Sunday, May 22, 2005
A country boy can survive
I've mentioned that I am an advisor for the Michigan State Farmhouse Chapter. Most of you probably don't know who or what Farmhouse is. Farmhouse is an international fraternity that is open to all majors. Most of the members come from a rural background. Many Farmhouse chapters are at the top of the grade rankings on their campus. You're first impression is that it is a bunch of uncultured rednecks sitting around discussing what brand of tractor is the best between their classes on how to grow hogs. Well, you are probably half correct. There have been many heated discussions about which brand of tractor is the best and there are several guys who are studying how to grow hogs. But there is much more going on behind the doors at 151 Bogue Street. As I am writing this entry, I am sitting in the front apartment of the chapter house, using a wireless connection to the internet. Yes, I said a wireless connection to the internet. And it was set up by one of the members in the house. There are currently three graduate students who live in or frequent Farmhouse. On of them being Nick Tipper, a Masters student in Agricultural Engineering. With his help, this house is wired with a DSL internet connection in each room and is covered by wireless internet service. Therefore, if you happen to drive by the house and see a couple of guys sitting on the front porch with their laptops in front of them, they are probably getting some serious work done while being able to enjoy the outdoors. On the whole, the use of science in agriculture has grown. Most good animals herds are bred via artificial insemination based on several selection criteria. The use of herbicides in agriculture is a major environmental issue and new technolgies are being used to selectively apply herbicides and fertilizers to those parts of the crop that need them the most. No, agriculture isn't like it used to be where you could make a decent living off the land with an eigth grade education. To be able to survive as a farmer these days, you've got to really know the science behind the things you are growing. You would think that a biochemist such as I would stick out like a sore thumb amongst this group of guys but I don't. So the next time you think of Farmhouse, or farmers in general, I hope you realize the intelligence being used to put food on your plate. And thanks again to Nick Tipper and the gang for getting the wireless internet up and going so I can publish this from by PDA sitting on the front porch of Farmhouse.
