Last week we were sitting in our Moore Up North production meeting talking about topics for upcoming shows. Outside, the sun was shining, the snow was melting and it felt like spring was finally here. So we thought it might be a fun change of pace to step back from hot-button political issues and do something a little more light-hearted.
The producers made some calls and soon we had a show booked on Alaskan agriculture; the most non-controversial topic we have ever considered. Then, the day before the show, one of our panelists called to tell us he couldn’t make it. He was invited to speak at the Wasilla Tea Party rally. The irony is that this man, Wayne Brost, is a dairy farmer in the Mat-Su Valley who is only in business today because of the millions of dollars in government money he has taken over the years. You can read more about that at the newly revamped Mudflats.
And strangely enough, that was only the start of politics coming into our first attempt at a non-political show. It’s just another example of the depths of corporate influence in every facet of American life today.
This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Leslie Shallcross, an assistant professor at the UAF Cooperative Extension.
Our panelists this week:
- Patricia O’Neil, Alaska Division of Agriculture/Alaska Grown
- River Bean, owner and operator of Arctic Organics
- Karen Olsen, manager and co-owner of the Matanuska Creamery
To be honest, the subjects didn’t seem like my ‘forte’, but I’m surprised how much I learned and enjoyed this show. Nice range of guests that really complimented each others’ discussion.
Nicely done Shannyn. Will share with my Sis that likes to garden and fish.
By: Kath the Scrappy on April 17, 2010
at 11:05 pm
Shannyn,
The name of one of your guests sounded familiar so I therefore did a search.
Here is a link to Andrew Halcro’s February 2, 2009 blog entry wherein he set’s out information regarding Karen Olson. WELL WORTH READING.
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/palins_agriculture_board_got_fraud
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/mar_16_readers_comments_on_matanuska_maid
By: meede on April 19, 2010
at 9:47 am
Actually there is a lot, at least for AK, going on in agriculture now.
Alaska is so in need of people being MORE aware of what is happening, or what is being stopped from happening in Alaska in terms of this subject.
So glad you took it on.
By: UgaVic on April 19, 2010
at 9:38 pm
In WA I was a Food Advisor for the Cooperative Extension, we were unpaid educators who volunteered our time to teach classes, man booths at events, or answer individual questions which included the areas of food safety, nutrition, canning, freezing, drying, kitchen safety, special diets, use of herbs, and a food safety class especially for those with AIDs. We had a special group called the Herb group which had a lot of knowledge about how to cook with or make all kinds of things with Herbs. We also answered questions on the Turkey Hotline at Thanksgiving time. I was also a Master Gardener. When I moved to Nome I found the Cooperative Extension’s trailer and told them I had been a Food Advisor and wanted to volunteer, they didn’t even know what I was talking about. I have been surprised at how little information is available from UAF, a land grant university. The point of the program is to get the information into the community. They have attempted to train some food advisors in Homer and had to cancel the class due to lack of interest.
By: Celia Harrison on April 20, 2010
at 12:35 pm