Search for Missouri Century Farms continues

If your farm has been in your family since Dec. 31, 1913, you can apply to have it recognized as a Missouri Century Farm.

 

To qualify, farms must meet the following guidelines. The same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage or adoption. The farm must be at least 40 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

 

“It is important to honor and respect our history,” said Michael Ouart, vice provost for University of Missouri Extension. “These farms represent both Missouri’s cultural heritage and the good stewardship that our farmers strive for.”

 

In 2008, the Missouri Farm Bureau joined MU Extension and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources as a program sponsor.

 

“Missouri Farm Bureau is a proud partner in the recognition of century farms,” said Blake Hurst, president. “We applaud the hardworking farm families that have kept us fed and clothed for generations. They represent an important part of our heritage and laid a foundation for the bounty Americans enjoy every day.”

 

Applicants certified as owners of a 2013 Missouri Century Farm will be recognized by the MU Extension office in the county where the farm is located. Applicants are presented with a sign and a certificate.

 

Since Missouri began the program in 1976, more than 8,000 century farms have been recognized.

 

For applications received by May 1, a $65 fee covers the cost of a certificate, farm sign and booklet for approved applicants. If the application is received between May 1 and May 15, the cost is $75. Applications must be postmarked by May 15, 2013, to be considered.

 

For application forms and information, call Extension Publications toll-free at 1-800-292-0969, contact your local MU Extension office, or visit the program website at extension.missouri.edu/centuryfarm.

Which oils and fats are healthy and why?

Judging from all the fat-free and low-fat foods available, you might consider fat a dietary evil. However, the body needs a certain amount of fatty acids to function properly. Choosing the right type of dietary fat can mean the difference between health and disease.

 

The first question to ask: Is the fat solid or liquid?

 

“Limit solid fats such as butter, margarine, shortening or lard because they’re high in saturated fat and trans fat,” said Janet Hackert, nutrition specialist for University of Missouri Extension. “Saturated fat and trans fat are used by the body to make bad cholesterol.”

 

Polyunsaturated fats, which are liquid at room temperature, help to lower LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol in the body. They also include omega-6 and omega-3 fats that your body requires, but can’t produce on its own.

 

Vegetable oils such as soybean, canola and sunflower are often high in polyunsaturated fat, Hackert said. Corn and safflower oils are also good, inexpensive choices.

 

Flaxseed oil is the highest in polyunsaturated fat, at 75 percent. It’s also high in omega-3 fatty acids. However, flaxseed oil is unstable under certain conditions.

 

“Because it’s highly perishable, keep it refrigerated, and because it doesn’t handle the heat of cooking well it’s best used for adding its nutty flavor to salads and such,” Hackert said.

 

There are a few exceptions to the “liquid oils are better” rule.

 

“Coconut, palm and palm kernel oil are very high in saturated fat, ranging from 52 to 92 percent,” Hackert said.

 

Monounsaturated fat is a healthy choice too. Of the most common vegetable oils, olive oil has the highest level of monounsaturated fat. It also has a relatively high phenol content. Phenols are powerful antioxidants that remove body-damaging free radicals.

 

Olive oil’s processing method is an important consideration. According to Jeffrey B. Blumberg, director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University, the methods of extraction and processing affect the phenolic content of olive oil. Blumberg advises that cold-pressed olive oil generally has the least loss of these important nutrients, Hackert said.

 

Fats and oils do carry a hefty calorie load, Hackert says. Every tablespoon of fat or oil contains about 90 calories. She recommends that you use them sparingly.

Bryce Ross Scores 31; Tigers Break 13 Game Losing Streak

Worth County's boys broke a 13 game losing streak and Bryce Ross scored 31 points as the Tigers won their Courtwarming game with Princeton 65-57 Friday night. There were a lot of great performances in the game, a breakout game by freshman Chris Alarcon, and enough offensive contributions from everyone to get the win. Worth County got the win despite Brevyn Ross sitting on the bench for extended periods with foul trouble, as he had to guard standout 6'4" player Brant Faulkner, several inches taller than he was.
Bryce Ross scored eight out of Worth County's first 10 points of the game as his pullup shot was working early and he added a steal; he would go on to have 10 in the period. Truman Moore added a backdoor layup after the defense had collapsed on Bryce on one play, Brevyn Ross scored off a Bryce steal, and Chris Alarcon got a putback at the buzzer that put Worth County up 16-14 after one quarter.
Worth County built up a lead in the second quarter as they got contributions from five different people and they were continuing to pressure the ball and get steals. But then Devin Purvis got the hot hand for Princeton, hitting consecutive three pointers and adding a steal as Princeton fought back to take a 31-29 lead at the half. Princeton was also lobbing the ball into Faulkner at will and establishing a 1-2 scoring punch. Bryce Ross scored four in the quarter as he hit from the high post and scored off a Brevyn steal. Brevyn Ross stripped a Blue Tiger of a defensive board for a layup, Cole Parman added a 3-pointer, and Chris Alarcon scored off a drive. Worth County was trailing at the break, but they had established the kind of balanced scoring that had been sorely lacking this year. When everyone on the floor is a threat to score, then that opens teams up for the kind of scoring nights that Bryce Ross had Friday.
Purvis threatened to take over the game for Princeton, getting eight more points in the third period as the Blue Tigers led by as much as six at one point. But Worth County's newfound balance kept them in the game as Bryce Ross had 9, Brevyn had two points and four steals all leading to scores, and Chris Alarcon had four in the period.  Chris ran the floor well in the period, getting loose twice in transition after steals and Ben Badell came off the bench for a kickout assist and a steal. Worth County forced two quick turnovers late to fight back to within 46-44, giving themselves a chance to win in the fourth.
Brevyn Ross picked up his fourth foul trying to guard Faulkner and sat down right off the bat in the fourth, but Cole Parman hit his second 3-pointer of the night and Andrew Mullock hit Bryce Ross for a cutter that put Worth County in front 49-48. Princeton was lobbing the ball into Faulkner in Brevyn's absence and they went up 50-49, but then Chris Alarcon got loose on a drive for two free throws and Cole Parman, in transition, was obviously feeling it as he pulled out instead of going to the rim and hit a 3-pointer to put Worth County up 54-50. Adam Konopasek-Wilmes' banked three-pointer cut it to one, but Bryce Ross hit a pullup to make it 56-53 with 4:22 left in the game.
Truman Moore, who had been quiet for much of the game, suddenly got a putback and a backdoor layup off a Brevyn Ross drive to make it 60-54 and Chris Alarcon made it three possessions at 61-54 with 1:18 left as Princeton started fouling. Brevyn Ross picked up his fifth foul and Princeton began chipping away with a free throw; Worth County threw a bad pass and Faulkner's off-balance shot from outside was ruled over the line and Worth County was still up two possessions at 61-57 with 22.9 seconds left. That meant that Worth County was still in good shape despite a lane violation on a one and one. Konopasek-Wilmes' 3-pointer that would have made it one point was in and out and Truman Moore got the defensive board and was fouled. He missed a one and one, but Bryce Ross got the offensive board and went four for four from the line in the last 20 seconds to seal the win.

Bearcat Men Hang On Over Emporia, Right Back in the Thick of Title Race

The Northwest Missouri State Men hung on for a 52-51 win over Emporia State and inched closed to a tie with Central. Central lost to Lindenwood 83-82 as the Lions hit two free throws with five seconds left to get the win. The Bearcats are now 8-3 in the conference, half a game behind Central, who is now 9-3. The Lions are right behind at 8-4, right where Bearcat coach Ben McCollum predicted they would be early in the year. The Lion students stormed the court afterwards in the biggest victory in school history. The win puts Northwest right back in the thick of the MIAA title race despite playing another game without Dillon Starzl.

It looked like an easy game for the Bearcats as they slowly built up an 18-6 lead over Emporia. The Hornets were playing a zone, which Northwest has had trouble with for much of the year. Northwest was much better at sticking to the game plan, getting it to the middle of the floor or the short corner and then either finishing at the rim or getting it to the open person. But playing against the Hornets is like pulling teeth at the dentist's; the Hornets did not panic in the face of their deficit, but ran their slow, deliberate offense and forced Northwest to play defense for 30 seconds every time down the court. And the Hornets matched up well with Northwest's posts with 6'10" post player Paul Bunch, who Emporia was lobbing the ball to for some easy looks. They had one play where they would isolate their other post, Gavin Brown, against one of Northwest's smaller players and occupy the defense, opening looks for Bunch.

Northwest led 26-15 as late as the first half, but then once again, the halftime momentum thing worked in Emporia's favor. Northwest gave up an easy bucket and then a jumped pass and dunk allowed the Hornets to cut it to 26-19 at the break.

For one of the few times in the game, Emporia rushed the ball up the floor at the start of the second half and got some easy transition looks to catch Northwest and move into the lead at 35-32. Northwest was continuing to run their offense well and getting good looks, but they were not going in. The challenge for Northwest was to play through that and find a way to keep their heads. Finally, the Bearcats started getting the ball in the high post to post players Kyle Schlake or Grant Cozad and then dropped it off to Bryston Williams backdoor; he got several good looks that way for either layups or kickouts to open people as Northwest slowly regained control. DeAngelo Hailey's 3-pointer off a Williams kickout tied it at 39 and then following some layups from Williams, Alex Sullivan hit his only points of the night to put Northwest up 48-43 with 4:21 left.

Emporia then went to a hard press to try and get the ball back. It initially backfired as Grant Cozad got behind the defense before they could get set up and gave Northwest a 52-46 lead with 2:19 left, but the Bearcats went cold the last 2:19 of the game. Cozad got blocked underneath and Hailey dribbled out of bounds as Emporia chipped back to within one with a Brown 3-pointer with 36.9 seconds left. Northwest threw the ball away and gave Emporia the ball back on a miscommunication with 28.7 seconds left and Brown got a good look after some good ball movement by Emporia, but it missed. Hailey missed the front end of a one and one and Kaleb Wright rushed the ball up the court for Emporia. But Northwest guarded him well and his 3-pointer that would have won it was well off the mark.

Ridgeway Game Postponed Due to Flu

The basketball game that had been scheduled between Worth County and Ridgeway has been canceled. The game was rescheduled for Monday. The Ridgeway school had a serious flu epidemic with around 30% of the student body calling in sick that day.

Valentine's Day Supper at WCCC

A Valentine's Day Supper will be held at the WCCC on February 14th at 5:30 p.m. All residents of the WCCC are invited to attend along with spouses. There will be glazed ham, roast beef, pasta salad, green bean casserole, hot rolls, 7-layer salad, and baked potatoes. Dessert will include strawberry swirl, chocolate truffle, and strawberry pretzel. The WCCC is also planning to have a Mardi Gras celebration sometime in March.

Bluejay Boys Fall to Trojans

Northeast Nodaway’s boys fell to Nodaway-Holt 57-51 Thursday night. The boys built up a halftime lead, but they did not have an answer for Nick Patterson, who hung 27 points on Northeast Nodaway and five 3-pointers.
Aaron Patton led the scoring for Northeast with 14 points, Kevin Stoll had 10, Joel Scroggie had 8, Sage DeLong had 7, Steve Schulte had 6, Tyler Schmitz had 4, and Garet Jackson 2.