UPFRONT

Super teens

At the Missouri State Fair, long days of hard work on the family homestead are rewarded with more than ribbons and plaques. The payoff for hours spent managing livestock and crops is the opportunity to show off those farming skills in a whole new light during the annual “Super Teens” contest.

Super Teens was specifically designed for the fair’s youth exhibitors with fun in mind. “This contest is a reward for all the hard work put forth by Missouri teenagers in order to exhibit here at the Missouri State Fair,” said contest superintendent Gaylen Potter.

Teams of four, consisting of two boys and two girls, compete in a variety of farm-related events. The guys do their best to clear the highest crossbar during the bale toss and to maneuver their “pasture patty” into just the right location to claim top honors in the cow chip toss. Meanwhile, the gals give it a go at cow milking and hurl their hay bales into the air seeking the longest distance.

The grand finale gets the whole team up and moving with the obstacle course designed to encourage team work and inspire a laugh or two.

The fourth annual Super Teens contest will take place on Sunday, Aug. 13 in the Mathewson Exhibition Center at approximately 6:30 p.m. Contestants must be between the ages of 15 and 18 and have verification of exhibitor status at the 2006 Missouri State Fair.

Youth exhibitors can sign up during the fair at the beef cattle office in the coliseum any time before Sunday, Aug. 13.

“Don’t worry if you don’t have enough to form a team of four. Go ahead and sign up and we can put teams together,” said Potter.

A special rules meeting will be held prior to the event, with a meal sponsored by Subway and Wood & Huston Bank of Marshall, Springfield, West Plains and Cape Girardeau. All contestants will receive a special Super Teens t-shirt and leather gloves. Members of the winning team will each take home a commemorative Missouri State Fair belt buckle, hat and other special prizes sponsored by Randy and Pam Constant.

Potter extends a special message of thanks to MFA as his “go-to spot” for much of the equipment and supplies. used for the contest.

For details, visit www.mostatefair.com, click on the red “premium guide” tab, and look for “Super Teen.”

MFA legislative committee in Washington, D.C.

The MFA board of directors’ legislative committee traveled to Washington, D.C., recently to call on officials representing districts across MFA Incorporated’s trade territory. Members of the committee were briefed on legislation and key issues affecting agriculture.

An eye on resistance

In 2004, University of Missouri’s weed scientist Reid Smeda announced glyphosate-resistant ragweed on a farm just east of Columbia, Mo. Since then, he and other scientists have been studying what it takes to manage glyphosate-resistant weeds in a field situation. Smeda’s first answer is to avoid resistance. “To wait until you have a resistance issue is the wrong time. An Australian counterpart of mine says, ‘The best time to change herbicide systems is while they still work,’” said Smeda. What trials say so far is reinforcement of what you probably already know: It’s best to use multiple modes of action. Proper timing of herbicide application and proper rates are critical. Pay attention to the weeds you have and how they react to herbicide.

Aside from studying cropping systems and how to best manage glyphosate- resistant weeds, Smeda and company are working to understand if resistance can be transferred by pollen. To find out, they have set up a pollen study designed to transfer pollen from known resistant plants to known susceptible plants (as seen here).

Cooperative communicators tap Lay

MFA director of communications and Today’s Farmer executive editor Chuck Lay recently assumed duties as president of the Cooperative Communicators Association. The organization consists of about 350 professionals who communicate for cooperatives. As president, Lay will help oversee the CCA mission to build ideas and strategies that make communications more successful for cooperatives. Members of the organization include a broad swath of cooperatives from agricultural interests like MFA, CHS and Growmark to electrical cooperatives and finance co-ops.