Pork Makes Front Page of STL Post

While sitting at my usual station at work, the one by the door (for a quick get away come closing time), a fellow workmate called to my attention the news paper. "Hey," she said, "did you you see the paper's got pigs on it?"

Half asleep I articulately reply, "Huh?"

"The paper," she repeats, "there's a picture of pigs on the front page. Did you see it?"

Image on front page of St. Louis Post Dispatch

With that I roll my little chair over to the door and pop up from my perch to fetch the paper from the hall/waiting area table. Sure enough, Mr. Rick Rehmeier, a Missouri pork producer, was on the front cover herding a group of hogs. Of course, I had to read the article and since it was not busy I stood in the hall and enjoyed the article.

Image of Rick Rehmeier herding hogs is from STL Today site

I was aware that the U.S. was discussing exporting pork to China but I didn't know that they wanted Lambert to be the export hub for overseas flights. That is very cool. Not only will this boost Lambert's revenue but it will also create a great source of revenue for the entire state of MO. If this deal goes through and China decides to spend on quality, high-end pork products it will really boost Missouri's pork, corn, soybean, and overall farm industries as well.

As Rex Ricketts, director of the University of Missouri Extension's commercial agriculture program, said in the article, ""The one thing we do well in this country is agriculture, and we want to keep doing that. Any time we can move product to China or any other country, it's a good deal."

Couldn't agree more Mr. Ricketts!


You can read this article at STL Today by clicking here.

Yummy Hunk-O-Loin

What do you get when a bored pork lover stands in her kitchen contemplated what to do with this huge roast she has sitting on the counter and just for fun starts pulling miscellaneous items out of her fridge and cabinets?

First, you get an interesting, yummy smelling sauce, which is brought to a boil and allowed to simmer for a few minutes. 

Next, you get a large pork loin searing in a big pot with some e.v.o. oil.

 I just love bubbling oil.

 Then, that same bored pork loving cook slathers the seared pork loin with the steamy goodness of the previous concoction.

Mmmm...

Bake to 160 degrees.

And, Voila! A yummy, juicy, delicious hunk-o-loin.

More Scare Tactics by Misinformed Writers

Unfortunately, poorly written articles such as a Top 10 article on Fox News and poorly researched stories like the one on KOMU slink their way into the media with no apologizes or remorse for the blatant lack of journalistic professionalism.

Fox News published an article pulled from AskMen.com that was not only poorly written--writer Jeremy Berger uses profanity twice and not in a quote or for any apparent reason, I suspect this so-called journalist just used up the bulk of his vocabulary on this piece--but this article also bashes beef and mass food producers. This writer also supports HSUS and ASPCS, which is a red flag unto itself. I wonder if this writer realizes that without mass production farmers would never be able to feed the world, let alone America, unless everyone put in the seven days a week to raise, slaughter, and produce their own food? Furthermore, he chastises beef producers because in the past 3 years there have been 16 E.coli breakouts from ground beef. Really? Sixteen cases of E.coli out of over 22 BILLION pounds of ground beef and this is a bad thing!? I'd call that a huge success. To further discredit, there is no mention as to how the meat was handled or cooked once in the hands of the consumer.

The next editorial disappointment comes from local news channel KOMU. In Farmers Disagree on Antibiotic Use, reporter Nina Moini weaves a tale of dairy cows, antibiotics, and consumer concern. Ironically, the report on dairy cows is from a beef cow lot and the farmer she is interviewing isn't even a dairy farmer. I know this because I know where that farm is located and who the farmer is but she still refers to it as a dairy farm. I had to chuckle at that. What frustrates me about the antibiotic debate is that people think that this is a new thing. Antibiotics have been used in farming for generations. This is not new. Yes, we need to use care when administering such medications just as doctors need to use discretion when prescribing antibiotics to people.

To the public's dismay, there are other causes for antibiotic resistance and you must look in the mirror to find it. Every time you smear that alcohol scented antibacterial gel on your hands you are contributing to the problem. Every time you allow your kids or yourself to stay indoors and burn off brain cells with your X-Box or Wii on a beautiful day instead of enjoying the great outdoors you are contributing to the problem. Every time you overload on Lysol or refuse to let your kids get dirty you are weakening your children's and your own immune system. People aren't outside anymore and that is the real problem, our immune systems need to exercise just as much as our bodies need to.

Take action! Correct the misconceptions and leave comments on these sites, blog about it, tweet about it, just get out there and tell your story. Let the public know what it takes to be a farmer or rancher and that we are doing our jobs and doing them well.

2011 Year of the PIG

Well folks, we've completed our first full week of the new year and now it is 2010 reflection time. The year 2010 was a heck of a year for Bacon Blogger HQ. For starters, The Bacon Blogger was born, which spawned the BaconCam channel on YouTube, my husband and I were privileged enough to participate in a social media training session at the National Pork Board's home office, we went to World Pork Expo, won the We Care video contest, and all this was shared with all of you, which is amazing unto itself. Here's what else happened in 2010 and what to expect in 2011...

Grilled Loin

Pulled Pork

 This past year I cooked some mighty yummy pork, among other things, and shared the recipes with you.

2011 Resolution: Cook more and blog about it. One segment I would like to start is the Pork of the Week, which would include a new pork recipe every week.

We added a new member to our family in 2010, Miss Mina. She is an absolute doll and a perfect match to our family. In fact, the 20th of January Miss Mina will celebrate her first birthday.

2011 Resolution: Find a soccer ball that she cannot pop. 

 We learned more about our family in 2010 and enjoyed a road trip on memorial day to seek out the final resting places of our ancestors. By the way, that is my daughter on the left! I can't believe how grown up she looks, my little girl isn't my little girl anymore...whimper, sniff, whimper...

2011 Resolution: Teach our children more about our family's heritage.Here is a picture that will make any mom cry, my baby's first day of school. That's right, my baby boy started school in 2010 and now I feel old and useless. It's terrible to admit but I enjoyed when my baby had the flu last week because he was so needy and cuddly. Is that wrong?

Little man also learned how to drive his first tractor in 2010. He's so big!

The year 2010 also brought the usual planting, harvesting, playing with pigs, and of course, I got a little silly at Halloween but that's what life is all about, isn't it. Working, playing, and getting a little silly every now and again.

2011 Resolution: I have a few educational projects I'd like to see get off the ground and I'd like to expand my blog even further. 2011 may be the year of the rabbit but here it is the year of the pig and you can bet you'll see a lot more of The Bacon Blogger.

No matter the weather or time of year, you can bet we'll make the best of it and always remember to stop and smell the wild flowers.

Life is too short, enjoy it!