Ryan Dennis, a columnist for Farm and Livestock Directory, has recently published Barn Gothic: Three Generations of Family Dairy Farms. He explores the politics that had led to those difficult financial conditions in “Barn Gothic”, as well as his family’s struggles to keep a dairy farm going.
Read More
Sometimes I’m tempted by the smell of McDonald’s grease outside their walls. It triggers something inside me as we pass by. It’ll be quick, cheap, and familiar, I think. Or, it’s the millions they spent on advertising coming to roost. Regardless, my wife shakes her head. “It’s bad for you and the world,” she says again.
Read More
Rural Free Delivery, established in 1896 after years of advocacy, transformed rural life by connecting farmers to the wider world. There was a daily sense of anticipation about the mail, which brought news, magazines, or announcements. Today, the mailbox holds less allure, but I still find hope in its tangible connection to distant places.
Read More
In 2020, a Chinese bidder paid $1.9 million for New Kim, a racing pigeon, making her the most expensive in history. Originating in Belgium, pigeon racing began in 1818, with specialized breeding producing the Voyageurs breed. Using Earth’s magnetic field for navigation, pigeons race from a shared starting point to individual lofts, their speed determining winners.
Read More
The column transitions to Iceland’s history, where early settlers faced harsh conditions, including a lack of native mammals. It became a vital resource to gather eggs from wild birds, like the Barrow’s goldeneye. Keeping egg populations sustainable is the tradition today.
Read More
