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Vol. 60, No. 3 p.10 THE POWER OF POO p.10 WHAT IS A FACTORY FARM? p.10 2014 PHOTO CONTEST THE COMFORTABLE p.10 SPRING 2014

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In our Spring Issue of Countryside magazine, we have features on Merino wool; how a hog farm in Beaver is using manure to power homes; 4 healthy habits to start; the power of bees as pollinators, and more.

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Page 1: Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine

Vol. 60, No. 3

p.10 THE POWER OF POOp.10 WHAT IS A FACTORY FARM?

p.10 2014 PHOTO CONTEST

THE COMFORTABLE

p.10

SPRING 2014

Page 2: Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine

7/1/2014 2013, 2014 2015

Page 3: Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine

FEATURES

The Comfortable Wool

The Power of Poo

Busy as a Bee

What is a Factory Farm? A Farmer's Perspective

Wild Horses - Another Government Failure

White House & Waters of the United States

Congress, Utah Move to Protect Water Rights

Utah Legislature is Farmer Friendly

Four Healthy Habits to Start

Farmland: A Movie Premiere

The Battle for Yard Supremacy Begins

Money Matters: Protecting Your Identity

Baxter Black: The Western Migration Invasion

2014 Photo Contest

Classifieds

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CONTENTS

Vol. 60, No. 3

p.14 p.22

p.18

p.10SPRING 2014

(ISSN 1068-5960)

Matt Hargreaves, Editor

Business Address9865 South State Sandy UT 84070-3205

General Inquirires [801] 233-3000Address Changes [801] 233-3009Farm Bureau News [801] 233-3003Classified Ads [801] 233-3010Fax [801] 233-3030

FB News [email protected]

Websiteutfb.fb.org

National Ad RepThe Weiss Group9414 E San Salvador Dr #228Scottsdale AZ 85258[480] [email protected]

Local Display Ad InfomationJennifer Dahl[775] [email protected]

UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION OFFICERS

Chairman and PresidentLeland J. Hogan*, Stockton

Vice PresidentStephen A. Osguthorpe*, Park City

CEO and Secretary/TreasurerRandy N. Parker, Riverton

*Denotes member of the Board of Directors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

District 1Scott Sandall, Tremonton

District 2Ron Gibson, West Weber

District 3Ken Patterson, Syracuse

District 4Rex Larsen. Spanish Fork

District 5Scott Chew, Jensen

District 6Edwin Sunderland, Chester

District 7Craig Laub, Beryl

Farm Bureau Women's ChairBelva Parr, Lindon

Young Famer and Rancher ChairmanMeagher McConkie, Altamont

Periodicals Postage Paid at Sandy Utah and at additional mailing of-fines. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, 9865 South State, Sandy UT 84070-3205.

Published quarterly for all Farm Bureau members (April/Spring, July/Summer, October/Fall. December/Winter). Published expressly for farmer/rancher Farm Bureau members and others who specifically request copies. February, March, May, June, August, September and November. All eleven issues published by the Utah Farm Bureau Federation ln Sandy, Utah. Editorial and Business Office, 9865 South State, Sandy UT 84070-3205.

Cover Photo by Eddie Tkowski

7/1/2014 2013, 2014 2015

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The culmination of the work of Velma Johnston, better known as “Wild Horse Annie,” was passage of the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971. Her goal was to protect this icon of the American West. Wild Horse Annie would be shocked and likely appalled at what has happened since 1971.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has done with wild horses just like they have done with so many other aspects of their mismanagement of the western public lands. Wildfires, dead and dying forests, illegal water claims, government fraught with boondoggle and red tape are now joined by so many horses and burros overrunning and damaging the western landscape. Sadly tens of thousands of horses and burros are now living out their lives in holding pens and the federal government has no idea what to do.

So let’s take a look back and see what Annie and Congress gave us. Congress set out to protect the “wild, free-roaming horses from capture, branding, harassment or death.” But Congress also recognized a need to set limits to protect the environment, private property, livestock and wildlife. Congress charged the federal agencies with managing wild horse and burro populations to allow for a thriving and balanced natural ecosystem in consultation with state wildlife management agencies. By law, they are to maintain an inventory and make determinations where overpopulations exist and immediately remove and “humanely destroy the excess animals.”

A recent announcement from BLM underscores just how badly they have managed their stewardship and obligation under the Act. The agency recently set aside $1.5 million and announced a contest of sorts. They are seeking suggestions on how to manage wild horse overpopulation. Contraception doesn’t work. Adoption doesn’t work. The ban on horse slaughter only

exacerbates the situation.

What about the numbers and the mounting problems? More than 45,000 wild horses and burros are in holding corrals costing American taxpayers $50 - $60 million each year and our federal government is broke! Adoption is failing miserably. In 2012 only 2,700 animals were adopted, highlighting problems with the onerous adoption requirements and the escalating cost of owning one. The U.S. ban on horse slaughter has made the export of this meat protein to countries and cultures that consume horse meat illegal, driving down the value of horses and driving up the numbers of horses being abandoned on federal lands. The Appropriate Management Levels estimated at about 29,000 across the western landscape are conveniently fudged upwards by the federal agencies, but it still doesn’t cover the more than 40,000 animals on the western rangelands - mostly in Nevada, Utah and Colorado.

Someone needs to sound the alarm! As livestock grazing permittees, private landowners and the federal government grapple with the politics and realities of the Wild Horse and Burro Act, animal scientists tell us the wild horse population can double every four years.

Farm Bureau has met with Utah ranchers affected by the out of control wild horse numbers. Livelihoods and generations-old family ranching operations are at stake. Forage allocated to livestock under multiple use mandates is being illegally taken. Wild horses are competing with livestock for privately owned water. The potential lack of forage because of increasing horse numbers has the BLM asking ranchers with livestock grazing permits to “consider adjustments” for the coming grazing season, basically seeking voluntary reductions with no realistic options for ranchers. The Color Country BLM District Office has even told ranchers and county

commissioners recently that they currently “have no means to adjust horse numbers back to Appropriate Management Levels.”

Because the federal government is not meeting its obligations under the Act, the Nevada Farm Bureau and Nevada Association of Counties sued BLM. In some areas, reports show horse populations are more than 600 percent over what the area can support.

It’s important to recognize these horses are not the iconic Spanish blood wild horses of western lore. They are mostly abandoned, broken down feral horses that have not been managed properly by the federal government at the expense of western communities, families and businesses.

Utah Farm Bureau is working with local ranchers to determine what the best course of action is to protect their grazing and water rights on federal lands. Ranchers running sheep and cattle on federal grazing allotments are expected to comply with BLM resource management plans, otherwise suffer the regulatory consequences. It’s ironic the federal government that has for decades ignored their obligations under the Wild Horse and Burro Act is now telling ranchers they can’t do anything about it.

BY LELAND HOGAN, PRESIDENT, UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Wild Horses —Another Government Failure

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The administration often talks about creating jobs, and with millions out of work the White House is right to focus on the issue. So it’s puzzling that the administration would consider a proposal that will hurt farms and other businesses, making it more difficult to create jobs.

The administration is about to propose regulations to broadly expand the scope of the Clean Water Act. When Congress wrote the law, it was clear that it only applied to navigable waters or, as the law names them, “waters of the U.S.” Two Supreme Court decisions have reaffirmed that those terms do not cover all waters.

However, the impending proposal would effectively eliminate any constraints those terms now impose on federal jurisdiction. It would let EPA and the Corps of Engineers regulate virtually any and all waters found within a state, no matter how small or seemingly unconnected to a federal interest.

Farmers and other landowners should be concerned that the federal government is proposing to regulate ditches and, in some cases, even dry land. Based on a leaked version of the rule, any landscape feature that could be found to contribute any flow that eventually reaches a water of the U.S.

would be regulated the same as the Mighty Mississippi! More landowners will have to apply for federal permits to make changes in how they use their land. Uncertainty about whether the government would issue a permit could be an innovation killer.

Ineffective ExemptionsEPA has claimed that the proposal won’t be so bad because of exemptions. The exemptions may help some avoid costly permit requirements, but the agencies have so narrowed them that most farming activities do not qualify. If a young, beginning farmer changed his grandfather’s land from, say, a cornfield to an apple orchard, he would have to get a permit or face up to $37,500 a day in fines. Homebuilders and other industries that fuel our economy would face similar requirements.

Also, the existing exemption for agricultural stormwater—water that stands on a field after a heavy rain—would no longer benefit farmers because the land underneath would be subject to federal regulation.

Economic ImpactEPA had to do an economic impact analysis of the proposal and it did—sort of. Through selective use of data and outdated

studies, by not addressing all the costs of getting permits and by dramatically underestimating the acreage affected, the analysis cooks the books in favor of the proposed rule. Other economists say the government’s analysis doesn’t hold water.

You would think that with the economic challenges we face and with such an unsound basis for the proposed rule the administration would shelve it. Instead, it is likely to publish it soon. Then we will see how serious the administration is about growing the economy and creating jobs.

Administration to Publish Misguided‘Waters of the U.S.’ Proposal

BY BOB STALLMAN, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

T H E A G

A G E N D A

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Thursday, March 13th was a watershed day for sovereignty, water rights and reigning in water grabbing federal agencies. At the same time the United States House of Representatives was engaged in heated, sometimes partisan debate over HR 3189 the Water Rights Protection Act, the Utah State Legislature was giving its unanimous approval to SB 274 and amendments that strengthens the Utah Livestock Water Rights Act.

Water conflicts between western interests and federal land management agencies have been a part of the landscape for generations. It boiled over in 2011 when the United States Forest Service (FS) compelled several ski resorts in Colorado to relinquish water rights to the United States as a condition of extending their conditional use permits and access to the federal lands they had been investing in for decades. The ski industry sued and won in federal court, but only on procedural points of law. Not to be outdone, the FS immediately engaged in correcting the procedural issues in their “water clause” so they could reinstate the demand on ski resorts to transfer water they may have purchased from the United States without compensation as a condition of access and use of the FS lands.

At the same time the Colorado ski resorts were being extorted, Utah ranchers were being bullied into relinquishing livestock water rights as a condition of access to their long-standing grazing allotments. The Intermountain Region of the US Forest Service had long held they would not allow access, development or maintenance of livestock water on federal lands without an interest in the water. At the risk of increasing the conflict, the Utah Legislature

offered an olive branch amending the Utah Livestock Water Rights Act to allow “certificates of joint ownership” with ranchers. However, the Utah Legislature recognized that the federal government couldn’t put the state’s water to beneficial use because the United States does not own the livestock; therefore the certificate did not transfer a right in the water.

In late 2013 the Utah Department of Natural Resources completed a study on water rights and state jurisdiction requested by Representative Ken Ivory. Regarding livestock water rights, the study pointed out “if the livestock water right certificate serves no real purpose, reference to it should be eliminated from the statute. SB 274, a bi-partisan measure sponsored by Senator Margaret Dayton did exactly that. It passed both houses of the Utah Legislature without a single dissenting vote! Additionally, it secured for the state and ranchers ongoing livestock water rights. Where a land management agency’s actions reduces livestock grazing and a partial forfeiture results, the state will hold the water rights until returned to livestock use rather than the federal agency gaining de facto water rights.

Arguments in both Utah and the nation’s capital were strikingly similar. Supporters in both chambers were passionate about sovereignty, states’ rights, property rights, Constitutional protections from government takings without just compensation and reigning in the job killing, water grabbing federal agencies.

Forty percent of the western cattle herd spends some time on the public lands across the west. With 67 percent of Utah

controlled by federal land managers, it is imperative we have the ability to secure our water rights for ranchers, western communities, ski resorts and other multiple-use business activities on public lands. The federal legislation prohibits the Secretary of Interior and Secretary of Agriculture from seizing water rights in exchange for land-use permits without just compensation and clarifies state water law is supreme and the federal government does not have jurisdiction.

Representative Scott Tipton (R-CO) and Representative Rob Bishop (R-UT) teamed up to author HR 3189 to protect property rights and secure western ski and livestock water from over-reaching federal agencies.

Opposition on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives was led by Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA). She stated, “Nobody is taking anybody’s water!” Napolitano felt claiming it was a taking is misleading and irresponsible. She next pointed out her belief that “volunteering to limit your water rights in exchange for the use of the Federal

BY RANDY PARKER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Congress, Utah Moveto Protect Water Rights

Page 7: Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine

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land, taxpayer land, is the opposite of taking.” The ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Water and Power further argued the FS is currently reviewing its water clause and that Congress should wait until the agency determines its policy.

Obviously displeased, Bishop told member of the U.S House of Representatives the bill is needed “to stop the federal government from hurting people.” He shared Idaho rancher Tom Lawry’s story. Federal land management agencies filed over his livestock water rights. The cattle rancher was compelled to take on the taxpayer funded deep pockets of the FS and BLM to protect his water and property rights. It cost him $800,000 in legal fees before the Idaho Supreme Court ruled the United States was out of line!

Bishop went on to instruct Napolitano and the bill’s opposition that, “It is the responsibility of Congress to tell the bureaucracy what they can and can’t do. We establish the laws, not their rules and regulations, and we should tell them they have to respect the rights of individuals, and not take away their personal property.”

Representative Jared Polis (D-CO) an original sponsor of HR 3189 withdrew his initial support and offered an amendment narrowing protection to only ski resorts in their conflict with the FS. The amendment was quickly defeated. Representative Tom McClintock (R-CA), Chair of the House Water and Power Subcommittee pointed to testimony of the Utah Farm Bureau on livestock water rights conflicts on public lands – not just ski resorts. He called the Polis Amendment “an affront to the Equal

Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, as well as the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment.”

Even with the Obama Administration officially opposing HR 3189, the United States House of Representatives passed the bill with bi-partisan support 238 – 174. Utah Farm Bureau appreciates the Utah Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives for protecting private property rights and upholding a state’s right to manage its water andwater laws.

Page 8: Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine

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Utah farmers and ranchers can be pleased with the 2014 legislative session. A 2015 $13.5 billion budget was balanced and approved. On average, nearly 15 new laws were passed each day totaling nearly 500 new or amended laws.

Utah’s steadily growing economy delivered $253 million in new revenue in addition to $144 million in one-time surpluses. The legislature made public and higher education their highest priority, devoting more than half of the new revenue to education. Among the largest budget increases was the state’s per student spending. Policymakers allocated more than $60 million to support a growing public education student enrollment. Legislators provided funds equivalent to a 1.25 percent cost of living allowance for state and education employees.

Of the total state budget, only 2 percent ($330,950,000) is allocated to natural resources, agriculture and environment. Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) received $384,000 one-time money to further enhance Utah’s animal disease traceability software program and additional $89,100 on-going money to keep this same program current and available to Utah livestock producers. UDAF also received nearly $400,000 in on-going money to employ additional employees to help address growing needs related to food safety inspections, pesticide compliance officers and weights and measures. Utah’s State Fair Park received nearly $2.0 million to address agriculture buildings and maintenance needs. Utah’s Division of Fire and State Lands received several million dollars to further address on-the-ground habitat improvement programs that will lead to reduced catastrophic wildfires.

Research studies have found that for every $1 spent on habitat improvement projects, $17 are saved in suppression costs associated with fighting catastrophic wildfires.

A number of policymakers sponsored legislation attempting to further control air quality. A number of these bills would have possible impacts to rural Utah. In the end, legislation was passed authorizing Utah’s Division of Air Quality (UDAQ) to amend several of their programs that will lead to greater public awareness and education. In addition, house bill 154 authorizes UDAQ to investigate reports of wood burning on days when wood burning is prohibited, and to create a program to convert homes in which the sole source of heat is a wood burning stove to a natural gas other clean fuel heating source, as funding allows.

U TA H L E G I S L AT U R Eis Friendly to Agriculture

B Y S T E R L I N G C . B R O W N , V I C E P R E S I D E N T – P U B L I C P O L I C Y , U T A H FA R M B U R EAU F E D E R A T I O N

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Several years ago, Utah lawmakers passed legislation calling on the federal government to extinguish title to federal lands within Utah and turn ownership to the State of Utah. Since that legislation, a number of bills have been passed to ensure if/when transfer takes place, Utah is prepared. House bill 151 creates a legislative Commission which would make recommendations on the transfer of public lands to the State of Utah. Another bill (HB 164) creates an interstate compact commission to consider mechanisms for securing the transfer of federal land to various states. House bill 160 establishes the process for designating protected wilderness areas and the accepted practices within these wilderness areas if/when current federal lands are transferred to state control. Farm Bureau supports the immediate relinquishment of land and water owned by the federal government to the states for management.

Canals and irrigation systems received significant attention this legislative session. Last year, the Taylorsville canal break prompted legislation attempting to increase greater canal safety and communication with adjacent landowners and local government. House bill 370 was passed directing Utah’s Division of Water Rights to take the lead in mapping all canals throughout Utah that carry 5 cubic-second-feet of water or more –about 37 gallons per second. This map is to be completed by July 2017. This completed map will further enable canal companies and other interested parties to identify which canals are of risk to property damage possible life and direct limited resources to assist in helping to ensure these canals are properly maintained.

There were a number of water bills that directly impacted production agriculture and rural Utah. Senate bill 274 passed, removing the requirement that livestock water rights be held in joint ownership

with a federal land agency. This bill further clarifies that federal land agencies cannot change or take away a livestock water right if the beneficial user is putting the water right to beneficial use. It’s worth noting that similar legislation has passed the United State House and waiting for the Senate to take action. Two water bills that did not pass the legislature dealt with restoring the State Engineer’s historic “gatekeeper” authority when determining the quantity of water that is being beneficially used and limits the approval of the change applications based on that determination. The legislature has made several attempts to pass legislation to restore this authority since the Utah Supreme Court ruled several years ago to take the authority away. Utah Farm Bureau supports restoring the “gatekeeper” role to the State Engineer.

House bill 49 also did not pass the legislature which would have changed the process a shareholder and mutual water company file a change application. Variations of this bill have been attempted over the past 10 years. In each case, motives have been, in large part, to strike a balance in power between both the shareholder and mutual water company.

Throughout the legislative session, many Farm Bureau members came to Utah’s Capitol Hill to speak with legislators. Regular communication with these elected officials leads to greater understanding, and ultimately, Farm Bureau success. Farm Bureau is the voice of agriculture and a means for members to express themselves. Farm Bureau thanks members of the Utah Legislature for listening and voting to help Utah production agriculture industry remain sustainable.

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You’re cold, tired and ready to hunker down for a good rest after a long day’s work in the winter of Utah; nothing you’d like better than to surround yourself in a nice wool blanket, right? Just thinking about it brings me back to the days of my youth visiting family when we’d be given a wool blanket and spend the rest of the night warm – but itching! The notion of participating in winter sports with wool socks or wearing a wool sweater might not be appealing to some, but like many other childhood memories, these feelings might

not quite be accurate if looking at today’s wool industry.

To be sure, wool has at times had a bad comfort reputation for some, attributed to quality and length of some of the wool fibers that can irritate the skin. Fast-forward to today and you’ll find a myriad of products that are warm, soft and take on a luxurious feel of quality.

In fact, wool has traditionally had a reputation for high quality. As far back

as the ancient civilizations of Rome, Greece and Persia, wool was prized among exports and is credited with spreading the migration of cultures from the warm climate of Mesopotamia to colder regions.According to the American Sheep Industry Association, wool exports are also credited with helping to finance the expeditions of Columbus and Cortez to the Americas. These voyages helped bring sheep to what is now Mexico, helping found the breeds now famous in Navajo and other Native American tribes.

B Y M A T T H A R G R EAV E S , E D I T O R , U T A H FA R M B U R EAU C O U N T R Y S I D E M A G A Z I N E

Comfortable WoolThe

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Why so valued? Among natural fibers, wool enjoys characteristics that make it unique. First, it can both trap heat in or out. Because of the individual fibers being woven together, wool holds air in. This is why wool blankets are so valued. The same holds true for keeping heat out, which is why ancient herders would wear wool while out in the hot desert sun.

Firefighters often have wool lining their uniforms, both to keep out the heat as well as for its second benefit – being naturally fire resistant. Wool ignites at higher temperatures than cotton or any synthetic fibers, does not spread flame as quickly, melt or drip, and is thus used to carpet areas that are more sensitive to fire – such as airplanes.

Lastly, wool is great for clothing – especially sports apparel – because it is naturally hypoallergenic and is hydrophilic, meaning it readily absorbs water. This wicking characteristic makes it great for athletic socks and infant undergarments, where keeping moisture away from the skin is desired. Wool is also good in sportswear because it retains its warmth even when wet, making it valuable for hikers in avoiding hypothermia.

Why the Itch?So why the itching with some wool? As with hamburgers or hotels, not all wool is created equal. There are many different breeds of sheep, producing different lengths, sizes, and qualities of wool, which can often determine how it is used. For example, you might not put the same carpet tiles used in an office building inside the bedroom of your house, even though both are considered carpet. The same is true for wool. Certain breeds of sheep are used more for meat, with

the wool being a byproduct that needs to be dealt with. The wool from these sheep will often be more coarse and have shorter strand lengths, making it more effective for rugs, home insulation, tennis balls or felt covers for piano hammers.

Other sheep, like the Merino breed, has a smaller body and is bred more for its wool than its meat. It tends to have longer and finer fiber lengths. With the finer fiber, there tends to be fewer scales and crimp, which is what contributes to the ‘itchiness’ of wool. So the breed and quality of wool used helps determine the amount of “itchiness” of the wool.

Merino sheep came originally from Turkey and Spain and are highly valued for their quality wool. Today, most merino wool comes from Australia, the world’s leading producer of sheep and wool; however, an increasing number of Merino sheep are being bred in the United States.

One Utah rancher that has seen the quality of his wool improve through breeding more Merino sheep is Stephen Osguthorpe. His family has a winter ranch for his sheep in Delta, Utah and brings the animals up to the mountain valleys near Park City in the summertime.

“We’ve really seen a great increase in price for our wool and the quality has been impressive,” Osguthorpe said. “We’ve been hearing back that our

wool is being sold to buyers in Italy to put into their nice suits. That market is top-rate, so our wool is improving in quality if we’re getting in there.”

From Sheep to SockIn addition to the breed, methods for preparing wool have evolved over time and help make the fiber more usable. But how do we get these fine wool products? How does it turn – as it were – from sheep to sock?

The wonderful thing about wool is that it is a renewable resource. Every year, sheep grow their thick wool coats throughout the summer and fall, just in time to keep them warm and insulated during the winter. Having made it through Utah’s harsh climate, it’s time for sheep to get their annual “hair cut” in the spring. While many a child has wondered at the speed and skill of the meticulous hands of the shearer, the question that inevitably comes up every year is “does it hurt?” Thankfully, sheep ranchers and shepherds alike can attest that it in fact helps, rather than hurts, the sheep – just like getting your hair cut.

Sheep are shorn at least once a year because their wool does not stop growing. Were it not for the trim, excessive wool coats can lead to heat stress, blindness and can impede movement for the animals.

The shearing process takes about five minutes for an experienced shearer. Once completed, the fleece is stuffed into a bag with other fleeces in order to be sold. The fleece is shorn off in one piece in order to maintain the quality of the product and bring a higher price for the rancher. Most sheep will typically yield about 9-10 pounds of wool, with Merino sheep producing about 12-15 pounds of wool. To put it in terms of a

“We’ve been hearing back that our wool is being sold to buyers in Italy to put into their nice suits."

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consumer, 10 pounds of wool will turn into approximately 40 socks, according to the Smartwool Company, a leader in wool socks for athletics and recreation.

Once the bags are stuffed with wool, they can weigh anywhere between 200 to 400 pounds. The wool is then sold to buyers at auctions, where it is judged on its length, diameter, and amount of dirt or vegetable matter left in the wool. Wool that is shorter than three inches in length is typically used for sweaters and carpets. Fine wools that are longer than three inches are what typically go into suits and dress fabrics.

Following the purchase, wool is washed and scoured, separating most of the lanolin (which is sold as a separate product for things like lotions, creams, soaps and cosmetics) and other impurities. The wool is then taken for blending and dyeing, which helps bring a consistency to the minor variations in color and texture of different wool. The wool then goes through a carding process, to clean and dry the fiber. It is also straightened and goes through another check to remove any leftover foreign materials.

After this initial processing, the wool travels to woolen mills for spinning, weaving and additional quality control. The finishing process helps prepare the wool for its final use. This is where a chemical finish can be applied to the wool – called a Superwash – to cover the scales of the wool and make it less itchy. Once this process is completed, the wool is ready to be used for your sweater, sock, suit blanket, or other use.

Whether you’re looking to get crafty and design your own wool products or just want to run to the store for some running socks, wool products are becoming increasingly popular and a more comfortable choice.

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As Farmers and Ranchers, We’ve Raised Pre� y Much Everything.

Except Our Voices.Join us in leading a conversation about the importance of today’s agriculture and our

commitment to answering American’s questions about how we raise our food. Begin by sharing your voice at www.USFRAonline.org.

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MILFORD, Beaver County – Bacon has been the darling of the food media world the past few years, spurring on such products as ‘I ♥ Bacon’ t-shirts, Bacon-scented candles, Bacon lollipops, Bacon on donuts, and even more bizarre novelties. But what if bacon – or its predecessor – could power your appliances, charge your mobile devices, or even keep you warm at night? What? Could a hog be powering your electric blanket or helping you read at night? It could if you lived in Springville, Utah.

Before you let your imagination get the best of you, it helps to go back to the source to see how Utah farms are helping produce power in addition to feeding the world. Milford, Utah, located about 30 miles west of Beaver, is the home of Circle 4 Farms, a hog farm in Utah that is part of the Smithfield family of food companies. The

company was created with the merger of four hog farms in 1992, with the first pigs being born in Utah on Mother’s day 1995. Since that time, the company has become a significant player in Utah agriculture and its local community. Accounting for $54 million in direct economic impact, the farm paid out $22 million in payroll to its 450 employees last year, representing 20 percent of the county’s workforce. It also represents 12 percent of Utah’s entire agricultural economy.

While it is big business, the farm has been an example of responsible stewardship, being awarded the Utah ‘Best of State’ award in livestock eight times since 2004. Circle 4’s employees are also 100 percent certified by the National Pork Board’s Pork Quality Assurance Plus program, a leading food safety and animal well-being program.

So what do the dollars and awards and satisfied employees mean? It means it has remained on the cusp of trends and embraces innovation. So when the farm was approached by Alpental Energy – a Provo-based developer of alternative energy projects – about creating energy from its hog manure, they were definitely interested.

“We were excited to be the engine driving this latest form of renewable energy,” said Jim Webb, Director of Environmental, Safety and Public Affairs for Circle 4 Farms. “This will allow citizens to turn on the lights in their Utah homes, while at the same time protecting the environment from greenhouse gases such as methane. We are committed to reducing our impact on the land, water and air resources that we use in our operations, and this is a great way to do it.”

FA R M I N G P O WE R The first in a series of articles highlighting efforts of farms and ranches throughout Utah in generating energy in an alternative way.

BY MATT HARGREAVES, EDITOR, UTAH FARM BUREAU

COUNTRYSIDE MAGAZINE

The Power

Poo– OF –

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The ability to significantly reduce greenhouse gasses, while at the same time running a profitable company, was part of what attracted Alpental to the project, according to Brady Olson, Vice President for Alpental Energy Partners.

“We develop, own, and operate alternative energy projects in order to make money and impact the planet,” Olson said. “Power purchasers wanted baseload power – rather than intermittent power – and our feasibility study showed we could do it.”

What Alpental does is essentially capture a naturally occurring process – in this case, methane digestion – and extract the energy from that process to produce electricity.

“It makes sense for us to use this energy. We’ve already produced it, so let’s use it. It’s a responsible way to develop energy,” Olson said. “Researchers have found that methane is a much more powerful radiating force than CO2. We’re quantifiably reducing greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere and producing energy at the same time. Our engineers have found that we’re reducing the equivalent of 20,000 passenger vehicles every year.”

The magic happens when a system of pipes carries liquid manure from hog barns to centrally located digesters on the outskirts of the farm. These 30-feet deep digesters can hold up to ten million gallons of manure each. That sounds like a lot – and it is – but perhaps understandable considering you’ve got 350,000 pigs contributing to the production.

The digesters have pumps to keep the solids in the manure from settling and are heated to maintain a constant temperature of 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Microbes in the digester start consuming the manure. The digestive result of this process is methane gas, as well as a few other byproducts.

In a very simplified, non-techy description, the gassy output from the digesters is then put through a scrubber, to reduce the Hydrogen Sulfide (a corrosive, poisonous gas) to zero parts per million. The remaining Methane-CO2 mix is run through a vacuum, compressed, dried and then cooled to provide a gas used to generate electricity. The solids that remain from the manure digestion can still be used by the farm, as they are sold off for fertilizer. This essentially means that electricity is being

generated without having to use up any resource.

From the one facility in Milford, Alpental is able to generate 25 million kilowatt hours per year of electricity, or in applicable terms, enough to power 3,000 average size homes per year.

While that may not seem like many homes if you’re looking to power a city the size of Los Angeles, it none-the-less contributes to an overall balanced energy strategy that many cities are striving for. Springville City decided to jump at the opportunity to diversify its energy portfolio and has contracted with Alpental for the electricity generated at Circle 4 Farms.

“As new companies locate to Springville, there are many that want to see if we are making an effort to provide power by alternative methods,” said Wilford Clyde, Springville City’s mayor in his August 2013 message to residents. Clyde later cited purchasing power from Circle 4 Farms as a way of achieving this goal of alternative sources of energy.

FA R M I N G P O WE R

“It makes sense for us to use this energy. We’ve already produced it, so let’s use it."

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The project at Milford has been working well and generating profits for all involved in the project, but it’s not to say there haven’t been challenges involved. While this project is new, the idea of using methane digesters is not. They have been implemented in other agricultural areas in Utah to mixed-reviews – chiefly due to variables involved in heating and financing.

The manure comes into the digesters at about 60 degrees and is churned around for about 24 days; however, it must increase its heat in order for the digestion

to function properly. Through a system of capturing heat from other processes, Alpental is able to heat the manure to 98 degrees without having to pay for any outside heat sources. In the past, having to pay to heat the manure has rendered some digesters unworkable.

Another challenge was updating technology to meet the nutritional improvements made in animal agriculture.

“One of the problems with the digesters of the past is they were going off of numbers from 20 years ago,” Jim Webb said.

“Nutrition has changed, so pigs are more efficient with their digestion…so there’s less carbon to put into a digester.”

While it has been great to see a new method of energy production coming from a byproduct of food production, the economics of energy pricing and the massive amounts and kinds of manure required will probably keep digesters from spreading throughout the country – at least for the time being. Nevertheless, for one farm in Utah, the idea of producing power, profits and pork hasbeen electric.

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almonds, broccoli, watermelons, peanuts, apples, avocadoes, cheese, or milk. While this might seem a drastic scenario, it is totally possible for these and numerous other foods to disappear from our diet. In addition to drought and pests, many of the foods we enjoy and take for granted are threatened by the disappearance of pollinators.

Fruit and seeds are produced from flowering plants when pollen from one flower is transferred to another plant. At least 75 percent of flowering plants depend on bees and other insect pollinators to help take the pollen from plant to plant. Beyond the flowers blooming in your yard or garden, plants such as strawberries, almonds, peaches, watermelons and tomatoes are dependent on bees for

pollination. Milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt are available because the cows that produce them eat plants, such as alfalfa, which are pollinated by bees. Fruits and vegetables cannot produce without pollination.

Commercial growers are likely to have hives of honey bees or contract with beekeepers for hives to be placed in their orchards or fields during the flowering season. Since 2006, however, nearly one third of all honeybee colonies in the country have disappeared putting $15 billion worth of fruits, nuts and vegetables at risk. Seemingly healthy bees have simply abandoned their hives en masse, never to return. This mass disappearance is called Colony Collapse Disorder. Researchers believe that a combination of factors may

be to blame including pesticide exposure, invasive parasitic mites, an inadequate food supply and a new virus which targets the bees’ immune system. Research continues in the hope of pinpointing the exact cause. Overuse of pesticides, loss of habitat and forage, urbanization and air pollution are among other things creating a hostile environment for all animal pollinators.

These declines in the health and population of bees and other pollinators pose what could be a significant threat to the integrity of biodiversity, to global food webs, and to human health. At least 80 percent of our world’s crop species require pollination to set seed. An estimated one out of every three bites of food comes to us through the work of bees.

B Y AU R L I N E B OYA C K V I C E P R E S I D E N T M E M B E R S E R V I C E S & W O M E N ’ S P R O G R A M C O O R D I N ATO R , U TA H FA R M B U R EAU F E D E R AT I O N

Imagine your dietary world without the delicious taste of raspberries,

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Becoming aware of the diminishing number of bees and the potential loss of billions of dollars of food crops begs the question, is there something I can do to become more proactive in helping protect our precious bee resource.

Honeybees are not native to North America but were brought here from Europe where honey and beeswax had been important commodities for thousands of years. However, in addition to honey bees, there are numerous species of wild bees who reside in Utah. Many of these species are superb pollinators, particularly of fruit trees, raspberries, squash varieties, melons and cucumbers. Other native bees love to feast on the nectar of the flowers in your garden. Except for bumble bees and some sweat bees, our native bees are solitary, not social, many with just one annual generation that coincides with the blooming of their favorite floral hosts. In contrast, honey bees are highly social and have perennial colonies.

With the onset of spring’s sunny, warmer days we begin to want to spend more time outside. We start to think about planting our vegetable garden and updating our flowerbeds. Perhaps we want to include a fruit tree or two in our yard as well. Although the best planting season is still at least a month away, now is a great time to think about what we are going to grow in our yards this year. At the same time we can consider ways to increase visits to our yard by pollinators, especially bees.

The first way to help promote a larger bee population is to make your yard a friendly habitat for bees. When you incorporate flower varieties in your yard which bloom at different times during the summer, you help provide food choices for bees – a bee buffet – during the entire growing season and encourage pollination of your plants at the same time —creating bumper crops. Bees help make food for you by using whatever food you provide for them. Many flowers are specifically adapted to one pollinator or a small group of pollinators because of floral structure, color, odor, or nectar guides. Varieties of flowers which bloom at different times as well as encouraging pollinator diversity are the ideal. Flight is powered by the sugars in nectar. The grub-like larvae feast on pollen which is fortified with proteins, oils and minerals which are essential for growth and survival.

Encouraging a variety of bees to regularly visit your yard takes some thoughtful planning. Begin by checking out the extensive list of garden plants favored by wild bees on the Utah State University Extension website. The list is entitled, “Gardening for Native Bees in Utah and beyond.”

So how do you know that what you are seeing is a bee? If the insect is carrying a load of yellowish pollen on its hind legs or under its abdomen it is a female bee. Bees are usually fuzzy as opposed to wasps which are smooth and shiny. Bees have two sets of wings. Most importantly bees don’t hunt for people to sting. Bees, such as honey bees and bumblebees use their stingers to protect themselves and their habitat when they are threatened. Only female bees have stingers, so logically half of the bees you see can’t sting you. Besides bees are too busy looking for food to bother you if you don’t bother them. If you give them room to work, they will leave you alone.

“Some people are fearful of being stung if they attract native bees to their yard,” comments James H. Crane, Research Entomologist, USDA, ARS. “In our 25 years of watching bees at flowers, we have yet to be stung by any species of non-social bees native to North America. We have been stung handling honey bees or bumble bees at their colonies. But even then, we’ve never been stung when just watching them at flowers.”

Another way to protect bees and encourage larger populations of both honey and native bees is to be extremely careful with pesticides. Pesticides used to kill insects which are damaging your plants or invading your home can kill bees as well. Read labels to insure you are using the minimum quantity necessary to do the job. Help the bees by not spraying pesticides on plants when they are blooming or even in areas close to plants that are blooming. If possible spray at night when bees are not working to gather food.

If we each do our part, we can slow or eliminate the decline in pollinator populations. One gardener, one bee at a time will help insure that your favorite fruits and vegetables will continue to appear on your dinner plate.

It is easy to forget how interconnected we are with the world around us – everything and everyone contributing to the life we know and enjoy. It never even occurred to me to thank the bees for the strawberries and milk I enjoyed with my cereal this morning!

RESOURCESChildren’s book – an informative book about bees, beekeepers and honey extraction. American Farm Bureau’s book of the year: The Beeman by Laurie Krebs and Valeria Cis. NRDC, “ Vanishing Bees”. Agriculture in the Classroom, USU Cooperative Extension – “The Buzz about Bees.” “Gardening for Native Bees in Utah and beyond,” James H. Crane, Research Entomologist, USDA, ARS.

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In a conversation with one of my brothers a couple of months ago, I must have mentioned my frustration about a local gym that was always crowded. He gave me a half-smile and said, “Wait until March… then it will change.” He was right.

Most Americans include exercising more and eating healthier on their list of New Year’s resolutions in January. And yet, according to an article in Time Magazine, more than two-thirds of gym memberships go unused and attendance is usually back to normal by mid-February. The same pattern also tends to occur with our dietary goals.

A study by the University of Scranton suggests that more than 60 percent of us regularly make New Year’s resolutions but only eight percent are successful in achieving their goals. However, the same study also found that people who explicitly make resolutions (at any time of the year) are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't set specific ones. So, what’s the secret to being part of that eight percent?

Most of us know the basics of goal setting. We know that goals should be specific, realistic, and measurable and that

measurable goals usually include numbers or a time frame. But an additional key element that determines whether or not your goals become is a reality is your motive. We all know that there are things we’re supposed to do. But if that’s your only reason for changing a behavior, it’s usually insufficient. Making goals that you believe you can achieve and goals that you really want to achieve is much more productive.

Authors James Belasco and Ralph Stayer explain that “Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up.” In all situations, a change in behavior or circumstance usually requires a tradeoff or sacrifice. Taking time to objectively evaluate and compare the cost-to-benefit ratio of a current behavior (or non-behavior) and a different behavior is worth the effort. Below are examples of four “low-cost” healthy habit ideas that come with benefits and can be adapted to fit almost any lifestyle.

Take 10,000 Steps a DayThe American Heart Association and similar groups encourage walking 10,000 steps a day (approximately 5 miles) for cardiovascular health. Most Americans walk less than 4,000 steps a day. But

increasing this to 6,000 steps or more per day benefits more than just your heart. Research suggests that reaching this goal also improves confidence and increases your willingness to try other sports and physical activities that are more challenging.

A 2010 study followed 60,000 people in 55 countries who aimed to walk 10,000 steps a day for eight months. At the end of the challenge, 67 percent of participants reported an increase in fitness and energy levels. They also lost an average of 10 pounds each – just from walking. After four months of participating in the study, the number of people with high blood pressure was reduced by 34 percent and waist size was reduced by an average of two inches. Participants who continued to walk 10,000 steps a day for a year were able to maintain blood pressure, keep lost weight off, and decreased their body mass index (BMI). Their risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes was also significantly reduced.

Miriam Nelson, an exercise expert at Tufts University, says that “Being physically active is the stimulus that gets most organs in the body to work at their best. If you’re not active, it affects all body systems, literally down to the cellular level. Inactivity affects the brain, heart, blood vessels, bones, liver, gut, sleep, anxiety, depression, self-esteem,

BY MARLENE ISRAELSEN, MS, RD, UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

4HealthyHabits

toStart

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your ability to use glucose, and more… If muscle isn’t stimulated, your body senses that you don’t need it. Metabolically, it’s expensive to keep and so you start tolose it.”

So, where do you start? First, get a pedometer to track the number of steps you take. Low-cost pedometers are usually $4 to $10. You can find one at a local drugstore or sporting goods store. There are also pedometer apps that you can download to a smart phone or other electronic device. Use your pedometer for a week to establish a baseline. This will help you see where you are and measure your progress. Increase the number of steps you take by 1,000 to 2,000 each week (about 500 steps a day) until you have reached your goal. To help with motivation, invite friends or co-workers to join you. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be vigorous walking and it doesn’t have to be continuous or all at once. Every step counts.

Share 5 Meals a WeekEating together as a family or with other people on a regular basis has some surprising benefits. It’s not hard to find research that demonstrates improved relationships, better-adjusted children, higher academic performance, and more nutritional meals among people who share meals together. People who eat as a family or in a group are also less likely to be overweight, less likely to abuse alcohol or other drugs, and less likely to engage in risky behaviors.

There are certainly challenges to establishing a pattern of shared meal times. A common mistake is setting expectations that are too high. The benefits mentioned above only require 3 to 5 shared meals a week. They don’t have to be dinner mealtimes at your kitchen table in front a fireplace, either. Breakfast counts. So do snacks. Same with a picnic. Here are a few other suggestions:

• Set regular meal times by writing them on a calendar.

• If family meals aren’t a regular part

of your routine, start with one or two meals per week and work up.

• Include children, roommates, or other people in the preparation of the meal and in decisions about what foods will be offered during a meal.

• Keep a sense of humor while at the dinner table.

• Eliminate distractions, like TV, telephone, and cell phones.

• Encourage conversations about positive or neutral topics and create an environment that fosters healthy communication.

• Eat slowly and consciously appreciate the people that you’re with.

• Develop a meal plan with themes for days of the week (i.e. Soup Night, Italian Night, Crockpot Night) and fill in specific entrée and vegetable ideas each week.

• Use left-overs (like chicken) to create another night’s meal.

• Double a recipe and freeze half for a future meal.

• Start a Dinner Co-op with friends or neighbors (where different households take turns cooking dinner for themselves and others in the co-op). This reduces the number of cooking nights per week, saves money, results in only one messy kitchen, and is fun.

Aim for 7 Hours a NightWe know that those who suffer from a lack of sleep and sleep disorders tend to be less productive, spend more on health care, and have an increased likelihood of accidents compared to those who get adequate sleep. Research also indicates that irregular or inadequate sleep (less than 7 to 8 hours a night) can increase your risk of memory problems and can also stimulate your appetite.

According to a study at the Washington University School of Medicine, our brains use sleep time to flush out proteins that play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s.  Chronic sleep disturbances allow these proteins to build up and this increases your risk for dementia and memory loss.

A lack of sleep also decreases our metabolism (the rate at which we use energy and burn fat) and affects hormones that regulate our appetite. Cortisol and ghrelin are two hormones that stimulate appetite and increase our desire for food (usually high-calorie comfort foods) and they’re both stimulated by insufficient sleep. Managing your sleep schedule makes it easier to manage nutrition and other areas of your life.

Follow the 90:10 RuleMy favorite nutrition principle is the 90:10 Rule. Essentially, it has two parts. First, it encourages healthy food choices and eating behaviors 90 percent of the time (choosing colorful foods that are high in nutrients not overly processed). It also allows for “fun foods” (like cookies and ice cream) 10 percent of the time. Occasional inclusion of fun foods is actually healthy because over-restriction is counter-productive and usually leads to binging. This is one of many reasons why fad diets are ineffective.

The second part of the 90:10 Rule discourages extremism and emphasizes balance and intuitive eating instead. Ideally, 90 percent of your thoughts, time, energy, and effort should be focused on things in your life that aren’t related to food, eating, body image, or weight loss. People who become consumed by healthy eating and fitness sometimes flip the percentages and spend 90 percent of their thoughts, time, energy, and effort on achieving their goals and only 10 percent on the rest of life. The irony is that, in most cases, this isn’t healthy and often leads to disordered eating and other issues.

Remember that the “small stuff” counts. Healthy living isn’t supposed to be hard. It’s about progress – not perfection.

Marlene Israelsen is a registered dietitian and clinical assistant professor in the Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Department at Utah State University. She’s also worked as a clinical dietitian at Sanpete Valley Hospital and as a Family Consumer Science Agent for the USU Extension Program. Israelsen grew up on a farm in a small community in Cache Valley and is thankful for her Ag roots. In addition to eating, she enjoys hiking, camping, rodeos, and road trips.

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Factory farms. Just those two little words elicit such strong emotions in us, and depending on your perspective, those emotions might be a little bit different. For some, it might evoke images of confined animals or automated milking machines being attached to cows. For me, those words are a call to action – a call to share knowledge, perspective, and experience, to talk with people about what life is really like in large-production agriculture.

I am a 5th generation dairy farmer, and I grew up on a 3,000-cow dairy farm.  I’ve been told that my family runs a factory farm, that with such large numbers of cows, it’s impossible to be a family farm.  Did I mention, I’m the 5th generation? Yes, we’ve grown quite a bit since my great-great grandfather started out in a small barn in New England with four Guernsey cows. Guernseys are brown & white dairy cows renowned for the rich flavor of their milk. Growing our herd has meant that more of my family can stay on the farm – often larger farms can support the livelihood of more family members. It has also allowed us to take advantage of advancements in farm technology, monitoring devices, milking equipment, and

barn design to improved cow health and longevity as well as our farm’s sustainability.

According to the National Agriculture Statistics Service, more than 98 percent of United States farms are family owned. Corporation-owned farms make up less than two percent of the farming landscape in our country. Just because a farm is big, doesn’t mean that the people who run it don’t care. In fact, it’s in our very best interest to make sure that the animals in our charge are treated like kings, because unhappy animals don’t produce well. A cow that is sick can’t make milk. If my cows were cramped and not fed very well, they wouldn’t make milk, and my family’s livelihood would go down the drain.

But it’s also the right thing to do; it’s not just about the money. We genuinely care for our cows. We like the lifestyle of dairy farming, and we find joy from having happy, healthy cows. Cows are fun, and we enjoy being around them. My cows have more people taking care of them than I do. They have a nutritionist, a hoof care specialist (yes, our cows get pedicures!) two veterinarians, and a team of six people to make sure their corrals are clean, dry and fluffy every single day.  Then there’s my

family and our employees. We ensure that the cows are fed a balanced diet twice per day, that they are milked with care, and that they are monitored daily to make sure that no one is sick. In our pregnancy pen, the cows are checked on every half hour to ensure that no new mamas are having problems. If our cows do get sick, they go to our hospital barn, where they can rest and recover before rejoining the main herd.

It takes a lot of people and a lot of coordination to care for 3,000 cows. Each and every single person on my dairy wants to be there. You have to want to, because the patience and time isn’t always easy to give. But we do, because we care, it is what my family has wanted for five generations. Dairy farming is about caring for the cows and building their trust in me. It is about creating a sustainable livelihood that is good for our cows, our family, and our community. Most especially, it’s about making sure that you, my customer, has the safest and tastiest milk that we can possibly provide.

This article first appeared at thecowlocale.com/2014/02/22/what-is-a-factory-farm/, a blog created by the Utah Dairy Council.

BY KATHARINE NYE, UTAH STATE UNIVERSITYDAIRY SCIENCE & AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP STUDENT

W H AT I S A FA C T O R Y FA R M ?

A farmer’s perspective

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Page 25: Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine

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BY A.J. FERGUSON, VICE PRESIDENT FARM SAFETY, UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

The

BATTLEfor

YARD SUPREMACY

BEGINS

Spring ushers in the warmer weather and the beautiful change of the grass from brown to green. Trees and shrubs are changing with leaves budding and colorful blooms. Even more spectacular are the colors coming from your favorite spring flowers, which seem brighter than last year’s. Along with these fun changes come the sounds of rotor tillers, aerators, weed whackers and more.

Time again for the epic battle of who will control the yard this year! Will you be the winner or will the yard beat you into mulch? Funny? Maybe. But the struggle to control one’s yard can be very frustrating, time consuming and expensive. While it doesn’t matter if you are the one leading the battle or if you are hiring others to lead the yearly offensive attack, there are some important strategies and tactics to remember when it comes to lawn care.

The first and most important thing to remember is that no two lawns that are alike. There are areas that have more shade, while some have more sun; not to mention, the soil can be different and there may be still other existing factors playing a role in determining your lawn’s needs. However, there are basic tactics you can use to assist you in a stronger, healthier lawn.

Nutrients are important to help a lawn combat cold or hot weather, foot traffic, drought and the stress of being mowed. Due to the fact that the climate in Utah can be very different from top to bottom, the following timelines for fertilizing are

rather broad. For more detailed information, visit with a USU Extension Agent or other lawn care specialists in your area. Most information recommends feeding a lawn four times a year.

Yes, once a year does improve lawn conditions, but the four-step approach will help it stay greener and lusher.

When should a lawn be fed? At the start of spring, a lawn wakes up; it is hungry and needs strength in its roots to prepare it for the heavy growing season. If crabgrass was a problem last year, consider a combination fertilizer with a pre-emergent to help control the unwanted grass. This application usually takes place between February and April. Remember that applying too early with a pre-emergent could make it less effective or useless. For a closer time frame, consult with a lawn care specialist. Lest you forget, all is not finished after applying the fertilizer. According Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, late spring is considered a lunchtime for lawns. Grass, at this time, is depleting stored energy; meaning, it is important to use a fertilizer formulated for late springtime growth. This is also the time where broadleaf weeds are actively growing. Using a “weed-n-feed” combination might be a perfect recipe. Late springtime is considered April through June.

Summer time – June through August – is harsh on grass. Insects, foot traffic, heat and

drought can severely stress a lawn. Feeding a lawn at this time will help strengthen it against these problems. If insects are present use a product that contains an insect control or an insecticide for the pest needing to be controlled. Again, USU Extension agents are a good contact for more specific information for your area.

Fall is when conditions for a lawn return to ideal. Cooler weather, more rain and morning dew are great for the lawn. According to Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, the lawn is ready to grow again and is looking to replace the nutrients lost during the summer. This final feeding is to help the lawn prepare for a winter nap. This application will add strength to roots and increase the nitrogen storage for an early spring green up. Fall is considered September through November.

For tips on the specifics of your lawn, you need to talk to a USU Extension agent; however, here are a few general guidelines:

• Water is one of the most important factors for a healthy lawn

• Northern Utah lawns are more likely to be a bluegrass variety. Bluegrass most often requires using a four-step fertilization program.

• Southern Utah homes are more likely to have a fescue lawn. Fescue most often only needs two fertilizations yearly.

Here are websites to assist in keeping your lawn green: extension.usu.eduand utahpests.usu.edu.

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FARM SAFETY, UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

2014 Surfacing Meeting ScheduleApril 1Salt Lake at 7 PM – UFBF Board Room

April 1Duchesne at 7 PM – USU Roosevelt Campus

April 7Beaver at 10:15 AM– Beaver Courthouse - Sterling

April 8Carbon at 7 PM – Sterling

April 8Tooele at 7 PM – Ext. Office

April 9Sevier at 7 PM – Fairgrounds - Sterling

April 9Morgan at 7 PM – Courthouse

April 10Sanpete at 7 PM – Courthouse

April 10Juab at 7 PM – Stotz Equip. in Nephi

April 11 Cache at 11:30 AM – Copper Mill Restaurant

April 14Garfield at 11:10 AM – Courthouse - Sterling

April 14Piute at 1:30 PM Courthouse - Sterling

April 15Summit at 7 PM Camas City Building

April 15San Juan at 7 PM Lewis Shop

April 16Rich at 7 PM NRCS Building in Randolph

April 16Emery at 7:30 PM at Co. Building

April 17Davis. 12 PM – Grannie Annies. - Sterling

April 17N & S Box Elder 7 PM – Bear River Comm. Bldg. - Sterling

April 21Wayne at 11:30AM – County Courthouse - Sterling

April 24Weber at 7 PM – Ext. Office

April 24Utah at 7 PM Court House Ball room - Sterling

April 24Kane at 7 PM – North Event Center in Orderville

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Are you and your child at risk for identity theft? The U.S. Postal Inspectors indicate that, “Identity theft is America’s fastest- growing crime. Last year alone, more than 9.9 million Americans were victims of identity theft, a crime that cost them roughly $5 billion”. (1) This cost of identity theft can limit your ability to get credit, damage your reputation, and expend time and money to repair. The cost to your children can be equally devastating. In a Carnegie Mellon's CyLab study, it was found that: “children had 51 times higher attack rate than adults”. (2 p.9) As a child’s identity theft often goes undetected for years, it can damage or destroy their ability to get loans, jobs or even housing. (2 p.3)

Your identity could be stolen by:• Dumpster diving for un-shredded important documents• Theft of credit cards, social security cards, business records,

important documents from your mailbox, home or wallet• Phishing – pretending to be your financial institution or other

business requesting personal information on the internet• Malware – malicious software that affects computers to capture

your personal information via the internet: hacking into online accounts like Facebook, Twitter and gaming apps

• Social engineering – tricking a person into revealing information, memorizing access codes and passwords by shoulder surfing,

• Theft of school records, medical records, social security numbers of minors (3,4,5 7)

Preventing Identity theft• Keep Social Security numbers, birth certificates and personal

documents locked up.• Be wise what and with who you share your and your child’s

important information, including workplace, schools and medical offices.

• Review all credit card transactions monthly, checking for any unusual activity or errors.

• Use caution when using the internet. Only use computers with updated antivirus and firewall protection, check a website’s security certificate when giving personal information, always log out when finished.

• Shred unused credit card offers, expired credit cards, unused convenience checks, and mail with personal identifying information.

• Never use family names or personal identification numbers, or pet’s names or other easily recognized letters and numbers as PIN number or passwords. Don’t keep passwords, PIN numbers for ATM, credit cards, or accounts on your computer, in your wallet or your car. (4,5,6,7,8)

Reporting Identity Theft If you suspect your identity has been compromised:• Contact The Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Toll-free

Hotline (877-IDTHEFT)• Call one of the three major credit reporting agencies and creditors

of affected accounts and ask them to place a fraud alert on your account

• File a police report• Contact U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector

General at 1-800-647-8733 for Identity Theft involving student information, or federal education funds (8)

• Send Complaints in writing, asking creditors to provide you and law enforcement agencies investigating the crime with copies of all documentation showing fraudulent activity (9,10)

Protecting Your IdentityThe Federal Trade Commission provides additional information on protecting your identity and filing an identity theft report at consumer.ftc.gov/topics/privacy-identity (3) They provide two publications to help parents limit the risks of child identity theft: “Protecting Your Child’s Personal Information at School”; http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/protecting-your-childs-personal-information-school, August 13, 2013 and “Safeguarding Your Child’s Future”, May 2012, consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0010-child-identity-theft.pdf (4)

The Identity Theft Resource Center provides information on how to educate children to protect their identity at www.idtheftcenter.org/Articles/Child-ID-Theft (11)

REFERENCES:1. Accessed at http://goo.gl/X5VUle2. Child Identity Theft, Richard Power, Carnegie Mellon CyLab, Study 2009-2010, p 3,9

available at http://goo.gl/7HS0S3. Accessed at http://goo.gl/uDJqCz4. Accessed at http://goo.gl/jXB2j 5. “Protecting Your Child’s Personal Information at School”; http://goo.gl/G5SScX 6. Safeguarding Your Child’s Future, FTC, May 2012, available at http://goo.gl/Xu0dWi 7. Accessed at The Identity Theft Resource Center, available at http://goo.gl/o4r5KZ 8. Accessed at http://goo.gl/QAKGdG9. How to Keep Your Personal Information Secure, FTC, available at http://goo.gl/1m9maF 10. Accessed at http://goo.gl/9BRNG

MARILYN ALBERTSON, M.S., CFCS, UTAH STATE UNIVERSITYEXTENSION ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, SALT LAKE COUNTY

Is Your Family A Target for Identity Theft?

Page 29: Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine

for granted their metroplex. The locals originally look at it as a blessing, a taxable addition. The more they cater to new money, the deeper they fall into the trap of dependency.

Then the newcomers begin to miss the attitudes and modernity that made big city living bearable. “This is the 21st century! Let’s get with it!” They have no historical sense of intrinsic value or the hardship of generations, or the workin’ man culture. They are the Princess Di trying to fit in with the Duck Dynasty!

The newbies don’t enjoy having a hog farm down the road, kids getting out of school for hunting season, or for skiing on Fridays. They despise zoning laws that allow sale barns, dairies, timber mills, mining claims, or gas wells to prosper.

The new settlers gain influence and numbers primarily because of their financial advantage. Over a period of years a tipping point is reached. The town is now being run by money made elsewhere. Eventually the locals are relegated to serving their conquerors. In a community that 25 years ago would have been appalled, now welcomes topless bars, a resort tax, gated neighborhoods, private security guards, license tags for your dog or a Pot Hole that now sells marijuana to users.

Oh, well, I better go look at Princess Di’s horse.She always pays her bill.

The legalization of marijuana in Colorado has brought to a head a common point of contention that has happened in state after state. It is a generational change, a population shift that is the result of the inevitable roll of civilization.

It also marks a shift from rural to urban.

Over the years I have watched certain western towns and cities evolve into mini-metros that no longer belong to the state that bore them; Santa Fe, Aspen, Missoula, Sedona, Monterey and Deer Valley. They become baby Berkeleys or Austins or Madisons. They grow and metastasize. They start changing the laws, the values and the livelihoods of the invaded towns and states, into those from the cities they left behind.

It is often referred to as “Californication.” The new wave of settlers leave the state of their upbringing because it’s too crowded, crime is omnipresent, politics are corrupt, freeways are snarled and it’s no place to raise a family.

One day, on vacation, they drive through a western city with spectacular views, open space, friendly folk, and not much crime, so they buy a piece of property. They build a second home and commute back and forth, it’s so quaint, they stay.

They bring with them the conveniences and expectations they took

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Page 30: Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine

Calling all shutterbugs! It’s time once again for the annual Utah Farm Bureau photography contest.Share your best pictures with the entire Beehive State and possibly win a cash prize!

Get some fresh batteries in the camera and your artistic eye ready for a great season of picture taking!Rural settings and rural lifestyles are the preferred themes for all submissions, and contestants are limited to one winning entry.

As in years past, both digital and printed photographs may be submitted – but digital photos are preferred. There are three categories in which to enter: Kids in the Country (photos involving youth, children or families), The Best of Utah (nature & landscape photos, iconic agricultural landmarks or buildings of Utah, etc.), and All in a Days Work (the work of producing food and fiber in Utah). A winner for each

category will be selected and will receive a $100 cash prize and may be published in the Utah Farm Bureau Countryside magazine.

• Contest limited to Utah Farm Bureau members and their immediate families.• Digital entries should be e-mailed to [email protected].

For publication purposes, photos must be at least 1021 X 768 pixels (or 200 dpi) or higher.• Print entries may be mailed to Utah Farm Bureau, Attn: Matt Hargreaves – Photo Contest, 9865 S. State Street, Sandy, Utah 84070. A

stamped, self-addressed envelope must accompany your print photo entry if you want your photograph returned.• Multiple entries may be submitted, but individuals are limited to one winning photograph.• Include a brief description regarding the entry, plus the participant’s name, address, telephone number

and valid Utah Farm Bureau membership number.

Prize winners agree to hold harmless and release Utah Farm Bureau Federation (UFBF) staff, officers, and affiliated entities from loss, claim, injury, damage or expense. UFBF May, without offering any consideration to or obtaining permission of its submitter, use any such photograph for any purpose, such as publishing it in Countryside magazine, Utah Farm Bureau News, use on UFBF’s website, or reproducing it for other UFBF use.

2 0 1 4 U T A H F A R M B U R E A U

E N T R I E S D U E A U G U S T 2 1 , 2 0 1 4

P H O T O C O N T E S T

Page 31: Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine

31

IMPORTANT NOTICE1. Non-commercial ads for Utah Farm Bureau members selling items they grow or make themselves, or used machinery, household items, etc., they themselves have used in the past. Each member family is entitled to one such ad free in each three-month period. Ads can be up to 40 words or numbers such as phone number or Zip. Words such as “For Sale” are included, initials and numbers count as a word. All words over 40 cost 25 cents each. Ads over 40 words not accompanied by the extra payment, or not meeting the above requirements, will be returned to the sender. Family memberships cannot be combined to create larger ads, nor can a membership be used for free classified ad purposes by anyone other than immediate family members. Ads run for three months.2. Commercial ads for Utah Farm Bureau members where the member is acting as an agent or dealer (real estate, machinery, handicraft items made by people outside the member family, etc.) cost 25 cents per word. Payment MUST accompany such ads or they will be returned to the sender. Members are entitled to one such ad. Ads run for one month.3. Ads for non-Utah Farm Bureau members cost 50 cents per word. Payment MUST accompany such ads or they will be returned to the sender. Ads run for one month.In all ads, short lines requested by the advertiser, extra lines of white space, and lines with words in all caps count as 6 words per line. Ads with borders and bold headlines may be submitted and placed within the classified section, but will be charged the display advertising rate. Please contact the classified advertising department for further information. No insurance ads will be accepted.***DEADLINE: ALL ADS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE 15TH OF THE MONTH IN ORDER TO APPEAR IN THE NEXT ISSUE. EXCEPT FOR THE JANUARY ISSUE, WHICH HAS A CLASSIFIED DEADLINE OF DEC. 5.Only free ads (Category 1 ads of 40 words or less) will be accepted by telephone at 801-233-3010, by fax at 801-233-3030 or e-mail at [email protected]. Please include your membership number. Ads must be received no later than the 15th of the monthMail ads, typed or neatly printed, with any payment due, to Utah Farm Bureau News, Classified Ad Department, 9865 South State Street, Sandy, UT 84070-2305. Free ads must be resubmitted by mail, telephone or fax after running for three months. Ads for which there is a payment due will be run as long as payment is received in advance.

ALL CLASSIFIED ADS will be listed on the Utah Farm Bureau web page unless the Utah Farm Bureau member specifies otherwise when placing the ad. The ads on the web site will run concurrently with the classified ads in the Utah Farm Bureau News. NOTE: The appearance of any ad in the Utah Farm Bureau News does not constitute an endorsement or approval of the service or merchandise offered. While every effort is made to ensure the legitimacy of services or merchandise advertised, the Utah Farm Bureau News or the Utah Farm Bureau Federation accepts no responsibility or liability for services or products advertised.

FEED

FOR SALE: Small bales Alpha hay $8.00 per bale. Discount for large quantities. Parting out 2670 Case tractor. For sale, L3300 Kuvota tractor w/loader. 435-545-2581.

LIVESTOCK

SALERS & OPTIMIZER Bulls for sale. Performance tested. Semen & Trich tested. Will feed until April 1. Will deliver. Jasperson Cattle Co. Goshen, Utah 801-667-3565.Charolais Bulls for sale. Call 435-691-4037or go to www.rileytaylorcharolais.comGELBVIEH-ANGUS-BALANCER Bulls for Sale! 10-16 months old. Not grain fed and will work under all conditions. Contact Larry at 435-864-7879.REGISTERED YEARLING Red Angus bulls. Fertility & Trich tested. Bred for calv-ing ease & rapid growth. Brothers too are high performing bulls at Utah Beef Improvement Bull test. Lyle Taylor, Vernal, Utah. 345-790-8880.BULLS FOR SALE: Arrow H. Ranch registered Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls. Give me a call and let’s match up a bull that will work for your herd. Discounts for volume purchases. Dave Hermansen 801-243-9890 or 801-420-4553. PACE RANCHES Registered Gelbvieh and Balancer Bulls.   All Black Bulls.  Trich, Semen, and Pap Tested at 7000 Feet.  We will feed bulls through winter and provide Free Delivery  in- state. Call Richard (Dick) Pace:  435-425-3805 or 435-691-4703.

BULLS FOR SALE: Good selection of coming 2 year old polled Hereford bulls. Top quality bulls bred for performance, growth and maternal traits. Some bulls, calving ease. Contact Phil Allen and Son, Antimony. Phil 435-624-3236 or Shan-non 435-624-3285. Over 25 Line One Hereford bulls for sale.  Yearling and 2 yr old bulls available.  35 years of performance breeding.  See more at www.johansenherefords.com or call Jonathan/Craig Johansen @ 435-650-8466/435-820-8490.RV Bar Angus Ranch Annual Bull & Female Sale, Saturday, March 29, 2014 at the ranch. Selling Yearling Bulls and Heifers, Heifers and Cows with calves. Free feeding on all bulls until May 1st. Call Randan for more info. 435-828-1116. REAL ESTATE

40-acre horse property on year-round creek. 13 acres irrigated, fenced/cross-fenced. 3,000 sf: 4 BD/3 BTH, large kitchen, pantry, propane F/A, woodstove. Guesthouse, barn, greenhouse, tack shed. 10395 S. Lower Red Creek Road, Fruitland, UT, 435-548-2630. Freedom Realty, MLS 1182960.@HOME REALTY, BRENT PARKER, (435)881-1000 NEW!  642.94 Acres in Cache Valley.  368.94 acres tillable.  Year around spring.  Good dry farm ground.  Beautiful views.  Some in CRP. Cache Valley home on almost 11 acres.  Park setting, water rights, fruit trees and berries, two ponds, horse pasture, solarium ad koi pond. 6.41 Acres in Cache Valley.  Also 10.01 acre parcel.  Views.  Horse Property.  Well permit. Home on 1.49 acres.  Located in Cache Valley.  Shop and 2 pole barns. Home on 1.52 acres.  Located in Franklin, Idaho.  Fish pond and well landscaped. 2,414 Acres in Cove.  Beautiful recreational property with cabin and campsites. Located up High Creek Canyon.  10.23 acre feet of water. 4.37 Acres in Mendon.  $50,000 Excellent horse property.  Views of  valley and mountains.  Additional land available. 18.9 Acres in Mendon.  Views of Cache Valley and the Wellsvilles.  Acreage for home in Riverdale Idaho.  Overlooks scenic Bear River.  Two Wellsville Parcels.  Stream runs through. Horse property.  10 Acres Overlooking Hyrum Reservoir.  Horse property.  Beautiful views.  60.96 acre ranch in Morgan Valley.  Could be divided.  65 shares of water and a 6 bedroom home.  Great views.  Two parcels in Nibley in Cache Valley.  3.76 acre and 3.61 acre adjoining lots   Horse property. Can be subdivided. Irrigation shares.  18.75 Acres in Cache Valley.  Artesian well already dug.  Secondary gravity pressure irrigation.  2.56 Acres in Cache Valley. Country lot with plenty of irrigation water. Hunter's Paradise.  779 acres with year around developed springs.  Cabin in Logan Canyon.  Beautiful setting close ro river.  View lots near Wellsville between 1 and 5 acres.  Horse property.  Dairy Farm in Cache Valley  41 acres.  Irrigated. Updated home, excellent crops.  Double 5 Herringbone parlor.  185.38 Acres in Cache Valley with views.  Can be divided.  Located in popular Maple Rise area.  Borders national forest.  37.91 Acres located on the foothills of the Wellsvilles.  Can be divided in up to five lots.  Water shares.  Canal runs through.  400 Acres Bordering Oneida Narrows Reservoir.  Beautiful and secluded.  Adjacent to campground and boat dock.  Could be subdivided into camp sites.  Seller financing. www.brentparkerrealty.com. End/Brent Parker.WYOMING BUILDING LOT: .45 acre lot. 117 Alpine, Wyoming. Corner of Oatgrass St. and Arnica Trail, Alpine Meadows subdivision- T37 R118 S19/20/29/30. Tax 37182030029000. $40,000 or offer. Owner financing, water & sewer ready. Brent 801-645-8129. [email protected]

AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Circle Four Farms of Murphy Brown LLC: If you are looking for a career in a fun, rewarding team environment, Circle Four Farms is the opportunity you’ve been searching for. We’re offering quality, full time Herd Technician animal produc-tion positions with training provided.Challenge yourself with a stable company that offers a starting entry-level wage of $10 to $11, plus a full benefit package including: medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance plan, short and long term disability, company paid pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with company match, bonus/incentive programs, paid holidays and vacation and education reimbursement.C4 Job Application required. For more information please call our office: Circle Four Farms, PO Box 100, 341 South Main, Milford UT 84751, Phone (435) 387-2107, Fax (435) 387-2170. EOE / PWDNET - If you require accommodation or assistance to complete the application process, please call Lacy Davis at (435) 387-6047.  When you contact Lacy, please identify the type of accom-modation or assistance you are requesting.  We will assist you promptly.

Utah Farm Bureau News

CLASSIFIEDS

Page 32: Farm Bureau Countryside Magazine

All tickets are non-refundable. Ticket prices subject to change without advance notice. For additional informationabout these or other Farm Bureau member benefits, visit utfb.fb.org or call 801-233-3010.

What are you Doing this Summer?

RIDE, SLIDE, SPLASH, SCREAM AND LAUGH all summer long with a Season pass just $103.25 (includes tax) and your Farm Bureau membership. Advance ticket purchase only. Non-refundable.

Or….Choose single day passes just: $38.29 ea. including tax for anyone over 2. Advance ticket purchase only. Non-refundable.

Cool off on hot summer days with a visit to one of Utah’s premier water parks.

SEVEN PEAKS PASS OF ALL PASSES – FOR THE INCREDIBLE PRICE OF $33! Visit sevenpeaks.com to see what the POAP includes.

SEVEN PEAKS UNIVERSAL DAY PASS: You pay just $17.50 (incl. tax) per all-day pass – the regular price is $24.95+ tax. Advance purchase only. Tickets are non-refundable. Choose either:

The Universal Day Pass is valid for admission to the Seven Peaks Fun Centers in Sandy, Orem or Lehi as well.

Seven Peaks – Salt Lake1200 W. 1700 S.

Seven Peaks - Provo1330 East 300 North

Take the whole gang to a Bees baseball game! The Bees are a Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Purchase “Bees Vouchers for just $10.00 ea. Redeem your voucher at the ticket window for the best seat available in the stadium - excluding Diamond Seating. 2014 Season: April 3 – September 2. Vouchers will be available beginning April 1. Vouchers are not valid July 4 or July 24. Great for a family night outing – won’t break the bank! Business associates and youth groups! Smith's Ballpark is located at 77 West 1300 South in Salt Lake City with the home plate entrance at the corner of West Temple and 1300 East.

$68 Adult, $63 Child (under 3 free) 2nd Day free (within 90 days)Legoland California Park Resort Hopper: $73 Adult, $68 Child(under 3 free, includes water park/aquarium)LEGOLAND and Water Park must be visited on the same day. All visits must occur before Dec. 31, 2014.

Legoland (Winter Haven, Florida) Buy one ticket and get one Free admission ticket for another adult, or a child ($81) or buy one 2 day admission ticket and receive a Free 2-day admission ticket for another adult or a child ($96)2nd day must be used within 9 days of first use or ticket expiration, whichever comes first.

Sea World San Diego$59.00 per guest for single day admission2 & under FREE

San Diego Zoo &Wild Animal ParkAdult: $39.00 per dayChild: $30.50 per day

Universal Studios$75.00 for 3 days! Valid for 12 months after 1st visit. (some blackout dates apply)

Keep your family safe when you travel with tires from

Farm Bureau members receive a discount on tires at allLes Schwab Tire Centers, nationwide.

801-233-3010Complete details for all benefits can be found at utfb.fb.orgVisa and Mastercard Accepted