need to prepare the most juicy, tender oven roasts possible with just four easy steps: season, sear, reduce and stand.

With 65 per cent of Canadians not clear on the difference between a pot roast and an oven roast, BIC is stressing oven roasters 'go topless' (not use a lid), 'go dry' (not use liquid in the pan) and 'go low' (roasting at 275°F) to best achieve restaurant-quality roasting. Interestingly, 47 per cent of Canadians in BIC studies covered their oven roasts with a lid and 55 per cent used liquid in the pan. Oh the sufferings of the oven roast, confined under a lid and drowning in liquid - no more! And with the help of the step-by-step cooking lesson at www.beefinfo.org, a roasting revival is on the horizon as more Canadians discover just how easy roasting can be.

Canadians can learn all about the oven roasting best practices, how to make tasty homemade gravy, learn about serving sizes, get great holiday recipe ideas and much more by visiting www.beefinfo.org.

Oven-Roasting Best Practices

Season roast. Place, fat side up, on rack in shallow pan (no water is necessary). Insert oven-safe meat thermometer into centre of roast, avoiding fat or bone.

Oven-Sear* by placing uncovered (topless) roast in preheated 450°F (230°C) oven for 10 minutes.

*(Not around to turn it down? Skip this step and roast at a constant 275°F/140°C).

Reduce heat to 275°F (140°C). Cook to desired doneness, removing from oven when the roast is 5°F (3°C) below finished temperature (145°F/63°C for medium-rare, 160°F/71°C for medium to well-done).

Cover with foil and let stand for at least 15 minutes. Roasts can stand 20 to 30 minutes before carving into thin slices.


FENNEL-CRUSTED BEEF STRIP LOIN ROAST WITH PORT WINE SAUCE

Beef Strip Loin is a great roast to consider for entertaining - it's ever-tender and has amazing flavour! Since it's boneless, Strip Loin Roast is simple to carve and there's little waste. Bonus: Fully trimmed Strip Loin is lean, and because of its flat, thin shape, it cooks quite quickly for its weight.


Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 2 hours

1/4 cup (50 mL) minced fresh parsley

1 tbsp (15 mL) crushed fennel seeds

1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil

Coarse salt and pepper, to taste

4 lb (2 kg) Beef Strip Loin Premium Oven Roast

Port Wine Sauce:

2 shallots, minced

1 cup (250 mL) red wine

1/2 cup (125 mL) ruby port

1-1/2 cups (375 mL) sodium-reduced beef broth

2 tbsp (30 mL) cornstarch

1 tbsp (15 mL) butter

1.Combine parsley, fennel seeds, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Rub all over roast.

2.Place roast on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert oven-safe meat thermometer into centre of roast. Cook, uncovered, in 450°F (230°C) oven for 10 minutes.

Reduce heat to 275°F (140°C); roast until thermometer reads 135°F (57°C) for medium-rare, about 1-3/4 to 2 hours, or to 150°F (66°C) for medium. Remove from oven. Cover roast loosely with foil and let stand for 15 to 30 minutes before carving.

3.Meanwhile, make Port Wine Sauce: Drain off all but 2 tbsp (30 mL) of the drippings from roasting pan. Place pan over medium heat and add shallots; cook, stirring until shallots soften. Stir in wine and port, stirring up any browned bits from bottom of pan. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer until reduced by half, about 7 minutes. Stir in broth. Combine cornstarch with 1/4 cup (50 mL) cold water and whisk into simmering sauce, cook stirring until thickened, about 5 minutes. Strain (if desired) and return to pan. Whisk butter into sauce; season with salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 8 to 12 servings.

Per Serving: 255 Calories, 29 g protein, 11 g fat, 4 g carbohydrate. Good source of iron (22% DV), potassium (15% DV) and vitamin D (16% DV) and excellent source of zinc (63% DV), 7% DV sodium.

BEEF INFORMATION CENTRE For Best Results, Go Topless

Fédération de la relève agricole du Québec

A GIGGLE with the GOATS Jingle Bells Holiday Performance

How wet was it?

We heard countless stories about the wet weather in the west last spring, summer and fall. But for those of us who weren't there, it's really hard to imagine the impact the rain had on the fields -- no matter how many anecdotes we heard.

Here's a website displaying some photos of what happened when heavy equipment hit the wet fields. Voting on the best photograph is only open to residents of Saskatchewan, but if you don't live there, don't let that stop you from checking out these incredible photographs.

http://www.stuckinthemuck.com/allphotos.php

Cheers!

Nova Scotia Ag Group Elects New President

(from MeetYourFarmer.ca)
Congratulations to Beth Densmore of East Noel, Hants County, the first female president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.

Beth, who farms sheep and grapes with her husband Ronald, was elected Friday morning by the members attending the AGM in Truro, N.S.

She has served as director and president of the Hants County Federation of Agriculture and sits on various committees with the federation, including Ag Awareness, Health and Safety, and Transportation. She has a huge passion for the industry and is a tireless promoter of agriculture wherever she goes.
http://meetyourfarmer.ca/

Turkey Farm Tour

Thanks to Farmers

Our friends in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving this week. Here's a video in honour -- or should I say honor -- of American farmers. Happy Thanksgiving.

PEI Potato Industry Welcomes Rick Mercer

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, November 16, 2010 --- The Prince Edward Island Potato Industry welcomed Rick Mercer, from The Rick Mercer Report, on October 12, 2010, through invitation by the PEI Potato Board.

Rick Mercer and his crew met with Jason and Bertram Webster, of Middleton Farms, and Troy Webster, of Webster Farms in Middleton, PEI to highlight the 2010 PEI Potato harvest and demonstrate the process of bringing in the crop. Rick Mercer spent the day in the fields, learning about growing and digging potatoes. Jason also showed Rick how to work the heavy equipment, including the tractors and harvesters. “It was a beautiful day in the fields. Rick was a great sport, and he and the whole crew really got into it. They were so easy to work with and it was like spending the day with some friends,” says Jason Webster, PEI Potato Grower, “Rick was genuinely interested in what we do.”

The crew also got to see how potatoes get to the consumer level by visiting a local packing shed where fresh consumer bags are packed. “People think that their food comes from grocery stores,” said Rick Mercer, to a CBC reporter. The visit provided a great opportunity to show viewers of the Rick Mercer Report right across Canada what goes into food production.

Greg Donald, General Manager of the PEI Potato Board says “We were very excited to welcome Rick and his crew. We invited them showcase the passion that the growers have and the pride in the product that they produce. What better way to than with The Rick Mercer Report.”

The segment will air on The Rick Mercer Report, on Nov. 23 at 8:00pm on CBC Television.

Prince Edward Island is Canada’s largest producer of potatoes, with 84,500 planted acres, 320 potato growers, and a history that dates back to the 1790’s. The industry is finishing up the 2010 potato harvest, with reports of average yields and good quality.

Merry Christmas, Boston

In what has become a Nova Scotian tradition, a Christmas tree is being sent to the people of Boston as thanks for their help during the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion.

Every year since 1971, a Christmas tree is chosen to be delivered to Boston. This year's tree, a 15-metre white spruce, was cut today, Nov. 16, at a ceremony on Gary and Roseann Misner's property in North Alton, King's Co.

"For many of us, this annual ceremony marks the start of the Christmas season here in Nova Scotia," said John MacDonell, Minister of Natural Resources. "A symbol of goodwill and thankfulness, the Boston tree represents the true meaning of Christmas."

On Dec. 6, 1917, two ships, the SS Mont-Blanc, a French ship carrying munitions, and the Norwegian SS Imo, collided in Halifax Harbour resulting in the largest man-made explosion in pre-atomic history and much of Halifax was devastated. Nineteen hundred people died and 9,000 more were injured. Boston was quick to respond, sending a train with doctors, nurses and supplies. There were community relief drives in Boston for the people of Halifax.

"It's an honour to have our tree chosen," said Mr. Misner. "We're glad to get the chance to contribute and we're quite proud to be part of this tradition."

The Boston Christmas tree usually comes from a private landowner and is selected by the Department of Natural Resources. The chosen tree must be balsam fir, white spruce or red spruce, 12 to 16-metres tall.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal provides staff and equipment to load and deliver the tree to Boston, which will make part of the journey by ferry. RCMP from

Kings Detachment took part in the ceremony, escorting the tree to the highway.

The smell of Canadian Tire

I'm hitting the road next week and am off to Alberta to attend the Agri-Trade farm show in Red Deer.

My father, who is now retired, always worked in industrial sales. He sold oil systems for hydraulic lifts, chainsaws, snowmobiles... all of that "guy" stuff. He spent many of his working days traveling Atlantic Canada, making sales calls to dealers and retailers. Many of our family vacations consisted of my brother and I waiting in the backseat of the car in some parking lot in an industrial park while my father made work stops. My mother sat in the front seat, knitting. Good times...

But when I consider the work I do now -- telling farmers' stories -- I wonder if my interest in "guy stuff" started in on those family vacations (we did, by the way, do more kid-friendly things too). There were also the times at home when I would much rather be outside with my father in the garage while he worked on his car than doing chores in the house. When I was older, he sometimes brought me to the Atlantic Farm Mechanisation Show, or other nearby equipment trade shows. And yes, the smell of Canadian Tire makes me think of home.

So all of that "guy stuff" (I keep putting that in quotation marks because I really don't really believe it's guy stuff, although it once was) gives me a sense of nostalgia. Every time I attend a farm show, I end up bringing home stacks of brochures for Dad. I love walking among the machinery and just chatting with the folks who are there -- and I look forward to chatting with the folks in Red Deer.

Wordless Wednesday

Promoting Agriculture

Yesterday, the Ontario Farm Animal Council released its 2011 Faces of Farming calendar.

The high-end, glossy, black and white calendar features 12 Ontario farmers and includes a blurb about their lives, their farms and their contributions to the their communities.

2011 Faces of Farming

Kudos to OFAC and the sponsoring groups who put the calendar together. It's a fabulous promotion of agriculture and the tasteful but sexy photographs help show that agriculture can be a great career choice.

Now, why aren't all provinces doing something like this?

Celebrating Canadian Farm Families

I'm writing a book, Celebrating Canadian Farm Families (working title), and I need your assistance.


This book will profile farms of all sizes, from all sectors, from all parts of Canada and I'm looking for farmers to write about.

Who am I looking for?

Male or female, it doesn't matter. Size of the farm doesn't matter either -- I want to profile corporate family farms that are thousands of acres in size and the family farms that are the size of a postage stamp. As long as someone is earning an income from the farming they do, I'm interested. Organic or non-organic (and everything in between) -- that doesn't matter either.

Since the book is a celebration of family operated farms, that's a key element to who I'm looking for. But just like families come in all shapes and sizes these days, so do the farms. Maybe you know of a multi-generational farm, siblings working together or spouses. In all of these cases, I want to interview several members of the family farm operation, so an openness to sitting around the kitchen table or taking me out to show me around the farm is important.

Also key is passion and enthusiasm for agriculture -- loving what they do and loving the life they're living. I recognize there are problems facing Canadian farmers and I'm open to talking about those matters with the families, but I will focus on those who approach issues as problem-solvers, rather than problem-moaners, with the overall celebration of family farming as the main theme.

If someone comes to mind , I would appreciate it if you could forward their contact information to me and maybe tell me a bit about them. If you've written about them, just send me a link to the story, or direct me to the family farm website.

Alternatively, you can send my contact information to them and ask them to contact me. I will be travelling this fall and winter and visit many of the farmers to profile in this book.

A million thank yous for your help with this -- and please contact me at allison@finnamore.ca if you have questions or comments. Also, please feel free to circulate this.
Allison

Strong voice lost

In the 20 years that I've been a reporter, I've met probably thousands of people. Most of them have been kind, some have been rude. Luckily most have been helpful and eager to tell their story.

Sometimes I've been lucky to meet someone who has a passion burning deep in their soul -- someone who loves what they do and has such a story they have to tell, that it's all they can talk about.

Patton MacDonald was like that.

Patton passed away on Thanksgiving weekend. He was the former executive director of the New Brunswick Potato Agency (which changed its name to Potatoes New Brunswick) and former manager of the Nova Scotia Cattle Commission.

I knew him best when he was at the potato agency and I was working for the local daily newspaper. My beat was the entire region -- whatever the news was happening -- and since my base was in the heart of the province's potato belt, agriculture topics became regular stories for me.

I think I had about four phone numbers for Patton -- two cell phones, an office number and a direct line. I knew that if I couldn't reach him, he would call me back as soon as he could. I also knew that if I didn't reach him when I needed to, I could keep calling him until I did reach him.

And he knew that he could always call me with story ideas, comments or concerns. He also knew that he could chat and rant and give me the background of an issue without the rant (necessarily) going into print.

We shared a mutual respect.

Here's how the conversations usually went: I would call him to find out about an issue. I would keep calling every hour until I reached him, or he would call me at about 10 p.m. I would ask him a question then listen to him talk for about 45 minutes about matters sort of related to the question, but not really. He was usually on his way someplace and in a hurry. Near the end of the conversation, I would nail down a comment from him about whatever it was that I called to talk about.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say he helped do more for the province's potato industry -- and for that matter -- New Brunswick agriculture -- during his time at the agency than has been done in the last 20 years.

Patton was on top of Canada-United States potato trade issues, negotiating with trade officials for reduced barriers. He promoted farm safety and helped implement a farm equipment signage program. And when New Brunswick potato farmers were faced with labour shortages and were struggling to get their crops in from the fields, he helped set up a labour hotline, which expanded to a rural labour hotline -- helping put farmers and woodlot owners get in touch with willing workers. He was instrumental in starting the New Brunswick Potato Conference, an annual two-day professional development meeting held every February during a snow storm (I never did figure out how he managed that!).

Nothing Patton did was done alone. Whatever project he tackled he had teams working with him and everyone should share the applause. But Patton was a driving force on getting the word out there about agriculture. He didn't create the news, but he championed the work of New Brunswick farmers. Now, it seems, reporters have to go looking for agriculture news.

It's sad when a strong voice is silenced. Even though Patton hadn't been speaking out loudly about New Brunswick agriculture for some time, I hope another champion can be found. Patton can never be replaced, but the work he did helping promote the province's agriculture industry shouldn't be lost.

I am thankful for... turkducken

This weekend, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Canada -- a traditional time to pause and take stock of what's around us and what fills our lives with happiness and peace. It's also a traditional family gathering time.

My father's brothers, their wives, two of my four cousins, their girlfriends, my parents and brother arrived at my house on Saturday afternoon. We had the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, peas, squash and gravy simmering away, but I had decided a few weeks ago that we would also cook a turducken -- a cranberry dressing stuffed-chicken, stuffed in a duck, stuffed in a turkey. I had ordered it from the Old Fashion Meat Market a couple of weeks ago and was quite looking forward to five kilograms cooking adventure.

Except for the legs and wings of the turkey, the birds are deboned, which I'm sure eases the construction process. It was well sewn together, but when my mother asked me what it looked like, the only description I could think of was "kind of limp."

I was assured when I ordered the turduckin they would give me instructions on how to cook the beast, so I wasn't too concerned until I had the prize in my hands and asked for details. The response? "Just like a turkey." Fine, I said, "but tell me more," figuring solid meat must require something extra, right? Cook at 275 F for 5.5 to 6 hours, I was told. OK. Sounds simple, right?

After about two hours, I figured I would be smelling the wonderful scent of roasting turducken, but there was nothing -- I even checked to make sure the oven was on. It was, but I cranked up the heat and stuck the birds back in the oven, knowing the hungry dinner guests would soon arrive.

As the clock approached 3 p.m., we could indeed smell turducken (smells like chicken) wafting through the house. Tummies started to rumble. "What time are we eating?" became a popular question. My answer: "It's all on the turducken at this point." I think they were beginning to eye the dog food...

Sometime in the hustle of the afternoon, I turned the heat up to 400 F and the turducken was done on time. It was a bit dry, but I believe that was because I had to cook it at the higher temperature. I think the meat market made a mistake when they told me to cook it at 275 F and should have instead told me to cook it at 375 F.

Regardless, we certainly didn't go hungry. In fact, we had so much food left over that we had another full meal again on Sunday with other relatives. There were even enough unopened rolls to take to a drop-in centre downtown. I am thankful that I have the means to fill tummies and invite people into my home.

Now, next year... I'm thinking I'll serve tofurkey.

Autumn in New Brunswick

Apple picking is a traditional New Brunswick activity in the fall. Those of us in the city head to the gentle rolling hills of the countryside for some fresh air and fresh produce.

Last Sunday was also Open Farm Day in Atlantic Canada. Combined with the nice weather, it made for long lineups at many farm markets and farm gates in the region.

I was hoping to pick some of the Honeycrisp variety, but trends take a bit longer to catch on in eastern Canada than they do in the rest of the country. McIntosh and Cortland apples still reign for popular choice here.

Belliveau Orchards in Memramcook have established a wonderful farm market at the orchard. Along with tree fruit, they also carry other favourite fall vegetables and autumn decor.

Out of the mouths of babes

Like most kids, my children have an uncanny ability to cut to the chase and make their point. They often weed through a message and summarize with a statement that starts something like, "so basically, what they're saying is..."

They're promoters of the KISS method of communication: Keep It Simple, Stupid.

New research released today from the registered dietitians at Dairy Farmers of Canada show my kids aren't alone.

The survey of Ontario kids, one of the largest of children's attitudes and opinions on healthy eating, shows kids have strong opinions and advice for both parents and teachers about healthy eating.

According to a news release from the Dairy Farmers of Canada, the survey shows pre-teens are concerned about nutrition and healthy eating, and not just interested in greasy take-out food and sugary treats.

Another encouraging finding is that pre-teens actually care about what their parents do and say when it comes to healthy eating -- they are still interested in guidance and support from their parents (but don't tell my daughter, because she would deny deny deny).

Highlights of the research include:

- 89 per cent of kids agree their parents are their most important role models for healthy eating.
- 82 per cent of kids want to learn how to cook in school.
- 80 per cent of kids want to know about the benefits of healthy eating and not just what they should not be eating.
- Three out of four children agree that if their parents had healthy food in the house, they would eat it.
- 71 per cent of children describe their eating habits as 'sort of healthy', while 21 per cent describe their eating habits as 'very healthy'. Only eight per cent say their eating habits are 'not very healthy.'

The registered dietitians at Dairy Farmers of Canada have combined the results of this survey with their more than 35 years of experience as nutrition educators to create a brand new online resource. Parents and teachers can visit http://www.kidsonfood.ca/. Along with a summary of the research, the website includes video clips of advice from the kids in the research, tips for parents and teachers from children, recipes for home and school and free resources and tools.

Back to school blues

The beginning of the school year always feels far more like the start of a new year than Jan. 1. There's the bittersweet ending of summer, the change in temperatures and the excitement of new notebooks, pencils and pens. Really, what other simple joy is there than a new, pure white eraser, a box of new markers, or (gasp) cracking open a new notebook and starting to write on the first page?

My excitement is dulled, however, with the back to school lists. Really, I want to know what my kids need for supplies in the upcoming months, but I would rather have a list of supplies the kids will truly need, rather than what seems like a made-up list.

This year, two of the more unbelievable items on my son's list included 48 HB pencils and a box of plastic bags with a zipper.

With class sizes up to 30 children, that means the teacher will be collecting 1,440 pencils on Tuesday morning. There are about 195 school days a year, so that means each child will have 7.4 pencils a day at their disposal!

Conversely, the Grade 2 list doesn't even have pencils on it.

And I'm extremely curious to know what 30 Grade 3 children are going to do with a box of Ziplock bags this year.

I know there are kids who arrive at school on the first day who don't know the joys of new school supplies and I am happy to help them experience this same excitement. But if that's the case, tell me.

Equally annoying is the need to request specific brands of school supplies. There is always a note pointing out that after years of testing, the mentioned brands have proven to be the best, but why is one type of marker or crayon recommended in one grade and another brand the next year?

I suspect the teachers aren't aware of the lists, haven't been kept up-to-date on changes or brand recommendations and just make the best with whatever arrives on the first day of school.

Perhaps it's time they give the lists a quick review, just to make sure they really do make the grade.

THEY CAME, THEY ROLLED, THEY CONQUERED

THEY CAME, THEY ROLLED, THEY CONQUERED

Butter, made by cows.

Harvest for Children 2010

200 combines in a field all at once! Awesome...

Happy Cows

Good, funny commercials always strike a chord with me and make them memorable. Here's a great one from California Cheese. And, it's always interesting to see what different sectors of agriculture are doing to promote themselves.

Cattle Breeding Explained

Great video that explains the basics of cattle breeding -- well done, National Geographic!

Stay safe

Accidents happen -- on and off the farm.

Here's a video of some chilling farm accidents. The music that accompanies the video is horrible, in my opinion, but the pictures tell the story.

Stay safe.

What's it Worth?

The Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture recently released a report called Are Nova Scotians Eating Local. The answer? Not so much.

Despite "buy local" campaigns, Nova Scotians spend only about 13 per cent of their food dollars on local food, the same amount they were spending in 2008 and a drop from 17 per cent in 1997.

The Nova Scotia study found that over 60 products on average travel nearly 4,000 kilometres before they land on the plates of residents in this eastern Canadian province.

One reason for the lack of local food support may be the price.
 
Last week while camping in Nova Scotia, a fellow camper commented that her first corn feast of the season rang in at $9 a dozen -- pretty steep compared to what roadside stands and farm markets have charged in past years (however, I realized later, if you do the math, it is only 75 cents an ear).

Sticker shock may be working against "buy local" campaigns. At the same time, large grocery store chains, notorious for not supporting local farmers, likely aren't helping either. And if that's the case, I bet you six dozen corn that New Brunswickers spend even less on local food.

Roadside markets are a dime a dozen in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In Metro Moncton -- New Brunswick's largest municipal region -- unless you're at the Saturday morning farm markets, there are very few places to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. The alternative? Heading to the grocery store, driving many kilometres to find a roadside stand or waiting until the next time the market is open. Summer is too short for that!

Promoting what's ours

I'm not sure if it's lack of pride, enthusiasm or money, but something is lacking in New Brunswick with agriculture promotion.

I'm spending a few weeks travelling in Maritime Canada and currently, I'm in Prince Edward Island.

Fruit and vegetable stands are around every turn and maps at every tourist bureau point to the flavour routes... highlighting agri-tourism or agriculture experiences, farm markets and restaurants. Local food is highlighted in every restaurant.

Many of the promotional steps are simple and cost effective. A map with farm markets, pick-your-own farms and other agriculture activities has advertisements -- it's a promo tool that likely paid for itself. With thousands of tourists through visitor information centres each summer in PEI, the spin-off of promoting themselves is invaluable.

Personally, with this handy map highlighting local foods, I'm using it to plan my meals, whether I'm doing the cooking or eating out.

So why isn't this happening in New Brunswick? I know farmers are proud of the product they produce, but are their energies too tapped out to do the promotion? What role does the federal an provincial government play?

Reprise: How to make love to your editor (figuratively speaking, of course)

Originally posted a couple of months ago, I was thinking about this list again the other day and decided to repost.

Is there anything I forgot? Send me a comment with additions. ~A

(disclaimer: I have a great crew of writers and every week, I'm thankful that I have them as part of my team. What lies below are general comments and most certainly not directed at any of them. If I was referring to my writers, we'd be talking in person, not here.)

Early in my career, I met a few editors who made my life hell. They were mean. They were nasty. I think some even had green skin and horns.

Now 20 years into my career, I realize that those editors taught me rock solid, core journalism values. (And for the record, many more editors were patient. A special few were also a lot of fun to be around and were wonderful mentors).

Now that I've "crossed over" to the editor's side, I sometimes wonder if I may be growing my own set of horns.

Good freelance writers are hard to find so when we find you, we want to keep you. To keep our horns from growing, here's a Top 10 List of how to make love to your editor (figuratively speaking, of course):

10. File on time. Stuff happens, I know that. I have family and friends and pets too. Sources go on vacation, get tied up in meetings, don't return calls -- it happens. If you're working on an assignment for me and something comes up, let me know as soon as you can. Don't wait until deadline.

9. Check your facts. We're human and we all make mistakes, but it's your job as a journalist to get the facts and figures in your story right. Your reputation, my reputation and the publication's reputation is on the line.

8. Ask me for my style guide. If I don't have one, I'll let you know if there are specific rules for you to follow.

7. Stick to the word count. I only have so much space and I assigned you a specific word count for a reason. If I ask for 800 words, don’t file 873 words -- or 542 words. And if you do file a story that's 873, don't add a note like, "I've trimmed as much as I can, maybe you can do something more…"

6. Do suggest a sidebar. If you have some quick facts that can easily be made into a sidebar, I'm open to suggestions.

5. Every story should be your best story. I know some topics actually hurt when you're writing the story. I've written them too. But I've assigned this story to you because it's a topic I want to publish -- and you accepted. I expect your best work.

4. Check your spelling. 'Nuff said.

3. Follow up, but don't pester. Many editors get hundreds of email a day and, I'm sorry, but I sometimes lose your pitch. Check with me, I don't mind.

2. Tell me how to reach you. Add a signature on your email. You should do this anyways if you're a freelance writer, but if I have a question for you, I don't want to go sifting through business cards to find your phone number. And make sure you have voice mail.

1. Send a real pitch. Don't send me a three day conference agenda and ask if I'm interested in a story. Focus. Craft. Sell.

Getting it done

Not that I'm one to hold back, but I realized earlier this year that there were several things I've always wanted to do, but had never gotten around to doing.

When summer plans started to take shape, I decided I would work in as many of these "you-know-what-I-should-do" events and activities as possible.

Last week, I went to Ottawa and celebrated Canada Day on Parliament Hill -- I've always wanted to do that. Great feeling to stand among 100,000 people and heard spontaneous rounds of O Canada break out. Not so great feeling to be in a gridlock with 100,000 people, all of us trying to leave at the same time and all going in different directions.

This week, I'm working from a campsite that's within view of the ocean. I've been getting up early to do a bit of work (I've scaled back this week), then walking down to the sandbars, settling in with a book and watching the waves roll in. A late afternoon drive to the local vegetable stand, maybe a stop for some fresh seafood -- I could easily settle into a whole summer of working like this.

I'll continue on this path as the summer goes on. Some of the plans actually do include work goals, too!

Colbert takes up farmworker's cause

It seems like on-farm labour is an issue that frequently draws attention, sometime from the most unlikely sources.

A shortage of workers throughout North America is cause for concern from farmers. Meanwhile, working conditions are often called into question.

American comedian Stephen Colbert is wading into the issue now.

Colbert takes up farmworker's cause

Canada gets underfoot at the World Cup

Canada may not have a team playing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but that doesn't mean we don't have a presence at the competition.

The grass comes from seed produced by Canadian farmers in Manitoba.

Here's a story printed in one of the country's national newspapers.

Grass greener thanks to Manitoba farmers

We've come a long way, Baby

I received my 10 year pin from the Professional Writers Association of Canada today. It's pretty hard to reach any milestone with out a bit of reminiscing, so here are my Top 10 PWAC lessons/thoughts.

10. A decade ago, I had no idea how to write an invoice, what to charge a publication or how to write a query.

9. It's been 10 years since I met many of my PWAC pals. Do I dare name anyone in particular? Kate Merlin and I use to meet at the local park during the summer. Her kids played and I nursed my daughter. Then there was my first AGM in Montreal, when Trudy Kelly Forsythe, Tracey Carr and I -- strangers at the time -- drove together. Nothing like spending eight hours in a car with someone to get to know them!

8. Over the years, PWAC has taught me to be a confident entrepreneur. As an optimist who believes anything is possible if you work hard, giving me the tools to be successful in business helped fuel my optimism.

7. PWAC helped me to think big -- outside my town, outside my province, outside my country -- there are publications around the world seeking good writers. We just need let them know we're here.

6. The best chocolate of my life -- so far. A large group of us, including Doreen Pendgracs (and is anyone surprised that Doreen was involved?), were in a restaurant in Edmonton on the Sunday night, after the AGM had wrapped up. The chocolate crepe dessert we had that night was, dare I say, orgasmic.

5. It was through PWAC that I heard about a publishing company looking for writers for this series called Amazing Stories.

4. It was through PWAC that I learned a bit about how to fight book publishers that go under.

3. PWAC taught me how to read a contract. Trudy Kelly Forsythe and I, under a committee headed by Kevin Yarr, sifted through writing contracts that PWAC members from across the country sent in. The final report discussed what publishers are seeking in contracts, but the lesson for me was learning the language of contracts.

2. As the current moderator of PWAC's biz list, I've learned that I can't make everyone happy. I always suspected it, but the moderator's job has cemented it.

1. Without PWAC's never ending inspiration and idea-generating vitality, I'd probably be stuck in an office somewhere.

Canadian farmers using SM, but not to promote ag

A survey released this week by Farm Credit Canada shows 54 per cent of Canadian farmers is using social media -- but mostly for personal use.

54 per cent of producers use SM for personal business, while only 30 per cent use it to promote their business, connect with customers and speak out about agriculture.

"There are opportunities to incorporate social media into a number of areas -- such as research, making business connections and promoting agriculture as an important part of society and the economy,” says Kellie Garrett, FCC Senior Vice-President, Strategy, Knowledge and Reputation.

Four in 10 producers who are online, or 44 per cent, state they spent more time using SM this year compared to last year, while 43 per cent of non-users say they don’t have the time or they don’t see value in using social media (30 per cent).

Age also appears to matter.

Producers under 40 are more likely to use Facebook for both personal (56 per cent) and business (11 per cent) compared to producers over 40 (34 per cent and 4 per cent respectively).

When putting SM to work for business, 44 per cent of producers are doing research and looking for information, while 19 per cent are reading up on industry news and 13 per cent are networking with other producers. Only nine per cent are advertising their products via SM and seven per cent building their network of customers. Four per cent are using SM to network with current or potential supplies and a meager three per cent are using social media to promote agriculture.

Use of social media is expected to grow among producers who are currently online and already using social media; four in ten (39 per cent) believe they will spend more time using social media in the upcoming years. Producers under 40 (45 per cent) are more likely to agree with this statement than producers over 40 (34 per cent).

43 per cent of non-users say they're too busy to use social media and 30 per cent stated they don't see the value of social media. Half of non-users told say they're unlikely to start using social media for personal use.

No matter what their age, two thirds of online producers are unlikely to use social media for business use (65 per cent).

The survey was sent to 1,636 FCC Vision panelists, including both primary producers and agriculture-related businesses. Of these, 883 completed the survey, translating to a 54 per cent response rate.

Full results of the survey are at www.fccvision.ca/research.

Looking ahead

In 2011, the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists (IFAJ)comes to Canada. The main gathering will be in Ontario, but a post conference tour to Atlantic Canada is planned.

I've been to most stops on our Atlantic Canada tour, but this summer, I plan to visit the other places... so over the next few months, I'll be heading out on a buffalo safari, horse back riding and a few cultural shows that highlight some of Atlantic Canada's history. I'm also going to take the chance to revisit favourite places along the way.

Thanks!

Lots of well wishes have come to me about the formation of the Atlantic Canada Farm Writers' Assocation. Thank you.

Here's a link to Owen Roberts' blog, Urban Cowboy, where he kindly gives us some ink. http://www.urbancowboy.ca/.

Brewing passion

It's hard to remember sometimes where our passion comes from. Do I truly love this here and now or do I love this because I always have?

I was feeling a bit of that when I set off for Belgium in April for the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists annual congress.

See, the idea of forming an Atlantic chapter of the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation was something that some of us in this part of Canada had been talking about for several years. Four of us had been talking prior to IFAJ and decided to get the ball rolling with an event at the end of April. But as for planning the details, we decided to wait until I returned from IFAJ in Belgium.

In the weeks leading to up to IFAJ in Belgium, I had worked on several additional contracts. In fact, after several consecutive 18 hour days, I calculated that I had written 10,000 words in seven days. By the time I reached Belgium, I was exhausted and feeling quite burnt out.

When I thought about continuing the push to form the Atlantic Canada Farm Writers Association, I was overwhelmed. So much work to, was it worth it? Is it a worthwhile project to put my time into? Why is it worthwhile? And whose big idea was this, anyways?!

But attending IFAJ just prior to the first meeting of the Atlantic Canada Farm Writers couldn't have been any more perfect. My passion was reignited.

I don't know exactly when it happened.

Maybe it was at the beginning or end of each day, when Janet and I caught up with what was going on in our respective lives. Or maybe it was hearing Billy's Facebook updates about his crazy travels to reach the congress, or when Rodney and I shared the joys of working from a home office, or when Markus blocked the bathroom door for me at the farm, or when many of us stared with disbelief at the Belgium blue cattle, or when Adrian told me about his recent trip to Africa, or one of the many times Joe cracked a joke, or when Marc let me try on his wooden shoes, or when Kelly, Lilian, Joanne and I piled into the clown car. Or, or, or, or....

All of the reasons, none of the reasons, each one individually, none of them in particular, all of them put together and so many more brought the passion back for me. It was never far away anyways, but you know, sometimes we just need reminding.

In Belgium, I was reminded of exactly why it was important to have a local farm writers' group: Farmers and agriculture -- around the world, throughout our country or in our own back yard -- have important stories to tell and we need to help them. It isn't any more complicated than that and it certainly isn't any simpler. And as writers who help tell these stories, we need to gather together so share our experiences about what works and what doesn’t work when we tell these stories. We need to learn about the new practices farmers are adopting and how they're working on the farm. We need to stay informed and up-to-date with the latest communication methods. We need to polish our photography skills and sharpen our reporting proficiency. We need to network with each other.

So zeal renewed, I came home and caught up with Wayne, Andy and Heather to plan our June 4 Atlantic Canada Farm Writers' Association meeting.

I have always been confident that we had the potential in Atlantic Canada to have a good size group, but how many would I actually see on June 4? Nine had contacted us and expressed an interest, so with that number in mind, I set off for Charlottetown. By the time I started my presentation talking about what CFWF and IFAJ have to offer to those of us in Atlantic Canada, there were 12 of us. Twelve!

I. Knew. We. Could. Do. It.

And do you know what the best part of whole experience was? I didn't have to "sell" them on the advantages of regional, national and international farm writers' groups. They already knew. They could feel the energy in the room and see the potential of what broader groups can offer. We're already brewing our very own passion, right here in Atlantic Canada.

Allison's Follow Friday Twitter List

Here's my Follow Friday list for this week... and some of the reasons why these are great folks to follow.

@KimEagles - for her organizing tips
@upmagazine - for seeking out freelance writers
@AaronBillard - for the love of Star Wars
@LtoG - for her hard work at freelance writing
@briancormier - for his brilliant idea of buying two coffees at once at Tim's
@rebeccahannam - for her curiosity about all things ag
@SteakPerfection - come on... steak. Perfection. What more do I need to say?
@JPlovesCotton - for our shared love of making an entrance
@FredMarcoux - for hot news tips
@Tamara_Stecyk - for helping feed Edmonton's hungry

Details settled for first meeting of Atlantic Canada Farm Writers' Assoc.

A tour of Prince Edward Island's Institute for Nutrisciences and Health and the Atlantic Vet College will highlight the inaugural meeting of a new regional professional farm and food writers' organization.

The Atlantic Farm Writers' Association will meet in Charlottetown, P.E.I. on June 4 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre. The tours of NCI and the vet college will be held after a networking event and lunch. Reporters, editors, broadcasters focused on food and farming, as well as communication professional for agri-food business and government are invited -- everyone involved in telling the story of food and farming within industry and to the general public.

At the Institute for Nutrisciences and Health, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Dr. Chris Kirby and his research team will show how a state-of-the-art piece of equipment called a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer is changing the way scientists look at agriculture and its potential for human and animal health.

The Atlantic Veterinary College is one of five vet colleges in Canada. The farm service program contributes to the health and well-being of thousands more animals off-site at farms around the region. The college has 14 centres of expertise, like the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research, Atlantic Swine Research Partnership, Atlantic Centre for Comparative Biomedical Research and Maritime Quality Milk. The group will tour a portion of the facility.

Registration for the event, which includes a one year membership to the Atlantic Canada Farm Writers' Association (ACFWA), is $40. That also includes, among other benefits, membership to the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation (CFWF) and the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists (IFAJ), which will hold its next annual meeting in Ontario in September 2011. Both organizations, as well as ACFWA, are non-political, professional associations serving the common interests of those in the agriculture communications field.

A regional organization is an opportunity to link media and industry at a local level.

Island Farmer Editor Andy Walker of Prince Edward Island, Farm Credit Canada Express Editor and freelancer Allison Finnamore of New Brunswick, Farm Focus Editor Heather Jones of Nova Scotia and Wayne Riley of Prince Edward Island, Senior Atlantic Communications Advisor with AAFC will be on hand.

The meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. in Conference Room B at the AAFC Research Centre, 440 University Ave. Charlottetown, PEI.

For more information, visit our Facebook group, Atlantic Canada Farm Writers' Association or contact Allison Finnamore at 506-860-7761 or allison@finnamore.ca.

Atlantic Farm Writers plan inaugural meeting

Charlottetown, P.E.I. -- The inaugural meeting of a new regional farm and food writers' organization will be held June 4 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

After a brief presentation about the organization and lunch, participants will head to tour local research facilities and farms on a learning and networking expedition.

Reporters, editors, broadcasters focused on farming and food, as well as communication professionals for agriculture and agri-food business, industry, associations and government are invited.

This new organization will be part of the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation (CFWF) and the International Federation of Agriculture Journalist (IFAJ). Both are non-political, professional associations serving the common interests of those in the agriculture field. A regional organization is a chance to link media and agriculture and agri-food industry communicators at a local level and provide professional development opportunities related to agriculture and food.

Island Farmer Editor Andy Walker, Farm Credit Canada Express Editor Allison Finnamore, Farm Focus Editor Heather Jones and Wayne Riley, Senior Atlantic Communications Advisor with AAFC are organizing this event.

The meeting starts at 10 a.m. Contact Allison Finnamore at 506-860-7761 or allison@finnamore.ca for details.

How to make love to your editor (figuratively speaking, of course)

(disclaimer: I have a great crew of writers and every week, I'm thankful that I have them as part of my team. What lies below are general comments and most certainly not directed at any of them. If I was referring to my writers, we'd be talking in person, not here.)


Early in my career, I met a few editors who made my life hell. They were mean. They were nasty. I think some even had green skin and horns.


Now 20 years into my career, I realize that those editors taught me rock solid, core journalism values. (And for the record, many more editors were patient. A special few were also a lot of fun to be around and were wonderful mentors).


Now that I've "crossed over" to the editor's side, I sometimes wonder if I may be growing my own set of horns.


Good freelance writers are hard to find so when we find you, we want to keep you. To keep our horns from growing, here's a Top 10 List of how to make love to your editor (figuratively speaking, of course):


10. File on time. Stuff happens, I know that. I have family and friends and pets too. Sources go on vacation, get tied up in meetings, don't return calls -- it happens. If you're working on an assignment for me and something comes up, let me know as soon as you can. Don't wait until deadline.


9. Check your facts. We're human and we all make mistakes, but it's your job as a journalist to get the facts and figures in your story right. Your reputation, my reputation and the publication's reputation is on the line.


8. Ask me for my style guide. If I don't have one, I'll let you know if there are specific rules for you to follow.


7. Stick to the word count. I only have so much space and I assigned you a specific word count for a reason. If I ask for 800 words, don’t file 873 words -- or 542 words. And if you do file a story that's 873, don't add a note like, "I've trimmed as much as I can, maybe you can do something more…"


6. Do suggest a sidebar. If you have some quick facts that can easily be made into a sidebar, I'm open to suggestions.


5. Every story should be your best story. I know some topics actually hurt when you're writing the story. I've written them too. But I've assigned this story to you because it's a topic I want to publish -- and you accepted. I expect your best work.


4. Check your spelling. 'Nuff said.


3. Follow up, but don't pester. Many editors get hundreds of email a day and, I'm sorry, but I sometimes lose your pitch. Check with me, I don't mind.


2. Tell me how to reach you. Add a signature on your email. You should do this anyways if you're a freelance writer, but if I have a question for you, I don't want to go sifting through business cards to find your phone number. And make sure you have voice mail.


1. Send a real pitch. Don't send me a three day conference agenda and ask if I'm interested in a story. Focus. Craft. Sell.

Farm Writers in Atlantic Canada

Have you ever had the experience of working with people who are so excited and enthused about a project that it rubs off on you? I love that feeling.

I had that experience earlier this week when I had a conference call meeting with three people from Atlantic Canada. Together, we're working to start a regional branch of our national farm writers' guild, the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation (CFWF).

Up front, I have to say that the desire to start our own group is in no way a reflection of the branch we currently belong to, the Eastern Canadian Farm Writers' Federation (ECFWA). The simple vastness of Canada and the geographic divide between the majority of our current ECFWA members means farm writers in Atlantic Canada feel disconnected.

Personally, the desire to gather together with some of our own is inspired by ECFWA, as well as CFWF and our international group, the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists (IFAJ). Once I experienced gatherings with like-minded individuals, I felt the aspiration to do it more often with those closer to me.

Not all farm writers in Atlantic Canada are onboard with the formation of a regional group. Some have said they want to maintain connections with former colleagues within ECFWA, while others may not be interested in the work involved in setting up a new organization (not that anyone has said that to me, I'm just speculating). I hope they'll reconsider.

The folks I met with earlier this week are keen and ready to get a local group formed. We're pooling our talents to host a day of farm and research centre tours on June 4.

Early in my career when I wrote for daily newspapers from rural New Brunswick, I kept hearing the untold stories of farmers and opted to help be one of their voices. From that, I found out about CFWF and that connection eventually led me to focus my career on agriculture writing.

Through CFWF, I've toured farms across the country, met agriculture experts and associates, gained writing and editing jobs and met hundreds of Canadian farmers. I've also met a lot of great people and developed some very good friendships.

Cumulatively, what the organizations have given me inspire me to help create like opportunities for farm writers in Atlantic Canada. I hope we'll create a network, come to count on each other and grow opportunities for ourselves.

Then together, we can help farmers tell their stories about the food they grow for us.

M-m-m-maple syrup
from Agriculture and AgriFood Canada

In the culinary imagination of the world, maple products are associated with Canada, the world’s leading producer and exporter of maple products since the early 20th century.

For Aboriginal peoples living in the Maple Belt, and for the settlers who followed, the trade and supplementary income generated by these products were important. To a degree, these products represent, both at home and abroad, the national identity and way of life of Canadians and are a symbol of the end of the Canadian winter.

There are more than 150 species of maple trees in the world, but only a few of the 13species native to North America produce sap that can be used to manufacture maple products.


In Canada, the six species with sap that is sweet enough to produce maple sugar and syrup are found in eight of the 10 provinces. However, only Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have enough sugar maples for a real maple industry. These trees offer a sap that is high in sucrose and produce the best yield of syrup through tapping. These four provinces are part of a larger maple region known as the Maple Belt, which also includes some parts of the north-eastern United States and the Midwest.

The Aboriginal peoples who inhabited this vast region before the arrival of the Europeans were very knowledgeable about maple sugar. They knew how to extract the sap in the spring and the products they made from the sap were used for trade. Later on, the colonists who came to settle in this region learned to boil down the maple sap into syrup and sugar and acquired a taste for it. This activity became a yearly ritual to mark the transition from winter to spring and it was a time of celebration for friends and families. Maple products were used for domestic consumption as well as trade.

Over the years, they have provided a significant off-farm income for family businesses, and, by the late 19th century, maple products had become a valuable export resource. During this time, however, the United States was the world’s leading producer of maple products, a position it maintained for several decades.

How two families tackle business decisions

originally printed in AgriSuccess, January, 2010. If you're interested in reprinting this, please contact me at allison@finnamore.ca

How do you make important decisions on your farm? Is there a lack of consultation or, on the other hand, is there so much talking it causes paralysis by analysis?

In the run of a day, there are dozens of decisions to make. From simple, straightforward choices to those that require planning and reflection, nearly every step during the day needs some background preparation before moving ahead.

Now, mix in a team of knowledgeable co-workers who also happen to be related to you – suddenly, even the simple decisions could become much more complicated. Many family farms in Canada seem to have found their stride working together, including Four E Farms in Leamington, Ont., and Steppler Farms near Miami, Man.

At Four E Farms, father Peter Epp and sons Ken, Ron and Ed produce 2,200 acres of corn, beans and wheat, and 240 acres of processing tomatoes. During their years in business together, family members each found a niche in the farm operation. In some instances, their roles evolved over time, while in other cases, the sons were guided by their father.

“Dad recognized some of our strengths and tried to guide some of us to certain areas, Ken recalls. “’Why don’t you do this?’ he would ask. If it worked out and we enjoyed it, then we stayed.”

And if it didn’t, the role changed. Finding each person’s place at Four E Farms took about 10 years, Ken says. Now, day-to-day operational decisions fall to the shareholder who handles that part of the farm.

At Steppler Farms, parents Dan and Pat are in partnership with their sons Ian, Geoff, Adam and Andre. The charolais, grain and honey producers formalized their partnership in 2008. Prior to that, each son was farming on his own, with everyone helping the other out. But they faced an annual mountain of accounting paperwork. When Dan and Pat started succession planning a few years ago, incorporation became part of their plan. The family has now pooled its resources and divided the workload, so decision-making is clear-cut and well-defined.

Since the sons farmed prior to incorporation, they knew their areas of specialty. Dan is chairperson and takes on the role of mediator and advisor. Dividing up the managerial roles between his sons provides each with autonomy.

“As operational bosses, each son makes and enacts day-to-day decisions and has the authority to make essential minor purchases like repairs, medications and so on,” Pat explains. Major expenditures and budget decisions are made by all five, with input from everyone.

Both the Epps and the Stepplers agree that decisionmaking in a family farm business relies on one very important factor: communication.

At Four E Farms, the Epp brothers and their father meet every morning to discuss farm plans for the day ahead.

“Sometimes, not everyone agrees, but you build a consensus,” Ken explains, noting that no matter what decisions the family farm faces, the family maintains a common philosophy. “We work for the good of the company and not the individual.”

The Stepplers, while firm believers in communication, were skeptical when it came to the idea of setting up formal meetings with those who are so close.

“At first the idea of family meetings seemed awkward,” Pat says. “Before incorporation, we talked or planned somewhat individually with no formal structure. Now, we conduct each meeting in a semi-formal manner.”

Dan and Pat set the agenda, including issues brought forward by the sons and matters they want discussed. With each decision, everyone has the opportunity for input.

“Dan actually goes around the table to make sure that each person states his opinion,” Pat explains. Meetings are monthly during the winter, but that changes with
the seasons.

“We hold weekly meetings to plan the work that is ahead of us for that week, as well as long-range decisions on things that have to be fixed or purchased,” Pat says. “Each morning, the four boys meet for about 20 minutes to plan out that day’s work so that when the workers arrive at 8 a.m., the day’s schedule is in place. Over the noon meal, any changes to this schedule are then made.”

Both families also agree that keeping an open mind when working with family helps facilitate decision-making.

“Choose your attitude,” Pat advises. “Recognize when to shrug your shoulders, when to press a point,” she says, adding this advice also applies to older generations, reluctant to release control.

The International Federation of Agriculture Journalists Congress in Belgium is over and life goes on. We're back in the real world now, back to work, back to our routines.

But I'm feeling a bit heavy-hearted. It's hard to say good-bye to new friends, a new part of the world and new experiences. The daily pace of bus tours was exhausting, yet many of us thrive in that atmosphere. To be blunt, daily working life is boring after IFAJ (don't get me wrong, though, I'm still glad to be back home and to see my family).

There seemed to be precious little time to visit with new friends during the congress in Belgium. That didn't stop us, though. We managed to find time for chats, whether it was on the bus, over an afternoon drink, while wandering through a barn or during late night walks. I'm happy we made the time to do this -- thankful I had the chance to get to know more about you, your work and your lives.

We shared stares of amazement and awe at the Belgium Blue cattle, wondered about the ethics of breeding such large, muscular animals. We meandered together though La Floralies, impressed and curious with the floral displays, entertained by the police escort and maybe a bit frustrated with the structure of being herded through the show. We shared toasts from our home countries, challenges to pronounce each other's last names and countless laughs. In between, we continued to find time to talk about the world of agriculture from our home countries -- the stories we tell, the farmers we write about, the challenges they face. I think many of us discovered that no matter where it is around the globe that we call home, where the farmers are that we write about -- much of agriculture deals with similar challenges.

This was a unique travel experience highlighted by the eruption of the dormant volcano in Iceland and the resulting grounding of air traffic. Many of us were stranded in a foreign country and, for a short time, had no idea how or when we would get home. The European members worked together to help us figure out alternative travel plans, offered to take us in, drive us to airports, navigate the train system and decipher the language. This touched me deeply. If I had to be stranded, I'm glad it was with colleagues from IFAJ.

I sincerely hope to see each of you again next year at the IFAJ Congress in Canada. I look forward to showing you around my part of the world, renewing friendships, making new ones and sharing more about who we are and the people we write about.