Author Archives: Cassie Godwin

Written by DeShea Wallace

Small town Denair, California is a little pocket of conservative paradise just two hours east of the beach, two hours west of 8,000 foot mountains to snow board on, a short drive from the melting pot of San Francisco, and two hours from the largest trees you would ever see in your life. While California living may have its challenges it undeniably has its benefits as well. That’s at least what James Backman of Small Town Genetics will tell you.

“I think there’s huge opportunity out here for youth to grow and mature. We have basically everything that you can envision in the world within a two or three hour drive any direction. What I call normal is abnormal for most,” says Backman.

James was born and raised in California and has lived there his whole life. His Dad was an Agriculture Education teacher and he spent a lot [ … ]

Written by Cassie Godwin

Farmers are self-reliant, they pick themselves up by their own bootstraps, and they don’t complain.These are a few of the qualities that make farmers excellent at caring for the land and feeding the world. But these same qualities also make it difficult for farmers and ranchers to ask for help with mental health struggles.

FACING STRUGGLES

A 2020 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry ranked fourth in suicide rates. While farming is often found to be one of the most rewarding and vital jobs in society, it is also one of the most difficult and isolated. Much of the outcome of growing crops and raising livestock is in the hands of external forces such as weather, commodity prices, legislation, supply chain disruptions and disease. All these factors, and more, can take a toll on the [ … ]

Written by Cassie Godwin

“I may not be able to control it, but I can make it better and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Bret Vickrey can tell you the exact moment and exactly what he was doing when he got the phone call informing him that his then 13-month-old daughter, Dalaney, had been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). “I was pulling into the farm to feed sows and had to pull off to the side to process what I had just been told.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation® website states that cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breath over time. More than 30,000 children and adults in the United States have CF, and 70,000 worldwide. In people with CF, mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene cause the CFTR protein to become dysfunctional, ultimately causing the mucus [ … ]

Written by DeShea Wallace

Goal setting is not a new idea to those junior members involved in the NJSA. For some, their goal is to win showmanship, while others have their sights set on winning a national show. However, several make it their goal to one day own and operate their very own showpig operation. This was the goal cousins, Jared and Erik Trogdon, had in junior high.

Originally, Trogdon Show Pigs was founded to raise showpigs for the cousins to compete at a county fair level. Since then, they have found success at shows such as OYE and the Illinois State Fair. They now have their sights set on a Grand Champion Barrow banner at a national event.

“We started raising pigs for ourselves for 4-H. With us both being involved in sports growing up, it wasn’t to travel the countryside showing pigs,” Jared recalls. “But nevertheless, it was something we did [ … ]

Written by Cassie Godwin

Livestock helps kids thrive. Young people hone work ethic, responsibility, relationships, communication, critical thinking and countless other skills while feeding pigs and cleaning pens. For special-needs youth, the benefits found in livestock projects are tenfold. What happens when caring for show animals brings you peace, but the show ring overwhelms your anxiety and emotions? The Seedstock EDGE Media team spoke with volunteers in two different programs whose goal is to ensure the show ring is for everyone.

Home. The word itself brings to mind a specific place and often evokes a sense of calm and peace. For youth with special needs, livestock and animals often bring that sense of home. However, livestock projects are meant to be exhibited. When a child lives with a disability, stepping into the show ring can trigger a sensory overload, feelings of entrapment and overwhelming information. The Indiana State Fair Special [ … ]