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Our family farming history began with my great-great-... (nine generations ago) grandfather Johannes. He, his wife and three children left Saxony, Germany, on April 20, 1734, aboard the ship St. Andrew, mastered by Capt. John Stedman. They landed at Philadelphia on Sept. 22 and eventually settled our family’s first “New World” farm near Society Run in Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pa., in 1743. Pig farming was our family’s specialty until the mid 1950s. A lot has changed since then. Our farm is now located in Northeast PA and includes a 100% Grass-fed closed herd of Registered Red Angus BEEFALO, pastured Tam-Roc pigs, and roasters & layer chickens. We organically maintain 150 acres, comprised of 25 acres in rotational pastures, 15 acres in tillable cropland, and alfalfa/mixed grass hay on the balance 110 acres. We have never used chemical pesticides or herbicides on our pastures or hay fields. We also do not have a “vaccination schedule” for our animals. We do however reserve the right to administer antibiotics to the animals in life-threatening circumstances. Because of our humane animal treatment we are not a “certified” organic farming operation. We do however employ the natural/organic approach to help promote sustainability and environmental health. Additional info. about us and our farm can be found at thekuhnfamilyfarm.com.

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Mary K. Corp has been an Area Agronomist for Oregon State University in the inland wheat producing region of the Pacific Northwest for the past 12 years. She holds an Associate Professor appointment in the Oregon State University Crop and Soil Science Department and splits her time between research and extension education. Mary’s career in agriculture spans over 30 years and she is a recognized expert in dryland production systems, weed science, agronomy, and farm business management. Mary has a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Oregon University and a Masters in Business Administration from Portland State University. She is a member of the American Society of Agronomy. She has just completed a 4 year study comparing various types of fallow systems and their impacts to water storage, weeds and economics. Her current research is in organic cereal production, new variety selection, and insects impacting cereal crops such as the Wheathead Armyworm. Research results and newsletters can be found at her website www.cerealcentral.com. When not chasing the latest problem facing wheat farmers, Mary pursues her artistic side with her watercolor paintings. Her love of the rural lifestyle and agriculture can be seen in her paintings of local rodeos, horses, and landscapes. To view her paintings visit her gallery www.kaycsartcollectible.com/artgallery .

He’s a great guy.

This blog is all about celebrating America’s farm families and learning more about what America’s farmers provide for us every day.

A seasoned ag communications professional, Rick Purnell is passionate about the positive impact farms and agribusiness have in rural and urban communities. Rick is even more passionate about how a farm or ag operation can develop a true identity within its community. Engaging today’s media, public forums, local government and civic organizations is just one aspect of strengthening relationships with rural and in-town neighbors. I’m active in initiatives to build community support for the professionals who grow our food. I can demonstrate communications approaches for individual operations that create short- and long-term community, zoning and legislative support. Find out more at www.rprcompany.com.

Andy Zenk is an Agribusiness Consultant with AgCountry Farm Credit Services, specializing in succession and retirement planning. In this position, he helps families work through the complex issues of farm transition, estate planning and business planning. He serves as a guide to help mentor and monitor the process of planning for retirement, constructing detailed plans based on the goals and needs of each person. He helps families design and implements necessary estate planning instruments. He also helps farmers with business entity formation and continuation plans, dissolutions and any other business planning issues they may have. Andy has a legal background as an attorney, and is currently licensed to practice law in Minnesota, North Dakota and Colorado. He holds a law degree with a business concentration from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. Before joining AgCountry Farm Credit Services, he practiced law in Colorado in the areas of estate planning, asset protection, real estate and business planning. Andy lives with his wife Laurie and their four children in west-central Minnesota. He enjoys spending time at the lake, walleye fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities. Although, most of his time is spent chasing his four children around (ages 8, 6, 4 and 1), which is his favorite thing by far.

We want to meet your favorite pet or farm animal. Send us photos or videos, and be sure to tell us about your sidekick. E-mail your favorite friend to TailgateTalk@FarmJournal.com.