Gloom infects the hard-working shrimp and crab docks of this gritty fishing town as the second full year of fishing since BP's catastrophic oil spill kicks into high gear.Dairy farmer Nathan Kuehnert intends to milk an agricultural awareness campaign dry.
“This is a great opportunity to let people know how hard we work and that the world’s best and safest food supply doesn’t just happen,” he said
Kuehnert said he believes a disconnect exists between the public and growers.
In other words: Canned goods don’t sprout from grocery shelves.
“That’s it exactly,” Kuehnert said.
The Fort Wayne grower is one of eight farmers profiled on www.farmersfeedus.org/in, a Web site that debuted this month as part of a 90-day campaign ending April 11.
Participating organizations are the state Department of Agriculture, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Pork Producers, Indiana Beef Council, American Dairy Association of Indiana, Indiana Sheep Association, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana State Poultry Association and the Indiana Farm Bureau.
Besides Indiana, farmers in Ohio, Michigan, Iowa and Missouri are taking part.
Visitors to the Web site can take virtual tours and learn about Indiana farming.
As an incentive, state residents may register to win groceries for a year. Officials will name two winners.
Berne egg farmer Bob Bixler, 42, is among the growers chronicled. The second-generation farmer said he hopes to shine some light on the industry.
“We just want to get the word out there that we’re not treating our animals terrible,” Berne said.
“There is a lot of pressure on us, but we have a good environment for the animals.”
In promoting the campaign, Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman said in a written statement that “our economy is changing, but agriculture’s role in Indiana remains constant.
“This promotion is a great effort by our farmers to share with Hoosiers the importance of modern agriculture,” she said.
During the first couple of days when the Web site went live, Kuehnert said it received 8,000 hits.
“I don’t know what it’s like now, but we’re hoping people get something out of it,” he said.
“I’m working on putting up a Facebook page, too.”
Kuehnert, 28, owns his farm with his wife, Sarah. They have a herd of 275 cows.
“I wouldn’t trade the kids growing up on a farm for anything,” he said. “I’m a fifth-generation farmer, and we’ve been at this location for 125 years.”
It’s a heritage he wants to leave his children – daughter Allie, 2, and 2-month-old son Bryar – and share with the public, thanks to the Farmers Feed Us campaign.
“It’s just great to have the children able to get out in the clean air every day learning life and time-management skills,” Kuehnert said. “I want people to get an idea of what we do.”
