Flat Aggie Discovers Ag Communication Careers

For our last visit with Aggie, we got to see a different part of agriculture. We all know about ranchers and farmers, but what about those who help these farmers and ranchers get their story out to the world? What about those who are behind getting to explain what those careers are all about? There are all sorts of jobs in agriculture! You don’t even have to be on the farm. Aggie got to learn all about a whole different section of the agriculture industry: agricultural communication. Kansas Wheat is a great example of what a person can do in agricultural communications.

The people out here in the tractors need somebody to support them and promote what they do to other people. So we put Flat Aggie to work and had her interview one of our farmers.

Aggie was able to use one of the computers to get to work. She took the information from her interview with the farmer and will make it into a full story so more people can get to know about the people who feed the world.

Next, Aggie needed to put together some important facts about wheat into a pretty booklet. This helps people learn more about the food they eat. In the booklet, it will feature the story she wrote about the farmer.

Aggie got to take some photos while on the farm. This will look great in her little booklet, but first she needs to adjust the lighting and change the photo into a format that can be used. Looking great Aggie! You have a good eye!

Aggie wants to include some information about what is happening in politics related to agriculture, trade and other factors that can affect wheat farmers. She turns to the news and-hey- with a career in communications she could be the one giving the report!

Aggie finished up her booklet and was very happy with how it looks. She sent it to have it edited and printed so her friends can read and learn all about wheat. Thanks to communicators like Aggie, now people will know more about the food they eat and the people who grow the food.

And don’t forget, no matter what you’re interested in, there’s a career in agriculture just for you? Do you like computers and technology? You can be a programmer that works on cutting-edge precision agriculture tools. Want to be a lawyer? You can specialize in ag law or even talk to folks on Capitol Hill about farm issues! Like art, design or writing? You can be just like Aggie and be an ag communicator.

Flat Aggie Bakes Bread

Today with Flat Aggie we took some time to look at the test kitchen here at the Wheat Innovation Center. In the Test Kitchen, they take the flour that was made from the wheat grown around the state and create wonderful breads and other baked goods! 

Aggie was lucky enough to be shown around and got to even play with some of the bread and flour. Here she is with some of the beautiful creations that have been made in the test kitchen! Looks yummy!

Oh no! What a mess! Aggie got into some flour. Flour is made from ground up wheat kernels. There are different types of flour that serve different purposes. Some is made specifically for cakes, breads… You name it and there is a wheat for you!

Here are some wheat kernels. This is what the mills would get and they would turn this into flour.  Aggie thinks this is really neat!

Look at the pretty tools! Purple is a great color for a stand mixer. The attachment is called a bread hook and it is perfect for mixing up a batch of dough. Keep your little hands out though, Aggie! Primary ingredients for bread are yeast, flour, water, eggs and salt!

After your dough is all mixed up, it is set out to rise. When it has been given enough time it is ready to be baked. This was the current creation in the Test Kitchen! Would you look at that crispy and crunchy crust?

At the end of the visit, we even gave Aggie a treat! Learning about baking sure does make a person hungry!

Spoon Feeding Nitrogen to Wheat

Last week, the Farmer and I spent several days (I lost track of the week about Tuesday) giving the wheat a little fertilizer.  Just like the corn, on our farm we don't apply all the fertilizer the plants need at once.  If we get a big rain, it can dilute the fertilizer and possibly carry it deeper in the soil where the roots may not grow to reach it, so we try to apply fertilizer at different times.  We also try to apply when the plants need it.

The ground view level of the wheat last week.  It will really start growing fast with the warm days we are getting, the rain we were blessed with last week and the added nutrition.

On the wheat, holding back part of the fertilizer controls the growth of the plant.  We don't want the wheat to grow too fast before we are sure Spring has truly arrived.  A late freeze on big wheat is not a good thing just like your hostas don't like it when they are out of the ground and it freezes again.

Wheat really needs to be dark green to show that it has all the Nitrogen it needs to grow.  The neighbor's wheat definitely has a yellow tinge to it showing it needs some more nutrition (aka fertilizer).

Farmers use a combination of dry and liquid fertilizers.

The dry fertilizer is like the pellets you can sprinkle on your lawn or that you see mixed in your Miracle Gro potting soil.

The spreader we use just happens to be A LOT bigger.

The liquid fertilizer is like the Miracle Gro that you mix with water to apply.  We use our sprayer with special "tips" that put the fertilizer on in a stream.

I spent several hours a day last week in the truck hauling liquid fertilizer to The Farmer.  After school, the boys "got" to go with me.  Homework was done in the truck.

Still researching Massachusetts agriculture on mom's phone.

Anyone that thinks that all kids need an electronic device haven't met my 7 year old.  He begged to stay at the field to finish his project with a stick and the dirt in the road.

 Just makes me smile!  How about you?

 I couldn't get enough pictures of his intensity and dedication on this project.

Applying fertilizer takes way more time than if we applied it once, but it is better for the plants, the soil and the environment.  And it gives us lots of extra family time without the distractions of a TV.  :)

-A Kansas Farm Mom

W4DW-Old Fashioned Apple Crisp

What's for Dinner this Wednesday?  The closest thing I can find to an old family favorite.

My Grandma Evelyn used to make an Apple Crisp that I loved.  I have never found the recipe she used.  My guess is there was no recipe...she really didn't use too many recipes.  In fact, my dad is still trying to figure out how she made her homemade bread. 

I found this recipe from the Kansas Wheat Commission and it tastes amazingly like Grandma's recipe.  They called it Fruit Crunch.  If you have followed me very long, you know I love the recipes from the Kansas Wheat Commission.  All of the following recipes are ones I have found in their cookbooks and shared with you previously: Whole Wheat Angel Food Cake, Two Cheese Braided Bread, Whole Wheat Sugar Cookies, Cheesy Enchiladas and I am sure there are a few I am forgetting.

Old Fashioned Apple Crisp

5-6 cups fresh or frozen fruit

                Suggested fruit includes: Peeled and sliced apples or peaches

                Sliced rhubarb

                Blueberries or cherries

¼ cup sugar, optional

2/3 cup flour, whole wheat or all purpose

1 t. ground cinnamon

¼ t. ground nutmeg

1 cup oats, old fashioned or quick cooking

1 cup packed brown sugar

½ cup butter or margarine, slightly softened

Preheat oven to 350*F.  Spray a 9x13 baking pan or 9 inch deep dish pie plate with nonstick cooking spray

Place fruit in pan.  If fruit is tart, sprinkle with ¼ cup of sugar and toss to coat.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, oats, and brown sugar.  Use a pastry blender, or fork to cut in butter until crumbly.

Sprinkle topping over fruit, press gently.  Bake 35-40 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

 We like it with whipped topping, ice cream, half and half, or milk.  We really aren't picky we just want a little dairy with it.  ;)

-A Kansas Farm Mom