Think Outside the Barn

The Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery, a Destination

As members of the AgriMissouri team, we enjoy the distinct privilege of working with new and established Missouri agriculture businesses every day. It’s our job to meet them where they are and help them grow in the direction of their goals. Members receive support from the AgriMissouri program through training and connections, but they also learn a lot from each other. Businesses like “The Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery” in historic Kimmswick, Mo., can be a very good teacher.

The Blue Owl, owned by Mary Hostetter, is a great example of what happens when passion meets hard work and tenacity. In 1983, “From the Kitchen of Mary” was a vendor business like so many others that only appeared at local craft shows, festivals and fairs. But it wasn’t long before the business became a standout for quality cakes, pies and homemade pastries. By Christmas of the next year, orders for 30,000 cookies and pastries pushed production nearly beyond the limits of Hostetter, who worked 21-hour days to complete the orders. Six months later Hostetter was shopping for her first commercial kitchen and The Blue Owl was born.

With five employees and a goal to serve 30 customers per day, The Blue Owl opened its doors in August of 1985. Today, a staff of 75 serves over 300 customers per day during the week and many more on the weekends.

These days, The Blue Owl is not just a restaurant, it’s a destination. The business has been featured in O Magazine. And they are renowned as the “Home of the Levee High Apple Pie.” They have also been featured in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Sauce Magazine, Show Me St. Louis, and endless other travel publications and news programs.

This month, we’ll feature The Blue Owl’s famous Levee High Apple Pie in our monthly AgriMissouri shopping guide. Each pie contains no less than 18 hand-peeled apples. It’s certainly worth a trip to the charming community of Kimmswick to see for yourself. But if the drive is inconvenient, a number of The Blue Owl’s specialties are available online.

Employee of the Quarter Honorees

Every three months, the team at the Missouri Department of Agriculture is asked to nominate the best of the best among their peers for special recognition as the Department's "Employee of the Quarter."  

The Department's first-quarter nominations led to two awardees: Kevin Hanson and Devin Hart.

Kevin is the program manager for the Metrology Laboratory and Moisture Meter Program, within the Department's Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division. His anonymous nominator recognized his positive attitutde and work ethic specifically within Kevin's nomination.

Devin is the Area 5 feed and seed inspector for the Department's Plant Industries Division.  He works with agribusinesses and producers in a south-central Missouri region stretching from Miller to Butler counties.  His attention to detail and committment to customer service have made Devin an outstanding representative for the Department and a very worthy recipient of the Employee of the Quarter award.

 

 Congratulations, Kevin and Devin!

Weekly Livestock Market Summary

Cattle prices were slightly lower this week, although much of the drop in prices can be attributed to seasonal decline.  The lower trend held throughout the week, despite news of a cow testing postive for BSE in California.  Overall, feeder steers were $2 to $6 lower, feeder heifers $2 to $5 lower and Holsteins $2 to $10 lower.

To view the full report, visit the MDA Market News website.

Source: MO Dept of Ag-USDA Market News Service, Jefferson City, MO
            Sarah Wilkinson, Market Reporter, (573) 751-5618

Friday Fixin's - Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

National Zucchini Bread Day (Wed., April 25) was this week, and with that in mind we found a zucchini recipe that even kids should like. This is a great way to incorporate a veggie into their day without objection (and a great way to get picky youngsters to try something new). Zucchini is not in season now, but frozen, shredded zucchini left over from last season is the perfect for this recipe.  Or, wait until you can take advantage of zucchini popping up over the summer in your garden or at your local farmers' market. 

Your friends, family, and neighbors shouldn't mind you using your extra summer zucchini and presenting them with a basket of bread. Or, you could provide them with the recipe if you plan on gifting them with your overabundance.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Time: 1 hour 5 minutes (Prep: 15 minutes, Cook: 50 minutes)
Yield: 2 loaves

Ingredients
· 3 cups all-purpose flour
· 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
· 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
· 1 teaspoon baking soda
· 3 eggs
· 2 cups white sugar
· 1 cup vegetable oil
· 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
· 2 cups grated zucchini
· 1 cup chopped pecans
· 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
· 1 tablespoon orange zest
· Whipped cream, for serving
· Zucchini ribbons, for serving

Directions
Preheat oven at 350 degrees F. Grease (2) 9 by 5-inch loaf pans.
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, spices and baking soda.
In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add sugar, and continue beating until well blended.
Stir in oil, vanilla, zucchini, pecans, chocolate chips, and orange zest. Stir in sifted ingredients.
Pour into prepared loaf pans. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove loaves from pans and cool. Chill before slicing. Serve with whipped cream and ribbons of zucchini.

Recipe and photo courtesy of FoodNetwork.com from Paula's Home Cooking.

St. Louis Farmers' Markets in the News this Week!

The official opening for most of Missouri's farmers' markets comes next week, but markets in the St. Louis area are already feeling the love from at least one of the area's major media outlets.  This week, the St. Louis Post Dispatch shared a great article on new locations, vendors and items, a list of area farmers markets and an interactive map of farmers' markets. While we're certainly partial to the AgriMissouri.com list of markets and locally-sourced products, it was outstanding to see Joe Bonwich and Josh Renaud work to connect Missourians with fresh produce, meat, dairy products and other locally-sourced treats online and in the newspaper!

In his article "New locations, interesting vendors whet appetites for farmers market season," Joe Bonwich highlighted the many ways farmers' markets have grown - including new, ethnically-inspired, markets and those offering specialty foods prepared on site by family members using generations-old recipes. 

St. Louisans and those in the surrounding communities have a great guide in exploring the new markets, as well as long-running favorites, in the St. Louis Post Dispatch's list of 38 farmers' markets in the St. Louis area.  The list includes markets in both St. Louis City and St. Louis County, and offers the location, operating hours and plenty of details about each market (such as were you can find cooking demonstrations, kid-friendly spaces and seated dining areas).  In many cases, there's also a link to the market's website for those seeking more details. 

And if you're not sure how to find the market closest to you, the St. Louis Post Dispatch offers another resource (in addition to the Missouri Farmers' Market Map on AgriMissouri.com!).  The newspaper published an interactive map for readers this week, allowing you to zoom in on your area and see "pinned" markets.  Check it out online (you may need to update your browser to see all the features!) at http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/interactive-map-st-louis-area-farmers-markets/html_ece0ab94-8d95-11e1-8ccc-001a4bcf6878.html.

Want even more information about Missouri's farmers' markets? Head to AgriMissouri.com or check out the Missouri Department of Agriculture on Facebook or Twitter!

New Book is a Map to Missouri Harvest

One of the many ways our team tries to serve Missouri residents, businesses and organizations is through connecting those individuals to the information and resources they need to be successful.  Recently we added a "Resource Partners" section to our AgriMissouri website, AgriMissouri.com, to provide contact information for all those industry people who support agriculture. Under the "Mo Grown" tab you'll find business that sell things like fencing, metal buildings, machinery and equipment. You'll also find services like webpage development and logo design.

While sharing information about those available resources, we also like to highlight those our team members especially enjoy and use often.  One favorite comes from Webster University Press, another resource partner - it is a recently published book that is generating a lot of conversation in food circles. "Missouri Harvest - A Guide to Growers and Producers in the Show-Me State" has been featured on several St. Louis daytime news programs. Authors Maddie Earnest and Liz Fathman offer a guided tour through all segments of the food industry. Recipes and cooking techniques are also provided.

Missouri FSA Program Deadlines Approaching - June 1

The Missouri State Office of USDA's Farm Service Agency reminds Missouri farmers and land owners that June 1 is an important deadline for new and continuing participants in several USDA-FSA programs.

Farmers and land owners have about six weeks remaining to sign up for the Direct and Counter Cyclical Payment (DCP) and the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE), for which the deadline is June 1, 2012. In addition, producers have until June 1st to sign up for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payment Program (SURE) for the 2010 crop year.

Eligible DCP participants receive a direct payment and/or a counter-cyclical payment. Direct payment rates are established by statute regardless of market prices. Counter-cyclical payments vary depending on market prices and are issued only when the effective price for a commodity is below its target price (which takes into account the direct payment rate, market price and loan rate).

ACRE protects producers from farm market revenue declines when revenue triggers are met for a commodity at both the state and farm level. Farms that are already enrolled in the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) for a crop year can elect to switch to ACRE before the end of sign up.

Both DCP and ACRE participants must sign annual contracts to receive program benefits. All signatures of producers who will receive a share of DCP and ACRE payments must be on file by the June 1, 2012, deadline.

 

Producers who suffered losses due to natural disasters during the 2010 crop year may be eligible to receive assistance through the SURE program. To be eligible for SURE, a farm must have:

At least a 10 percent production loss adjusted for quality on a crop of economic significance;

A policy or plan or insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA) or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for all economically significant crops;

Been physically located in a county that was declared a primary disaster county or contiguous county by the Secretary of Agriculture. Individual producers may be eligible without this designation if the actual production on the farm is less than 50 percent of the normal production on the farm due to natural disaster.

To schedule an appointment, or to learn more about FSA programs, contact your local county FSA Office. Office locations and phone numbers can be found at www.fsa.usda.gov/mo.

Congratulations to Missouri's 2012-2013 State FFA Officers

Last week, students from around the state joined in Columbia for the 84th Missouri FFA Convention. We send our congratulations to those FFA students that took on new reigns as 2012-2013 Missouri State FFA Officers:

President - Jaelyn Bergmann, of Perry

1st Vice President - Courtney Spencer, of Aurora

Secretary - Sonja Perry, of Bowling Green

Missouri's State FFA Vice Presidents are Allyson Smith, Cody Shoop, Samantha Gibson, Mallary Burris.  Rhian Beldon, Ashlee Jones, Kenny Swope, Katie Gibson, Ryan Messner, Sam Turner, Cody Stewart, Anna Eftink and Sarah Bastin.  Brady James, the 2011-2012 Missouri State FFA President will also serve with the 2012-2013 team in the past-president's role.

The Missouri FFA has over 25,000 members representing 326 chapters. To learn more, check out the complete list of the 2011-2012 Missouri State FFA Officers.

In the News - Rural Youth Learn Homegrown Leadership

The University of Missouri's Cooperative Extension Service and the hard work of  the 4-H club members Extension supports have been making a difference in rural communities for well over 100 years.  Recently, the University of Missouri Extension 4-H program launched a new effort to engage youth in their communities through constructing community gardens, leading community drives to combat poverty and addressing hunger in their schools, as well as through Extension-sponsored after school programs. The program was featured in a recent article titled Rural Youth Learn Homegrown Leadership.

The effort is focused on communities with populations of 10,000 or less.

Extension's Steve Henness says in the Missouri Ruralist article that, "The issues the youth have decided to take on and the strategies they are using to impact those issues are their own." 

More information about the program, including some highlights of work already completed by youth in Dade County, is available in Missouri Ruralist magazine (and online at FarmProgress.com). 

Weekly Livestock Market Summary

Local feeder markets saw support from beef cut-out prices and higher feedlot trade the past couple weeks as seasonal demand typically rises for beef during the warmer months and "grilling season." Many local reporters have seen the supply of feeders available getting tighter and many of the calves offered for sale are showing signs of the early spring and mild weather, with the majority of calves carrying more flesh than usual.

To view the full report, visit the MDA Market News website.

Source: MO Dept of Ag-USDA Market News Service, Jefferson City, MO
            Tony Hancock, Market Reporter, (573) 751-5618