Farmers Markets: Another piece of the agricultural puzzle

Dear Farmers Markets,

Welcome to my latest installment on the diversification of agriculture in society. The topic this week is farmers markets. Agriculture wears many hats and none can be seen more prevalent than the markets that dot downtowns, parking lots and business at numerous times during the week across America. Farmers markets are another piece of the food puzzle provided to you by the farmers and ranchers who produce the cheapest and safest food supply in the world. Contrary to popular belief they are not just frequented by hippies and yuppies purchasing goods from backyard organic hobby farmers trying to do what is “right”. On any giving Thursday night or Saturday morning in Chico I can walk through our local markets and count numerous large scale farmers along with their wives and children browsing through the latest offerings in produce, meats, cheeses, flowers and numerous other agricultural related commodities. They are not just buying these products from the aforementioned “backyard organic hobby farmer” they are buying from other growers just like themselves who see the benefit and added business and income that these markets bring. Just as farmers markets can help larger growers with business and expose the local community to their operation it can be a lucrative endeavor for smaller growers. Smaller scale operations have the ability to produce many different crops over a multiple of growing seasons that are sought at by a large number of consumers. Most venders just don’t participate at one farmers market they take part in numerous markets across there given region. As I’ve continued to stress to you my audience, agriculture is often seen by the outside world with blinders on because of our own doing.  Those of us involved in the process that bring the food to your table’s everyday come from all walks of life and are as diversified as the choices we bring you. The one common factor that we share is agriculture. Farmers markets along with grocery stores large and small, CSA’s and people who raise their own food for personal consumption are all part of the complex puzzle that makes up our food basket in this country. Supporting one over the other doesn’t make you a good or bad person it makes you a consumer who is blessed with choices that most of the world doesn’t have when it comes to the food they eat. So tomorrow morning whether you head downtown to a farmers market to purchase some fresh flowers and some early spring greens or head to the grocery store to pick up a steak and some bananas, know that you are supporting all of agriculture and providing jobs and income to your community both large and small…. Enjoy!

PS. Cheers on this rainy Friday peeps. Enjoy your weekend and remember….If you’re reading this you are a fan and I am blessed because of it.

#farmersmarket #agriculture #food #empireliving

Caesar Chavez Day through the eyes of Chico

Dear Caesar Chavez Day (Chico edition),

What do these Chico traditions all have in common?

1.       Pioneer Days

2.       Greek Week

3.       Halloween

4.       St. Patty’s Day

5.       Labor Day

If you answered “I can’t remember” it’s probably because you have partaking in one of the aforementioned events at some point and time in your life. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of calling Chico home or visiting our community these are all celebrations that the city along with the past Presidents and current of Chico State have either stopped or attempted to curb from happening over the last 27 years. From former Chico State President Robin Wilson proclaiming that he took Pioneer Days “Out back and shot it in the head” to current President Paul Zingg attempt to kill St. Patty’s Day by having Spring Break coincide with the celebration of all things green. With each effort to squash a celebration or tradition another emerges. Take away Pioneer Days which dates back to 1917 and it is replaced by Greek Week. Remove Labor Day and the party moves to Memorial Day. Attempt to control the residents and the revelry of Halloween or St. Patty’s day and they will find another holiday to make their own. This evolution has now brought us the new “It” holiday in Chico….Caesar Chavez Day! Yes, Chico State is not called the “Harvard of the West” because someone thought it would look good on a bumper sticker. The past and current student body are always progressing and staying one step ahead of the establishment. Take away our costumes and green beer and we will replace it with sombreros and bad tequila! The drive downtown on Sunday afternoon and again on Monday resembled something out of an ill-advised trip to Juarez for Spring Break. You know what though…I like it. Sidewalks and yards were dotted with revelers in their best interpretation of traditional Mexican attire which usually amounted to Chevy’s issued head wear, a blanket with a hole in it that passed as a poncho, a shot glass bandoleer and a fake stash that would make Tom Selleck proud. The only thing it lacked was the constant pestering of the purchase of some “chicla” and a zebra that looks suspiciously like a donkey. The only bad decisions that were being made were there consumption of Keystone Light and cheap tequila. The best part is that as much as Paul Zingg and campus groups like to point out the racism associated with the celebratory activities taking place on the holiday, white, black and brown all shared in this attire. You see, the Chico party spirit sees no colors, only fun. The essence of Chico, the locals and students who call it home is its ability to adapt to whatever it encounters. This town is what Robert Earl Keen was singing about when he dropped the words “The road goes on forever but the party never ends.” If they succeed in their attempt to kill Caesar Chavez Day I’m looking forward to what holiday is chosen next. My vote is for Boxer Day, now that is something I can get behind eh…..

PS. Happy hump day peeps on this first Wednesday in April and remember….If Canada wasn’t our hat we would have to comb our hair more often.

#caesarchavezday #chicostate #paulzingg #empireliving 

The corruption that is California's Democratic Party

Dear California Democratic lawmakers,

I’ve seen this movie before….Mel Gibson and Danny Glover suffer from hilarity and hijinks along with leaving a few dead bodies scattered across the big screen as they try to stop the Chinese triad from running guns in the state. Wait a second, I think I’m getting Lethal Weapon 3 confused with the fourth installment of the franchise. Whichever way you look at it, the state of California’s Democratic Party resembles a script that was written up by the big money donors from Hollywood that keep them in office. While most of the voting public likes to label all politicians crooks the Democrats in Sacramento have taken it to a whole new level. First there was the corruption charges brought on in June of last year against Sen. Ron Calderon who represents a portion of the greater Los Angeles area. Bribery, fraud and money laundering were his criminal acts of choice. Following in the footsteps of yet another fine example of what’s wrong with politics is Senator Leland Yee of San Francisco. Politicians are always wanting to one up each other so instead of the usual charges suffered at the fate of Mr. Calderon, Leland Yee decided to add drug and gun trafficking along with murder for hire to his resume. Yes, the man who hails from the liberal bastion of San Francisco where corruption is as common place as the homeless who dot its streets has become the new poster boy for the broken legislative system of government in California. The problem with liberals (among many) is they want you to do what they think is right but at no time do they need to abide by these same laws. Mr. Yee was a stanch supporter of gun control laws and authored California Senate Bills 43 and 108 which would have expanded the definition of “assault rifles” and also would have told us the “proper” way on how to store firearms. So you are saying I can’t own a gun that is legal according the federal government but it’s legit for you to connect international arms dealers with Asian gangs in order to fulfill their automatic weapons needs??? How gracious of you. Associating yourself with the likes of the Chee Kung Tong gang and members who go by the handle “Shrimp Boy” and other unsavory characters whose names have me asking for extra soy sauce has all the makings for a short lived political career even by the lose political standards of a liberal California. Democrats, I have a simple lesson to teach you but it’s going to take some commitment on your part to follow through. Ethics is defined as: “moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior” It is an action that we are taught at a young age and it bodes well to carry it on through the phases of one’s life. Unfortunately this virtue is the first thing that is lost when one is elected into office.  An uneducated public are only sheep for so long. The failed promises and the corruption that you bring will eventually wear thin and you will soon be replaced by a future that the people of this great state can believe in. Democrats your time of controlling California is slowly coming to an end and this future Congressman is all smiles because of it….

PS. Happy Friday peeps on this blustery day in God’s Country, enjoy your weekend and remember….If you have chemistry, the only other thing you need is timing. 

  

#lelandlee #liberals #California #democrats #empireliving

Breaking the stereotype that is agriculture

Dear agricultural stereotypes,

If you asked me who my favorite country music artists today were I would rattle off the Dirty River Boys, Reckless Kelly and Cody Canada without skipping a beat. But wait you say with a confused look on your face, “who are they? What about Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Kip Moore?” With my response being…”Who???” Stereotypes happen in all walks of life and some of the most prevalent pertain to the agricultural industry. Just because I farm doesn't mean that I listen to what the public perceives as “country music”.  If you asked someone on the street what their perception of a “farmer” was I’m betting the next round that 100 times out of 100 this would be the description:

1.       White and close to retirement.

2.       Married with kids.

3.       Listens to country music.

4.       Wears plaid (Ok, you got me there)

5.       Drives a tractor all day.

While there is nothing wrong with the small portion of the industry that fits this category, there is more of us out there who don’t. Yes, I am white but I lack a wife and children other than the B-List internet sensation that lives in the studio on my back porch. My IPod is full of Dr. Dre and Too Short rather than “bubble gum” country. I prefer flip flops to boots whenever possible. Wranglers and a starched shirt accompanied by a bolo tie are not my outfit of choice for a night on the town and as much as I love to spend quality time in a tractor it is hard to run an operation that feeds millions of people along with providing vital jobs and much needed business to the community from one. It pains me to see documentaries where the main focus is of the farmer or rancher and there use of a smart phone or other everyday technology in their daily life. Most kids in grade school use this technology so why wouldn't people who run multi-million dollar businesses?! We need to paint the picture that we are as innovative as the Silicon Valley and not the Marlboro Man. The buzzword in agriculture and how we get our message across to society has been deemed “Agvocate” recently. It is in my opinion that a lot of the people we reach out to concerning agriculture are our own. The general public needs to know that the people who keep food on their table and the clothes on their back come in something other than what is seen in a Chevy or Ford commercial. We are family farms and ranches, small to large operations, we grow both conventional and organically. We were raised in small country towns along with large urban communities. Most of us enjoy a great steak as well as a plate of sushi. We are one of the most diversified work forces in America and are proud of what we do. We perpetuate our own identities that the public views. In order to change this we must change the way we market ourselves. Our story to the viewing audience should be that of diversification along with sophistication. Let them know that agriculture is more than just sitting on a tractor or rounding up cattle. In a way we are like California itself, so let’s showcase all we have to offer….

PS. Happy hump day peeps on this extremely wet afternoon. Let’s keep praying for that wet stuff and remember…..If you drive a white truck, I’m going to wave.

#stereotypes #agriculture #agday #empireliving 

The disease that is March Madness

Dear NCAA Tournament,

This week this line has been repeated in the workplace across the nation; “Hello boss…Ya, it’s me. Cough, cough….sneeze, sneeze…ummmm….I won’t be able to make it to work today I think I’ve come down with something.” With the reply of; “Really you seemed fine yesterday, when you were bragging about your alma mater’s seeding in the NCAA Basketball Tournament?” Yes, the time of year is upon us when the productivity of America’s workforce comes to a grinding halt as millions of people across the country come down with the illness that is “March Madness”. For those of you not familiar with this illness it develops between the last two weeks of March and closes in April. It is most contagious the Thursday and Friday during the 3^rd week of March as men and women from small businesses to large corporations around the country fall deathly ill and only become a productive member of society at some point the following Monday morning. To help you further understand it, some of the medical terms associated with March Madness are as followed:

1.       Bracket: this is the tree of 64 teams that one must fill out in order to be sickened by March Madness.

2.       Sleepers: This is the next stage of the disease and causes the vision and senses to be a bit hazy. It is at this point that people start choosing teams that made the tourney because they got hot later in the season thus making them a sound choice to win the 5 games needed to lift that national championship trophy.

3.       Bracket Buster:  At this time is when the condition it is at its worse. The affected cry and scream in hysterics along with cussing and throwing random objects at the TV due to their chosen team to win it all being ousted by North South Western Delaware A&M Tech School for the Deaf and Blind, thus costing them any chance of winning the illegal gambling pool at the office that there superior knows nothing about. (I refer to the above school by the name “Mercer”)

March Madness tends to subside the Monday after the 3^rd weekend in March but lingering effects of the disease can be seen for a few weeks after. If you see these, which I will describe below and usually take place around the water cooler or in the break room be sure to avoid at all costs.

1.       The male or female coworker letting everyone know they killed it on their bracket and they will be collecting the winnings in crisp $1 bills so they can make their way to the club immediately after. This same person will fail to inform you that the bracket they are bragging about is one of forty they filled out. You will hear no mention of the other thirty-nine brackets.

2.       The school of the person you’re conversing with is in the tourney for the first time and they cannot stop telling you how they knew they would be there and how they will run the table for their region (see Cal Poly grad). Politely smile and pay them for the pizza they’re delivering and this should remedy the situation.

Don’t worry because this is a fast moving pandemic and will soon be out of everyone system until it rolls around again next year. Now excuse me while I get back to the game...cough…cough…

PS. Happy Friday peeps on this beautiful afternoon. Make sure to enjoy the sunshine this weekend and remember….You can drink at 7AM because the Beastie Boys fought for that sort of thing.

#Marchmadness #NCAA #bracketbuster #empireliving

Embrace agriculture and do the right thing Jerry Brown

Dear Governor Brown,

What do all these things have in common?

1.       What you eat every day.

2.       The clothes you wear.

3.       Creates jobs for over 350,000 people.

4.       Generates billions of dollars for the state’s economy.

Drum roll please….They are all brought to you by California Agriculture.

Today as we as a state celebrate agriculture on the steps of the Capitol and the bounty of all the things it brings to the “table” let’s remember where a lot of the awareness towards agriculture in California comes from both past and present….FFA, Ag. In the Classroom, and first and foremost the agriculture teachers at numerous public schools across the state. They volunteer their time for the aforementioned programs that allows kids who were raised on a farm or ranch to further their passion in the subject but also more importantly allows the ones who do not come from an agricultural background to be introduced to the industry and see exactly how the food we eat goes from the field to their dinner plates every day. The Ag. Incentive Grant that you removed from the state budget helps funds Ag. Education and programs like the FFA. Is it really worth it to have programs that have such a huge impact on students across the state be lost because the roughly $4 million dollars that it encompasses would be better suited towards another use? Jerry, as you gaze out your office window today at the tractors and sea of blue jackets know that you are looking at the future of agriculture in this state. They are going to be the ones who are on the forefront of producing the food we eat and the clothes we wear on our back along with finding ways to sustain an ever growing population so the choice is up to you….I trust you will do the right thing….

PS. Happy hump day peeps and continue to visit, write and email Jerry Brown and let him know there is more to this state than liberals, movie stars and beaches and remember……Have heart, have money and most importantly have hustle.

#SaveFFA #uglyblues #jerrybrown #californiaagriculture #empireliving

Roundhouse...Chuck Norris's B-day celebration

Dear Chuck Norris,

In all the haste of reporting about disappearing aircraft, Russia’s buildup of troops along the Ukrainian border and the constant state of drought gripping California, main stream media failed to report on the news that really matters….Chuck Norris’s birthday. Yes, allegedly 74 years ago this week the man that has no known natural enemies was born to mere mortals in the village of Ryan, Oklahoma. First arriving in the world and christened with the name Carlos, he knew he was destined for greatness at a young age. The boy lived a simple life until the age of two when he decided over beers with his parents that it was his fate to become the hero that until then was only seen in movies and comic books. Upon graduating valedictorian of his high school at the tender age of five he chose to pass on the athletic and academic scholarship he received from Harvard in order to serve his country as a policeman in the United States Air Force. This is where the phrase “Merica” was first coined. Based in South Korea this is where he honed his fighting skills and perfected the famed “Roundhouse” kick of legend. During this time in his life is when he was deemed “Chuck” by his sensei’s which means “I will kill you if you cross me” in their ancient dialect. Once discharged from the Air Force due to the string of lives he had taking in hand to hand combat training and not being able to reveal his true identity to the world he found himself in Hollywood, CA training numerous A-list celebrities such as the Osmond twins and Bob Barker (You now know why he whooped Happy Gilmore’s ass) as a way to blend in with the mortals of our world. It was around the age of 18 when he found his true calling in movies and television. He could use all of his powers and if people questioned it, the answer was always; “It’s special effects”. Oscar inspired performances in classics such as: Delta Force, Delta Force II and Delta Force III only solidified his place among the greats in the entertainment industry. The next phase in his life is still referred to as “The age of Enlightenment” and this is where he let the rest of us know on how we should all live. His motivational speeches are stuff of legend as is his creed on life. This declaration which rivals the US Constitution is developed around 10 simple principles on how we should live our life and goes by the name Chun Kuk Do: Which translates to:” Do this or I will wipe all living creatures off the face of the planet”  For the first time they have been translated and here they are…

1.       I will develop myself to my maximum potential every day.

2.       God and Family are king.

3.       Don’t mess with Texas.

4.       If you’re a liberal you will suffer from a roundhouse kick.

5.       Buy the Total Gym fitness system.

6.       Merica.

7.       Merica. (this is #8-#10 also)

The myth that is Chuck Norris I’ve been told currently resides in the community of Lake Almanor and although I frequent the area often I have yet to see the legend. If you are really out there know that I along with the rest of the 9 billion people who call earth home thank you for offering your protection and making our world a better place….Happy Birthday Walker. Wink, wink.

PS. Happy Friday peeps and I hope you find yourself in the sun with a cocktail in hand this weekend and remember….If you think she’s the marrying type, keep looking.

#Chucknorris #roundhouse #walkertexasranger #empireliving