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What are those "thingies?"By Holly Martin My 2-year-old isn't a genius, but he can identify 27 windmills between our home and town. He also knows the difference between Holsteins, Angus, Gelbvieh and Charolais cows. It is clearly an exciting day when there are combines and grain carts in the field. "Irrigation system" is the most difficult phrase in his repertoire, at the moment. Let's just say we are in the car a lot and you have to get creative so kids don't get bored. Apparently, Nebraska Farm Bureau members have spent some time in the car with children, too. They are capitalizing on the opportunity to teach agriculture for car travelers in their state. They recently released a flyer called "What is that I spy?" The brochure, published by the NFB Ag Promotion Committee, helps teach travelers what they are seeing outside their car windows as they drive across the state. "No more doohickeys, thingamabobs and gizmos for you," the brochure reads. "Next time you drive through Nebraska, impress everyone in the vehicle. Tell them the names and purposes of the many farm and ranch related wonders that pass by your dashboard." The brochure has pictures of common farm-related equipment and crops such as tractors, combines, center pivot irrigation, corn, soybeans, grain bins and silos. Each picture has a paragraph that educates the reader how the item is important to consumers. It is available at the I-80 Visitor's Centers and tourist centers across Nebraska. Please don't misunderstand that Nebraska Farm Bureau or I think there's "nothing else to see" in Nebraska-quite the contrary. It is just that urban drivers might not recognize or understand what we find so interesting about our agricultural oriented states. They hop on I-80 headed from Omaha to Denver and hope the drive ends soon. All the while, they pass some of America's most precious resources and hardest working citizens and don't even know it. But with this information in hand, they can identify nearly everything in the brochure; they can achieve "Gizmo Gazer" status where they "are getting a real feel for Nebraska farms now." What an excellent idea. With continued efforts like this by farm organizations everywhere, hopefully when children (or their parents) drive past a stack of hay bales, they won't ask "What our those 'thingies?'" Holly Martin can be reached by phone at 1-800-452-7171 ext. 1806 or e-mail at hmartin@hpj.com. 9/8/08 Date: 9/3/08
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