6/17/2009 – News
Volume 126, Number
Ag Women of the Year recognized
Dianne Calderwood of Ramsey County was crowned the 2009 Lake Region Farm Woman of the Year at the Lake Region Chapter of ND Agri-Women’s Spring Fling held June 8 at the Lake Region State College dining center in Devils Lake. Forty members and guests were present for the evening salad and sandwich buffet and program which followed.
Guest speaker was Tim Semler, Bottineau County Extension Agent, whose presentation was entitled "1970’s Boom to 1980’s Bust to 2008 and Beyond." This pattern illustrates the ups and downs experienced by grain farmers in dealing with commodity prices, input costs, as well as factors over which they have no control. The yield per acre will determine the return to the farmer after all the input costs are factored in with the price received for grain. The break even costs of production for crops raised becomes an important consideration. The presentation closed with a list of interesting parallels when comparing the 1970’s with the present times.
Members from the Fort Totten Little Theater Players entertained with two numbers from this year’s musical "My Fair Lady." Door prizes provided by area businesses and organizations were presented.
Each of the past 20 Spring Fling events has recognized Lake Region Farm Women of the Year for their roles in agriculture and community. Attending this year’s event were nine of those honored as such. Each one was presented a long stem carnation and a picture was taken of the group which included: Donna Grann, Jean Meyer, Jeanette Calderwood, Pam Kenner, Linda Drake, Carol Backstrom, Lorraine Sabbe, Sharon Wood and (front) Beverly Anderson. Calderwood and Kenner are from Ramsey County. The others are from Benson County.
The evening concluded with the recognition of the 2009 county winners. Left to right are Brenda Pfeifer of Benson County; Cheryl Donohue of Nelson County; Dianne Calderwood of Ramsey County; and Bette Nilsin of Walsh County. The 2008 Farm Woman of the Year, Carol Backstrom of Benson County, crowned Dianne Calderwood as the 2009 Lake Region Farm Woman of the Year.
Leeds FFA team takes state title
The Leeds FFA Chapter won first place in the North Dakota State FFA Dairy Foods Career held at the North Dakota FFA State Convention at NDSU in Fargo on June 3. Members of the first place team were Micheal Urness, Elliott Gunderson, Logan Gunderson, Blake Darling and Thomas Urness.
There were 172 individuals and 42 teams in the contest. The Dairy Foods Career Development Event proposes to enhance learning activities related to milk quality, federal milk marketing, attributes of milk products and substitutes for them. The focus of this event is on producing high quality raw milk, following federal milk marketing orders and learning the attributes of selected milk products. The objective of the Dairy Foods CDE is to develop abilities to utilize knowledge of high quality milk production; develop abilities to utilize knowledge of milk marketing; develop abilities to utilize knowledge of the composition and quality characteristics of raw and pasteurized milk; develop an understanding of the causes and control of mastitis; be able to identify cheese varieties; be able to identify and evaluate the flavor quality of milk; be able to identify dairy products and non-dairy products; and be able to identify defects of milker unit parts affecting milk quality.
The Leeds FFA Chapter will represent North Dakota at the National FFA Dairy Foods CDE to be held in Indianapolis, Ind. during the National FFA Convention in late October. Dan Stave is the Leeds FFA advisor and coach of the dairy foods team. Dan has coached seven dairy foods teams to state championships during the past 32 years.
Left to right are Michael Urness, Elliot Gunderson, Logan Gunderson, Blake Darling, Thomas Urness and coach Dan Stave.
To compete in nationals
Two local students qualify to compete at the world’s largest junior high rodeo. Lacey Grann of Sheyenne and Brittany Jo Cudworth of Warwick, seventh grade students at New Rockford-Sheyenne School earned positions on the North Dakota State Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Team. Lacey was the first place state qualifier in goat tying and Brittany was second. Lacey will be traveling with fellow teammates to Gallup, NM to compete June 28 through July 4 at the fifth annual Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo. More than 1,000 contestants from 47 states, Canadian provinces and Australia will compete at the rodeo. Check daily results at www.nhsrawranglerdivision.org. Left to right are Miss ND Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Queen Sadie Kieson of Watford City; goat tying winners Lacey Grann, first place, Brittany Jo Cudworth, second place, Madison Huber of Mandan, third place, Ashley Brew of Manning, fourth place and Tim Peterson of Minot, national director.
