Drawing starts February 9-13, 2015
Winning #’s picked from Evening Lottery Pick 3
Winner can choose $500 cash OR $500 worth of Roseda Farm beef products!
Any winner choosing beef products will receive an extra $50 of ground beef compliments of Roseda Farm!
Or email me: christyvwright@gmail.com
THANK YOU!!!
NEW LITTER BORN JANUARY 8, 2015-READY FOR PICK-UP ON MARCH 5, 2015!
We love Australian Shepherd’s! Lucy, our black bi female, just had a litter of 8 puppies on January 8, 2015 (Elvis Presley’s Birthday). Deuce is our male and he is a red merle with amber/green eyes. This breed of dog is known for its intelligence and herding skills. Our Aussie’s love being around family and kids. They also love being active and need room to run and play. Thank you for visiting our site.
Our Aussie’s: Lucy is in front. She is 3 years old. Deuce is in back. He is 4 years old.
Deuce is a red merle.
Lucy, the proud mom, is a black tri. She has a little tan on her hind legs.
You can register these puppies with the National Stock Dog Registry (NSDR). Both our female and male are registered. All of our puppies come with their first set of shots, health certificate, and tail docked. We require a non-refundable $100 deposit in order to hold a specific puppy for you until it is old enough to go to its new home. We then require the remaining balance at the time you are picking up your puppy. We do not offer shipping. After confirming the puppy you want us to hold for you, you have 7 days to get the deposit to us. If we do not receive the deposit in those 7 days the puppy will then become available to other buyers.
Ready for pick-up on March 5, 2015! Please call 302-362-0831 (Scott) or email christyvwright@gmail.com to reserve yours!
MALES
ELVIS-Blue Merle Male-$600-SOLD on 1/31
(gray blue with black spots, he has a large black spot on left eye)
AARON-Black-Tri Male-$500
(solid black back with white paws & belly, very little tan on legs)
PRESLEY-Red-Tri Male-$500
(solid red back, white stripe on belly, & tan/white paws)
FEMALES
LISA-Red-Tri Female-$500-SOLD on 1/23
(white tuft on back, stripe on head/nose, white & tan feet)
MARIE-Red-Tri Female-$500-SOLD on 1/24
(white speck on nose, white collar on right of neck, white & tan socks)
PRISCILLA-Red Merle Female-$600-SOLD on 1/19
(white tuft on neck, more spots on right side, white paws & belly)
GRACE-Red Merle Female-$600-SOLD on 1/22
(no tuft or collar, white paws & belly)
GLADYS-Black-Tri Female-$500–SOLD on 2/7
(white collar on left neck, white belly & socks, small stripe on head and black speck on nose)
I recently blogged about the ag experience of our current legislators and the importance of agriculture committee chairmanship. This past Monday, the 148th General Assembly committee assignments and chairs were announced. If you would like to see a solution to an ag-related policy problem, these are the legislators you need to talk to! The members for each chamber are as follows:
SENATE Agriculture Committee:
Sen. Ennis-(D) Smyrna-CHAIR
Sen. Hall-Long-(D) Middletown
Sen. McBride-(D) Hawk’s Nest
Sen. Pettyjohn-(R) Georgetown
Sen. Richardson- (R) Laurel
HOUSE Agriculture Committee:
Rep. Carson-(D) Smyrna-CHAIR
Rep. Q. Johnson-(D) Middletown-VICE CHAIR
Rep. Paradee-(D) Dover
Rep. Mulrooney-(D) Pennwood
Rep. Bennett-(D) Dover
Rep. Lynn-(D) Dover
Rep. Outten-(R) Harrington
Rep. Kenton-(R) Milford
Rep. Peterman-(R) Milford
Rep. Wilson-(R) Bridgeville
Rep. Collins-(R) Millsboro
You can see all of the committee assignments here under the “Committees” link. The new session begins next Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015.
There are 62 Legislators in the DE General Assembly. Many are former teachers. Some run small businesses. A few have backgrounds in healthcare. Five are former police officers (according to a recent DE State News article). But NONE are full-time FARMERS. As a matter of fact, out of 62, only a handful have any experience in agriculture at all.
On the House side, the closest we get is Representative’s Dave Wilson (a part-time farmer and horse breeder), Harvey Kenton (retired from Milford Fertilizer-now Growmark FS, LLC), and Jack Peterman (retired farmer). All are Republicans and in the minority caucus, which doesn’t hold much weight when it comes to committee chairmanship. Chairs of each committee come from the majority caucus, which is currently the Democrat party for both chambers in Delaware. The former chair of the Ag Committee, John Atkins-D, lost in the last election. The Vice-chair was Quinn Johnson-D, who actually grew up on a truck crop farm in Maryland but is more involved in his family daycare business in Middletown. All of the above served on last year’s Ag committee.
On the Senate side, there’s even less ag experience and its all in the minority caucus. The best I can find is Senator Brian Pettyjohn (grew up on a farm and worked for Mountaire Farms). These are a stretch but somewhat related to ag: Senator’s Ernie Lopez (works for UD Cooperative Extension/4-H) and Gerald Hocker (owns his own family grocery store). Again, all are Republicans. The former Chair was Bruce Ennis-D, who’s a former state policeman.
So why care who chairs our Ag committee? A committee chair can have significant power by setting the committee’s agenda and determining when and whether bills will be considered. Other responsibilities of a committee chair typically include calling the committee together to perform its duties. In the past, the Delaware House and Senate Ag Committees often join together to meet. Last year, both Ag committee’s in either chamber met only a handful of times. It often seems to be at the request of our Secretary of Ag, who seems to drive the agenda in Delaware. Last session’s proposed legislation focused on the declining horse industry in Delaware (another recent article for the DE State News). The committee not meeting often means there isn’t much policy being formulated, which to many farmers is a good sign because it means less regulation and government interference. But I don’t think this will be the case in future years. Just watching Maryland grapple with the proposed “Phosphorus Management Tool (PMT)” is painful. Many other state legislatures’ are considering other bills harmful to the ag industry, such as ag-gag laws and GMO labeling campaigns. This is why I was disappointed that a proposed right-to-farm bill (HB 63) went nowhere last session. We need legislators with ag experience to serve and chair this committee to protect our #1 industry by convening this group regularly, setting an agenda to protect their farming constituents, and working with the only pro-farm lobbying group-the Delaware Farm Bureau. Given the lack of experience, especially on the Democratic side, I’m guessing the new chairs will have little experience in agriculture, which is not good when it comes to protecting our #1 industry. Wouldn’t it help to have a pro-active Ag committee stacked with ag-educated legislators on our side? It’s often too late to educate policy-makers when a bill is already on the table. Especially when our best advocates sit in the minority caucus.
All committee assignments and chairs, appointed by the House Speaker and President Pro Temp, should be announced soon as the 148th DE General Assembly reconvenes on Jan. 13, 2015. New Ag committee chairs will be named. Stay tuned.
I haven’t blogged since July. The past 2 years have been an emotional roller coaster. The high’s have been amazing-getting married, buying a house and small farm. The low’s have been brutal-losing Scott’s mom, experiencing a miscarriage, and losing my grandfather. So it was long over due when my “Chance” to take a break finally came. Words can’t describe him so I won’t even try. I’ll give you pictures instead.
Chance Daniel Wright
August 30, 2014
5lbs., 12 oz., 20.5 in. long
1st picture taken
All 3 of us
1 week old
1 month old-September 2014
2 months old-October 2014
3 months old-November 2014
Soon to come-1st Christmas
Everyone who knew him, loved him. He was so personable, loving, and outgoing. He smiled all the time. He loved his community, baseball, church, fire hall, 4-H, the DE State Fair, and family. But above all, he loved his grandkids. For almost 35 years, he was a second dad to me. I loved to hear him talk about growing up in Hickman, making scrapple with his dad, and his time working on base.
Even though he wasn’t a farmer, Pop-Pop had a love for agriculture and farm crops. This stemmed from his dad (Floyd Messick), owning a produce stand in Hickman and driving truck crops to the city with Mom-Mom’s dad (Hugh Vincent). This may help explain Pop-Pop’s role as Superintendent of the Farm Products building at the DE State Fair each year. One of the ways I connected with him more recently was through the Milford Farmer’s Market. For the past 10 years, he showed up on Saturday morning in Milford to help my Mom sell produce. He would sit in a chair in the back and cup vegetables, while customers sat with him. He loved the conversation, hugs, and smiles from so many familiar faces he saw each week. I joked that I’m not sure who was more popular-our sweet corn or Pop-Pop Bob. But in recent weeks I know for a fact now, it was Pop-Pop. Thank you so much for all the concerned questions about him from customers in recent weeks.
So here’s to the man who painted my bedroom Punky Brewster colors (each wall was a different color), took us grandkids to the beach every Labor Day and taught me how stand a wave, let us celebrate the last day of school by inviting friends over to swim in his pool, taught me how to drive on the Nine Foot Road well before I was 16, came to all my high school ball games, drove me to Springfield, MA for a FFA contest when no one else would, loved to hug and squeeze me, and danced with me at my wedding. No matter what I did, he loved me unconditionally and made me feel important. He will never be forgotten and I’m proud to call him mine. Baby Wright may never meet him but I will be sure to teach him about the loving man we all called “Pop-Pop Bob”.
Robert Eugene Messick
April 8, 1930 – June 28, 2014
This sailboat was next to Pop-Pop’s pool in his backyard. He filled it with sand and had our names on the side.
May 1984. This pretty much sums him up.
Sitting on the top row of Woodbridge Elementary School bleachers. I have no idea what we were watching but doesn’t he look like a big kid sitting there with us? Can you guess who is underneath the pom-pom? (Christy, Derek, Pop-Pop, Devon, Danna)
In the old 4-H Building at the fair. Janelle and I just gave our sewing demonstration. (Pop-Pop Bob, Janelle, Christy, Mom-Mom Ruth and Mom-Mom Ann)
This was at Girl’s State in 1997. He came to see me sworn in as Girl’s State Auditor. (Danna, Pop-Pop Bob, Christy, Pop-Pop Bill)
He recovered well from heart surgery in 2001.
Delaware State Fair in 2002. He loved to stick his tongue out at us.
He loved the DE State Fair and served as Superintendent of the Farm Products building.
This was at the Milford Farmer’s Market in 2008. He loved to help us sell produce every Saturday morning. He helped Mom initially, when she started at the market 14 years ago. The customers loved to see him and often sat down with him or gave him hugs. Thank you to all the customers who have asked for him this year.
Dec. 2008. Our annual shot of all the grandkids at Christmas.
Sept. 22, 2012. At our wedding, right after the anniversary dance, which they won (they were married for 64 years). It’s one of the few pictures I have of all 4 of us together.
June 30. It seems like an insignificant date year after year. For many, it simply means……
But in DE state government, it is significant. It’s the end of our state’s legislative session (no exclamation point). This means late nights for many state employees and legislators as they try to wrap another year’s budget and policy making. This will mark the end of the 147th General Assembly. It ran from January 2013 to present. Any bills left in limbo are forever gone. All legislation must be introduced as new in the next session, which will begin in January 2015.
This year’s session was plagued by low revenues, a proposed gas and water tax, e-cigarette laws, and another potential casino bailout. There wasn’t much room for anything else; therefore agriculture took a normal backseat. Here’s a roundup of ag-related legislation from this past session (click on the link for more info):
A few other semi-related ag bills:
Keep in mind, the session isn’t over yet. Interesting things can happen in the wee hours of June 30 (no exclamation point).
Who doesn’t love their picture in the paper? Especially when it recognizes a milestone in your life or the work that you do. So here’s a recap, in news clipping pictures, of Little Wagon Produce Family in the news from the past few months.
Mom-Mom Messick turned 83 on Valentine’s Day.
Uncle Doug & Jesse (cousin) were in the paper this winter because Doug nominated the Kiwanis group for a $2,500 award through the “America’s Farmers Grow Communities” program. The money has been earmarked for students in the Woodbridge FFA chapter. Jesse accepted the check as Kiwanis President.
Bethany (cousin) just finished her freshman year at Misercordia University in Dallas, PA. She ran fall cross country, winter track, and spring track.
In April, Pop-Pop Vanderwende received the “Delmarva Distinguished Citizen” award from DPI (Delmarva Poultry Industry). He was recognized for all of his contributions to agriculture but mainly for his board service on the Sussex Soil Conservation District (which provides support to Sussex poultry growers).
Not exactly a newspaper, but I found out through family that my face is plastered to this billboard on Rt 404 east (in MD near Rt. 313 exit). Not sure how many beach tourists know that ethanol comes from corn, which I’m standing in front of, but maybe they’ll Google it when they see how much the price of gas has gone up in recent weeks. Maryland Grain Producers paid for this advertising and there are other billboards on the Eastern Shore promoting agriculture. Apparently ethanol contracts for July are running almost $1 cheaper per gallon than gasoline, making ethanol blends even cheaper than the 52 cents mentioned here. You may see the video ad in this article on national news this Sunday.
For the first time in 2014, the DE General Assembly convened in January. Later in the month the usual “State of the State” address was given by our Governor. I have to agree with State Minority Whip Rep. Deb Hudson (R). Why wasn’t our #1 industry mentioned? Take a listen below (it’s a 9 second clip).
Is there a state agricultural policy agenda for the upcoming year? As of today, Feb 18, there has been no Agricultural Committee meeting scheduled or held this year in either chamber. There are many agricultural related bills being held over from the last session including the “Right to Farm Bill” (HB 65) and at least 2 bills related to agricultural license plates and special tags. One of these, HB 122, did pass both Houses on Jan. 30, 2014. This bill would allow farmers who have a farm vehicle that is used within a 20 mile radius of their farm to register their vehicle with DMV. The “FV” tag would replace the white plastic “Farm Vehicle” tags. The FV tag fee is $10 which is comparable to what the “Farm Vehicle” tags sell for. A vehicle with an “FV” tag would be exempt from inspection.
I also have to admit, the “clean water initiative’s” our Governor mentioned several times in his address make me nervous. Details from DNREC haven’t been released yet. The Governor also released his budget proposal a few days later, in which he proposed a $8 million funding cut to the State’s Farmland Preservation program. The cut would leave $2 million for the fund.
In recent days, Rep. John Atkins, Chair of the House Agricultural Committee, proposed a toll for west Rt. 404 instead of the .10 gas tax, which the Governor proposed in his address. It was all over the media yesterday, including tv and radio (WBOC, WMDT, and 105.9). Our family farm businesses operate on Rt. 404, which include a retail produce stand, creamery, and daily farm operations. If this becomes seriously considered (it sounds like a just an idea at this point), let’s pray that our customers don’t bypass Rt. 404 to avoid the toll. Let’s also hope that the toll booth doesn’t go in directly across from one of our retail operations. I’d also like to hear what Rep. Dave Wilson, Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, or Sen. Gary Simpson have to say (Rt. 404 west is split by District 18 & 19), since this is their district! Sen. Pettyjohn released a YouTube video recently, centered on ag issues and not supporting the proposed gas tax hike or cut to farmland preservation dollars, but it offered no alternative options and it came out before Rep. Atkin’s toll proposal. See the You Tube mash-up below. The legislative session doesn’t reconvene until late March. More to come and hopefully an Ag Committee meeting date!?!?
You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers! As many of you know, Little Wagon Produce can be found at many local farmer’s markets in Sussex County. Here’s the questions (and answers) Mom and I witnessed the most from consumers at local farmer’s markets in Delaware this past year:
#5 Question: Do you have strawberries?
Answer: It depends on when you ask us! On Delmarva, strawberries typically ripen in May. Sometimes it’s early May. Sometimes it’s late May. It’s rarely before May because the threat of frost usually lasts until May 15. It’s rarely in June because the temperature becomes too hot. As you can tell, strawberries are fickle. Too much rain, they rot. Too much heat, they get mushy. Too cold, they don’t ripen. Therefore, if you see a farmer with strawberries in July and August, they aren’t from the Delmarva Peninsula! And that’s why we don’t sell strawberries in July. We try to only sell produce which we grow. I often take this Availability Chart below, provided by DDA, and post it to help customers understand.
#4 Question: Are you organic?
Answer: No. Why? Because Farmer Dan learned how to farm the conventional way and wants to keep prices reasonable for our customers. He has a pesticide license and only sprays the vegetables when he sees evidence of an insect or weed. He does not spray sporadically because chemicals are very expensive.
Research shows that organic does not necessarily mean a healthier product. A recent review of over 400 scientific papers concluded organic and conventional foods remain equally healthy. In order to be certified organic, we would have purchase an expensive license, buy and plant more seed so that we have enough yields, and employ more labor to remove weeds by hand. This is the reason organic produce costs more.
Our advice? Simply wash your produce thoroughly, whether it’s organic or not! I love this video from a farmer in Kentucky who shares her take, as a mother and farmer, on organic produce:
#3 Question: Can I freeze corn?
Answer: YES! Many customers share ways that they freeze it. Here’s one way how:
#2 Question: How long does sweet corn last?
Answer: The best way to store fresh corn, besides freezing, is to keep it cool. We recommend storing it in the refrigerator and leaving it in the husk when storing. The husk protects it from the air, which causes it to dry out. Our super sweet corn varieties last up to 7 days if kept in the refrigerator! Trust us, it works!
And the #1 Question: Is your corn GMO?
Answer: No. Why? Genetically modified sweet corn seed has not been available long. We have chosen not to purchase it. This type of seed tends to be more expensive and we don’t feel it is worth the cost because we are not growing large amounts for a cannery, etc. Most vegetable seeds are not GMO altered. Currently, there are only 8 crops commercially offered from GMO seeds in the U.S. Please check out the graphic below. This website and link offers great insight to GMO answers: www.gmoanswers.com
We look forward to answering more consumer food questions and educating the public at the 2014 Farmer’s Markets! Happy New Year!
Wright's Stock Farm 