I have tried a few things in my life, like writing poetry. Some have worked out well, some, not so great. The road less traveled has taken me some fascinating places. I feel pretty lucky for the things I have seen and the friends I have made along the way. Thanks for all the kind comments this winter at sugarbeet meetings.
 


​"Normal"?
 
My wife just said I'm normal.
  She said it right out loud.
I'm not sure that she meant it
  But still it makes me proud.
 
For normal isn't something
  Of which I'm oft accused.
Abnormal is more likely
  The word by most folks used.
 
Talking on the telephone
  My grandkids point and laugh.
They make jokes about me,
  My phone, it folds in half.
 
I don't tweet or twitter
 I hardly ever text.
Facebook is still something
  That I should work on next.
 
My pilot friends don't think me
  Abnormal or insane.
Though I guess it's more common
  To not build your own plane.
 
That Detroit Diesel engine
  Put in a half ton truck,
Seemed to make sense at the time
  To try and save a buck.
 
The only Simon Duplex
  That I have ever seen,
Was owned by me, for hauling beets
  It was a fine machine.
 
If we should hit a sports bar
  My knowledge seems quite poor.
I can name twelve senators,
  But not the final four.
 
My fashion sense is awful,
  Except for my blue jeans.
They're tattered and all full of holes
  Just like those worn by teens.
 
So what about me's normal
  To cause my wife to say
That's what she thought about me
  At least upon this day?
 
Last night I had a fever,
  And I was in a fix.
But today she checked me,
  I'm ninety eight point six.

​

I had another birthday.
  The year went sailing past.
I knew that it was coming,
  It just got here too fast
And this year was a long one.
  It has that extra day.
I hope you spent yours wisely
  And took some time to play.
I got some birthday presents
  From kids and spouse and friends. It’s good that if I need them,
  I’ll have all my Depends.

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I have been to a lot of meetings this winter: American Sugarbeet Growers, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Farm Credit Council and some CoBank meetings.  I’ve heard a lot of great speakers and some good ones.  Let me take a moment and summarize. (Reader warning: this will contain some editorial content.)

Politics — All the political analysts, with the exception of Bob Dole, spent most of their allotted time explaining why they had no clue as to how this presidential election would turn out. Well-known columnist Charlie Cook laid out a very plausible way that we could see VP Joe Biden running against House Speaker Paul Ryan in November.  Interesting!

GMOs — This issue was exception-ally well covered at ASGA.  Be afraid, be very afraid.  It was high on the radar of all groups, but a presentation at the NCFC about the intricacies of the Vermont law was chilling. 

Enforcement — Anyone can sue!Liability is on the manufacturers and distributors, not the grocers, so any product in the shipping system is a risk.

Oil — $30 to $50 for a while. Venezuela is broke, Russia is close, and the Saudis are selling their wealth of U.S. stocks to support their lifestyle. No one can afford to stop selling —plus, Iran just came back on the world market. 
​
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