Prayer Request
Friends,
I've been diagnosed with 'CORTICOBASEL SYNDROME' which means
Apraxia of speech and Asymmetric Parkinism which only affects my right side. Ken does most everything around the house.
I'm so glad he is healthy. It's progressive so I'll get worse. I can walk, so I should be thankful for that. My Mom who
is 101 can talk better than I can. I can't use my right hand for much of anything except eating and more difficult every day.
I lost 6# in 3 weeks and I'm trying to gain that back. Ken is doing what he can giving me peanut butter sandwiches between
meals and ice cream. I thot this would be the last I would see you back in Feb.2010 and it was.
I need your PRAYERS.
God Bless,
Audrey (Ken) Mason (SD 1970)
kamason1958@yahoo.com
2010 NOYF Winners Visit Washington, D.C.
The four 2010 National Outstanding Young Farmers visited Washington, D.C.,
during National Ag Week in March. Among their stops were the USDA building, where they visited with USDA officials, and the
Capitol, the White House, and Old Ebbits Grill. Pictured below are Brandon and Monica Schafer (MN), Ryan and Annie Williams
(TX), Rich and Debbie Norz (NJ), Patrick McGuire (MI), OFA President Denny and Judy Crum (MD), and Past President Jerry Barnes
(OR). The camera shy photographer was OFA Coordinator Pat Barnes (OR).
Jerry and Pat Barnes visited several OFA families in recent months.
Patrick and Sara McGuire (MI 2010) and children Emma and Ryan
Richard and Debbie Norz are busy with agritourism in the fall with their "Creepy Hollow" exhibit. Their Zonkey is
quite a hit with visitors.
Jerry and Pat with Richard and Debbie as well as their children, Alex, Susie, and Megan
Below, Jerry and Pat pose with Pete (NJ 2007) and John (NJ 2011) Melick, whose farm provides cider for the Norz Hill Farm
market.
Below, Jerry Barnes is pictured with Ryan and Annie Williams and children Erica and Walker. The Williams family welcomed baby
Casen on Nov. 30, 2010.
Patricia Lynn Endres, age 47, died on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, at a Madison Hospital.
The former Patricia Nelson
was born on March 17, 1963, to Milo and Frances Nelson. Patty graduated from Monona Grove High School in 1981 and than attended
the University of Wisconsin and received a degree in dietetics. She married David C. Endres in 1986 and they began farming
in the Lodi area. Patty was an outstanding cook and loved cooking and baking and catering parties. She was known for making
any dish a niece or nephew might request and would prepare food for team dinners and the FFA banquets. Nine years ago, Patricia
received a heart transplant and considered every day a gift and was determined to make every moment the best for her husband
and children. She was very active in farming and her children's activities. She was a board member for the Professional Dairy
Producers Assoc., coached soccer, was active in the 4-H and was voted with her husband as Outstanding Young Farmer in 2000
and National Outstanding Young Farmer in 2001.
She was also a finalist in the Alice in Dairyland competition. Following her
surgery she became an advocate for organ donation and walked for the Heart Association and helped raise funds for Cancer research.
Survivors
include her husband, Dave; three children, Vincent, Sydney and Mitchell; her parents, Milo and Frances Nelson; four sisters,
Pamela (Paul) Anderson, Nancy (John) Quirk, Jeanne (John) Shearer and Karen (David) DeLoof; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Nicholas and Josephine Fiore, and Otto and Anna Nelson.
Funeral services will be held
on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at 11 a.m. at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 206 Pleasant St., Lodi. The Rev. Ted Kalkwarf will preside.
Friends may call at the WINN-CRESS FUNERAL HOME on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, from noon until 3 p.m. Friends may also call at the
church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will take place at the Arlington Prairie Cemetery.
Tribute to Patty Endres
By Mary Johnson (NE 1989)
The first time we met Patty and Dave was at the Outstanding Farmers of America Congress at Omaha, Nebraska
in 2001. Patty and Dave were the candidates from Wisconsin, competing to be one of the four National Winners.
Tall, statuesque—Patty could have been a New York runway model!! The clothes she wore-and
she wore them well, especially shoes and boots. Those heels!! It was hard for me to
believe this gal came from a dairy farm. My opinion changed after talking with her, and hearing her and
husband, Dave, tell Orion Samuelson about their dairy operation after becoming National Winners. During
the television interview, I stood and watched how PASSIONATE Patty was about their dairy/farming operation. It
didn’t stop with the dairy—she was PASSIONATE about everything—her husband Dave, her children, her career,
and life in general! Her enthusiasm about Agriculture was so refreshing—here was an advocate for
all of us to take note of. She could carry on a very spirited conversation—and challenge your position
on an issue which was good. You either defended your position, or reassessed your position on an issue.
Probably the reason we loved her so well from the very start!
After
the congress, we got news that Patty was in the hospital, her heart was weakening. She needed a transplant,
and was on the wait list. We all prayed and hoped that our friend, Patty would survive. We
prayed to give Dave and the children, Vinnie, Sydney, and Mitch strength to help them through this time. Our
prayers were answered. Patty received her new heart, but not without challenges. But
in true, Patty form—she and her family met the challenges head on. She used the transplant to educate
all of us—Patty was a speaker at one of the OFA congresses to inform us of her experience and the need for transplant
donors. I remember sitting by her at one of the banquets. An OFA member came up to Patty
and asked her “Why don’t you cover up the scar from your heart transplant? Doesn’t it
make you self conscious?”
Patty responded, “This is my battle
scar, and I won that battle. I am going to wear it proudly!” What a response and
comeback—true to Patty! In the short 9 years we got to know her, I noticed so many things about her—her
tenacity, passion, and her commitment to Dave, her children, and to us, her friends, was unmatched by anyone else.
Especially with the health challenges she faced, and the numerous hospital and doctor trips over that time period.
The people surrounding her were always in the forefront, not her health. Patty was always good
for a smile, a laugh, a joke, a good discussion, or a great story. She was very worldly and experienced
for her short life! Patty NEVER conceded to defeat, she NEVER gave up on her passion
or purpose in life, even with the challenges she and her family faced with her health. Patty could have
been a motivational speaker, drawing from her experiences, and been very successful at it!
In 2009, after the deaths of both of my parents in a two month span, we got together with our OFA friends,
with Patty and Dave among them. Patty handed me a card. I opened the card and it played
the song “We Are the Champions” by the rock group QUEEN. She looked at me and said, “Mary,
we are Champions, and we are survivors. It is our attitude, friends and family that carry us through these
times.” How true!
Patty, you will always be
a CHAMPION in our hearts and in our minds. You took the lead to make us realize to be thankful for what
we have, and make every day count. You touched our lives the way no one else could. Thank you for using
your second chance to educate all of us. Your legacy will live on, with Dave, Vinnie,
Sydney, and Mitch—and it will live on in our hearts and memories. Peace be with you, our friend,
Patty.
Jack Dalrymple
32nd
Governor of North Dakota
OFA
Class of 1983, NOYF National Winner
Governor Jack DalrympleJack Dalrymple was sworn in as the 32nd governor of the great
state of North Dakota on December 7, 2010, during a joint session of the 62nd North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Drew Wrigley
was also sworn in as North Dakota’s lieutenant governor.
Jerry and Pat Barnes
have been visiting again. They first visited Brandon and Monica Schafer in Goodhue, Minnesota. Roger and Rita Baer,
class of 1970, joined the Barnes' on the visit. After touring the Schafer farm they were given a wonderful tour of their area
in Minnesota which included Red Wing. Included in the family picture are three of their children Kendra, Maddie and Kenny.
Max was off with some friends.
While in Washington, D.C., for National Ag Day, Bruce Ruddenklau (OR 2009) gave the following message
as a representative of the OFA at the Ag Day luncheon.
Click HERE to for more information about the trip and to see additional photos.
Ag Day 2010
Good Afternoon.
It's a tremendous
privilege to be here in the Capital Visitor Center to join with you in honoring National Agriculture Day. On behalf of the
2009 National Outstanding Young Farmers I would like to thank John Deere, the United States Junior Chamber, the National Association
of County Agricultural Agents and the Outstanding Farmers of America Fraternity for making this wonderful opportunity available.
My accent probably has you wondering and to explain, I grew up on a farm in
New Zealand. However, in 1989 I met Helle when she was on an Oregon State University exchange program. We got to know each
other pretty well during that time and the year after I joined her here in the US. Helle was born on a farm in Denmark and
her family moved to Oregon in 1984.
Helle and I have three kids;Lauren, 12;
Jack, 8; and Grant, 3. The farming and rural community we are part of is a great environment in which to raise a family and
future farmers if they so choose. You know your kids are country kids when your three year old can spot a John Deere from
a mile away.
Our farm is located 60 miles south of Portland, Oregon.
We currently farm around 900 acres comprised of eight different seed crops such as grass seed and sugar beet seed. We also
grow bush beans and sweet corn for processing. Additionally, we have a small trucking operation that hauls agricultural commodities
throughout the Pacific Northwest.
We had both grown up in farming and studied
agriculture. Both our families were accomplished farmers so we had a very strong background to draw from. But at age 23 it
was quite a challenge to suddenly have sole responsibility for all decisions.
Helle and I got a lot of help along the way. Family, neighbors and county extension agents come to mind. Furthermore,
we often comment that the USDA Direct Payments we received were extremely important to our survival the first few years. I
have always felt a real sense of humility in that we were never denied opportunities because of not being born citizens. The
US didn't owe us the right to be farmers here; in fact the US didn't really need us, but without bias opened up every opportunity
for us to succeed and we are so proud to call ourselves American Farmers.
The Outstanding Young Farmers of America program was initiated by the United States Junior Chamber in 1954 and seeks
out young farmers from throughout the US that show progress in their Agricultural careers, strong conservation efforts and
community involvement. We were honored to be one of four national winners in 2009 along with the other couples you were introduced
to earlier. (Brent and Luann Johnson, Steve and Teresa Moore, and Willy and Holly Sytsma).
The whole experience culminating in being here in Washington, DC has been great. Getting to know so many people
in the agricultural business from throughout the country has been something we will never forget.
The suggested guide for this speech was to address the outlook, challenges and opportunities for agriculture
from my perspective. Well, coming from a grass seed grower in Western Oregon its pretty simple. You all need to go out this
spring and reseed your lawns. But that would be a little shallow and maybe even self centered. US agriculture is vast, diversified
and in theme with ag day abundant, affordable, amazing.
There is such
a diversity and scale that its hard to speak to all types of agriculture here in the US but I believe that the values of high
quality, consumer safety, environmental and social responsibility and sustainability ring true throughout the entire industry.
One of the great satisfactions of being a farmer is to produce food, fiber and
shelter for the benefit of other people. Short term I see a challenge in educating the public of the safety and stewardship
that is an everyday reality of US agriculture. Consumers generally hold farmers in high regard and by telling our story we
can encourage people to think about where their food comes from and hopefully choose to buy it US produced.
But long term is where we have some work ahead of us. It is thought that the world will need to double its food
production in the next 40 years. We already have most of the available land in production and we'll also need to meet this
challenge with the same or less water and potentially diminishing crop nutrient reserves.
However, I am very optimistic that these demands can and will be met. I was amazed when reading after Norman
Borlaug's passing how his contribution to the Green Revolution possibly saved 1 Billion lives by doubling grain production
yet only using 1% more land to do so. The work of plant breeders throughout the world emulating Norman Borlaug is ongoing
and holds tremendous promise. We need to continue to fund our land grant universities in their vital agricultural research.
I just heard the other day of an effort to get corn plants to fix their own nitrogen in an emerging field called synthetic
biology.
Precision Ag Technology has propelled the industry forward rapidly and
will continue to do so. We employ technology on farms today that could only be dreamed of a decade ago. On our farm we now
use a sprayer that uses GPS for guidance and automatically turns the booms on and off. By reducing human error crop inputs
are applied more precisely. This is now common throughout the country. With companies such as John Deere spending $2 Million
per day on research and development I can only imagine what we will see in the future.
We also possibly need to be looking to our current infrastructure; roads, railroads, grain storage, cold storage,
ports and general distribution systems. Are they up to the challenge?
Rest well assured
however that through thick and thin US farmers are ready and absolutely capable of meeting the demands of the future. Looking
around the room today, I see lots of young people that can carry this forward. I hope I can speak on behalf of my colleagues
here in saying that we do this because we want to, we love it. The daily rewards of healthy animals and crops are hard to
describe. I guess all I would ask is let us have at it – don't hold us back because modern agriculture really is abundant,
amazing, affordable.
Thank you.
Brent and LuAnn Johnson (IA 2009) were recently interviewed for the Ag Day blog while they were in Washington,
D.C., with the 2009 NOYF National Winners. To view Brent's remarks on the Ag Day blog, click HERE.
In late October, 2009, past president Jerry and Pat Barnes visited OFA "family members" on the east coast.
OFA Vice President Denny and Judy Crum, MD
Clyde & Phyllis Barick Carlisle, PA Class of 1970
Holly and Devlen Mackey, NJ 2008
Willy & Holly Sytema, 2009, and Jeff & Tracy Vandergroef, 2005, both of Wantage, NJ
Willy & Holly Sytsema, NJ 2009
Pete Melick, NJ 2007, and past president Jerry Barnes
DAPHNE HOLTERMAN NAMED 2009 WORLD DAIRY EXPO DAIRY WOMAN OF THE YEAR
When Orel Hershiser pitched 59 consecutive scoreless innings for the Dodgers in 1988,
his individual skill set him up for greatness. But, it took a team working together to secure the record that still stands
today. It is no different for Daphne Holterman, the 2009 World Dairy Expo Dairy Woman of the Year. She is being honored for
her individual accomplishments and for her contributions as part of the team that makes up Rosy-Lane Holsteins LLC in Watertown,
Wisconsin.
This active volunteer and business partner is no minor league player in her
own right. A 1981 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she was active in telling the story of food and dairy agriculture
as an editor in agriculture and as a Senior Associate at Morgan&Myers Public Relations Counselors.
However, a growing family and growing dairy operation brought Holterman home to lend her skills to Rosy-Lane
Holsteins. Then in 1999, Lloyd and Daphne formed an operating company and brought in long time employee Tim Strobel as a partner.
The team approach worked, and today the progressive dairy producers manage 800 milk cows, operate 1,200 acres of corn and
alfalfa, and employee nearly 20 staff. This dairy woman is top notch at calf raising, bookkeeping, and community relations.
Drawing on her roots in beef and swine production, this dairy expert uses her communication
ability to educate and motivate community leaders on the benefits and threats to animal agriculture. In true “give back”
spirit, Holterman has produced and shared materials with other agricultural groups educating non-farm leaders. She has devoted
time to the national and state Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer Program. She has served on the University of Wisconsin College
of Agricultural and Life Sciences Board of Visitors and a variety of ag organizations. She is currently active on their local
hospital board and the county’s farmland conservation easement commission.
The partnership
which began as Daphne and Lloyd grew their operation from an 80-acre farm to a high producing and record-setting agri-business.
The enterprise has grown steadily over the years and their teen daughters Lauren and Taylor are active in FFA and the farm.
Rosy-Lane’s commitment to balancing profit while protecting natural resources will guarantee an ongoing history for
the achievements of this family.
Past OFA President Jerry and Pat Barnes visited Woodstock, CT in late August.
Paul and Joyce Larson, 2001
Harold and Colleen Bishop, 1970, with Jerry Barnes, 1970
David Miller, 2000, and Paul Miller, 1980
2009 Winner Visits
Past President Jerry and Pat Barnes visited 2009 NOYF winners Teresa
and Steve Moore and their children Jake and Jenna in Ohio in May 2009. Teresa operates a retail greenhouse as well as growing
pepper plants for her parents, Mark and Connie Guess. Click on a photo below to enlarge.
