Think Outside the Barn

In the News - Bacon, and how it came to be

Photo courtesy of The New York Times

The Local Pig butcher shop in Kansas City recently got some attention from the New York Times for their hands-on meat processing class.  The class, offered in the city's East Bottoms area, gives participants the opportunity to become more familiar with cuts of meat and the art of butchery. 

Alex Pope opened the Local Pig a year ago. Students only pay $100 to take the class and get to take home at least 10 pounds of fresh meat. 

Pope enjoys connecting students with the "lost trade" and keeps his classes educational with a laid-back, social spirit. 

Meat cutting demonstrations became popular in the late 2000s in coastal states, but have recently been popping up in cities as close as Chicago and Milwaukee. 

    "One of the most surprising things has been Mr. Pope’s clientele. Kansas City is a meat
    metropolis, both in terms of its famous barbecue and the proximity of ranchers and
    outdoorsmen more intimately familiar with its source. So rather than attracting just
    food tourism’s classic archetype, the hipster or yuppie in search of one-off adventure,
    he often caters to people interested in actually applying his art — everyone from deer
    hunters to nouveau back-to-the-landers with their own swine."

Click here to check out the original story posted by the New York Times. 

In the News - Shatto Milk Company Celebrates 10 years

 

Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Star

Shatto Milk will celebrate its 10th year by introducting five special edition flavors throughout 2013r. In honor of Valentine's Day, Shatto developed a chocolate cherry milk that hit grocery store shelves late last week.

Joyce Smith from the Kansas City Star dug deeper into this story to learn what this Missouri company is planning for their anniversary celebration: a family day at the farm in Clinton County and other special events throughout the year. 

Teaser: The next special edition flavor will have a St. Patrick's Day theme! 

    “We wanted to thank all of our
    customers and do a fun thing for
    our anniversary,” said Barbara
    Shatto of the family owned
    company. “The smooch is the
    kiss we want to blow to all of our     customers. We wouldn’t be here
    without them.”

The Statto Milk Company's history runs deep into Leroy and Barb Shatto's family tree. The original dairy farm began in the late 1800's under the supervision of Barb's grandparents and was passed down three generations. In 2003, the couple began exploring the option of bottling their farm-fresh milk themselves and selling it to the St. Joseph and Kansas City areas. The Shatto Milk Company was born in the summer of 2003 debuting products in just 10 grocery stores. Today, their website lists more than 70 locations carrying their milk varieties.

Click here to read Joyce's full story at the KC Star. The Shatto Milk Company's website is www.shattomilk.com.

 

 

Missouri State Fair Recognized as One of the Best (Again!)

The State Fair tradition runs deep for many Missourians, especially those involved in agriculture. In addition to those personal traditions, the Fair has a tradition of excellence that stands true again for 2012.

The Missouri State Fair was recognized, again, as one of the premiere agricultural showcases in the world by the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE). During the recent IAFE convention, Missouri’s state fair received more than 30 awards.

Nearly 354,000 attended the 2012 Missouri State Fair to experience the excellence provided by Missouri's agricultural showcase. In fact, more than 28,000 livestock and competitive entries were shown this year by more than 4,000 Missouri 4-H and FFA members. 

From the livestock exhibits to fun family activities, agricultural equipment displays and unique food available on the Fairgrounds, Sedalia, Mo. is a retreat for many farmers, ranchers and their families - as well as many other Missourians who head to Sedalia for a taste of the rural lifestyle.   

Among the more than 30 awards, the Fair received Awards of Distinction in the areas of Competitive Exhibits and New Innovations in Sponsorship. Only one winner was chosen from each of the five divisions.

For a full list of the awards, visit http://www.mostatefair.com/awards-and-recognition.  And, mark your calendars for the 111th Missouri State Fair, Aug. 8-18, 2013 in Sedalia! 

 

Thanking farmers throughout the holiday season

Deviled eggs.
Turkey.
Mashed potatoes. 
Stuffing. 
Rib roast.
Pork tenderloin.
Sweet corn.
Green bean casserole.
Pumpkin pie.

Whether your Thanksgiving meal includes the full spread of holiday foods above or incoporates none of those items, don’t forget to say thanks to your farmers today throughout the holiday season. From family gatherings to meals filled with fresh produce, meats and dairy products, Missouri farmers help make many holiday traditions possible, and more enjoyable.

We kicked off the season November 21, just ahead of Thanksgiving Day, with National Thank A Farmer Day. Thank A Farmer Day is an annual celebration recognizing the contributions and sacrifices farmers and farm families make every day and a great reminder of where our food (and fuel and fiber) comes from throughout the year! It's also a great reminder to all of us to keep the hardworking men and women of Missouri agriculture in mind was a give thanks, celebrate and enjoy the season.

Tractors on the Square in West Plains, Mo.

Michael Hinton's love for tractors began in Kansas where he grew up watching the local farmers working their fields. His passion turned into an investment in 2008 after a move to West Plains, Mo. and the purchase of a 1949 Farmall Cub.  The purchase began as an addition to his father-in-law's Farmall collection, but soon became much more. When Michael's Farmall Cub required some work shortly after purchase, he found out how difficult it is to find parts and information on antique tractors. His struggle led him to create a new web site called TheAntiqueTractorShow.com where Michael shares links to find parts, history, restoration information, articles and events highlighting his beloved iron workhorses.  

His tagline reads, "Recognizing the Tractors' Importance To Our Rich Agricultural and Farm Machinery Heritage" to which tractor aficionados from around the world would agree. Many have let him know that they find his information invaluable to their trade.  

September 29, 2012 marks the third annual "Antique Tractor Preservation Day" in Missouri as proclaimed by Governor Jay Nixon and a "Tractors on the Square" event in West Plains, Mo. The day will also be commemorated with a one-of-a-kind tractor postmark from the U.S. Postal Service.

Want to go to the event? Here are all the details:
Tractors on the Square - September 29, 2012, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in Historic Downtown District Square in West Plains, Mo.
Free admission with music, food, shopping, and activities for the kids including a mini tractor pull. 

Photos provided by Michael Hinton of TheAntiqueTractorShow.com

Cape Girardeau Story Provides Inspiration for Farmers' Markets Across the U.S.

About a year ago, our team at the Missouri Department of Agriculture received a call from Emily Peterson and Levi Olson of Cape Girardeau.  Emily had been selling at the weekday afternoon farmers' market, and Levi had been shopping there.  Both missed the markets they had in their old towns where the community gathered on Saturday mornings, not just to feed their families but also for the sense of community and friendship that developed with those settings.  While they both loved the market they had, they felt there was room to do even more.

After contacting the Department, the two started working with AgriMissouri to gather input from others in the community.  With promotion from the local paper, and some good old-fashioned recruiting by the two of them, more than 120 people came together to talk about opportunities to grow, and the directions they hoped this project would move. After and 1 1/2 hours of listening to what the community wanted to see in a market, the team went to work on a market plan. 

Of those 120 or so attendees, 75 chose to keep going that night - 3 1/2 hours after the meeting began, possible vendors, locations and sponsors were identified, a 10-person task force was established, and tasks had been assigned to bring the market to fruition.

On June 21, the Farmers Market Coalition launched the Farmers Market Inspiration Award.  The award showcases the ways farmers' markets benefit communities across the United States through a contest for essays telling the stories through the eyes of those who grow and sell America’s best food and communites.  This award was a partnership between the Farmers Market Coalition, Growing for Market, and the American Farmland Trust’s America’s Favorite Farmers Market Contest.

Emily's husband, Ross Peterson of Laughing Stalk Farm, told their story and were honored as one of the top eight entries in the nation.  An excerpt from their story is below, and the full essay is available online throughou the Farmers Market Coalition website.

“Farmer’s markets are the dinner tables of healthy communities.  They are the place where everyone can gather to exchange stories and laughter with the accompaniment of good food.  They are the place where we can talk about what is going on in our lives – whether mundane, exuberant, or somber.  Through these interactions we learn about each other, and in turn grow with one another just like a family. This is the story of our dinner table, our family, and how it has nourished us.”

Read the full essay, titled Home is Where the Market Is, on the Farmers Market Coalition website at http://farmersmarketcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IA_HonorableMention_Peterson.pdf.

Check Out Missouri Goodness at the State Fair

During your visit to the Missouri State Fair, make time to visit the AgriMissouri Market and Farmers' Market in the Agriculture Building to sample some of Missouri's finest produce and locally-made treats, from chocolate chip pumpkin bread to heirloom melons to corn salsa!

More than 70 AgriMissouri companies from towns throughout Missouri are showcasing their products in the Agriculture Building at the Missouri State Fair. From Augie’s Barbecue Company to Z-Best Coffee, the AgriMissouri store is a not-so-virtual-shopping experience filled with the tastes and treasures of the Show-Me State. Sampling stations will be setup inside the market every day. And some of our premiere members will be also be featured in adjoining booths. Ask our friendly AgriMissouri staff for assistance finding your special preferences, or for assistance finding gluten-free and sugar-free products. Products made from Missouri soybeans arealso be highlighted with special signage.

In the News - Family farm's pork feeds the desires of chefs, home cooks

AgriMissouri member Todd Geisert, a 5th generation pork producer in Franklin County, is featured in the St. Louis Post Dispatch today.  Writer Joe Bonwich highlights the farm's free range, organic methods of raising hogs as well as the markets Todd, known as Toad to his childhood friends, has found throughout the St. Louis area. 

Here's an excerpt from the article, titled "Family farm's pork feeds the desires of chefs, home cooks":

The family has raised hogs since 1916, "free to enjoy the fresh air and play in the sunshine," as Geisert says in his brochure. They didn't use antibiotics or growth hormones back then, and by continuing that approach, he has built a growing clientele.

His locally grown, naturally raised pork — aka "Toad's Pigs," picking up on Geisert's youthful nickname — is a favorite of many St. Louis-area chefs.

"We found Todd through our bartender, Dana, who lives in that area, near Washington," says Ben McArthur, chef at Balaban's in Chesterfield. "Dana kept talking about the quality of Todd's products and how good the stuff, his pork, is.

"Everything is organic, no hormones. The hogs are even free-range. We use it for all of the pork entrees on our menu. I also like to incorporate his pork into our daily specials. It's really good stuff."

Geisert raises chef-preferred heritage breeds of pork: Berkshire, Duroc, Hampshire and Cheshire White. His retail distribution has grown steadily and  includes close to a dozen specialty grocers in Washington and St. Louis. He maintains a list of retail outlets — as well as a list of restaurants who use his products — on his website.

To see the full story, including photos from the farm, visit the St. Louis Post Dispatch online or pick up a copy of today's paper!

Celebrate Then and Wow...NOW!!!!

After months of aniticipation, our favorite time of the year is upon us. The Missouri State Fair starts August 9th and runs through the 19th. Whether you are there to show off your prize livestock, your arts and crafts, bountiful vegetables, carnival game skills, love of music, bravery on Mid-Way rides or showcase your delicious pies, we will be there to see it all!!

This year marks the 110th anniversary of The Missouri State Fair "Then & Wow". The Missouri State Fair, along with farmer's, livestock producers and so many more have put forth a huge effort to ensure this years' festival will surely be one to remember.

Opening Day Ceremonies begin at 10a.m., Thursday August 9th. Governor Nixon and first lady Georganne Nixon, MDA Director Jon Hagler along with State Fair Director Mark Wolfe, will all be in tow to kick off the festivities.

One of the biggest days on the calendar is Military Appreciation Day set for Sunday August 12th. This is Missouri's big chance to show support for veterans of the past and present with a "Show-Me Salute". Veterans and their families will be admitted to the fair free that day and we will commemorate their service with an official Military Appreciation Day Ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. in the Mathewson Exhibition Center.  We are proud to host members of the elite Tuskegee Airmen at this year's event as well.   

Along with the 110th Anniversary celebration this year at the fair. Thursday July 16th, beginning at 1 p.m. the Missouri State Fair Volunteer Fire Department will ride through the fairgrounds in honor of their 50th year of dedicated service. The parade will showcase vintage fire trucks and free fire helmets, sponsored by Monsanto, will be handed out to fairgoers 13 years old and younger.

Fun for all flavors and ages is set to fire up this year on the fairgrounds. We have an incredible line up of musical artists featuring, to name a few, Jake Owen, Justin Moore, Montgomery Gentry and Hank Williams Jr. Get ready to laugh with Larry the Cable Guy Friday August 17th and don't miss the Larry the Cable Guy look alike contest earlier that day as well.

Bluegrass Festivals, Truck and Tractor Pulls, Auto Races, Demolition Derby, MRCA Finals Rodeo, Pig Race's and a barrel full of Family Fun featuring Sea Lion Splash, The Sweeney Family Band Country Comedy Review, Hedrick's Exotic Animal Petting Zoo and Rock-It The Robot!

Oh and did we mention The First Lady's Pie Contest!!!!!

Anything catch your eye yet? Ours too!

There's only one thing left to say....See you at the fair!!!!

Tractors on the Square

Looking for a fun filled family outing this fall? Look no farther than the Antique Tractor Show in West Plains, MO. The show will take place on Saturday, September 29th, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bring the whole family out for this free event that celebrates the Ozarks and our Agricultural Heritage.

Tractors will be parked all around the Courthouse and elsewhere on the Historic West Plains Square. There will be ample free parking available for all visitors on the square.