“I would really encourage people to bring a pet into their life. They’re tremendously enriching,” says Barbara Sherman, director of the Behavioral Medicine Service at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“But find a pet that’s good for someone’s lifestyle so everyone lives compatibly together,” Sherman adds. Assessing your current lifestyle is the top consideration Sherman tells people who are considering a dog or cat. If someone has a demanding schedule, she recommends a pet that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance or exercise.

“One of the most common problems we see is pets don’t have their basic needs met in their household,” Sherman says. “They’re very much loved, but they don’t have their basic needs met in terms of exercise and social interactions and that sort of thing. They may develop some frustration behaviors.”

To avoid pitfalls, Sherman also suggests that potential adopters get as much information about the animal from the previous caretaker as possible. Furthermore, she mentioned that an appointment with a local veterinarian beforehand would be a wise move to learn more about the cost and demands of keeping the pet healthy.

And if the household already has one animal and another is coming into the situation? Especially with dogs, Sherman recommends that they be introduced in a neutral area and kept on leashes at all times.

Whether it might be a dog or cat, plenty of animals throughout North Carolina are available. For example, leaders of the Wake County SPCA helped facilitate nearly 3,600 adoptions a year ago.

“It’s very exciting. With the sharing options that Facebook and YouTube give us, our adopters are able to share their happy stories with our staff and other adopters,” says Wake County SPCA Executive Director Hope Hancock.

“It’s helpful to think of adopting a pet like entering a relationship with a good friend,” Hancock continues. “In order for that relationship to work, you need to be ready to invest the time and the emotion to making that relationship work. In addition, you should make the decision to adopt informed of the financial commitment that comes with owning a pet including veterinary care, food and possible training.”

To facilitate adoption, the Wake County SPCA follows the lead of several other organizations, creating programs to ensure the person and pet form a lifelong bond.

Hancock says her organization uses an evaluation called “Meet Your Match,” that measures an adopter’s expectations against an animal’s objectively observed behavior.
“Think of it as a sort of dating profile like you see advertised by online match sites,” Hancock says.

“Meet Your Match” summarizes the needs of the animal based on its temperament and energy level and then tries to match it with the adopter’s lifestyle and expectations of their new pet.

“There will always be those matches that are simply love at first sight, but we also offer a more methodical approach to those interested,” Hancock says.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to save an animal’s life, and that’s what adopting from a shelter does,” she adds. “That single act can form an amazing bond between pet and owner that lasts for life and is mutually rewarding.”

“Because hearing loss is so prevalent and can impact one’s health and independence, it raises public health and economic concerns. However opportunities exist to address these concerns,” state officials say.

As a result, North Carolina Farm Bureau is assisting the University of Michigan with a project in hopes of curtailing those concerns within the agriculture community.

Farm Bureau is looking for members to participate in “Hear on the Farm,” a project that involves answering an online questionnaire about being exposed to noise in production agriculture.

“As a farmer, you are likely already aware that many farmers experience hearing loss due to their exposure to loud noises at work,” says Marjorie C. McCullagh, director of the Occupational Health Nursing Program at the University of Michigan School of Nursing.

“In addition to problems with communication, hearing loss is also associated with tinnitus (ringing in the ears), social isolation, low selfesteem, and depression. However, unlike workers in other industries, farmers lack the resources to protect their hearing, such as work-based hearing conservation programs,” McCullagh says. “The goal of this project
is to develop effective programs to protect farmers’ hearing.”

Here is how Farm Bureau members can participate:

• Visit www.hearonthefarm.org.
• Enter your email address and access code “saveears”
• Next, participants answer simple eligibility questions, which include the ability to read and write in English and being at least 18 years old.
• Information about your rights as a research participant is then displayed and you are presented with the opportunity to indicate that you agree to the terms of the study.
• You will then find questions that are expected to take 5 to 10 minutes to answer. The questions are about your noise exposure and use of hearing protection. After that, you will be assigned at random to one of five study groups.
• Some participants will be directed to an opportunity to learn more about noise on the farm and hearing protection. At that point, you are eligible for the first incentive of $10.
• After six months and again after 12 months, at the end of your participation, you will receive an email message asking you to complete a questionnaire.

Along with the website, members can find out more details about the project by contacting your NCFB field representative. McCullagh hopes to have North Carolina participants enrolled by the end of March. “This study represents a rare opportunity to provide a valuable service to Farm Bureau members, support your state safety program and contribute to the development of a program to improve the health and safety of farmers,” McCullagh says.

Chicken Tetrazzini Casserole

Ingredients
3 cups cooked chicken, shredded (meat from one 3 1/2 pound chicken)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and quartered
2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup no-salt chicken broth
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 pound linguine or other pasta, cooked
1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese

Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and garlic, sautéing
until translucent, about 4 minutes. Increase heat to high and stir in
mushrooms. Sauté until mushrooms are tender and any liquid has evaporated,
about 8 minutes. Lower heat to medium and stir in flour. Gradually
stir in white wine and chicken broth. Bring to simmer and stir in heavy
cream. Reduce heat to low and let sauce simmer for 1 minute. Stir in basil
and sun-dried tomatoes, season with salt and pepper.

Mix half the sauce with the linguine. Mix remaining sauce with chicken.
Butter 2 1/2 quart casserole dish; place pasta in dish making a hole
in the center. Place chicken in hole; sprinkle casserole with cheese. Bake
until brown on top and hot throughout, about 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Recipe Courtesy of National Chicken Council

The man noticed the husband carefully splitting up the meal with his wife, even counting the fries. Before going to the counter to order, he walked up to the couple and said, “Please let me get you another meal.”

“No, thank you,” the husband replied. “She and I share everything.”

The man went to the counter, bought his own meal and sat at a table in sight of the couple. He noticed only the husband was eating and the wife was waiting patiently. Again, he walked to the couple’s table, repeating, “Please let me buy you another meal!”

The wife calmly answered him, “Like he said, we share everything. And right now he’s using the teeth!”

Jake and John were driving down the road in Jake’s car when he suddenly drove through a red traffic light. John thought this was a bit odd.

When Jake drove through the second red light, John decided to pipe up and ask him why he kept driving through lights when they are red. Jake answered by saying it was something his father taught him.

Then all of a sudden Jake came up to a green traffic light and started slowing down. John asked him why he was slowing down for a green light.

Jake answered by saying, “My dad might be coming across the road!”

My two aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and cackling, “You’re next!”

After a while, I figured out how to stop them. I started doing the same thing to them at funerals!

One year after launching an aggressive initiative, North Carolina Farm Bureau is seeing great germination of Healthy Living for a Lifetime. The program brings an innovative approach to addressing immediate health care needs of rural North Carolinians while fostering awareness of healthy lifestyle choices that will result in long-term health improvements among vulnerable populations.

Since it’s beginning, NCFB’s program has conducted 24 free screening events and examined 2,873 rural North Carolinians while partnering with nearly 300 local medical organizations.

“Healthy Living for a Lifetime was a great way for us to reach out to the community and provide needed health screenings, as well as to promote health resources in the area,” says Shea Laws, Yancey County School Health Center director and access to care chairperson for Healthy Yancey.

“We had over 20 health and wellness organizations represented, and I spoke to several people who were truly surprised to learn just how many resources we have here in Yancey County,” Laws continues. “I thought the turnout was great and that those who participated came away impressed and appreciative.”

The majority of individuals who came to a screening were female (68 percent). A quarter of all participants had no insurance coverage at all, while another 24 percent were under Medicare and another 30 percent had private insurance.

While 76 percent of clients responded that they were in good or excellent health, organizers determined 73 percent were overweight or obese.

Photo Caption: The Yancey County event helped to push the amount of people screened last year to 2,873.

Other findings of the people who went through a free Healthy Living for a Lifetime screening include the following:

• 35 percent had high cholesterol
• 16 percent had high blood glucose
• 64 percent had high blood pressure

“As I discussed participants’ results with them, I could see that people truly wanted to know more about their health,” says Bobby Tipton, medical provider at Saluda Medical Center, which is located near Hendersonville.

“No matter if their numbers were good or bad, hopefully everyone came away more aware of their health and energized to make healthier lifestyle choices,” Tipton continues. “I absolutely think this event made a difference
in the lives of these individuals. If we were able to help just one person improve his or her health, then the effort was worth it.”

For more details about upcoming free screenings near you, visit www.healthylivingforalifetime.com.

Imagine being declined for a mortgage or vehicle loan because your credit is suddenly riddled with late payments, collection accounts, delinquent loans, and dozens of maxed-out credit cards—none of which are yours. But it doesn’t stop there. Your personal and health insurance information has been used by someone to obtain medical treatment, surgeryand prescription drugs under your identity. Welcome to the nightmare that is identity theft.

This type of fraud is the fastest growing crime in America and topped the list of complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission for the 11th straight year in 2010. According to Javelin Strategy and Research, a group that studies identity theft statistics, there were 10 million victims of identity theft in the U.S. in 2008. One out of every 10 U.S. consumers has been affected by identity theft.

Identity theft is also one of the most difficult crimes from which to recover. John Harrison was featured in a “CBS Evening News” story about identity theft. The Connecticut salesman reported having spent over 2,000 hours trying to reclaim his life after having his identity stolen.

“I had to come up with a filing system,” Harrison says of his efforts to clear his name. Harrison was the victim of a 20-year-old identity thief who made fraudulent purchases totaling $265,000 in four months. Even though the thief was arrested and prosecuted, Harrison was still harassed by creditors. “It keeps coming,” Harrison says,“and you don’t have a choice but to deal with it.”

Harrison’s story is not uncommon. According to a CNN/Money report, an identity theft victim can spend anywhere between 30 and 600 hours restoring their credit. That is between four and 75 full workdays. Most people would be hard-pressed to find that much time to devote to clearing their identity.

Luckily, membership in North Carolina Farm Bureau does not cost; it pays! Now, there is one more way membership is providing value and serving families across North Carolina. As part of the many benefits included in annual membership dues, Identity Theft Consultation and Restoration Services* covers all family members in the household.

How does the program work?
If you suspect that your identity has been compromised, call 1-800-789-2565 to report the breach to a trained member service specialist.

• A thorough assessment of your unique situation will be performed to determine the nature and extent of the breach.
• Once a determination has been made that your identity has been compromised, you will be assigned a Personal Recovery Advocate and a case file will be opened.
• Utilizing a Limited Power of Attorney, the Personal Recovery Advocate will work on your behalf to restore your identity to pre-theft status.
• The Personal Recovery Advocate will remain assigned to you for as long as it takes to restore your identity to pre-theft status.
• The case file is kept for three years in the event that additional issues arise from the original identity theft.

*Program is not identity theft protection, an insurance product or credit monitoring.
*Identity Theft Consultation & Restoration,like Accidental Death & Dismemberment, is a benefit of membership in North Carolina Farm Bureau.

Rutherford County Farm Bureau member Joe McDaniel understands how important it is for farmers to keep their tools and equipment in good working order. For example, McDaniel has some fertilizer sprayers he has used for more than 30 years.

“We just keep repairing them when they need it. We do a pretty good job of that. Just like a tractor or a truck, you want it to start. You’ve got to maintain it all,” says McDaniel, Rutherford County Farm Bureau’s past president, who still sits on the board.

Like so many other North Carolina farmers, McDaniel uses a host of different tools to get the job done. And his farm jobs include raising about 135 acres of cotton and the same amount of wheat, as well as 55 acres of corn and another 10 acres of oats.

“You’re always looking for tools that are more productive,” McDaniel says.

Along with using the tools, McDaniel sells a few, too. Besides running his farm, McDaniel owns and operates Colfax Gin & Coal Co., in Ellenboro. While the store mostly caters to lawn and garden enthusiasts and pet owners, Colfax has its share of tools that would be useful on the farm.

Although farm tools nowadays might be more complex, with features like computerized circuitry to help raise crops and livestock, there is another place in Rutherford County that highlights just how important tools are to farmers.

Rutherford County Farm Bureau has been among the many benefactors of the Rutherford County Farm Museum since it opened back in 1994. Overseen by county native Wilbur Burgin—who spent more than 30 years in the U.S. Navy beginning during World War II—the museum contains hundreds of tools and nostalgic farm items that date back hundreds of years.

“Just by word of mouth, people started to bring me stuff,” Burgin says. “People will ask where it all comes from, and I tell them, ‘Widows.’ It doesn’t come here until the husband dies because it might still be in use.”

Housed in a former hardware store in Forest City, the museum takes visitors through the region’s deep agricultural roots, especially in how cotton was raised, harvested and prepared for nearby textile plants.

Those manufacturing operations might have relocated, but Burgin says he does all he can to preserve what it means to be involved in agriculture and how important tools and implements are to farmers.

“I’m not like a typical museum where there might be an item here and an item there. I’d need four times as much space to spread things out like that,” Burgin says.

Schoolchildren are especially welcomed visitors. Burgin recalled a fourth-grade student from Durham who visited and completed a school assignment and then shared the completed work with him recently.

“I was really impressed with what she wrote,” Burgin says. “I’ve got a lot of items that I’m so proud of. It’s entertaining for the kids.” Restored tractors, a hay baler and scores of horse-drawn and hand-held implements and tools currently fill the museum, which is open four days a week Wednesday through Saturday.

“I’m just overflowing,” Burgin says. “I tell the people I’m trying to show them the heritage.”

Photo Caption: Halifax County

Aerial images might indicate just how much North Carolina agriculture has evolved, and Vintage Aerial has literally thousands of images. The company, based out of Maumee, Ohio, secured a film archive of images taken of  North Carolina farms, as well as farms from dozens of other states. Most of the pictures were taken at least 20 years ago; some are even older. The company is digitally scanning these images to preserve them for generations. Vintage shared a handful from its collection. If you want to know what a farm looked like from the air decades ago, you can contact the company through its website, www.vintageaerial.com.

Photo Caption: Alleghany County Farm Bureau Member Johnny Wishon has 300,000 trees on 300 acres.

With the Christmas season over, you might think the activity at Wishon Evergreens has slowed down.

“It’s a year-round thing when you’ve got 300,000 trees in the ground. If you think you’re caught up, you’re not looking hard enough,” says Alleghany County Farm Bureau member Johnny Wishon, who has raised Fraser firs for 25 years.

Wishon became interested in raising Christmas trees to help pay for his education at North Carolina State University. After graduating, he taught high school agriculture classes for 10 years while still tending to trees.

“It was something of a sideline business, but then it actually turned into full time,” says Wishon, who grew up and still lives in Sparta. “I had enough trees at that point to pay my mortgage so to speak. I always wanted to work for myself so I went into it full time.”

Wishon predominantly wholesales his trees when the harvesting begins in early November. He also sells fresh greenery for garland and wreaths mainly through mail-order sales through early December from his 300-acre spread.

“We’ve got the right elevation, the right moisture and growing conditions. The soil is just right for growing Fraser firs. We’re just in the perfect setting,” Wishon says.

And not just for the trees. Wishon also raises about 100 acres of gourds and pumpkins.

With his wife, Linda, and sons, Brad and Garrett, Wishon hopes the steady growth of his tree operation continues.

“My older son is starting to show some interest in the business,” Wishon says. “We’ll see if that’s something he wants to come back to or not. But I hope we’ll continue to be viable for 25-plus years so if either one or both of my boys want to come back to the business, it will be here for them.”