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Farm Horizons • April 3 , 2017 • Page 26

Corn & Soybean Growers continued from page 23

holding an annual banquet and appreciation night . This event , now in its 33rd year , took place in Glencoe at the Pla-Mor Ballroom on January 28 . More than 145 people filled the room , and were treated to a full meal , door prizes and guessing games , and a number of guest speakers .
There were also students from the Glencoe Silver Lake High School Supermileage Team present , with one of their high mileage cars on display . The GSL Supermileage Team is another youth program that the McLeod County Corn and Soybean Growers support .
Thalmann was the banquet master of ceremonies , and he introduced the speakers and oversaw the award presentations throughout the evening .
Johnson , as the newest member of the board , was welcomed and given the opportunity to explain her role in the farming community as county Extension Educator . She expressed her desire to connect University of Minnesota resources with local farmers .
The youth programs that the McLeod County Corn and Soybean Growers sponsor were also highlighted at the event . Scholarship checks were presented to the Glencoe / Silver Lake FFA and Hutchinson FFA chapters . Three $ 500 scholarships were also awarded to high school graduating seniors Mason Ahlbrecht , Mitchell Kettner , and Nicholas Brelje .
John Olsen , public works manager for the City of Hutchinson , presented his findings regarding a soybeanbased pavement sealer called Replay .
It is a product that is designed to extend the life of paved roads . Olsen has spent several years testing the product in Hutchinson , and he believes it will be effective in reducing roadwork re-surfacing and maintenance costs . He estimated that the product could preserve a street surface an additional five to nine years .
“ The Replay product uses 100 bushels of soybeans for every lane of road mile . An average two-lane width road would use 200 bushels of soybeans per mile to apply the product ,” Thalmann noted . “ I think we ’ ve got a great partnership we can put together with the infrastructure folks in our state .”
Because of Olsen ’ s role in testing and promoting the bio-based product in Hutchinson , he was chosen to be the recipient of the 2017 Friend of Agriculture Award .
The featured speaker for the evening was Lynn Ketelsen , Farm Director and award-winning broadcaster for the Linder Farm Network radio news . In 2016 , Ketelsen was inducted into the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Hall of Fame , which recognizes pioneers in the farm broadcasting industry . He was the first to set up radio farm broadcasting in the state of Minnesota .
“ Americans want more food choices than ever before ,” Ketelsen observed . “ Organic , lactose-free , gluten-free , GMO , non-GMO , antibiotic free , local produce , and a whole lot more . This is okay for agriculture . This is not a bad thing . It is giving more shelf space to food stuffs in agriculture .”
He also addressed the current political changes in America , and how they may affect the farming industry . Overall , he was very optimistic . He described the new Agriculture Secretary , Sonny Perdue , in positive terms . He also singled out the new presidential administration ’ s desire to reduce federal regulation .
“ I think this is a plus we have coming . There has been too much regulation ,” Ketelsen said . “ The Enviromental Protection Agency has overreached on some issues . We need to get it down to more common sense .” •
More than 145 people attended the 33rd annual McLeod County Corn & Soybean Growers annual banquet and ag appreciation night at the Pla-Mor Ballroom in Glencoe recently .
PHOTO BY MARK MITTEN