Delaware Farm Bureau Leader

By Laura SimpsonThe 2015 Young Farmers and

Ranchers Leadership conference washeld in Nashville, TN at the GaylordOpryland Resort & Convention Centerfrom February 13 to 16. For the firsttime, the FUSION Conference broughttogether volunteer leaders from threeprogram areas: Promotion and Edu ca -tion, Women’s Leadership, and YoungFarmers and Ranchers.

The name FUSION was selected toshowcase the attendees who cametogether to improve their skills andobtain networking opportunities. FarmBureau members were also able toshare experiences, learn, and connectwith industry leaders and experts. Itwas also an opportunity to glean andapply ideas developed from otherstates, as well as share successful ideasof their own.

The conference provided current,accurate and valuable informationthrough sessions and workshops in theareas of AFBF’s guiding principles:innovation and financial planning; eco-nomic and rural growth; advocacy, out-reach and education; and leadershiptraining and implementation.

Special guest speakers included,Keni Thomas, who is a former UnitedStates Army Ranger and served in theBattle of Mogadishu. Keni and his fel-low Rangers distinguished themselvesin an 18-hour fire-fight that would laterbe recounted in the highly successfulbook and movie Blackhawk Down. Hismessage of “Train as you fight — Fightas you train and Lead by Example” wasthoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.

The second Keynote speaker wasPaul Vitale. Paul’s message — “It is notwhere you have been and what youhave traveled through; it is where youare going and how many lives you willtouch along the way” — was equally asinspirational.

Our last speaker was Tennesseenative Dr. Dale Henry. Dr. Henryspeaks to and trains over 100,000 pro-fessionals and executives each year, forclients such as AT&T, Cellular One,GTE, FedEx, Xerox and The DisneyCompany, as well as, Federal andInternational Agencies.

Overall the conference was a hugesuccess, as all who attended came awaywith new ideas, new sources of inspira-tion, made new friends and opened upnew networking possibilities. D

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INSIDE

From the President’s Desk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Your State Representatives & Senators . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

DFB Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

DFB Names New Public Relations Coordinator . . . . . . . 3

DFB, Nationwide Member/Leader Dinner . . . . . . . . . . 4

DFB Purchases Blue Jackets for 66 FFA Members . . . . 7

Kid’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

LEADERA Publication of Delaware Farm Bureau Vol. 22, No. 2 l MARCH/APRIL 2015

Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Members pose for a picture before attending a breakout session at the YF&R FUSIONLeadership Conference in Nashville, TN. Pictured are (front row, l-r) Mollie Moore, Mike Everett, and John Filasky; (middle row,l-r) Rebecca Urian, Olivia Everett; (back row, l-r) Jake Urian, Doug Sherwood, Theodore Bobola, Rebecca Bobola, Kristie Halland YF&R State Chair Travis Voshell.

Delaware YF&R Members Attend FUSIONLeadership Conference in Nashville

The Delaware State FarmBureau has always supported thecreation of, and identifying of, apermanent funding source for theDelaware Agricultural LandsPreservation Program. The pro-gram was adopted in 1991; how-ever, it wasn’t until 2005, whenSenate Bill 229 was passed by theGeneral Assembly, that the $10million in revenue was earmarkedfrom the Realty Transfer Tax tofund the program.

Each January, the Governorproposes a budget to the GeneralAssembly and, for several years,he has recommended severe reductions to this program. This year,the proposed program budget currently sits at only $3 million.During the lean revenue years, it was income generated by agricul-ture that kept this state going. Delaware tax payers receive more fortheir hard earned tax payer money through farm land preservationthan other state invested programs.

This voluntary program is often lauded as the best in the country— which is undoubtedly a recognized success. We are proud thatDelaware leads the nation in land preserved per capita. Addi -tionally, this program has recently been expanded to encourage thenext generation. A “Young Farmer Program” was adopted in 2011

and has allowed 25 young farmersto receive state loans which haveultimately helped purchase over2,000 acres in Delaware. Thatloan money is paid back to thestate with the bonus of preservingfarm land.

I became more involved withDelaware Farm Bureau because Ifeel I have a vested interest in thefuture of agriculture in Delawarefor my future generations.

Although the Governor hasproposed only $3 million dollarsthis year, the Joint Finance andBond Bill Committees have the

ultimate authority on the exact amount of funding for this program.Several legislators have already vocalized their support to fully fundthis program. However, it is essential that every farmer take the timeto call his or her Senator and Representative, and encourage themto insist that $10 million be allocated to fully fund the DelawareAgricultural Lands Preservation Program, as directed in 2005.

Our associate members can have a voice on this issue too. If youenjoy living in a state that values the benefits derived fromDelaware’s number one industry and produces local healthy foodchoices for your family, call your Senator and State Representativenow and ask them to support funding for the full $10 million!

From the President’s Desk

Kitty Holtz

Call Your State SenatorsAnd Representatives

On Ag Land Preservation

Rep. Michael A. Barbieri(302) 577-8342

Rep. Paul S. Baumbach(302) 577-8342

Rep. Andria Bennett(302) 744-4351

Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden(302) 744-4351

Rep. Gerald L. Brady(302) 577-8476

Rep. Ruth Briggs King(302) 744-4251

Rep. William J. Carson(302) 744-4113

Rep. Richard Collins(302) 744-4351

Rep. Timothy D. Dukes(302) 744-4171

Rep. Ronald E. Gray(302) 744-4171

Rep. Debra J. Heffernan(302) 577-8476

Rep. Kevin Hensley(302) 577-8476

Rep. Deborah Hudson(302) 577-8723

Rep. Earl G. Jaques, Jr.(302) 577-8342

Rep. James Johnson(302) 577-8476

Rep. S. Quinton Johnson(302) 577-8476

Rep. Helene M. Keeley(302) 577-8476

Rep. Harvey R. Kenton(302) 744-4171

Rep. John A. Kowalko, Jr.(302) 577-8342

Rep. Valerie Longhurst(302) 577-8476

Rep. Sean Matthews(302) 577-8476

Rep. Joseph E. Miro(302) 577-8723

Rep. John L. Mitchell, Jr.(302) 577-8843

Rep. Michael P. Mulrooney(302) 744-4351

Rep. Edward S. Osienski(302) 577-8476

Rep. William R. Outten(302) 744-4083

Rep. W. Charles Paradee(302) 744-4351

Rep. Harold J. Peterman(302) 744-4171

Rep. Charles Potter, Jr.(302) 577-5312

Rep. Michael Ramone(302) 577-8723

Rep. Peter C. Schwartzkopf(302) 744-4351

Rep. Sean Lynn(302) 744-4351

Rep. Bryon H. Short(302) 577-8480

Rep. Daniel B. Short(302) 744-4172

Rep. Melanie George Smith(302) 577-8476

Rep. Stephen T. Smyk(302) 744-4321

Rep. Jeffrey N. Spiegelman(302) 744-4171

Rep. John J. Viola(302) 577-8187

Rep. Kimberly Williams(302) 577-8476

Rep. David L. Wilson(302) 744-4150

Rep. Lyndon Yearick(302) 744-4171

Sen. Patricia Blevins(302) 744-4133

Sen. Colin R.J. Bonini(302) 744-4169

Sen. Brian J. Bushweller(302) 744-4162

Sen. Catherine Cloutier(302) 744-4197

Sen. Bruce Ennis(302) 744-4310

Sen. Bethany Hall-Long(302) 744-4286

Sen. Margaret Rose Henry(302) 744-4191

Sen. Gerald W. Hocker(302) 744-4144

Sen. Gregory F. Lavelle(302) 744-4048

Sen. David G. Lawson(302) 744-4237

Sen. Ernesto B. Lopez(302) 744-4136

Sen. Robert I. Marshall(302) 744-4168

Sen. David B. McBride(302) 744-4167

Sen. Harris B. McDowell, III(302) 744-4147

Sen. Karen E. Peterson(302) 744-4163

Sen. Brian Pettyjohn(302) 744-4048

Sen. Nicole Poore(302) 744-4164

Sen. Bryant Richardson(302) 744-4298

Sen. F. Gary Simpson(302) 744-4134

Sen. David P. Sokola(302) 744-4139

Sen. Bryan Townsend(302) 744-4165

Your State Representatives and Senators

Page 2 DELAWARE FARM BUREAU LEADER MARCH/APRIL 2015

Delaware Farm Bureau LeaderEditorCaroline Foltz [email protected]

Farm Bureau Leader (ISSN 1077-0798), pub lished in Camden, DE, bimonthly, by Dela ware FarmBureau. Production by Thompson Communications, Inc. Periodicals postage paid at Camden,DE and additional offices.

Business and Editorial Offices:3457 S. Dupont High way, Camden, DE 19934, 302-697-3183.Any editorial material may be reproduced with credit to this publication.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Farm Bureau Leader at the office above.

Subscription price to members (paid as part of Farm Bureau membership dues) is $1.60. Allother subscriptions are $6.50 per year.

REPRESENTATIVES

SENATORS

MARCH/APRIL 2015 DELAWARE FARM BUREAU LEADER Page 3

—Calendar of Events—Be Sure to Check Your Calendar

June

April

DOVER DAYS PARADE See the YF&R Committee and the Mobile Ag Lab

in the parade!Dover, DE — 9 a.m.

Sat.,May 2

May

NEW CASTLE COUNTY FARM BUREAU5K MILK RUN/WALK

Appoquinimink High SchoolMiddletown, DE — 8 a.m.More information on page 4

Sat.,May 30

YOUNG FARMERS AND RANCHERSSTRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

Bobola Farm & Florist — 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sat.,May 23

LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEONLegislative Hall

Tues.,April 21

NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH

Delaware Farm Bureau is proud toannounce the appointment of CarolineFoltz as its new Public RelationsCoordinator. Caroline is a nativeDelawarean and a 2012 graduate ofDelaware State University where shestudied Agriculture Business. She isalso an avid equestrian who has beenriding for over 20 years and was thecaptain of the Delaware StateUniversity’s Women’s EquestrianTeam.

Caroline’s past work experienceincludes Assistant Store Manager andFarm Market Lead at Fifer Orchards inCamden-Wyoming, DE and ProgramMarketing Specialist for Delaware’sDepartment of Natural ResourcesDivision of Parks and Recreation.

While working for Fifer’s she over-saw daily operations of their Camden-Wyoming location, implementing cus-tomer service trainings for employeesthat included knowledge of land stew-ardship and sustainable farming prac-tices. She also worked as Farm MarketLead, traveling to satellite Farmer’sMarkets throughout Delaware andspeaking with customers about theimportance of local eating.

Caroline served as the 2009Delaware Peach Queen and was amember of the FFA. She has a passionfor promoting local eating, agricultureeducation for Delaware’s youth and thepreservation of open green spaces andfarmland in Delaware.

During her time so far with the FarmBureau, she has taken part in FoodCheck-Out Day with the Women’sCommittee, the Friends of AgricultureBreakfast, overseen the Blue JacketBonanza program, upgraded ourLeader publication and drasticallyincreased our e-newsletter contact lists.

She is currently assisting with the

New Castle County Farm Bureau’sMilk Run, Day on the Farm and help-ing to plan a Farm-to-Table style dinnerin Kent County this summer. She hasalso joined the Delaware FFAFoundation’s Board of Directors.Among other tasks, Caroline also over-sees social media and looks forward toincreasing the Farm Bureau’s visibilityon the web.

When not working, you can find herin the barn with her horses, lending ahand at Fifer Orchards’ special eventsor assisting the Delaware DucksUnlimited Chapter at their monthlyfundraising events. Please join us inwelcoming our new Public RelationsCoordinator, Caroline Foltz, to ourFarm Bureau Family!

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Public Relations Coordinator Caroline Foltz (pictured with her horse “App to Please”)is an avid equestrian.

On Monday, March 2, the DelawareFarm Bureau and Nationwide Insur -ance held their Annual Member/Lead -er Dinner at the White Clay CreekCountry Club in Wilmington, DE. Eachyear a county Farm Bureau hosts thedin ner. This year New Castle CountyFarm Bureau (NCCFB) hostedNationwide staff, Farm Bureau mem-bers, directors, and policyholders.

The event allows policyholders thechance to gain knowledge about theirpolicies, new products being introducedby Nationwide, and also to discuss anyclaim questions they may have. NCCFBPresident Stewart Ramsey and MargieChase, Sponsor Relations for Natio -nwide, welcomed everyone to the din-ner. DFB President Kitty Holtz gavethe invocation.

Brian Villec, Territory Sales Directorfor Nationwide Financial Network,kicked off the informative session withinformation about the “Land is YourLegacy” program. This program helpsto provide security to families engagedin the agricultural community so thatthe land and businesses are preservedfor future generations.

Nationwide suggests putting togeth-er a transition plan when the timecomes to pass down the farm, includingproviding financial basics, identifyingand managing risks and setting up tran-sition of management documents. Farmagents also are able to bring in Na tion -wide’s lead specialists in areas like lifeinsurance, annuities and retirement.

Mr. Villec also spoke aboutNationwide’s optimization tools to bestclaim social security benefits and a newlong term care coverage product intro-duced in October of 2014. TheNationwide YourLife CareMatters℠Long Term Care Coverage offers pre-

miums that won’t increase, flexible cov-erage options and most importantly theoption to recover paid premiums orleave a legacy to your heirs with thedeath benefit. More information aboutthe tools and coverages can be obtained

from your Nationwide agent. NCCFB President Stewart Ramsey

raised questions with Claims ManagerAdam Karns and Field Claim SpecialistIII Mike Johnston from Nationwideabout ATV riding and what type of

insurance coverage you should carrywhen riding both on your own propertyand off. Alan and Mike suggested hav-ing insurance when riding ATVs off ofyour property; however, ATV use onContinued on page 5


DFB, Nationwide Hold Member/LeaderDinner and Question-Answer Session

By Dan ShortridgeDelaware Department of Agriculture

Delaware authorities are urgingpoultry and bird owners to be vigilantin the wake of avian influenza cases inother parts of the country.

There are no immediate publichealth concerns, and avian influenzadoes not affect poultry meat or egg pro -

ducts, which remain safe to eat. Del -aware’s commercial poultry industryhas a strong and active avian influenzasurveillance program, and works inclose contact with the Delaware De -partment of Agriculture, the Universityof Delaware, and other partners.

Avian influenza spreads bird-to-birdthrough saliva, feces, and other bodily

fluids. Since many species of wildwaterfowl can carry and shed influenzavirus in feces without showing any signsof illness, it is extremely important tomake a strong effort to keep domesticbirds separated from wild waterfowland to keep domestic birds off water-ways where wild water birds live.

Dr. Heather Hirst, who heads theDelaware Department of Agriculture’sPoultry and Animal Health Section,said its detection in backyardpoultryflocks makes monitoring of those flocksand other birds extremely important.

Biosecurity measures recommendedby the Delaware Department of Agri -culture include isolating birds from vis-itor and other birds; keeping shoes,tools, equipment, vehicles and cagesclean when entering area where birdslive; avoiding tracking wild waterfowlfeces into domestic bird living areas;avoiding sharing equipment and toolswith neighbors; watching for warningsigns of disease; and reporting sick ordead birds.

Sick or dead domestic birds, includ-ing backyard flocks and commercialpoultry, should be reported to theDelaware Department of Agriculture’sPoultry and Animal Health Section at(302) 698-4500 or (800) 282-8685(Delaware only). To report groups ofdead or sick waterfowl, shorebirds orgulls, contact DNREC’s WildlifeSection — Wildlife Disease Program,302-735-3600. For more information onbackyard bird flock biosecurity, visithttp:// healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov .

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Delaware Urges Vigilance on Avian Influenza

Nationwide Field Claim Specialist III Mike Johnston, Claims Manager Adam Karns, Sponsor Relations Margie Chase, SalesManager Brett Landis, and Territory Sales Director Brian Villec answer questions during the Q&A Portion of the NationwideMember/Leader Dinner hosted by the New Castle County Farm Bureau at the White Clay Creek Country Club.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsackhas announced that U.S. Departmentof Agriculture is making available $332million in financial and technical assis-tance through the Agricultural Con -servation Easement Program (ACEP).USDA’s Natural Resources Conser -vation Service (NRCS) will acceptACEP applications to help productivefarm and ranch lands remain in agricul-ture and to protect the nation’s criticalwetlands and grasslands, home todiverse wildlife and plant species.

“USDA helps farmers, ranchers, pri-vate forest landowners and partners toachieve their conservation goals usingour technical expertise, Farm Bill fund-ing and sound conservation planning,”Vilsack said. “Conservation easementsare an important tool to help theselandowners and partners voluntarilyprovide long-term protection of ournation’s farmland, ranchland, wetlandsand grasslands for future generations.”

The 2014 Farm Bill consolidatedthree previous conservation easementprograms into ACEP to make it easier

for diverse agricultural landowners tofully benefit from conservation initia-tives. NRCS easement programs havebeen a critical tool in recent years foradvancing landscape-scale privatelands conservation. In FY 2014, NRCSused $328 million in ACEP funding toenroll an estimated 145,000 acres offarmland, grassland, and wetlandsthrough 485 new easements.

In Florida, NRCS used ACEP fundsto enroll an additional 6,700 acres inthe Northern Everglades Watershed,supporting the restoration and protec-tion of habitat for a variety of listedspecies, including the Wood Stork,Crested caracara, and Eastern IndigoSnake.

The Nebraska Land Trust plans touse ACEP to enroll more than 1,400acres of native grazing lands that alsoinclude grasslands and woodlands that

provide critical habitat for Nebraska’sbighorn sheep and elk.

ACEP’s agricultural land easementsnot only protect the long-term viabilityof the nation’s food supply by prevent-ing conversion of productive workinglands to non-agricultural uses, but theyalso support environmental quality, his-toric preservation, wildlife habitat andprotection of open space. A key changeunder the new agricultural land ease-ment component is the new “grasslandsof special environmental significance”that will protect high-quality grasslandsthat are under threat of conversion tocropping, urban development andother non-grazing uses.

Wetland reserve easements allowlandowners to successfully enhance andprotect habitat for wildlife on theirlands, reduce impacts from flooding,recharge groundwater and provide out-

door recreational and educationalopportunities. NRCS provides techni-cal and financial assistance directly toprivate and tribal landowners torestore, protect and enhance wetlandsthrough the purchase of these ease-ments, and Eligible landowners canchoose to enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement; tribal landowners alsohave the option of enrolling in 30-yearcontracts.

ACEP applications may be submit-ted at any time to NRCS; however,applications for the current fundinground must be submitted on or beforeMay 15, 2015.

To learn about ACEP and othertechnical and financial assistance avail-able through NRCS conservation pro-grams, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or your local USDA ServiceCenter.


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USDA Sets $332 Million to Preserve Ag LandEligible Entries Encouraged to Apply by May 15

Continued from page 4your own land is covered through yourfarm policy. Mr. Johnson also suggest-ed having matching liability insurancelike that of the property, or at least theState minimum limits 15/30.

With Grain Bin Safety Week justcoming to a close at the time of theMember/Leader Dinner, it was anoth-er topic discussed near the end of theQ&A session. The Nationwide staffinformed the crowd that more pro-grams can be offered if Delawareansshow interest. Grain Bin Safety RescueTube Applications are still beingaccepted; the contest ends May 31,2015. Those interested in nominatingyour local fire department can apply atwww.grainbinsafetyweek.com.

Nationwide Insurance is the leadinginsurer of farms and farm owned coop-eratives in the United States. In 1925,with the help of Murray D. Lincoln, theOhio Farm Bureau Federation incor-porated the Farm Bureau MutualAutomobile Insurance Company withthe hope of providing auto insurance atlow rates for farmers throughout Ohio.Nearly 90 years later the DelawareFarm Bureau and Nationwide In sur -ance are celebrating 11 years of part-nership. Today, nine state Farm Bur -eaus — including California, Connec -ticut, Maryland, New York, Ohio,Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginiaand Delaware — continue to work withNationwide to provide discounts onhome and auto insurance.

Nationwide Insurance was startedfor farmers by farmers with the goal ofpreserving and serving our agriculturalheritage. We’re looking forward tomany more years!

Member/Leader . . .

Thanks to Representative DaveWilson and Wilson’s Auction, theDelaware Farm Bureau Foundationraised $15,000 on March 21, 2015 withthe sale of Farm Vehicle Tags #5 and#6. These tags were sold at Wilson’sMid-Atlantic Spring EquipmentAuction at the Delaware StateFairgrounds in Harrington, DE. Withthe recent sale of these tags, the grandtotal pledged to the Foundation for itsMobile Ag Lab is $40,000!

The Mobile Ag Lab kicks off itsSummer Camp Season in early Junebut before that will be participating inthe Dover Days Parade May 2 inDover, DE; the New Castle County 5KMilk Run/Walk on May 30 atAppoquinimink High School inMiddletown, DE; and the LaurelFarmers Auction Market 75thAnniversary Celebration June 7 inLaurel, DE. Bring the family to theMilk Run to tour the Ag Lab and learnabout farming and the food ourDelaware Farmers grow for us. If youare interested in signing up for the race

visit www.races2run.com. The remaining four Farm Vehicle

tags will be auctioned off at a latertime. Information about future auc-tions will be posted as soon as we haveit. Be sure to “Like” the Foundation onFacebook at Delaware Farm BureauFoundation for more information!


FACEBOOKwww.facebook.com/DelawareFarmBureau

TWITTER@DEFarmBureau

PINTERESTwww.pinterest.com/defarmbureau

FLICKRwww.flickr.com/delawarefarmbureau

Connect With Us On . . .

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The Women’s Committee served dinner on March 14 at the Ronald McDonald Housein Wilmington, DE. The Committee makes the trip annually to serve a warm meal tofamilies of patients at A.I. DuPont Childrens’ Hospital. The Ronald McDonaldHouse of Delaware provides a safe, affordable “home away from home” to familiesof seriously or chronically ill children who are being treated at area hospitals and oper-ates three Ronald McDonald Family Rooms within pediatric units of hospitals acrossDelaware. Shown left to right are Sandy Virdin, Marie White, Connie Fox, Laura Hill,June Unruh, Women’s Committee Chair Mary B. Gooden, Jan Cartanza, WendySherwood, Barbara Sapp, DFB President Kitty Holtz and Barbara Hruspa.

Delaware Farm Bureau Web Site: http://www.defb.org. Check it out!

DFB Foundation ReachingCloser to $100,000 Goal

-

6th Annual YF&R

Strawberry Festival

Saturday, May 23, 2015 COME JOIN THE FUN!

Concessions for Sale Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Hamburgers, Hot dogs,

Chips

Soda, water, and juice Homemade Strawberry

Shortcake

11:00AM-3:00PM

BOBOLA FARM AND

FLORIST

5268 FORREST AVENUE

DOVER, DE 19904

New this year:

Strawberry Baked Goods Contest

Entries must arrive by 11am.

Judging takes place at noon.

Sixty-six jackets headed out toschools across the state of Delaware inearly March, but these weren’t just yourordinary winter jacket.

The easily recognizable blue cor-duroy and yellow letters stood outamong everything else at the DelawareState Farm Bureau (DFB) office inCamden, Delaware. These blue jackets,each stitched with a student’s full name,were getting ready to be distributed tothe 66 applicants of the Delaware FarmBur eau’s Blue Jacket Bonanza Program.

In 2010, the Blue Jacket Bonanzaprogram was started by the SantaBarbara County Farm Bureau inCalifornia to provide deserving stu-dents the opportunity to earn a jacketof their own. Since then, many Countyand State Farm Bureaus, includingDelaware, have joined the ranks of theBlue Jacket Bonanza.

To be eligible for a blue jacket, appli-cants are required to do at least 10hours of community service, and in lessthan 500 words describe their careergoals, higher education plans and whatthe blue jacket means to them. This wasthe second year that DFB participatedin the program; last year they awarded25 jackets. With hopes of receivingeven more jacket applications in 2015,the DFB Board of Directors allocatedmoney to purchase 50 jackets for thisyear’s Blue Jacket Bonanza, and werepleasantly surprised when 66 applica-tions were submitted.

“The Board took a vote to allow forthe purchase of the extra 16 jackets, andit was unanimous. We see the impor-tance of this program and the FFA Or -ganization as a whole. The Farm Bur -eau always tries to do as much as we canto support these young adults in theirendeavors. They are the future of thisindustry,” said DFB President KittyHoltz.

In their new blue jackets, studentswent on to compete in various CareerDevelopment Events and participate inthe Day of Service at the DelawareState FFA Convention in Dover, DEMarch 10-12. The Delaware Farm Bur -eau plans to continue to participate inthe Blue Jacket Bonanza in 2016. Ap -plications are available mid-Novemberon its website, www.defb.org. The dead -line to submit applications will be Jan -uary 15, 2016. For more information,visit defb.org or call (302) 697-3183.


Garden with Kids

Build a Backyard Composter

When to plant bulbs

Tips and tricks for planting your favorite fruits and veggies

And much more!

The Delaware Farm Bureau caught up with Caesar Rodney High Schools FFA members on March 4 to hand out their new bluejackets. Then FFA State President A.J. Cannon, Superintendent Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, DFB President Kitty Holtz, Principal Dr.Sherry Kijowski and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lykens joined the students for a quick picture with their crisp blue jackets.

DFB Purchases 66Blue Jackets forDeserving DelawareFFA Members

Sixty-Six Official FFA Jackets arrived atthe Delaware Farm Bureau just in timefor them to be handed out to students towear them at the State FFA Convention,at Delaware State University.


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Did you know, your ventilation sys-tem is often the biggest culprit in poorindoor air quality? Inspecting the duct-work in your facility or home should bea high priority. In most cases, theHVAC system has been operating forsome time without much attention.Dirty ducts can circulate odors, con-taminants such as mold, and irritatingdust throughout your building or home.

A routine part of your localSERVPRO® Franchise Professional’sservice is inspecting the heating, venti-lation and air conditioning unit(HVAC). Keeping the HVAC systemand ductwork clean can potentiallyextend the life span of the equipmentby allowing it to operate at peak condi-tion, which may save you money. Ductcleaning may not always be necessary.SERVPRO® Franchise Professionalswill inspect your HVAC system andductwork and make recommendationsabout the best way to address anyindoor air quality concerns. Thisinspection can save you money andprovide peace of mind on the health ofyour HVAC system and ductwork.

In some circumstances, such as afterfire, smoke or suspected mold growth,duct cleaning becomes an essential partof the cleanup process. In these cases,your SERVPRO® Franchise Pro fes -sional can often restore the HVAC sys-tem and ductwork to pre-damage con-dition.

If you have a fuel burning furnace,stove or fireplace, the U.S. Environ -

mental Protection Agency (EPA) rec-ommends they be inspected for properfunctioning, and be serviced beforeeach heating season to protect againstcarbon monoxide poisoning.

The SERVPRO® Duct CleaningSystem is proven and cost efficient.Unlike the majority of duct cleaningservices, your SERVPRO® FranchiseProfessional uses a portable ventilationand air duct cleaning system to exam-ine ductwork and make a clean sweep,removing years of dust and grime.

The process begins by usingpatented equipment including a roto-scraper, which automatically adapts tothe duct’s shape and diameter whiletraveling through the duct, removingdebris and filth before vacuumingbegins.

Next, a powerful push-pull airdelivery and collection system transfersthe debris from the ducting to a 16-gallon container.

Air is filtered through a HEPA fil-tration system, removing 99.97 percentof the particles in the airstream. HEPAfilters capture debris and keep theindoor environment clean.

As an optional process, a sealantor coating product may be sprayed toaddress odor or microbial concerns.

Filters will either be cleaned orreplaced to remove odor and dirt.

For more information or to schedulea duct cleaning appointment, contactSERVPRO® of Dover/Middletowntoday at (302) 697-9776.

Are Your Ducts in Order?

By Terrance Williams(NAPS) — Larger, faster equipment

used by farmers, combined withincreased traffic flow by the public andother factors, have created increasedrisks for both farmers and motorists.Consider these statistics:Rural Road Crash Facts

The National Safety Council esti-mates that 15,000 collisions involvingfarm vehicles occur on U.S. roadwayseach year;

Though 19 percent of Americanslive in rural areas, 55 percent of high-way deaths occur on roads consideredrural;

the 32,885 traffic fatalities in theU.S. occur on ruralroads;

The fatality rate per100 million vehicle milestraveled is 2.5 times high-er in rural areas than inurban areas;

o a hospital exceeds30 minutes;

The time between acrash and arrival at a hos-pital averages 36 minutes in urbanareas and 53 minutes in rural areas; and

It takes more than twice as longfor EMS personnel to arrive at a crashscene in a rural community as com-pared to an urban commu nity — 19minutes versus seven minutes.

Not to be overlooked is the fact thatfarm machinery is getting larger —much larger — and often extends dan-gerously over the cen ter line. Farmersare also acquir ing more land, requiringadditional road time to travel to distantfields. Plus, to get the most from everyacre, crops are planted closer to road-ways, sometimes visually obstructingintersections. Add to that the disrepairof many rural roads and bridges andtravel on America’s rural roadways hasbecome more dangerous than ever.

Sharing the road with motoristsunfamiliar with large, slow-movingfarm equipment makes for a very dan-gerous situation. According to theNational Safety Council, accidentsinvolving a farm vehicle are five timesmore likely to produce a fatality thanany other type of motor vehi cle acci-dent.Preventative Measures

Here are a few commonsense tips tohelp you avoid farm-vehicle accidents:

1. Clearly mark your vehi cle. Makesure your vehicle and equipment arewell marked with reflective tape, lightsor flags, par ticularly if your equipmentis oversized or extends beyond one laneof traffic.

2. Use your lights. Keep headlights,reflectors and turn sig nals clear of anydirt or debris that may have accumulat-ed during work, and always use turn sig-nals when turning and changing lanes.Consider installing magnetic, bat tery-operated lights that can be purchasedrelatively cheaply.

3. Install proper signage. Properlyinstall slow-moving vehi cle (SMV)emblems so motorists around you areaware of the dif ference in speed

between your vehicle and theirs.4. Watch your mirrors. Always use

rearview and side mir rors so you knowyour position on the roadway, as well asthat of other motorists. The mirrors willhelp make you aware of your vehi cle’sdistance from the shoulder.

5. Secure your load. Equip ment thatis being towed must be secured andproperly balanced. Double check thatsafety-hitch pins are securely fastenedbefore getting on the road.

6. Take it slow. Drive slowly, espe-cially when making turns or drivingdown steep inclines. Lower speeds willhelp you avoid a rollover.

7. Travel on less-busy roads. Whenpossible, avoid highly trav -eled roads, especially dur-ing times when traffic isheaviest.

8. Keep passengers offthe equipment. Do not letpassengers, especially chil-dren, ride anywhere on thevehicle except for inside thecabin.

9. Know the state lawsand regulations. Stay informed of thelatest codes and requirements, as wellas recommendations from theAmerican Society of Agricultural andBiological Engineers for equipmentsuch as vehicle markers.

10. Practice good mainte nance.Always keep your vehicles and equip-ment well maintained and your farmequipment insur ance and farm carinsurance cur rent. Today, Nationwide isthe No. 1 farm insurer in the U.S. and aleader in insurance and risk man -agement solutions for commercialagribusinesses in the food, fiber andfuel chains.

Farmers and motorists can makebalanced decisions and smart choiceswhen traveling on rural roads. Whileworking with farmers, ranchers andagribusinesses for over 100 years,

Nationwide is taking a stand to increaseawareness of the dangers and risks ofnavigating large farm equipment onrural roads.

Central to this effort is www.rural-roadsafety.com, dedi cated to providingcase studies, tools and other resourcesto assist America’s hardworking farm-ers in making balanced decisionsbefore pulling onto the road and smart

choices when navigating traffic andother obstacles.Learn More

For further information or to partic-ipate, go to www.ruralroadsafety.comor www.nationwideagribusiness.comand follow Nationwide Agribusiness onFacebook, Twitter or YouTube.

Terrance Williams is president ofNationwide Agribusiness.


Keeping Farmers, Motorists Safe on Rural Roads


KID’S CORNERWelcome to

A place for the Farm Bureau kids!

Color The Funny Farmer

KENT COUNTYCharles Conley35 Commerce StreetHarrington, DE 19952(302) 398-3276

Glenn Deaton905-A North Dupont HighwayDover, DE 19901(302) 734-3700

David Fetterman200 North Rehoboth Blvd.Milford, DE 19963(302) 422-3079

Michael Frankos375 W. North Street, Suite ADover, DE 19904(302) 531-0831

Jay Rouse1252 Forrest AvenueDover, DE 19904(302) 678-2223

Michael Wilkinson223 S. DuPont Blvd., Suite 2Smyrna, DE 19977(302) 653-5580

NEW CASTLE COUNTYMichael Alpaugh94 E. Main StreetNewark, DE 19711(302) 453-9871

C. Lori Blackwell248 E. Chestnut Hill RoadNewark, DE 19713(302) 738-5030

Rick Broadbent3510 Silverside Road, Suite 2Wilmington, DE 19810(302) 479-7777

Lisa Broadbent-Diossi20 Polly Drummond Hill RoadNewark, DE 19711(302) 731-0044

Shawn Coen296 Bear-Christiana Road, P.O. Box 1713Bear, DE 19701(302) 322-2022

Roy Crow 106 S. Broad StreetMiddletown, DE 19709(302) 378-9592

Steven Dewberry5700 Kirkwood Highway, Suite 103Wilmington, DE 19808(302) 995-9550

Stephen Disabatino484 Middletown Warwick RoadMiddletown, DE 19709(302) 449-5556

A. Barbara Dorsey3510 Silverside Road, Suite 2Wilmington, DE 19810(302) 479-7777

James Dorsey1521 Concord Pike, Suite 301Wilmington, DE 19803(302) 472-3200

Richard Finney3510 Silverside Road, Suite 2Wilmington, DE 19810(302) 479-5560

Terry Gouert824 Philadelphia PikeWilmington, DE 19809(302) 478-6400

Harry “T” Insley 4633 Ogletown-Stanton RoadNewark, DE 19713(302) 286-0777

John Koziol724 Yorklyn Road, Water Wheel Bldg., Suite 200, Hockessin, DE 19707(302) 234-5430

Raymond Maniscalco117 Kirkwood SquareWilmington, DE 19808(302) 999-8211

Kenneth Marconi813 E. Newport PikeWilmington, DE 19804(302) 992-9772

Henry E. Nickle119 Washington Street, P.O. Box 4080Delaware City, DE 19706(302) 834-9700

Calvin Sheets254 Fox Hunt Drive, Fox Run PlazaBear, DE 19701(302) 832-0441

Robert Steinebach296 Bear-Christiana Road, P.O. Box 1713Bear, DE 19701(302) 328-1212

Maureen Varone1816 W. Fourth StreetWilmington, DE 19805(302) 655-3331

Charles Wallace1906 Newport Gap PikeWilmington, DE 19808(302) 998-1412

Peter Wolff520 Peoples PlazaNewark, DE 19702(302) 283-1880

SUSSEX COUNTYScott Carey Insurance30618 Dupont Blvd., Suite 1Dagsboro, DE 19939(302) 934-8383

Elmer Hearn310 High StreetSeaford, DE 19973(302) 629-9493

Cynthia C. Hoban18 Hickory Street, P.O. Box 70Frankford, DE 19945(302) 732-9505

Marvin Muncie Jr.1011 Norman Eskridge HighwaySeaford, DE 19973(302) 629-9414

Cliff Short 606 E. Market StreetGeorgetown, DE 19947(302) 856-7773

Richard Small1130 S. Central Avenue, P.O. Box 697Laurel, DE 19956(302) 875-3333

Thad Truitt 1143 Savannah Road, Suite 2, P.O. Box 248Lewes, DE 19958(302) 645-6459

MARYLANDSusan Wilgus-Murphy1203 Pemberton DriveSalisbury, MD 21801(410) 742-8240

William Staples1410 S. Salisbury Blvd.Salisbury, MD 21801(410) 546-3999

Greg Whitten317 Crusader RoadCambridge, MD 21613(410) 228-7484

Those agents listed in bold are On Your Side Certified Agentsspecializing in farm policies.

Documents

Delaware Farm Bureau Leader