Today's Feature

Youth Fair Weekend Events.

The Jasper County 4-H Youth Fair will continue through Saturday, July 12 at the Jasper County Fairgrounds in Carthage Municipal Park. The Cardinal Amusement Carnival is ongoing daily from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Today’s events include the Dairy show at 8:00 a.m., A Celebrity Milking Contest in the show arena at 12 noon, a Bar-B-Que sponsored by the Jasper County Youth Fair Board from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., and the Market Animal Sale at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday’s events begin with an Exhibitor’s breakfast, served by the Carl Junction FFA from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. at the patio shelter east of the Livestock Barns. The breakfast is open to the public and costs $3.00.

A Livestock Judging Contest will be held at 10:00 a.m., and a Round Robin Showmanship Competition will be held at noon. Also at noon the Little Tikes Pedal Tractor Pull will be held for ages 2-10.

The Beautiful Baby Contest will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the Show Arena, and the Kountry Kritters Pet Show will be held at 4:30 p.m. The Awards Ceremony will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.

Buying Local is the New Trend!

From the University of Missouri Extension Office

publication "Ag News & Views"

Guest Contributor Kelly Roberts, Newton County Extension Intern

Whether your garden is producing more than you can eat or you’re looking for a new way to market your products, farmer’s markets may be the answer. Better yet the advertising is being done for you!

As prices rise, most of us are reevaluating our spending habits. Eating out is no longer economically savvy; instead many consumers are cooking those gourmet meals at home. Chefs cooking on Good Morning America reference shopping local farmer’s markets as one of the best ways to buy organic, fresh and fully ripe products. From cut flowers to fresh produce and even the occasional home made pie, farmer’s markets are a creative and fun way to market your commodity.

There are more than 130 farmer’s markets offered across Missouri. Six are located in SW Missouri which include markets located in Lamar, El Dorado Springs, Carl Junction, Webb City, Carthage and Neosho. For a complete list of Missouri’s Farmer’s Markets look online at http:// agebb.missouri.edu/fmktdir/view.htm. A rental fee may be charged to sell your products at the market. However, these fees are almost irrelevant when considering the benefits of a clean, well located, community driven location for marketing your products. Farmer’s markets are traditionally open on Saturdays and are encouraged to be a family adventure.

The University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture has a vast amount of information listed for farmer’s who wish to market locally. Helpful lists such as retail weights and units as well as harvest calendars are available via internet. It’s also important to think about charging sales tax on your items as well. The Department of Revenue has a great web page of questions and answers dedicated to sales tax issues and farmer’s markets.

As a producer, farmer’s markets are a great way to build rapport with customers. When you sell products at a farmer’s market you have the opportunity to actually meet your customer and better yet they get to meet you. It gives people a sense of security to meet the people that are producing their food. Families are choosing to eat healthier and in turn paying more attention to where their food comes from. Offering samples of your product is a great way to show them the difference between farm fresh and store purchased. It reminds me of the Pringles commercial "I bet you can’t have just one"!

Deborah Madison author of "Cooking and Eating from America’s Farmers Markets" (Broadway Books) encourages shoppers to ask questions about products and ask for tips on how to use it. So, gather up your cooking tips, practice your smile and head down to the farmer’s market near you. They’ll be waiting and you can bet they’ll keep coming back for more!

I’m gonna have ta get me a pair of galosha’s. Growin’ up all us kids had a pair with the buckles. They were big enough ta fit over the shoe and you could tuck the pants leg down inside. They were great for splashin’ in mud puddles and wadin’ in the small ditch that ran in front of the house. There wasn’t anything much more fun than gettin’ out after a good summer rain and sloppin’ around in the puddles.

Course now folks might think it a little odd to see the neighbor out jumpin’ up and down in a mud hole.

That’s one of the good things ‘bout bein’ a kid. You could do things just a’cause ya wanted to. If someone thought you were a little crazy, it just added to the fun.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Natural Nutrition

by Mari An Willis

Bump and bruise season is here. Sore backs from gardening to painting or jogging, bike riding, canoeing and other summer related activities may be alleviated with the help of arnica gel or cream. Arnica is described in homeopathic literature as THE solution to the aforementioned conditions.

Who is more prone to falls than that toddler or what about the track enthusiasts? In the MATERIA MEDICA by William Boericke, M.D. states " it is especially suited to cases when injury, however remote, seems to have caused the present trouble." He also suggests it in " traumatism of grief, remorse or sudden realization of financial loss" letting us know that it can be used when the emotions are involved. Arnica should not be used on open wounds.

On a different note, I find it interesting that a certain ad on television has been stating that it is the ONLY source of pryruvate or fat grabbers. How do these people get away with such straight out lies? The herbs they are promising are good, it is just the fact that they are not the first nor the only to have the product. Maybe it is just the exorbortant prices they ask that makes them unique. Why do we put so much stock in TV personality?