FAVORITE AG FACTS FROM 2011!

Here is the collection of our favorite ag facts we learned over the year! Can't wait to learn more next year and share it with everyone. Hope you love them as much as we do and share them with others.

POTATO CHIPS ARE #1 SNACK FOOD IN THE WORLD

IN THE USA 350 SLICES OF PIZZA ARE EATEN EVERY SECOND

42% OF THE USA IS USED AS FARMLAND

AVERAGE AMERICAN EATS 100 POUNDS OF POTATOES A YEAR

30% OF FARM OPERATORS ARE WOMEN

AVG. PERSON EATS 25 POUNDS OF MELONS A YEAR

PLASTIC MILK BOTTLES WERE INTRODUCED IN 1967

ALL 50 STATES HAVE A DAIRY FARM

VANILLA IS AMERICA'S FAVORITE FLAVOR OF ICE CREAM

AVERAGE AGE OF A FARMER IS 55 YEARS OLD

DISNEYLAND SELLS OVER 4 MILLION HAMBURGERS A YEAR (10,959 A DAY)

BALE OF COTTON WEIGHS: 480 POUNDS & CAN MAKE 325 PAIRS OF JEANS

CHINESE FIRST TO RAISE WILD PIGS FOR FOOD

540 PEANUTS = 12 OZ OF PEANUT BUTTER

GROUP OF TURKEYS ARE CALLED A "RAFTER"

LONGEST CARROT RECORDED WAS 17FT LONG

EACH AMERICAN CONSUMES 30 POUNDS OF LETTUCE A YEAR

45 MILLION TURKEYS ARE CONSUMED AT THANKSGIVING EACH YEAR

DYE USED TO STAMPS GRADES ON BEEF IS MADE FROM GRAPE SKINS

ONE ACRE OF POTATOES= 52,000 SERVINGS OF FRENCH FRIES

CHINA PRODUCES HALF THE WORLD'S SUPPLY OF EGGS (390 BILLION EGGS)

A PECK OF APPLES WEIGHS: 10.5 POUNDS

A BUSHEL OF APPLES WEIGHS: 42 POUNDS

SUPERBOWL IS THE #1 DAY FOR PIZZA CONSUMPTION

CHEDDAR CHEESE IS THE #1 MOST POPULAR CHEESE IN THE USA

70 POUNDS OF BEEF IS CONSUMED EACH YEAR BY ONE PERSON IN THE USA

Celebrate our 20 years in the Fair industry!

We are celebrating our 20th year in 2012 in the fair industry and we are so excited!! And to show our appreciation to the fairs and people who have helped us grow we are giving discounts on our banner rentals and purchases!! From December 12 to February 29 our banners will be 20% off the purchase price or banner rental. This is a way for us to say thank you for the years of memories on the road at the fairs. Make sure to get your orders in soon there is a 3-5 week turn around on all purchase orders. We look forward to seeing everyone on the road in 2012 and helping us celebrate 20 years!!

Banners on display at Cow Palace 2011

Happy Holiday & Thank a Farmer!

Happy Holidays and this is so true!! While counting your blessings don't forget to count the farmers in!

WOW 5 years down.... so many to go

Its amazing how many things can change yet stay the same in 5 years. It has been 5 years since Barn Tours (now AGademics) has been under new ownership. I am very happy to see this company grow and I am very glad I can continue the tradition of teaching the public about agriculture. I am just as passionate as I was the first day I started to work for Barn Tours over 11 years ago. WOW that seems like a lifetime ago. I still remember going to my first fair as a tour guide and my first fair as an owner and talk about 2 different experience I will never forget.  I appreciate the hard work and foundation that was laid before me and I can't wait to see wait the next level is waiting for us. We have had our up and downs in the last 5 years and learned alot of lessons. The fair industry is an ever changing industry and agriculture is steady so it is a hard balance. But seeing the light bulb turn on when that person you have been talk ing to about agriculture gets "it" and that is what I feel is rewarding. I truly believe if you can teach somebody one thing new about agriculture then I have done my job. And I LOVE my job!!!!!
I can only imagine the future for AGademics  and I hope it is as bright as the last 5 years as an owner.

National Farm- City Week Nov. 18-24

Has Thanksgiving approaches and we give thanks to those who provide for us, it's also a time for us to celebrate Farm to City week. Farm-City is a national organization that is trying to build the bridge between the two. The organization is a great resource on agriculture education information and materials in bring into the classroom or into events. I suggest everyone check it out and test your agriculture knowledge with their quizzes, www.farmcity.org. I know I plan on celebrating this week and keep an eye out on our facebook fan page and twitter for new fun facts about agriculture. 

Fashion meets dairy farming

 I have to share this great clip about the fashion world meets the dairy world. I know so many of us in the farming industry try to stay on top of fashion but these execs are the other way around. These execs of Manolo Blahnik have entered into the dairy farming world. Its a great look into the future of farming and maybe it will inspire others.
http://www.cbs.com/shows/the_early_show/video/2167669656/manolo-blahnik-execs-take-on-dairy-farming

World EGG day - Oct. 14

Well World EGG day is coming up and what a better day to start your day off right with eggs for breakfast. Now I know I'm not the most excited person about eggs for breakfast, I like to put everything in them but once I do they are yummy. I thought I would share some of my fun facts about eggs as well as my favorite recipe using eggs.

Fun Facts: 

An eggshell has roughly 17,000 pores on it

White shell is from a hen with a white earlobe

Brown shell is from a hen with a red earlobe

It takes 26 hours for a hen to make an egg

One day out at room temp. = one week in the fridge

Average hen lays 250-270 eggs a year

USA produces roughly 75 billion eggs annually

China produces roughly 390 billion eggs annually (1/2 the world's supply)

 

 My Favorite EGG recipe is: Breakfast casserole with Sausage!!! YUM-O 

• 6 slices bread, cubed
• 1 pound sausage, browned, drained
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 8 each eggs, beaten
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon, salt
• pepper to taste

Preparation:

Cube bread and place evenly in greased 9x13 pan or baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with sausage and cheese. Mix eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over ingredients in pan. May cover and chill overnight. (if left overnight, remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before baking). Bake 45 minutes at 325 degrees or until set. Cut into squares to serve.
Serves8 to 10

National Apple Month

October is National Apple Month. And as they say "A apple a Day keeps the Doctor away" and they are a tasty treat. Most people think that apples in October mean bobbing for apples or carmel covered apples for Halloween. Apples can be used for so many things: juice in the morning, cider at night, pie for dessert or with applesauce next to a pork chop. I always love a good carmel covered apple from the county fair.

Here are  some fun facts about apple for National Apple Month:

2 pounds of apples = 1 9inch pie

2500 varieties of apples are grown in USA

Apples are grown in all 50 states

Apples are a member of the Rose Family

Largest apple ever picked weighed in at 3 pounds

A peck of apples weighs: 3 pounds

A bushel of apples weighs: 42 pounds

Average size of American apple orchard = 50 acres

It takes 36 apples = 1 gallon of cider

Apples are #2 most valuable fruit grown in the USA

7500 varieties of apples are grown world wide

National 4-H Week October 2- 9

As National 4- H week approaches it reminds me of all the good times and friends I made in this GREAT organization. I started like many at 9 years old following in a parents foot steps. I still remember 20 plus years later the fun activities, camps, leadership, livestock events and people from that time. I truly believe that at one point all children rural or urban need to experience the vast diversity that is 4-H. I still keep my prized 4-H trophy I won at fair not too long after joining the Buena Suerte club, High Individual Vegetable Sweepstakes!!! Its one trophy I can't seem to part with (its a silver and gold watering can, that as never seen water) There is so much to learn and do with 4-H that use this week to help celebrate the organization and please share your memories with your loved ones or help a new clover make theirs for the first time.

A day in Agriculture (September 29)

Today is a day is Agriculture where you are suposed to captures agriculture at work today. Well I have to say I was working hard today in the floral industry. I helped create 12 center pieces for my friends wedding as well as 4 other arranges for the cake tables and just to have.

Just because I wasn't out in the field or on a tractor I was still apart of agriculture today and every day. I would like to thank those growers of the flowers who allowed us to have beautiful arrangements for the wedding this weekend.

Is it really flattering to be copied?

As I stand on top of my soap box, I have learned in the last couple of years and weeks  of companies trying to copy MY Barn Tours program and even fairs are copying the program (BARN TOURS) and the NAME. I appreciate the fact that there is people out there in the world who think we are doing a great thing and want to copy it. But DON"T use my name (BARN TOURS) we have a 20 year reputation we have worked hard to build up and maintain. Now I am all for us to work together so if you do want to use MY name and MY program we can work together but ASK first. I keep my business to a certain standard and I would hate to think that the copies out there are not and ruining MY name without knowing it.
I understand that in the fair industry we tend to use ideas from others and make them our own. But when you take ideas from a business and try to do it on your own you take money out of our pocket as well as try to reinvent the wheel. Well I blue prints to the wheel and have worked out all the kinks and its so hard to see others out there try to do it and it not be up to our standards.
 By all means just ask and I am willing to work with you so that way the education is still being passed along in a fun and entertaining way. Cause all that matters is the public is educated correctly and no more miss information about agriculture is spread.

A great article from Hoosier Ag Today!

An Open Letter to 4-H Livestock
07/24/2011

By Gary Truitt

Dear 4-H livestock projects:
I am writing to voice my concern over several incidents that have occurred at county fairs across the Midwest this summer. While seemingly isolated incidents they represent a trend that could result in the loss of your popularity and the ability of your exhibitors to bring you to the fair. While I agree that you may be justified in your actions, the bottom line is that you are setting things in motion that may have very undesirable and unintended consequences.   Let me put it in simpler terms so the sheep and turkeys will understand: you had better start behaving yourselves in public.

I have received several documented reports of bad behavior on the part of 4-H animals at county fairs. These occurred in different fairs across the Midwest and involved several different species. All, however, involved interaction with the non-farm public.   While these may seem trivial to you, it is a serious matter to the city folks who are walking through the barns. Let's be honest -- you are the star of the show at the county fair. Yes, there are the midway, the fair food, and the tractor pull, but research has shown the biggest reason people come to the fair is you. This is your one and only chance to be a star, so don't blow it. Let me offer a few help suggestions.

Hogs: While I realize it is hot and you are exceeding grumpy because you cannot sweat, please try and resist the temptation to have a temper tantrum and go running through the barn knocking adults and children to the ground.   Remember, most of these people have read Charlotte's Web and have seen the movie Babe, thus think you are cute and cuddly.

Steers and Heifers: Please do not smash the hands of the children against the rail when they reach in to pet you like a dog. When a small child's idiotic parents let him run up right behind you, resist the temptation to kick him into the middle of next week.

Dairy cows: While at home there is no need for you to restrain yourself when that urge to relieve yourself comes upon you, but at the fair, please use a little discretion. It is especially tacky to let loose in front of a family from town who is eating lunch or while posing for pictures next the fair queen who is wearing open-toed sandals and a short dress.

Horses: You are proud and noble beasts and I know it would give you great satisfaction to bite the wiggling fingers of the children thrusting their hands into your stall while yelling, "Hi, horsey!" But if you do, you will just get left home in a hot paddock next year.

As for the rest of you, just keep in mind that scratching, snapping, or spitting is not good fair behavior. While I know you are animals, understand that most of the people coming through the barns don't understand that. They expect you to, as one mother put it to me, "act nice."

You should also know that there are forces at work in our world which would like nothing more than to shut down the 4-H livestock program. They feel that teaching young people proper animal care and personal responsibility is wrong. The kind of incidents mentioned above only give them an opportunity to criticize the 4-H livestock program.

So next time you get loaded up and taken to the fair, strike an attitude of knowing superiority. Remember you know more about animal agriculture than most of the folks who will be ogling you at the fair.

Good times at Alameda County Fair!!

This year at Alameda County Fair,  AGademics had a great time with our Barn Tour program and  Farm Planet Educational interactive center were all BIG hits with the fair goers. We had non stop tours, tons of daily prizes given away, and people learning new things about agriculture. The interaction with the public was so much fun and such a positive experience. On kids day we had the public make thank you postcards to the local farmers for them providing the animals and their meals. Not only did the kids love it but the adults loved it has well. We of course are mailing them to the local producers of Alameda County to say thank you.  Our tours were a HIT once again, we had some of largest tours on the weekends. We gave away some great prizes (baseball caps) and had many laughs watching those playing Plinko and Cornhole. Thanks to one of our tour guides Frances for her genius idea of having the question of the day at the AGademics interactive tent which made the public think and come talk to the other tour guides at the tent for the answer to the question. The voice of the fair Jason was amazing in that he announced the Ag fact of the day to the fair all day over the loud speakers while he was promoting us as well as other entertainers. I think Jason loves the Ag facts of the day as much as we do. We loved the 17 days we spent at Alameda County Fair and can't wait til next year.

Barn Tours at Alameda County Fair

This last week at the Alameda County Fair was full of fun and good times while we celebrated Independence day with fireworks on Friday night and decorated our tent on the 4th. In honor of the holiday we posted fun Ag facts about the 4th of July such as that an ingredient in fireworks comes from the fat of cattle. With the larger crowds we had plenty of tours, including our two largest of the fair so far! Both tours had over twelve people and were lead by Barn Tour guide Chase. Over the busy weekend we made postcards with kids thanking farmers for our food and during the week we had supplies for the kids to make fun bookmarks. In between tours we had fun challenging the public with our tent games of Plinko and Cornhole, asking them questions about different animals and agricultural products. As we go into our last weekend at the Alameda County fair we look forward to more fun tours and games. I have enjoyed being a barn tour guide and getting to meet countless fair-goers and making great memories with my fellow barn tour guides.

This past week at the fair we had fun celebrating Independance day and watching the various 4-H and FFA shows. It has been nice having completely full livestock barns for our barn tours

Barn Tours: How We Do!

The first week of the Alameda County Fair was none other than successful for AGademics and Barn Tours! The many games, activities, and tours offered had a positive impact on the public and are continuing to engage the fairgoers in learning about agriculture.

In the Barnyard, the public is able to see a variety of livestock and their babies and learn basic facts about each species. The livestock include miniature donkeys, a cow and her calf, sows and their piglets, angora goats, dairy goats, and baby doll sheep. Children love having a hands-on experience with the animals, as well as the coloring activities and creating agriculture related bookmarks at the AGademics tent!

Our Barn Tours tent has also been very successful at engaging the public through our tours and tent activities. The Barn Tours guides have been very excited with the many tours we have given. The tours travel through all the livestock barns at the fair - the small animal barn, large livestock barn, and the Barnyard - where the public has the chance to learn about the livestock being exhibited at the fair. Today, our tours consisted of many enthusiastic young children and adults. Before the tour they had the chance to play the two games offered at the Barn Tours tent, Cornhole and Plinko, and win an AGademics hat. On the tour, they learned about the livestock being exhibited, including market sheep, rabbits, turkeys, chickens, dairy cattle, and even the Budweiser Clydesdale horses! The tour was filled with exciting games, interesting facts, and was altogether a great learning experience for the group.

AGademics could not have had a more successful first week at the Alameda County Fair! With the many activities for the public to participate in, the AGademics and Barn Tours crew

Fair Time is Fun Time!

        AGademics has been super excited to start our run at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, California! The fair is about three weeks long, starting June 22 to July 10th! We currently have two tents set up in the livestock area, the AGademics tent in the Barnyard as well as our Barn Tours tent located by the small animals barn!
        This year we are happy to welcome two new Barn Tour guides/AGademics employees - Christina Cefalu and Megan McNulty! Christina is currently attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo studying Agriculture Education and Megan is attending University of Idaho studying Animal Science. We also have two returning Barn Tour guides- Chase DeCoite attending UC Davis and Frances Negranza studying at Modesto Junior College!
        Cooperatively our employees run both activity tents throughout the day. At the Barnyard we have activities including coloring pages, a scavenger hunt, the question of the day, aggie post cards and the occasional guest speaker Jessica Sweet the new National Beef Ambassador from Livermore, California.
        At our Barn Tours tent our guides leave at the top of every hour to give FREE barn tours to the public - Taking tours through the small animal barn, the large animal barn and the barnyard. Our goal is to educate the public about animal agriculture through fun facts about each species and bridging the gap between agricultural producers and consumers. Also at our Barn Tours Tent we engage the public in fun activities such as Plinko and Corn Hole. Participants answer questions and have the opportunity to win fun prizes!  All of our employees are passionate about agriculture awareness and representing AGademics at the Alameda County Fair!

I WAS A BARN TOUR GUIDE!

This summer we are going to have those working for us to be guest bloggers and record their experience. We have so many of our own experience and memories of wearing the red shirt I thought I would allow the public into the behind the scenes of what we expereince as a tour guide. If anyone else is interested in blogging their experince as a tour guide please email us and let us know.
 Now those who used to sport the red shirts we do have a Facebook group so you can find fellow BTG. Look us up, we would love to connect those with the new tour guides and share the memories and stories of our adventures on the road and in the barns! The group is called "I was a Barn Tour Guide" We look forward to reconnecting with our fellow red shirt fans!

June is Dairy Month!!!

I'm so excited for this month, you would think it was Christmas! I love Dairy products there isn't a cheese, an ice cream or milk I haven't tried that I don't love. I have to thank the countless hours the Dairy Farmer puts into the yummy products and the cows that work so hard to get us that great glass of milk. It has been trying times for lots of Dairy farmers especially here in the NUMBER 1 Dairy state (CALIFORNIA) but those who carry on the dedication I thank you.
Below are some of my favorite fun facts about dairy products and cows. Hope you get a kick out of them.

DAIRY FUN FACTS

350 SQUIRTS ARE IN A GALLON OF MILK

AVG COW MAKES 100 GLASSES OF MILK A DAY

ALL 50 STATES HAVE DAIRY FARMS IN THEM

CHEDDAR CHEESE IS THE MOST POPULAR CHEESE IN U.S.A.

12 POUNDS OF WHOLE MILK= 1 GALLON OF ICE CREAM

21 POUNDS OF WHOLE MILK = 1 POUND OF BUTTER

DAIRY COWS DRINK AN AVG OF A BATHTUB OF WATER A DAY

FAIR TIME IS FUN TIME!!!

It is that time of the year when the smell of corndogs are in the air and the fair memories are flooded back faster than you can "ferris wheel". But sadly in California many of the fair memories will be just that after next year. Thanks to a governor and cutting the budgets 30 fairs are on the edge of  closing their doors forever. So many of the fairs depend on the funding from the state to help run the annual event. So many of us have grown up going to the fair with our parents or grandparents and have fond memories. Why shouldn't our children have the same memories?
Many people are forgetting the roots of the county fair, which is to share with the community the best of what they have, and to educate what is going on with in the county. The fair started for a way for farmers to show off their best animals and sell them to other farmers looking to improve their herds and for the children and wives to show off their prized recipes and artwork. The under tone of the fair is to educate your neighbor on what you are doing so that maybe they can take back the knowledge and make it work for them on their farm. So many of us have left the farm and no longer need to bring back the prize winning bull home but the concept is still there; learn what your neighbor is doing and hopefully bring back that knowledge back home with you.

So go out there to your local fair and learn something new from your neighbor  and take it home and apply it. While you are there make a new memory and support your local county fair.