Beef Quality Assurance Certificate

We’ll be working through the certification process for Beef Quality Assurance and/or Dairy Animal Care and Quality Assurance this week.  From the reading I’ve done, the entire course should take you about 2 hours.

You can access the information to begin here.

You can select the course you wish to complete, your choices are:

Cow/Calf

Stocker/Backgrounder

Feed Yard

or the Dairy Certification

You’ll be creating an account and going from there.  For those of you that are not yet 18, please select the 18-24 age range.

When you have completed your program, download your certificate and email me a copy.

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Your Words Can Hurt or Heal

For today, take a look at this video:

 

On your blog, react to what you saw.  How have words made a difference in your life?  Is there a time when a different set of words could have changed everything much like the new words in the video.  They basically said the same thing, but in a different way.  We use words everyday to communicate a host of different ideas, emotions, and information.  How could you choose your words more carefully to convey your meaning in a better way?

 

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What We Leave Behind

 

Today I’ve been trying to write my Mom’s obituary for the back of the funeral program.  It’s hard to boil someone’s life down into a few paragraphs.  So – for today, what would you want written about you when you have passed away many, many years from now?  What do you hope to accomplish? What legacy do you hope to leave? On your friends, family, community etc?

Questions you should ask yourself as you do this exercise:

  • What and/or who did you impact or change? Why?
  • What character traits and values did you consistently demonstrate over your life? At yourcore, who were you?
  • Who did you care for? How did you impact or change this person/these people, community, group or organization?
  • What were major accomplishments in your life? At the ages of 40, 50, 60, 70?
  • What did you show interest in? What were you passionate or enthusiastic about?
  • What was your legacy?
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Fake Meat Legislation

A bill introduced I the Kansas House of Representatives would prohibit “fake meat” companies from using terms like beef, pork, steak or bacon unless the products include disclaimers that they contain no meat.

The bill is supported by the Kanas Livestock Association, which says it will ensure fair competition and eliminate consumer confusion. Opponents say it’s unnecessary and will limit how new products can be marketed.

A growing number of states have approved or are considering bills restricting how meat alternatives are labeled.

Source

Read this article

What are the arguments for and against this legislation?  What definitions are suggested in the article?  Which organization or organizations are named/discussed?  Who are the sponsors of the legislation in Kansas?

Find information here about H.R. 4881 Real MEAT Act OF 2019

What is the status of H.R. 4881? Are any of the bill’s co-sponsors from South Dakota? Which committees are dealing with or have dealt with the bill?  Are there any related bills?  If so – identify them by name and number and what the intent of the legislation is.

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The Coronavirus and Agriculture….

Read this article

You’ll find some information in the above linked article.  You will need to do some searching of your own to fully answer some of these questions.

According to Dr. Greg Gray, where did the Corona virus start?

How could the outbreak of the Corona virus impact agricluture?

How could the outbreak impact imports and exports of agricultural commodities?

What things do we import from China?  Do you believe they will be impacted – why or why not? Conversely – what are our biggest exports to China, how will they be affected?

How might the Corona Virus impact jobs in the US?

Has the Corona virus had an impact on the US Economy?  Back up your answer with facts and figures.

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How things appear

 

How do things appear?  Many times, how things “appear” may simply be one person’s opinion.  Is the reality of things the same as how they “appear”? Do we set unrealistic expectations for those around us and those inflated goals leave us believing that others simply “appear” not to care?

Here’s how things “appear” to me:  A lot of your attitudes are changing and some of you just don’t appear to care, don’t appear to think you really need to do anything, don’t appear to care if you complete work on time, don’t appear to care how horribly you treat others, etc

Some of you “appear” to care when you finally complete your work and expect an immediate grade on an assignment that you turned in late.  Some of you “appear” to care when there are repercussions for your lack of ability to hand in work, behave in class, leave classmates alone, etc.

Some of you “appear” to believe that you don’t need to work in this class, and from what I see, in many of your classes.  That ends now!  Your lack of follow-through and discipline,  your disrespectful and disruptive behavior will have consequences.

Your turn:

What do I need to do differently to affect change in the culture of this class? Daily assignments, lecture, notes, tests, book work etc. More direct instruction, additional class rules, seating chart, behavior contract with consequences? Daily points for being on task and following the expectations of the class?

What CAN and WILL you do differently to affect positive change to the culture of our class?

You should be able to see that I am giving YOU a chance and a say in how WE can TOGETHER improve the culture of this class.  If you appreciate that opportunity and ownership in this class; then it’s time to act like it.

Reflect on all of this on your blog.  Your post is due today, January 28, 2020 at 1:50 p.m.

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Uncertainty

A lot of things in life are uncertain.  How long will I live?  Will I EVER win the lottery? Is there a heaven? Is  there  life  after  death? Is global warming a real thing, or is the earth simply in a cycle of warming and cooling? Are there really aliens at Area 51?

What things will you never know for sure?

Your post is due Friday, January 24, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.

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You….

Did you know: that I was born in Washington, DC?  That I have a minor in vocal performance? That my first college major was Pre-Vet? That I had a scholarship to go to Texas A and M, but elected to stay closer to home and go to college at the University of Wisconsin? That I lived in Albuquerque, NM while a freshman in high school? or that my parents lived in Hawaii for several years?

967

WE may think that we know everyone, but we all have those little known pieces of ourselves.  What is it about you that most don’t know but should?  Are you secretly shy but compensate really well?  Are you embarrassed by something in your life but act in a manner to cover it up?  Do people think that everything goes your way and you are simply lucky, not realizing how hard you really work for things?  Are there things in your life that you wish you could change?  Not just being wealthier or living in a nicer house, driving a cooler car; what things would you change that people may not know or. understand? Tell me your tale!

Your post is due Friday, January 24, 2020 at 8:15 a.m

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Are you a Thermometer or a Thermostat?

Do you know someone that is a Thermostat?  Tell me why you believe that?  What contribution does that person make to change the “temperature” in a group or organization you are involved in?

How does a person’s attitude reflect the leadership they have?

Most people say they own a set of values, but many don’t live by the values they claim. Why is there a gap between what we say and what we do? Why is hypocrisy so difficult to avoid?

What does it take to live by a set of values?

 Most people today act by default. One sociologist estimated that 70% of Americans do NO thinking on their own. Do you agree?

How has social media played a role in this?

Do you have a set of core values? Have you taken the time to truly identify them?

Who do you know that’s a thermostat? What makes them stand out?

Remember, it’s important to add value to others, as well. What do you do now to add value to others? Or do you take it away (intentionally or unintentionally)?

What is something that you CAN do to add value to others?

Is there a situation, or environment, that you’re in that you do not like the current temperature?

What can YOU do to change that temperature?

Your post is due Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 8:15 a.m.

 

 

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The $5 Challenge….

 

814Read this article.

Text of the article is here

Sydney Owensby (Left) and Eillen Desmond. FFA National Convention In Louisville, Kentucky

Sydney Owensby (Left) and Eillen Desmond.
FFA National Convention In Louisville, Kentucky

Could you make a positive impact on your community with just $5? That’s the question agriculture teacher Robin Grundmeyer asked senior FFA members at Norco High School in California when she started the school’s $5 Challenge eight years ago.

The $5 Challenge is now an annual tradition for the senior class, and students look forward to it all through high school.

“I wanted to create a capstone senior project that involves service, supply and demand, and needs versus wants,” Grundmeyer says. “I had read online about a teacher doing a similar class project, so I tweaked it to incorporate community service.”

NorCo FFA $5 Challenge

Every January, Grundmeyer gives each senior FFA member the project rules and requirements with a $5 bill stapled to it. They have until April to complete the challenge either alone or in a group, and they are required to give a presentation to a panel of judges about what they did with the money. Winners receive gift cards.

“The judges are school administrators, city council members and people from our community,” Grundmeyer says. “That helps get the word out about the project.”

Students often team up in groups of four or five. They can also ask for help from community members and local businesses.

“One year, some students put on a carnival in our school parking lot, and they donated all the money they raised to the local animal shelter,” Grundmeyer says. “Kids have sold carnations at school to support the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. One student made and sold hair bows to support the Wounded Warrior Project. A lot of kids get additional donations, and one girl donated her money to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in memory of her aunt.”

The possibilities are endless, and the results have been impressive. In 2015, 42 students turned $210 of seed money into more than $1,200, which was donated to various community organizations and charities. They also donated more than 500 hours of their time to the community.

Here’s additional information and students who took a little different angle on the $5 challenge.

Read me

So – given $5 – how are you going to change the world?

Your post is due Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 8:15 a.m. Follow directions on Google Classroom and continue discussing your ideas for the $5 challenge.  Figure out how you’re going to make everything happen.  Keep a record of all the details, who’s involved, who you will partner with, etc.

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