We got talked into another sale

WE are happy to announce that we are having another sale of our Banners after such great response we decided to offer the opportunity again. From Memorial Day to Labor Day the banners will be 20% off their purchase price! Order quick before time runs out!! For more information or to order please email us at: agademics@gmail.com

Great Day to wear green

Wear Green To Support Agriculture Tomorrow!

by Amanda Radke in BEEF Daily

Apr. 16, 2012 9:23pm

 (Amanda writes a great blog when you get a chance check it out) 

Make plans to sport a green shirt tomorrow, April 18, for the third annual “Wear Green To Support Agriculture Day!” Wear green to work and strike up a conversation with consumers about the importance of agriculture in their daily lives.

The event details are available on Facebook where the creators, Barrett Smith and Rachel Erin, state, “Agriculture impacts everyone, no matter who you are, where you live or what you do. Our goal for this year is 17,000 people who will proudly say they support agriculture. Last year, we had very good turnout and are looking to improve upon it again this year.”

Smith and Erin are both heavily involved in production agriculture and hope the green shirts will help spread the word and educate consumers about agriculture and food production.

“In the face of changing times and communication, which is not always clear, we ask that everyone stand up and support agriculture by wearing green on April 18. We started this event as two concerned college students two years ago. We see even more need to continue spreading a positive message about agriculture as we continue on in our lives post-higher education. Think of the impact that you can have by inviting your friends to join and sharing your stories.”

In light of the recent controversy surrounding lean finely textured beef (LFTB), this event is incredibly important to turn around the conversation from negative, fearful speculation to enthusiastic confidence in American agriculture. With Beef Month just around the corner, “Wear Green Day” is the perfect way to kick things off and get the ball rolling in a positive direction.

Beef lovers month!!!

Happy Beef lovers month!! What a great month to celebrate with stock show season in full swing and kids working hard on their county fair steer projects!!! What a great time to learn all about the hard work that young and old put into making a great product for us to enjoy in the grocery store!!1

Making a switch

WE are trying to convert all of our blogging to our new blog which has our new name in the address of the blog. The new blog is: agademics.blogspot.com So check it out and follow our adventures.

Farm Planet Banner Rental

Banner Rental changes for 2012

2012 is a year of changes for us here at AGademics
 we want our products and services to more user friendly!! In doing so we have changed our prices and rearranged our package deals on banner rentals. Now all banners will rented at $45 a day each for fairs 5 days or less. Fairs larger than 5 days when renting the whole set (9) the price is rent one get the next one free. So by renting all 9 you would be paying for 4 banners. 


Don't forget we are celebrating our 20th year in the fair industry so we are offering 20% off the purchase of the banners until Feb. 29th!!! 

A YAHOO article that needs to be fact checked again

College Majors That Are Useless

Are you going back to school in hopes of graduating to more job opportunities? You might want to avoid these degrees.

By Terence Loose      

If you're considering going back to school in hopes that you'll graduate to more opportunities, there are certain degrees that you might want to avoid.
Consider the National Association of Colleges and Employers' (NACE) 2012 Job Outlook study, which surveyed almost 1,000 employers on their future hiring plans. Many areas of study, such as fashion design and the performing arts, didn't even make the list.
On the other hand, majors like business had 83 percent of the surveyed employers saying they planned to recruit them. Close seconds were accounting and computer and information science majors with nearly 60 percent of surveyed employers planning to recruit them.
At the other end of the spectrum are degrees that are either so specific they can't be applied in a variety of fields, or those linked to careers with virtually little to no projected job growth.
Want to make sure you don't pick a dud of a degree? Check out our list of most useless degrees.

Useless Degree #1 - Agriculture

Number of Students Awarded Degree in 2008-2009: 24,988
Typical coursework: Crops, plant diseases, animal husbandry, basic veterinary science

When schools such as the University of Idaho cut their agriculture programs, you know times are tough for this degree. The state has more than 25,000 farms, for cow's sake, according to the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture census, in 2007.
Still, if your idea of a good day is getting up with the sun and working till it sets as an agricultural manager, a degree in agriculture might be your calling.
Just don't expect farms and ranches to be calling you, says Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., and author of "The 10 Best College Majors for Your Personality." "It's true that farms are becoming more efficient now and so there is less of a need for farm managers," he says. That means less jobs. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor projects 64,000 fewer jobs in this field over the next seven years.
Total Number of Agricultural Managers in 2008: 1,234,000
Projected Change in Number of Jobs 2008-2018: -64,600
Percent Change: -5

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Useless Degree #2 - Fashion Design

Number of Students Awarded Degree in 2008-2009: 89,140
Typical coursework: Fashion history, sewing, tailoring, color, design, pattern making

The world of high fashion is glamorous, exciting, and, unfortunately, highly exclusive and competitive.
"Fashion never dies out, never ends, and even though everything gets made overseas now, there's always a need for designers. But it's incredibly competitive. It's one you really have to establish yourself in," Shatkin says.
And those glamour positions are expected to be the ones with the fewest opportunities among an already small field, says the U.S. Department of Labor. Because it's so tough, Shatkin suggests that getting a practical minor with this degree is very smart.

Total Number of Fashion Designers in 2008: 22,700
Projected Change in Number of Jobs 2008-2018: +200
Percent Change: +1

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Useless Degree #3 - Theater

Number of Students Awarded Degree in 2008-2009: 89,140
Typical coursework: Theater, acting, directing, design, playwriting, communications, dramatic literature

Here's the good news: Sign up for theater as a major and at least you'll be really good at acting like you have a job.
Here's the bad news: Actors endure long periods of unemployment and frequent rejection, says the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department goes on to say that because earnings are erratic for actors, producers, and directors, many hold second jobs. In other words, how do you feel about waiting tables?
Of course, says Shatkin, "People go into this with such a love for it you can't stop them."
Total Number of Actors/Producers/Directors in 2008: 155,100
Projected Change in Number of Jobs 2008-2018: +16,900
Percent Change: +11

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Useless Degree #4 - Animal Science

Number of Students Awarded Degree in 2008-2009: 80,756
Typical coursework: Animal breeding, reproductive physiology, nutrition, meat and muscle biology

Here's another degree aimed at a career that at first glance doesn't look all that discouraging. After all, animal scientist employment is projected by the U.S. Department of Labor to grow 13 percent from 2008 to 2018.
But crunch a few more numbers and you quickly realize that you could be in for stiff competition to grab a piece of that pie. Fewer than 5,000 animal scientist jobs are projected to exist in the field by 2018.
The problem, says Shatkin, is the degree is so specific that trying to apply it to anything else means a tough time convincing people it gives you any useful skills for jobs outside animal science jobs.
Total Number of Animal Scientists in 2008: 3,700
Projected Change in Number of Jobs 2008-2018: +500
Percent Change: +13

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Useless Degree #5 - Horticulture

Number of Students Awarded Degree in 2008-2009: 24,988
Typical coursework: Crops, plant diseases, agricultural business and economics, crop and fruit science

If you like the farm life but aren't all that keen on all the whining and clucking of an animal farm, perhaps a degree in horticulture is growing on you.
Unfortunately, the number of jobs in the field itself is not growing, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And Shatkin agrees. "Better than agriculture, but not by much. If you're lucky, you may find some way to apply that to a related business like food processing or production," he says.
Total Number of Farmers and Ranchers in 2008: 985,900
Projected Change in Number of Jobs 2008-2018: -79,200
Percent Change: -8

As a AGRICULTURE major and in the industry I am sadden about this article. There is so many holes with this article and if it was true so many of my friends would not have a job in the AGRICULTURAL industry. I wouldn't have picked any other major or any other industry to work in. 

FAVORITE AG FACTS FROM 2011!

Here is the collection of our favorite ag facts we learned over the year! Can't wait to learn more next year and share it with everyone. Hope you love them as much as we do and share them with others.

POTATO CHIPS ARE #1 SNACK FOOD IN THE WORLD

IN THE USA 350 SLICES OF PIZZA ARE EATEN EVERY SECOND

42% OF THE USA IS USED AS FARMLAND

AVERAGE AMERICAN EATS 100 POUNDS OF POTATOES A YEAR

30% OF FARM OPERATORS ARE WOMEN

AVG. PERSON EATS 25 POUNDS OF MELONS A YEAR

PLASTIC MILK BOTTLES WERE INTRODUCED IN 1967

ALL 50 STATES HAVE A DAIRY FARM

VANILLA IS AMERICA'S FAVORITE FLAVOR OF ICE CREAM

AVERAGE AGE OF A FARMER IS 55 YEARS OLD

DISNEYLAND SELLS OVER 4 MILLION HAMBURGERS A YEAR (10,959 A DAY)

BALE OF COTTON WEIGHS: 480 POUNDS & CAN MAKE 325 PAIRS OF JEANS

CHINESE FIRST TO RAISE WILD PIGS FOR FOOD

540 PEANUTS = 12 OZ OF PEANUT BUTTER

GROUP OF TURKEYS ARE CALLED A "RAFTER"

LONGEST CARROT RECORDED WAS 17FT LONG

EACH AMERICAN CONSUMES 30 POUNDS OF LETTUCE A YEAR

45 MILLION TURKEYS ARE CONSUMED AT THANKSGIVING EACH YEAR

DYE USED TO STAMPS GRADES ON BEEF IS MADE FROM GRAPE SKINS

ONE ACRE OF POTATOES= 52,000 SERVINGS OF FRENCH FRIES

CHINA PRODUCES HALF THE WORLD'S SUPPLY OF EGGS (390 BILLION EGGS)

A PECK OF APPLES WEIGHS: 10.5 POUNDS

A BUSHEL OF APPLES WEIGHS: 42 POUNDS

SUPERBOWL IS THE #1 DAY FOR PIZZA CONSUMPTION

CHEDDAR CHEESE IS THE #1 MOST POPULAR CHEESE IN THE USA

70 POUNDS OF BEEF IS CONSUMED EACH YEAR BY ONE PERSON IN THE USA

Celebrate our 20 years in the Fair industry!

We are celebrating our 20th year in 2012 in the fair industry and we are so excited!! And to show our appreciation to the fairs and people who have helped us grow we are giving discounts on our banner rentals and purchases!! From December 12 to February 29 our banners will be 20% off the purchase price or banner rental. This is a way for us to say thank you for the years of memories on the road at the fairs. Make sure to get your orders in soon there is a 3-5 week turn around on all purchase orders. We look forward to seeing everyone on the road in 2012 and helping us celebrate 20 years!!

Banners on display at Cow Palace 2011

Happy Holiday & Thank a Farmer!

Happy Holidays and this is so true!! While counting your blessings don't forget to count the farmers in!

WOW 5 years down.... so many to go

Its amazing how many things can change yet stay the same in 5 years. It has been 5 years since Barn Tours (now AGademics) has been under new ownership. I am very happy to see this company grow and I am very glad I can continue the tradition of teaching the public about agriculture. I am just as passionate as I was the first day I started to work for Barn Tours over 11 years ago. WOW that seems like a lifetime ago. I still remember going to my first fair as a tour guide and my first fair as an owner and talk about 2 different experience I will never forget.  I appreciate the hard work and foundation that was laid before me and I can't wait to see wait the next level is waiting for us. We have had our up and downs in the last 5 years and learned alot of lessons. The fair industry is an ever changing industry and agriculture is steady so it is a hard balance. But seeing the light bulb turn on when that person you have been talk ing to about agriculture gets "it" and that is what I feel is rewarding. I truly believe if you can teach somebody one thing new about agriculture then I have done my job. And I LOVE my job!!!!!
I can only imagine the future for AGademics  and I hope it is as bright as the last 5 years as an owner.

National Farm- City Week Nov. 18-24

Has Thanksgiving approaches and we give thanks to those who provide for us, it's also a time for us to celebrate Farm to City week. Farm-City is a national organization that is trying to build the bridge between the two. The organization is a great resource on agriculture education information and materials in bring into the classroom or into events. I suggest everyone check it out and test your agriculture knowledge with their quizzes, www.farmcity.org. I know I plan on celebrating this week and keep an eye out on our facebook fan page and twitter for new fun facts about agriculture. 

Fashion meets dairy farming

 I have to share this great clip about the fashion world meets the dairy world. I know so many of us in the farming industry try to stay on top of fashion but these execs are the other way around. These execs of Manolo Blahnik have entered into the dairy farming world. Its a great look into the future of farming and maybe it will inspire others.
http://www.cbs.com/shows/the_early_show/video/2167669656/manolo-blahnik-execs-take-on-dairy-farming

World EGG day - Oct. 14

Well World EGG day is coming up and what a better day to start your day off right with eggs for breakfast. Now I know I'm not the most excited person about eggs for breakfast, I like to put everything in them but once I do they are yummy. I thought I would share some of my fun facts about eggs as well as my favorite recipe using eggs.

Fun Facts: 

An eggshell has roughly 17,000 pores on it

White shell is from a hen with a white earlobe

Brown shell is from a hen with a red earlobe

It takes 26 hours for a hen to make an egg

One day out at room temp. = one week in the fridge

Average hen lays 250-270 eggs a year

USA produces roughly 75 billion eggs annually

China produces roughly 390 billion eggs annually (1/2 the world's supply)

 

 My Favorite EGG recipe is: Breakfast casserole with Sausage!!! YUM-O 

• 6 slices bread, cubed
• 1 pound sausage, browned, drained
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 8 each eggs, beaten
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon, salt
• pepper to taste

Preparation:

Cube bread and place evenly in greased 9x13 pan or baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with sausage and cheese. Mix eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over ingredients in pan. May cover and chill overnight. (if left overnight, remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before baking). Bake 45 minutes at 325 degrees or until set. Cut into squares to serve.
Serves8 to 10

National Apple Month

October is National Apple Month. And as they say "A apple a Day keeps the Doctor away" and they are a tasty treat. Most people think that apples in October mean bobbing for apples or carmel covered apples for Halloween. Apples can be used for so many things: juice in the morning, cider at night, pie for dessert or with applesauce next to a pork chop. I always love a good carmel covered apple from the county fair.

Here are  some fun facts about apple for National Apple Month:

2 pounds of apples = 1 9inch pie

2500 varieties of apples are grown in USA

Apples are grown in all 50 states

Apples are a member of the Rose Family

Largest apple ever picked weighed in at 3 pounds

A peck of apples weighs: 3 pounds

A bushel of apples weighs: 42 pounds

Average size of American apple orchard = 50 acres

It takes 36 apples = 1 gallon of cider

Apples are #2 most valuable fruit grown in the USA

7500 varieties of apples are grown world wide

National 4-H Week October 2- 9

As National 4- H week approaches it reminds me of all the good times and friends I made in this GREAT organization. I started like many at 9 years old following in a parents foot steps. I still remember 20 plus years later the fun activities, camps, leadership, livestock events and people from that time. I truly believe that at one point all children rural or urban need to experience the vast diversity that is 4-H. I still keep my prized 4-H trophy I won at fair not too long after joining the Buena Suerte club, High Individual Vegetable Sweepstakes!!! Its one trophy I can't seem to part with (its a silver and gold watering can, that as never seen water) There is so much to learn and do with 4-H that use this week to help celebrate the organization and please share your memories with your loved ones or help a new clover make theirs for the first time.

A day in Agriculture (September 29)

Today is a day is Agriculture where you are suposed to captures agriculture at work today. Well I have to say I was working hard today in the floral industry. I helped create 12 center pieces for my friends wedding as well as 4 other arranges for the cake tables and just to have.

Just because I wasn't out in the field or on a tractor I was still apart of agriculture today and every day. I would like to thank those growers of the flowers who allowed us to have beautiful arrangements for the wedding this weekend.

Is it really flattering to be copied?

As I stand on top of my soap box, I have learned in the last couple of years and weeks  of companies trying to copy MY Barn Tours program and even fairs are copying the program (BARN TOURS) and the NAME. I appreciate the fact that there is people out there in the world who think we are doing a great thing and want to copy it. But DON"T use my name (BARN TOURS) we have a 20 year reputation we have worked hard to build up and maintain. Now I am all for us to work together so if you do want to use MY name and MY program we can work together but ASK first. I keep my business to a certain standard and I would hate to think that the copies out there are not and ruining MY name without knowing it.
I understand that in the fair industry we tend to use ideas from others and make them our own. But when you take ideas from a business and try to do it on your own you take money out of our pocket as well as try to reinvent the wheel. Well I blue prints to the wheel and have worked out all the kinks and its so hard to see others out there try to do it and it not be up to our standards.
 By all means just ask and I am willing to work with you so that way the education is still being passed along in a fun and entertaining way. Cause all that matters is the public is educated correctly and no more miss information about agriculture is spread.

A great article from Hoosier Ag Today!

An Open Letter to 4-H Livestock
07/24/2011

By Gary Truitt

Dear 4-H livestock projects:
I am writing to voice my concern over several incidents that have occurred at county fairs across the Midwest this summer. While seemingly isolated incidents they represent a trend that could result in the loss of your popularity and the ability of your exhibitors to bring you to the fair. While I agree that you may be justified in your actions, the bottom line is that you are setting things in motion that may have very undesirable and unintended consequences.   Let me put it in simpler terms so the sheep and turkeys will understand: you had better start behaving yourselves in public.

I have received several documented reports of bad behavior on the part of 4-H animals at county fairs. These occurred in different fairs across the Midwest and involved several different species. All, however, involved interaction with the non-farm public.   While these may seem trivial to you, it is a serious matter to the city folks who are walking through the barns. Let's be honest -- you are the star of the show at the county fair. Yes, there are the midway, the fair food, and the tractor pull, but research has shown the biggest reason people come to the fair is you. This is your one and only chance to be a star, so don't blow it. Let me offer a few help suggestions.

Hogs: While I realize it is hot and you are exceeding grumpy because you cannot sweat, please try and resist the temptation to have a temper tantrum and go running through the barn knocking adults and children to the ground.   Remember, most of these people have read Charlotte's Web and have seen the movie Babe, thus think you are cute and cuddly.

Steers and Heifers: Please do not smash the hands of the children against the rail when they reach in to pet you like a dog. When a small child's idiotic parents let him run up right behind you, resist the temptation to kick him into the middle of next week.

Dairy cows: While at home there is no need for you to restrain yourself when that urge to relieve yourself comes upon you, but at the fair, please use a little discretion. It is especially tacky to let loose in front of a family from town who is eating lunch or while posing for pictures next the fair queen who is wearing open-toed sandals and a short dress.

Horses: You are proud and noble beasts and I know it would give you great satisfaction to bite the wiggling fingers of the children thrusting their hands into your stall while yelling, "Hi, horsey!" But if you do, you will just get left home in a hot paddock next year.

As for the rest of you, just keep in mind that scratching, snapping, or spitting is not good fair behavior. While I know you are animals, understand that most of the people coming through the barns don't understand that. They expect you to, as one mother put it to me, "act nice."

You should also know that there are forces at work in our world which would like nothing more than to shut down the 4-H livestock program. They feel that teaching young people proper animal care and personal responsibility is wrong. The kind of incidents mentioned above only give them an opportunity to criticize the 4-H livestock program.

So next time you get loaded up and taken to the fair, strike an attitude of knowing superiority. Remember you know more about animal agriculture than most of the folks who will be ogling you at the fair.

Good times at Alameda County Fair!!

This year at Alameda County Fair,  AGademics had a great time with our Barn Tour program and  Farm Planet Educational interactive center were all BIG hits with the fair goers. We had non stop tours, tons of daily prizes given away, and people learning new things about agriculture. The interaction with the public was so much fun and such a positive experience. On kids day we had the public make thank you postcards to the local farmers for them providing the animals and their meals. Not only did the kids love it but the adults loved it has well. We of course are mailing them to the local producers of Alameda County to say thank you.  Our tours were a HIT once again, we had some of largest tours on the weekends. We gave away some great prizes (baseball caps) and had many laughs watching those playing Plinko and Cornhole. Thanks to one of our tour guides Frances for her genius idea of having the question of the day at the AGademics interactive tent which made the public think and come talk to the other tour guides at the tent for the answer to the question. The voice of the fair Jason was amazing in that he announced the Ag fact of the day to the fair all day over the loud speakers while he was promoting us as well as other entertainers. I think Jason loves the Ag facts of the day as much as we do. We loved the 17 days we spent at Alameda County Fair and can't wait til next year.

Barn Tours at Alameda County Fair

This last week at the Alameda County Fair was full of fun and good times while we celebrated Independence day with fireworks on Friday night and decorated our tent on the 4th. In honor of the holiday we posted fun Ag facts about the 4th of July such as that an ingredient in fireworks comes from the fat of cattle. With the larger crowds we had plenty of tours, including our two largest of the fair so far! Both tours had over twelve people and were lead by Barn Tour guide Chase. Over the busy weekend we made postcards with kids thanking farmers for our food and during the week we had supplies for the kids to make fun bookmarks. In between tours we had fun challenging the public with our tent games of Plinko and Cornhole, asking them questions about different animals and agricultural products. As we go into our last weekend at the Alameda County fair we look forward to more fun tours and games. I have enjoyed being a barn tour guide and getting to meet countless fair-goers and making great memories with my fellow barn tour guides.