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Home > The Off Farm Income Podcast > OFI 939: Elk, a sustainable and renewable source of a rich mineral | FFA Edition | Andrew Mehus | Cochrane-Fountain City High School FFA
Podcast: The Off Farm Income Podcast
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OFI 939: Elk, a sustainable and renewable source of a rich mineral | FFA Edition | Andrew Mehus | Cochrane-Fountain City High School FFA
Category: Business
Duration: 00:39:37
Publish Date: 2020-12-09 07:30:32
Description: SHOW NOTES Today's episode features one of the most unique and interesting, and possibly most dangerous, supervised agricultural experiences we have ever profiled on the Off-Farm Income Podcast. Andrew Mehus is the former chapter president of the Cochrane-Fountain City FFA Chapter.  He is now studying wildlife ecology at the University Of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.  He is also the 2020 National Proficiency Winner in specialty animal production.  All of this stems from his SAE. Andrew works at Neitzel's Village Elk Farm near his home in Fountain City, Wisconsin.  He started working there early in high school and has steadily gained more and more responsibility over time.  On the farm, they raise elk for the harvesting of antlers.  I learned something very interesting in my interview with Andrew.  Elk does not have nerve endings in their antlers.  Andrew stated that sometimes when they are sawing them off the bull will just stand there as if nothing is happening. They will leave the antlers on a few of their most impressive bulls to demonstrate the quality of their genetics to other people.  And, a few cull bulls and cows will be harvested for meat.  But, by in large, the elk herd represents a sustainable and renewable source of a rich mineral. Andrew has not learned just about the husbandry of elk.  He also has learned more about the business side of elk production.  The antlers are used for the production of medicines and supplements all around the world, and it is a very niche market.  Because of the unique shape of elk horns the owner of the farm developed special machinery to help catch and secure the elk when they do have to remove horns or do other work with them. This experience has really shaped Andrew and has motivated in the college major that he chose.  The State Of Wisconsin has reintroduced elk in the northern part of the state, and Andrew is shooting for a future in which he works for the state department of wildlife managing that herd.   SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Specialty Animal Production HIGH SCHOOL: Cochrane-Fountain City High Scool, Fountain City, WI MASCOT: Pirates FFA ADVISOR: Christine Jumbeck CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ANDREW: Click on the picture below to be taken to the Cochrane-Fountain City High School website: Andrew's FFA Advisors' Email Addresses: Cochrane-Fountain City High School's Telephone Number: (608)687-4391 FFA LINKS: National FFA Organization Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's) Support FFA  Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward. REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA: Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food. Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth. Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store: “The future of American agriculture depends on the involvement and investment in America’s youth, In order to prepare for the population of tomorrow, we need to encourage America’s youth today, and show that careers in agriculture are profitable, rewarding, and vital.”. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue Where Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald Can Be Heard:   Member Of The National Association Of Farm Broadcasters
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