Episode 7:

The 2024 Holiday Special

Transcript

Jay Whetter  00:00

Well, hi everybody. We’re the extensionists. I’m Jay.

Toban Dyck  00:03

I’m Toban. 

Jay Whetter  00:04

And it’s December 24 we’re trying to stick with our regular routine. And instead of a full podcast interview, we have a poem for you.

Toban Dyck  00:12

It is an extensionist version of the night before Christmas, and we hope you enjoy it. We’re

Jay Whetter  00:21

doing extension because we value it. Farmers are still looking for information, even though governments have pulled away from the job of extension. So like you said, the needs there, and there’s fewer people actually doing extension. And so we thought we’d jump into that, and we hope that sponsors recognize that the service that we’re offering and give us sort

Toban Dyck  00:43

as much as we are doing that because we see a need and leave a passion for it. We’re also doing it because we see a need among some of the groups that could be sponsors, and we see that they are also looking for new ways to extend.

Jay Whetter  00:55

If anybody else wants to step forward, we’d welcome their support as well. 

Toban Dyck  01:03

It t’was the night before Christmas, and across the land wide, the farmers were dreaming of yields multiplied. The data was stored in spreadsheets with care and hopes that great insight soon would be shared. The scientists nestled all snug in their beds while visions of trials danced in their heads and out in the fields where soil tests were done, the groundwork was laid for discoveries to come. When out in the barn, there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter. Away to the paddock, I ran in a dash, tripping on samples and nearly a crash

Jay Whetter  01:40

the moon and the furrows of freshly tilled ground gave light to the knowledge soon to abound, when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a virtual tool kit and an agronomist near

Toban Dyck  01:52

with a message of wisdom and tools so precise, I knew in a moment it must Be advice more rapid than tractors. The updates they came and they shared all the findings, each one by name, on nitrogen, on potash, on soil pH, on seeding rates, tillage and pest control dates to the edge of the field, to the top of the yield. Now plan away so away. Let nothing be sealed as the farmers, they listened with notebooks in hand, the Research Extension spread knowledge so grand, and then in a twinkling, I heard in the shed the click of a laptop as data was read, the

Jay Whetter  02:34

agronomist spoke of new methods to try of crops that could flourish with Weather awry. Their models so detailed, their insights so clear, brought hope to the growers for the coming year, the tools

Toban Dyck  02:47

they shared so sharp and refined proved extensions true value the bridge to the mind, the farmers rejoiced as the sessions did close armed with solutions for pests, weeds and snows, but

Jay Whetter  03:01

I heard them exclaim as they drove out of sight, to research, to farming, to yields that delight with extension as partner will reach every height. Happy innovation to all

Toban Dyck  03:12

and to all. A good night. We asked you, Abby, we asked you if we needed to do an intro. You said, No, we’re not doing that exactly. I’m putting my foot down.

Jay Whetter  03:24

Well, hi everybody. We’re the extensionists. I’m Jay,

Toban Dyck  03:27

I’m Toban, 

Jay Whetter  03:28

and they’re like Dad, mom is that Santa? No, no, it’s advice. They knew in a moment. It must be advice. Must be advice. I love just getting advice, but every kid wants for Christmas. Should we

Toban Dyck  03:46

call my dad in he’s right over there. This is why you’re not doing farm work.

Jay Whetter  03:56

This has been a bird forest production. We also want to thank the people you don’t see

Toban Dyck  04:00

we’re here. We’re chatting away with our guests, where there’s tons of people who work behind the scenes to

Jay Whetter  04:06

make this podcast happen. Ryan Sanchez, our director, Ashley Robinson, is the coordinator, and Abby wall is our producer and editor. You.