Editors' Notebook

One of the great joys of being a journalist covering agriculture is the readiness of farmers and farm families to share. Whether it's a planter setup, a livestock handling technique, or a marketing tip, by and large farmers and ranchers are willing to share with their peers.

We have a couple of contests going on that are all part of that sharing.

The first, our #MyFreedomMyFarm photo contest, is kicking off just ahead of 2017 Independence Day celebrations that are so much a part of rural America. Rules and procedures are similar to our recent #MyPlanting17 contest, which featured photos that readers submitted to depict what spring planting meant to them.

The current contest ups the photographic technique ante by challenging you to find photographable scenes that speak to your patriotic side as well as depicting the farm operation where you live and breathe that pride.

Details on the contest, which will remain open until July 31, are here: https://spotlights.dtnpf.com/…

There are real cash and other prizes at stake here, as well as the chance to show off your photographic talents in the pages of The Progressive Farmer and on our DTN/PF online venues.

The second contest going on right now is a time-honored one over at The Progressive Farmer Magazine. It's also one of my favorite projects that the magazine and Senior Editor Dan Miller do each year.

Our "Great American Shops" contest gives farmers the opportunity to share and to show off their idea of the ultimate farm equipment repair space. As someone who grew up in the era of lying on an old feed sack spread over a dirt floor to replace truck starters or drain tractor transmissions, it's always a treat to see the ingenuity that goes into today's machine repair and storage spaces.

This year's contest features four categories: Shops 1,500 square feet and less; shops 1,501 square feet to 5,000 square feet; shops 5,001 square feet and more; and recycled/rehabbed shops, those older buildings that have been cleverly converted into new and productive work spaces.

Past winners have had unique fluid handling systems, job-specific areas for functions such as welding/fabrication, office/lounge space and tool and parts storage, fun decor, unique heating and cooling systems and many other features. I think there have been a few basketball hoops and dartboards in the past mix as well, as all work and no play make for a dull mechanic.

Winners in each category get $500 plus additional prizes, and are featured in the September issue of The Progressive Farmer.

To have your shop, or one that you admire, considered in the upcoming contest, write up a description of the shop highlighting its key features. Send that, either by mail or email, along with any photos that you think help show the features, to:

Dan Miller Senior Editor, The Progressive Farmer Suite 415 2204 Lakeshore Drive Birmingham, AL 35209 dan.miller@dtn.com; phone: 205-613-6088

A complete set of details is in Miller's recent post in our Machinery Chatter blog. Contest deadline is Friday, July 21.

Good luck to the entrants of both contests, we can't wait to see your submissions.

Greg Horstmeier can be reached at greg.horstmeier@dtn.com

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