Summer activities for kids provide local learning opportunities

July 12, 2025

We’re almost halfway through the summer, and are nearing the time when we think about going back to school. One of the concerns that often gets raised relates to how some young people lose knowledge during the summer months. They might be performing at grade level in the spring and then be behind when they get back in the fall. It might be because they don’t get time on task with reading and math. They aren’t sitting at their desks doing work sheets or skill building exercises. Even so, I don’t think year-round school is the answer. Children need a break in the action, ...

There’s a Bill in Congress to make voting harder for everyone

July 11, 2025

Under current US law, it is illegal for non-citizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. Additionally, we have robust processes already in place to ensure that only eligible voters are casting ballots. However, Congress is about to vote on a bill that requires all eligible voters to provide citizenship documentation to register to vote.  This bill is called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, and despite its innocuous name, it would do far more harm than good. This law would be both unjust and unnecessary. It is unjust, because it would deprive ...

In praise of radishes

July 8, 2025

Of all the root crops known to humankind — and I’m including rutabagas and cattail rhizomes here — my favorite is the humble radish. Radishes are a good source of vitamin C, minerals, and bad breath. But their benefits don’t end there. They don’t even begin there. Radishes also provide a fast and easy win for the home gardener. Under the right conditions, radish seeds can sprout in as little as a few days. A couple of weeks later you can be munching on the subterranean fruits of your labor. This quick reward is key if you’re trying to get a child interested in ...

A developing psychopath

July 2, 2025

A fair question is, what are psychopaths, and where do they come from? Where can psychopaths be found? Truth be told, you don’t have to look very far. They can be found in every part of our society. They can be found in every career and job site. They can be found in the cream of society all the way down to prisons in jails. Every level of socioeconomic status has psychopaths in them. You cannot identify them simply by looking at them. They look like anyone else. A psychopath does not understand the feelings of other people. They cannot imagine how another person feels. ...

My memories of Taylor’s fireworks

July 1, 2025

It has been said that the only constant is change. This is true except if you’re hoping for change from a 20-dollar bill after filling your car’s gas tank. Tremendous changes have taken place on the farm where I launched my dairy farming career 46 years ago. When I first rented that bedraggled little farm, the city of Brookings was a mile and a half away. The city has since, in an amoeba-like fashion, gradually engulfed the entire farm. The day that I lost my lease on the farm, my elderly landlord’s son informed me that the entire half-section would soon be turned into ...

Slowing down after the summer of speed

June 28, 2025

When I was young, there was a farmer who lived west of me. George’s wife had passed away, and he lived alone. Several times a day, George drove to town for coffee, meals, and fellowship at Schultz Café. The staff and other old guys were his family. George was never in a hurry to get to town. I knew that if I got behind his green Buick, it was going to be a while till I got to where I was going. I guess he was going about 30 mph. It’s possible that my younger, more impatient self thought he was slower than he really was. Regardless, there are two curves and a hill which made it ...