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In 1914 Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act, establishing the Extension Services of the Land-Grant Colleges of the nation. Extension and club work was thus placed on a firm foundation nationally. With the passage of the Smith-Lever Act by Congress in 1914, all Cooperative Extension work, including boys’ and girls’ clubs, became an official function of the United States Department of Agriculture directed through the land-grant college system. The second Morrill Act of 1890 established Extension at the black land-grant universities. The act was amended and then consolidated in 1953. Discussions on the floors of both houses of Congress on May 21, 1953, clearly established that Cooperative Extension was to continue conducting 4-H work.

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Each registered 4-H Club is designated, by the federal government, as a 501(c) 3 organization which is a non-profit educational organization status. On this particular site Michigan State University Extension , Livingston County 4-H Club Fund Raiser form it states Livingston County 4-H is a function of our local, state and federal government and the use of the 4-H name and emblem is patented by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Also the 4-H is practicing the United Nations Earth Charter to “Change” your childs thinking for the 21st century. Who voted in the United Nations which is just a membership organization to “change” our thinking on sustainable development or values and morales? And why are our childeren being taught a foreign material when the USA already has laws on the books to protect the health of animal and to protect the environment.

Thomas do you have any clue why the 4-H is teaching “Citizenship” to our children and how about “Gender Equity?”
Not only is the 4H being taught this but public schools, that is why homeschooling is being challenged in California, They want total control of what is being taught to your child to “change” the thinking of the younger generation.

Thomas I suggest you do some reading because your freedom to come and go is also affected not just the farmers and hobbyist but all of us.

Thomas you stated “Together we can represent American Agriculture but when you boycott us your voice is lost and you’re left out of the process. Ha thats a laugh The USDA absolutely believes the opponents are Miss informed. They have shown that all of our comments are tossed and only those “Stakeholders” representing industry is what matters.

Thomas one thing about NAIS is that it is again directed from “Agreements” with foreign nations which “We the People” did not vote in. They are abiding by organizations such as the OIE, FAO, WHO, Codex Alimentarius Commission, SPS & TBT to name a few.

This sentence is very important to understand and how important it is to the food supply.

Aims to ensure that governments do not use quarantine and food safety requirements as Unjustified trade barriers to protect domestic industries from import competition. It provides Member countries with a right to implement traceability as an SPS measure.

Do you think this is one reason why cattle are not tested for BSE, that food safety is considered a trade barrier?

Do some research Thomas as we all did and it will open your eyes up to a whole new world that they have tried to hide from us via all the propaganda.

Agriculture once survived without FFA and 4-H. Hearing from caring parents like Janice convinces me that we will all do just fine without FFA and 4-H.

I realize the controversy surrounding the Id system. Personally I feel that we’ve jumped the gun a little bit. But what I feel should be understood is that a boycott of the FFA will do nothing but hurt your cause. The FFA and Agricultural Education need all parts of the industry in order to better develop the future of American Agriculture. Also often times these regulations come down from other parts such as the Dept. of Ag, or the state’s Assoc. of Vo-Ag Teachers. Livestock shows are not run by the FFA in most places and this requirement as far as I know only applies to those showing animals.

While I’m a poultry producer, I have connections to Beef, Swine, and other areas of Livestock. Those students who have these SAEs are only required to register animals they show, not animals in their enterprises. If you are going to a Vo-Ag show and racking in the money, the organization can regulate that, but only a few ever show in Vo-Ag fairs and the regulation itself affects only a few.

I respectfully disagree with your positions but more so I urge you to take an active role in ag education by working on developing forums and sparking the debate in the FFA and work on modeling the future of Agriculture instead of turning your back on it. You can never succeed by quitting. Take up your “cross” and present your views in a respectable manner in the schools.

FFA is about agriculture. As my family depends on grain, we love ethanol, but our neighbor pork producers hate it as their feed prices are higher. We can host the debate, but only if your willing to educate. I implore you to not boycott the FFA, but to kindle debate and possibly encourage youth to speak on it in public speaking.

Together we can represent American Agriculture but when you boycott us your voice is lost and you’re left out of the process. Stay involved!

Sincerely,
Thomas Marten
IL Section 15 FFA President
Waggoner, IL

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Contact for Reporters:
Nik Olsen
(970) 491-7766
Nik.Olsen@colostate.edu

COLORADO 4-H POLICY CONTINUES WORK TO ENHANCE TRACEABILITY OF LIVESTOCK

FORT COLLINS - Traceability has emerged as a key component in protecting markets from the potential fallout of animal disease - enabling diseases to quickly be found, controlled and eradicated before paralyzing markets.

With these considerations in mind and with urging from various allied animal industry groups, the Colorado 4-H Youth Programs and FFA programs had planned to make premises registration with NAIS required for all 4-H and FFA members as of October 1, 2007. However, a year after the announcement of the initial policy, and after listening carefully to many residents around the state, the Colorado State 4-H office has announced a policy adjustment related to premises registration. The policy as of October 1, 2007, will read:

“All 4-H members with livestock and horse projects will be required to have a completed, signed, and approved ‘Animal Care and Housing Form for Colorado 4-H Livestock Projects’ on file at their county Extension office at time of enrollment. It is highly recommended that Colorado 4-H livestock project animals (beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, goat, poultry, llama and horse) have a premises registration with the National Animal Identification System.”

Can Canada condemn land in SD?

“A lawyer for the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission says a Canadian company has the legal right to condemn land for a crude-oil pipeline through the eastern part of the state.”

By MARY CLARE JALONICK
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON — Charles Conner, the Agriculture Department official picked to become acting secretary upon the departure of Mike Johanns, has worked on farm issues in Washington for more than two decades.

Conner became deputy agriculture secretary in 2005. Before that he was a White House farm adviser and president of the Corn Refiners Association. He also worked on the Senate Agriculture Committee for 12 years, most of that time as staff director.

A native of Indiana, Conner grew up on a farm that remains in his family.

Conner assumes the job as Congress is writing the next farm bill. The House passed its version of the multi-billion-dollar legislation in June, but negotiations have hit bumps in the Senate.

Mary Kay Thatcher, a lobbyist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the transition should be smooth with Conner at the helm, since he has been involved in the process so far.

Johanns, who announced his resignation Thursday and is expected to run for the U.S. Senate, strenuously objected to the House farm bill. He argued that Congress should put stronger limits on payments to wealthy farmers. The White House issued a veto threat.

“I think the farm bill is an administration position, not a Mike Johanns position,” Thatcher said.

Thatcher and Tom Buis, president of the National Farmers Union, praised Conner’s experience.

“I think (Conner) will be very positive for the process because of his knowledge of all of the intricacies of farm policy,” Buis said. “He’s very well liked on Capitol Hill.”

North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, a Democratic member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said he has known Conner for a long time and has always liked him, even if he hasn’t always agreed with him.

“He is somebody who will be respected in the discussions,” Conrad said.

Still, Conrad said it is distracting to change leadership in the middle of a farm bill.

“For the secretary to walk away in the middle of a farm bill borders on irresponsible,” Conrad said.

Several state officials said that Johanns is expected to seek the Senate seat being vacated at the end of next year by Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.