Showing posts with label Nebraska. Show all posts

We Survived 2,166 Miles in 10 days!

The planning for this trip began shortly after the 2024 Summer Ag Tour and continued throughout the year to end with our final destinations confirmed. We hope you will read through all the blogs to learn more about our adventures.

We began flying to Omaha on June 3rd and visiting Robber's Cave.

Day 2 took us to the University of Nebraska Lincoln's Food Science and Entomology departments. After lunch the Larsen Tractor Museum and Test Lab was the next stop. Of course, we couldn't miss out on visiting the UNL Dairy Store for some ice cream!

Visiting the Nebraska Innovation Campus on Day 3 was a very interesting stop. We then traveled to Broken Arrow, Nebraska to visit Straight Arrow Bison Ranch.

Day 4 took us to Mount Rushmore National Memorial to learn more about the history behind the faces. Unfortunately, we had a flat tire and missed out on visiting Neiman Enterprises. We were able to visit the first National Monument, Devil's Tower.

Between stop activities!

As we traveled into South Dakota, Day 5, we stopped at the DC Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery in Spearfish, SD. If you watch the Magnolia Network on TV, there is a show called "Building Outside the Lines". We spent a few hours visiting with "Cappie", the host of the show and looking at some of his creations. Leaving Spearfish, we went to Bell Fourche High School where we were able to learn more about their ag program and visit with some of their students. They told us about a place in town we should stop at, the geographical center of the US.

On Day 6 we traveled to North Dakota and learned about wool and sheep at Friesz Family Livestock and visiting Cows and Co Creamery for some delicious gelato!

Learning new technology from 701X was the start of Day 7. We spent the afternoon at North Dakota State University.

Day 8 took us to Ag Week to learn more about the communications side of the ag industry. After that we visited Frolek Farms where we were able to see a variety of vegetables being grown using different methods of cultivation.

Up early and out late!

Visiting the South Dakota State University Dairy Plant on Day 9 gave us some hands on experience in the food science field as well as learning about the making of ice cream. And of course, we had to eat some!

Our final day, Day 10, we started at 605 Sires and had our last tour at Lincoln Premium Poultry before headed back to the airport to head home.

Day 10: Lincoln Poultry Processing by: Ava

The Lincoln Premium Poultry processing facility was created by Costco, in 2017, as an individual source of chicken for the store, to ensure that the size and quality of their products remain consistent. Tied in with this, is the usage of local corn and soybeans in Nebraska as feed for the birds that will be processed. They have their own hatchery and feed mill as well. They partner with growers around the region to raise birds to 6.2 pounds.

The chicken processing system is very automated, even including systems that number birds so the Lincoln facility can identify weight, number, and farm origin of each bird. In poultry processing facilities, there are various rooms and chambers for carcasses to be hung as they rotate through each system.

The next couple of paragraphs explain the processing steps of the birds. It is a highly automated system using both human hands and robots. The whole process from when the birds arrive to loading them on a truck to go out to Costco takes about 9 ½ hours.

First, as the chickens come into the plant, they are put into a calming chamber, while remaining in large crates with other birds. From there, they are exposed to carbon dioxide, as a way to make them unconscious, as to obey animal welfare regulations before they are processed. Then placed on shackles, the birds go through another system to ensure unconsciousness. From there, carcasses will be rotated through a division until they are fully bled out, as to not leave blood clots in the final product. There is a later process that automatically removes internal organs-to where they will be sent down a pipe and collected with other parts (giblets) to then be sent to another facility to be used in non-human consumables such as pet feed. Other stations the carcasses run through are the steaming process, where the carcass will be heated to around 130º F, then put through a feather removal machine that rotates in the way of a carwash, as spinning towers with rubber attachments pluck feathers from the bodies. Additionally, throughout many of the stations, there are wash stations for the carcasses. To follow, there is a section that cuts a portion of the leg tendon, thus causing the chicken paws (chicken feet) to stretch out. We learned this is because chicken paws are actually one of the highest demanded products from their facility and are desirable to sell with the toes spread out for dishes such as frying them. After that, the shackled feet will be removed from the body, while the body will be moved to a separate shackle, and they will move to different areas.

In one of the many other stations, there are quality checking employees who watch their assigned shackles (by color-there are three colors and each checker is assigned one to assist with the most efficiency and reduction of error probability). In the case of disease, the person will remove the bird and then must press a white button above their head at their station, which will then signal to any other area of the plant that also has parts of the same bird-causing all corresponding robotic areas to drop those parts to a disposal area. Near this section, also stationed, is an official USDA inspector, who is qualified by the federal government to ensure quality standards of each bird are met for consumption. There are also sections that the carcasses go through for body chilling, and this facility uses a lesser-known method of air chilling, instead of the most used water chilling-which causes the meat to take in water weight. During more movement through the facility, the carcasses go through a process of chilling, then through a longer system of maturing, for the entire body of meat to be chilled evenly. Later, the carcasses made it to part of the facility which was recently replaced by an almost completely robotized system of banding the carcasses’ wings and legs together (the only one of its kind in the world-next to a prototype in Alabama-and was manufactured in Europe). Birds are then packaged to be loaded on trucks and taken to Costo.

It was a very unique experience to see how such a common product is produced on such a large scale, and in a very futuristic, automated way. It was also great to meet the nice people who seem very passionate about this industry.

Day 3: Straight Arrow Bison by Khloe

Today we headed towards the Straight Arrow Bison Ranch in Broken Arrow, NE. We learned that bison are not like cattle at all and even God him self has said it, “And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind; and God saw that it was good”. At Mr. and Mrs. Bredthauer’s farm they told us that they have had their farm for about 30 years, and that they don’t keep the females and males apart since they breed year round. They use two different colored tags to know who’s who, yellow tags are for the females and blue tags are for the males.

Here is an example of a females and a male bison, you can also tell them apart from their horns so like the females horns curve inwards and the males go straight up.

They have 15 paddocks that the bison move around every 2 months for rotation of flys and so that way the grass has time to grow in each area. The calves are born between the months of April/May/June and are orange until they are about 2-2 ½ months of age. They tag the calves every 2 years, and use humane harvest when they need to down size the herd. They switch the bulls every 8-10 years so they have 25 herd cows, 2 bulls, and the calves which they would end up with about 80 head before they do humane harvest. They don’t give the bison any vaccines or medications but they do put apple cider vinegar in the water just in case.

Day 2: Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory and Power Museum by Andrew

The Lester F. Larsen Tractor Test and Power Museum stands as a testament to agricultural innovation and the state's commitment to ensuring quality in farming equipment. This unique institution not only chronicles the evolution of tractors but also underscores Nebraska's pivotal role in establishing standardized tractor testing.

The museum's origins trace back to 1919 when Wilmot F. Crozier, a Nebraska farmer and legislator, became disillusioned with the performance of tractors that failed to meet advertised claims. His experience led to the enactment of the Nebraska Tractor Test Law, mandating that all tractors sold in the state undergo rigorous performance evaluations. This legislation aimed to protect farmers from misleading marketing and set a precedent for standardized testing nationwide.

Established in 1980 and named in honor of Lester F. Larsen, the chief engineer of the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory from 1946 to 1975, the museum occupies the original testing facility built in 1920. Recognized as the only complete tractor test laboratory in the world, the museum preserves the history of tractor testing and showcases the advancements in agricultural machinery over the decades.

Visitors to the museum can explore a diverse collection of antique tractors, including notable models like the Waterloo Boy Model N the first tractor tested under the new law—and the Ford 8-16, which played a role in the law's inception. The museum also features original testing equipment, such as the Sprague dynamometer, and interactive exhibits that provide insights into the testing processes.

In recent years, the museum has undergone renovations to enhance the visitor experience. New exhibits, like the display featuring an SC-Case tractor and an Oliver 60, present tractors in realistic settings, offering a fresh perspective on their historical context.

The Lester F. Larsen Tractor Test and Power Museum welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Located at 35th and Fair Streets in Lincoln, Nebraska, the museum operates on a suggested donation basis, making it an accessible destination for all.

Whether you're an agricultural enthusiast, a history buff, or simply curious, the Lester F. Larsen Tractor Test and Power Museum offers a unique window into the world of tractor testing and its significance in shaping modern farming practices.

Day 1: Our flight to Omaha and Robber's Cave Tour by Charlotte

Today's sponsor

Another year, another trip! Today June 3^rd starts the first day of our 10-day long 2025 Summer Agriculture Tour in the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. As always, on the first day we get up before the sun comes up and start our morning with meeting at the Southwest check in at 5 am sharp. We quickly tagged our bags and made our way through the security check-in point for our flight that boarded at 7:40 am. With one small layover in Saint Louis, Missouri, only 2 hours, we boarded again for our final ending destination in Omaha, Nebraska.

We claimed our bags, grabbed our rental cars, made a quick food stop at Raising Canes then finally made it to our first stop of our trip at Robbers Cave Tours with our guide Joel Green. Not only was he our guide through these caves but he is also a published author of his book about Robbers Cave. This cave is the only one of its kind in the state of Nebraska holding lots of history to the events that happened below the ground. Robber’s Cave is a 5,000-square-foot, hand-dug cave located in Lincoln, Nebraska. In the late 1800s, German immigrants expanded a shallow natural cave located near Salt Creek by tunneling through soft Dakota Sandstone. Their excavation created three parallel chambers used for storing grain and barrels used at their local brewery. After the brewery closed, the Scarborough family bought the land in the early 1900s and opened the cave as a tourist attraction until the 1980s. During the cave’s long history, it served as a dance hall, party room, meeting room, movie theater, concert venue, and community center. One activity consistent through all these iterations was to have attendees inscribe their name or an image into the soft sandstone. Certain groups used this cave as a place of gathering for meetings such as incitation’s for the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) as well as a known hideout for outlaws such as Jesse James, and Belle Starr after the Civil War.

Over time there have been many changes to the caves and the land that lies above it as 6 years ago it had different owners and was completely vandalized as they made upgrades to what it is today. They spent over half a million dollars to restore what was once destroyed but now beautifully displayed. Today it is used for education and tours as well as a great photography place. Some of the different unique things that were included within the cave was a well 64 feet down for water, a small cutoff tunnel for a bathroom or a “smooch room”, and firepole for easy drop-down access. Joel even mentioned one of the paranormal experiences he witnessed below in the caves as LED lights light up back and forth down the halls until suddenly, they shut off and one singular bulb lit up above him. We saw the video with our own eyes and ghost hunters as well as electricians have no explanation for this occurrence. This intrigued me as it makes me want to dig deeper into the things that could have happened. After this stop we made it to our hotel to unwind for an hour before going to Fireworks for dinner, which is a local restaurant in town. After we ate, we came back to the hotel and wrote thank you notes for the day and soon laid our heads to rest to be ready for day 2.

Seeing the layers of sandstone and other minerals that flowed like waves was interesting. Over the years there has been a lot of carvings in the walls as well as a few bullet holes.