Posts by Andy Juris
End of the road
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year already, yet here we are with another convention upon us. Soon, you’ll have the privilege of meeting our next president and will no longer be subjected to my monthly ramblings. I can say, with certainty, that I appreciate your indulgence and patience as I relayed whatever was…
Read MoreA booger of a farm bill
What I’m about to relay to you is a true story. A few weeks ago, myself and the rest of the leadership team from the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) stumbled into our hotel in Washington, D.C. It had been a long day of negotiating the innards of our nation’s mass air transit, and…
Read MoreLessons from the great, greasy potato incident of 2003
Approximately 20 years ago, I erupted through the door of the tiny, one-bedroom apartment my wife and I shared in the first couple months of our marriage. At the time, I was attempting to teach disinterested college seniors the finer points of high-speed aerodynamics in the aftermath of the post 9-11 downturn in the aviation…
Read MoreSmall town, big community
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer! I still remember watching the Lawrence Welk Show as the Champagne Ladies pranced out in 1960’s beachwear singing the campy tune. My mom has always considered the song a bit of an insult to rural farm country. Crazy seems to be the only accurate word in…
Read MoreIt may be a pain, but NASS data is critical
The older I get, the more I’m convinced most of us (me included) stop maturing somewhere between ages 12 to 15. Adults must shave more often, but that’s about the only major difference later in life. Thus, almost any social group we, as adults, participate in can be viewed through the lens of our high…
Read MoreNew, innovative legislative disappointments
New, innovative legislative disappointmentsI was talking to my neighbor about the highs and lows of farming. It got me thinking, what emotion seems to be the most prevalent in agriculture? I’m gonna go with disappointment. I’ve heard of disappointing weather, politicians, equipment dealerships and don’t even get me started on the latest miracle product my…
Read MoreThe insanity of March Madness
Well, it’s that time of year again. Even though you’re reading this in April, it’s March as I’m writing it. Everyone is getting excited, talk of how things are going to play out fills the coffee shop, brackets are filled out, bets made, statistics studied. March Madness, the time of year we all look forward…
Read MoreTogether, on the road to Abilene
Progress. Seems to be a controversial word these days, yet it’s what most of us are striving for in one way or another. You hear some people say they’re a progressive person; I think that means they sell auto insurance though. Folks debate progress. Is it good? Bad? Does it matter? Reasonable people would probably…
Read MoreA little ‘whine’ with that wheat?
My wife said she thinks I stress over things too much. I disagreed. But apparently, my wife belongs to a powerful global cabal of worried farm wives, a cabal who’s influence likely spans continents, oceans, maybe even space itself. I know this because a lot of other folks started making comments that suspiciously aligned with…
Read MoreJoin us in investing in our future
I’m fortunate to be old enough to have grown up in the age before cell phones, personal computers, the internet, social media and “Tic Tac,” or whatever they call it. My media entertainment was primarily relegated to the static-prone, antenna-received Northwest Public Broadcasting (NWPB) channel we had beamed in; Channel 31, I think it was.…
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