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4 Ag Families-Summer WHATS INSIDE Mule matters 12 Family finds success in raising mules as a hobby Beneficial bugs 16 Find out how critters play an important role to the land For merit or money 18 Farmers weigh the value of USDA organic certification For the love of flowers 24 Farm blossoms after couple reunites The sharpest shooter 28 CCHS graduate earns state and national trapshooting titles Other stories How to keep Fido cool this summer 8 Finance tips for an ag household 10 Farming and faith column 32 Memories of shadetree mechanics 32 About us Ag Families is a quarterly magazine serving those whose livelihood grows from the ground up in the southern Pennyrile. Inside youll find new and useful agricultural information ideas for cultivating great things on your farm and a host of other fun activities for everyone in your family. Ag Families also seeks to educate readers about the role agriculture plays in the local economy. Executive Editor Eli Pace Editor Zirconia Alleyne Advertising Manager Ted Jatczak Contributing Writers Susan Hurt Tony Hurt Melisa Morgan Toni W. Riley Rae Wagoner and Janie Corley. To advertise in Ag Families contact Ted Jatczak at 270-887-3278 or email him at tjatczakkentuckynewera.com 1618 East Ninth Street Hopkinsville KY 42240 270-887-3235 Find us online AgFamilies FamiliesMagazine www.agfamilies.com EDITORSNOTE I APPthat AG WEED ID helps farmers identify weeds during scouting in six major row crops corn cotton rice sorghum soybeans and wheat.The database includes info and images for nearly 75 common weeds.The search can be narrowed by crop season and location. AgWeedwascreatedbyPentonandFarm Progress.TheappisavailableonAndroid andiPhone. A g Families celebrates its one-year anniver- sary this month so I decided to reflect on how much Ive learned about agriculture this past year. I learned that the ag community shows up whenever needed. When my publisher told me we were launching an agricul- tural magazine I was ready for the challenge. With the help of the Christian County Extension Service we rounded up a focus group of 10 farmers wives who were eager to tell us what they wanted to see in an ag mag. I left that meeting enlightened excited and ready to get the tractor rolling. Farmers are hardworkers faithful innovative steadfast and forever adapting to the highs and lows of their trade. I was determined to find writers who live and breathe agriculture and thankfully they found me along the way. They are farmers farmers wives ag teachers ag salesman ag enthusiasts and simply people who grew up on the farm. Im glad you all are on my team. I learned that ag families want to read the sto- ries that often get overlooked. Many were thrilled that there was finally a local publication dedicated to the producers in our community. It was a chance to educate the public about agriculture as well as highlight the families who put so much time and sacrifice into it. I wanted to be as hands on as possible. I wanted to meet people try new things and learn what goes into farming. Over the past year Ive learned how to cut tobacco and how it can be used for fuel. I learned about hybrid canola and the benefits of using its oil for cooking. Im still using my bottle of Solio canola oil to grill my sum- mer dishes. I pet a Longhorn bull at Lone Star ranch in Crofton and Ive been licked by a calf in Pembroke. I even milked a fake cow at the Downtown Farmers Market. I could go on and on about what Ive learned over the past year but there are more stories to harvest and more seeds to plant. I hope you have enjoyed the stories we shared with you over the past year and I hope the sup- port and enthusiasm for Ag Families continues to grow as we plow into year two. In this issue read about a family who breeds and raises prize-winning mules a teen who holds a multiple titles in trapshooting and a couple who reunites and starts a business based on their love of flowers. Be sure to connect with us on our Facebook page Ag Families and tell us the stories youd like to see and the stories youre glad you read. Best Wishes Zirconia Alleyne Editor ZirconiaAlleyne One year in more stories to harvest The 16th annual Christian County Cattlemans Lone Star Rodeo will be 8 p.m. Aug. 14 and 15 at theWestern Kentucky State Fairgrounds.The special needs rodeo will be 10 a.m. Aug. 14 at the fairgrounds. Events include bareback bronc riding saddle bronc riding calf roping cow- girls breakaway roping steer wrestling team roping cowgirls barrell racing Brahma bull riding and chuckwagon racing.There will also be contests for the best dressed cowboy and cowgirl. Box seats are 100. Adult general admission is 10 in advance or 15 at the gate. Children are 8 in advance or 10 at the gate.Tickets are available at all the elite sponsors Skyline Animal Clinic Planters Bank Buy Rite Auto Parts Kentucky New Era Sisk Auto HR Agri-power and Hutson.Visit the Kentucky New Era and Ag Families booth at the rodeo to get your picture taken at the photo booth.Then likeAg Familieson Facebook to see and share them. Rootin atthe