Struggles, Good and Bad
July 1, 2020
In this newsletter, we reflect on history and appreciating the opportunities in the moment.
Members of the Ficke family each bring gifts to the table. Some are fierce and bold, others are just as important, and take place more quietly and concertedly behind the scenes. Brenda Ficke, loves her role as Grandma to Austin and Alyssa’s children and also loves history. If she is not snuggling and chasing grandkids, you can find her on www.ancestry.com or adding to her extensive books of family history compilations – a collection that will not go unappreciated for generations to come. Brenda is going to start sharing some history with us to highlight important work for our family. In this first of a series of articles, we are having Brenda share some history about her side of the family.
As the entire human family takes this challenging pause for the pandemic, life must still go on. May our own histories become more understood by each of us and may we work to understand and appreciate the histories of others. In that sharing, solutions arise and so does the simple fun of storytelling.
By Brenda Ficke
I love family history, old dusty papers and photographs. Many times, I have said to myself, “If only Grandpa and Grandma were still here, the questions I have!”
Never interested in my younger years, I got an “itch,” if you will, to see what I could find out about my family history later on.
Some sides were documented, others weren’t. Most everyone back in the day was some sort of farmer who settled and cleared the land, hauled the water and got to work scratching out a living. My Great, Great Grandparents were no different – Frantisek (Frank) and Terezie Pisar and their children left Bohemia in 1872 in search of a better life, and filed to homestead an 80-acre tract in Pleasant Hill, Saline County, Neb.
Frank was an enterprising farmer and by 1885 he owned 209 acres of improved land, plus 110 acres of permanent meadows. He had a large orchard and several head of livestock. He also maintained an apiary that produced 45 pounds of honey in 1884. Frank built three, separate fruit cellars (caves) for produce storage.
Part of Frank and Terezie’s land was on a limestone vein and Frank used this limestone to build the house and buildings on their farm. The house and farm were listed on Nebraska’s National Historic Sites Registry back in the 1980’s.
Unfortunately, time took the house and on our yearly drive by the spot a few years ago, only a pile of rubble remained.
I am sure it held great memories of struggles – good and bad.
Thank you, Laura Thomas for visiting Ficke Cattle Company. We appreciated, so much, the visit by both you and and your son Grayson to explore soil, wildflowers, and the peace of the pasture. We are grateful Laura agreed to use her writing talents to share her experiences with us. All the photos are courtesy photos provided by Laura.
Laura Thomas reflects on a visit to Ficke Cattle Company . . .
Recently, my five-year-old son, Grayson, and I, had the wonderful opportunity to break away from the city and visit Del Ficke’s beautiful farm to see the power of regenerative agricultural practices. It was truly awe-inspiring to see the beautiful partnership humans and nature can have right here in my home state of Nebraska. Especially since I grew up only learning about conventional farming practices and industrial agriculture.
After researching regenerative agricultural practices for two years, it is incredible to see regeneration in person and actually hold the rich soil in your hands. I will never forget riding with Del in the gator and visiting the many beautiful areas of the land and seeing how even the creeks are now crystal clear due to his dedication.
Touring Del’s farm brought a beloved quote to mind, “Nature teaches us how to live, love, and grow alongside each other.” To see and hear the biodiversity was my favorite part. My son is not used to hearing such diversity of life all around him as he grows up in a city. He was in awe of the variety of wildflowers throughout the beautiful and lush prairie.
Mother Earth is a powerful teacher about the need for humans to understand our own interdependence with nature. Thomas Merton states, “The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another . . . Compassion is the keen awareness of the interdependence of all things.”
“Interdependence is a fundamental law of nature,” the Dalai Lama also said.
The more I get connected to the regenerative agriculture community, the more I have hope for the future my son will inherit. To see humans caring so deeply for the land, animals, water, air, and each other, is a beautiful reminder that we can indeed combat climate change and our greatest tools are – our hearts.
Time for a Plant Sap Analysis and Hybrid85 Success Update
By Nate Belcher
The season is well underway throughout the country and the temperature in the Midwest lately is a steady reminder that we are in full summer mode! Crops are growing at an unprecedented rate with the heat and long, daylight hours. This is a critical time in the growing season to make sure that your crops have the necessary nutrients available to maximize their genetic potential.
Similar to getting your blood drawn at the doctor’s, a Plant Sap Analysis is a way to measure the sap (blood of a plant) to determine if that plant has what it needs to reach its max potential.
For roughly $1/acre in lab costs, you can make educated and money conscious decisions about what your crop might need.
Plant sap analysis is an extremely powerful tool for the farmer, especially at a time when it is imperative to maximize output while minimizing the financial input it takes to get there. We are happy to walk you through the simple process and help give recommendations based on analysis. We also distribute an array of fertilizer products (both organic and synthetic) to help you execute timely fertility applications based on the results from a plant sap analysis.
Hybrid85 update: With our hybrids planted across 38 states, as well as internationally, we are continuing our mission of helping farmers maximize net profit-per-acre and providing them an opportunity to break away from the costly traits and seed they have been paying for in the past.
We are dedicated to bringing maximum value to the farmers we serve and will continue to push forward and do everything we possibly can to bring the power back into the farmer’s hands. That is a promise we are proud to stand behind.
Nate Belcher looks forward to your call at:
402-580-0015
https://hybrid85.com/
greenacrescovercrops.com
Chelsey and I are celebrating the birth of our second child, Brock Allen Peterson. While we celebrate, we are also planning for the future. Part of that planning includes ensuring Brock and his older sister, Gracyn, have college funds available to jump start their dreams. The following is an article that helps outline some college savings scenarios for you. Please call me with any questions you have around financial planning. The phone conversation is no cost to you, and I am happy to listen.
Contact Kirk at:
kirkpeterson@woodburyfinancial.net
(402) 519-0330
www.petersonassetprotectiongroup.com
College Savings
Information source: American Funds ® and College America
Investments versus loans: Comparing two ways to pay for college could save you money.
By investing to help pay for a loved one’s college education, you can reduce a future financial burden of student-loan debt. But paying for college with assets you invest over time (rather than with loans) also has the potential to save you money in the long run. Here’s why:
Hypothetical saving scenario:
In this scenario the goal is to save $25,000 to help pay a child or grandchild’s college expenses.
Assuming a 10-year time frame and a 6% average annual return, your monthly investment would need to be $152. The total amount invested would be $18,240.
Hypothetical borrowing scenario:
In this scenario the goal is to borrow $25,000 to help pay a child or grandchild’s college expenses.
Assuming a 10-year repayment period and a 6% interest rate, the monthly student loan bill would be $278.
The total amount repaid would be $33,360.
The bottom line when considering the above:
Borrowing to meet $25,000 in college expenses could cost $15,120 more. If your annualized return was less than 6%, the investment amount needed to reach $25,000 would be higher, and borrowing to meet college expenses might still be necessary.
Sallie Mae: Student loans looming larger
- Loans form one of the largest shares of financial-aid packages.
- The share of college costs paid by loans has increased 4% since 2008.
- The size of loans has increased significantly.
Depending on your state of residence, there may be an in-state plan that provides tax and other benefits not available through CollegeAmerica. Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectuses, summary prospectuses and the CollegeAmerica Program Description, which can be obtained from a financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. CollegeAmerica is distributed by American Funds Distributors* and sold through unaffiliated intermediaries.
Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.
©2013 American Funds Distributors, Inc.
KuneKune Pork Available! While supplies last!
Anchor Meadow Farm has been busy providing quality breeding stock for others in Iowa, Arizona, Minnesota, and Missouri this summer.
We have new litters of meat pigs that will live the next 12 to 14 months growing out in the sunshine and pasture.
We love the KuneKune breed so much. We would love you to try some! Please ask us anything. We have a lot of amazing pork cuts in stock right now.
When it’s gone, it’s gone. We will not restock until February of 2021. Get your orders in now! Call Emely at: 402-613-5483.
Follow Anchor Meadow Farm at: https://www.facebook.com/Anchor-Meadow-Farm-245014352709769/
No electronic or mechanical reproduction of The Liberator is permitted without direct consent of the author, Ficke Cattle Company. Contact (402) 499-0329 or fickecattle@outlook.com Thank you so much for reading!