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Meet the Deckers from Calhoun County, Iowa.
- Decker Family
Tom Decker had been in the seed business for over 30 years selling seed corn and soybean seed. Over the years he has grown dent field corn, yellow high oil field corn, soybeans, soybean seed, yellow popcorn, yellow popcorn seed and white popcorn. Besides being the Vice president at the local bank in town Tom’s wife Diane also helps out with farming along with his two daughters, Katelyn and Megan.
Farmers Best
Tom only sells the white popcorn under the Farmers Best Popcorn Label. The only one tender premium white hybrid-never blended with lesser quality hybrids-virtually hull less. My grandfather used the name “Farmers Best” when he produced and sold feed for livestock back in the 1940′s and 1950′s, said Tom.
The tradition of quality on our farm continues today. We chose the same “Farmers Best” name because we feel we have the best tasting and highest quality white popcorn available. Tom grows GMO free popcorn in a field, on a cob, just like conventional corn or sweet corn. It is harvested by our combine, dried to the correct moisture and then conditioned. After conditioning, the popcorn is packaged into bulk packages and microwave bags. Before shipment, Tom stores the popcorn in a climate-controlled warehouse, something you won’t find with large commercial popcorn companies. He also uses Soybean oil in Farmers Best Microwave brand popcorn instead of imported palm oil like competitive brands.
The Shop
The popcorn business is a true family operation for Tom and his family. Tom’s daughters are primarily responsible for label application and are the best salespeople at product demo’s in grocery stores and shows. The girls have had the opportunity to experience all phases of the popcorn business, from planting seed out of the bag, to placing popcorn on retail store shelves as a finished product. The girls even recorded their own Farmers Best Popcorn commercial at a local radio station and Katelyn maintains their Facebook page.
Popcorn Packaging Equipment
Some people are adamant about NOT using their credit cards online. When pressed to give specific concerns, the answer is usually some variation of “It’s not safe.” Fact: There has never been a single, documented, verifiable instance of credit card information being intercepted while being transmitted over the Internet, whether by e-mail or using any online form, encrypted (secured) or not.
Using a credit card on the Web to make purchases is actually LESS risky than using it to make purchases at “brick-and-mortar” establishments (“stores”). When you use your credit card to pay for dinner, for example, your food server will typically take your credit card to the back room and bring back a slip for you to sign. You sign it and then what happens? You take your copy of the receipt, leave the other copies on the table and walk away. Talk about bad security!
For some strange and illogical reason, many of the same people who refuse to use credit cards online are very comfortable making credit card purchases by telephone. This is referred to as the “talking-to-a-live-body” syndrome: The misperception that speaking with a person is more secure than interacting with a computer. Think about the “security” associated with that process: You provide your credit card information to somebody you don’t know, at an undisclosed location, and if that’s not bad enough, you usually receive no proof of purchase! We should be worried sick about it, but most of us don’t give the process a second thought because we’re comfortable with using a TELEPHONE!
Credit card fraud is rampant in the world, yet you never read stories about the “dangers” of the telephone or fax machine when those devices are utilized as a vehicle for transmitting credit card information. Have you ever faxed your credit card number on an order or application form? Didn’t you feel just a twinge of apprehension thinking, “What if I dialed the wrong number?”
Let’s examine what happens on the receiving end of your fax: The fax containing your credit card number – and probably your name, address, telephone number – is printed on a piece of paper that will reside in the paper tray of the receiving fax machine until somebody – it could be anybody – comes along and retrieves that piece of paper.
In all probability your order will be processed appropriately, but do you have any idea how many copies are made of the information you fax? The first step for many retailers is to make photocopies of the order information for distribution to appropriate departments within the organization. But what’s to prevent Dan, the disgruntled copy boy, from making an extra copy? Succinctly stated: Absolutely nothing.
The bottom line is this: Using a credit card online is about as safe as it gets.The next time you read a story involving the Internet and credit cards, ask yourself, “Is it really a story about the dangers of using the Internet to shop online? Or is it a story about an unscrupulous merchant failing to deliver merchandise, bad Web site design and/or questionable business practices?”
There is one golden rule that applies to using credit cards in general: Check your credit card statement each month. If there are any charges you don’t remember making, call the phone number that appears on your statement. If you’re convinced you didn’t make a charge, challenge it, don’t pay for it and wait for the merchant to produce a proof of purchase or some documentation that will jog your memory. If proof is not forthcoming, you’re home free. Safely and soundly.
seniortech.us
Fact:
In the early days of Internet commerce, websites did not have adequate security; but things have dramatically changed. The first sites popped up in 1994 and did not really take off until 1999, but fear of credit card theft kept many shoppers offline. In 2004 the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council realized the need for strict guidelines for online shopping. Companies such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover developed a protocol for Internet retailers that include constant updates and testing, firewall installation, and anti-virus software to prevent data mining with worm viruses. These regulations have made using credit cards on the internet safer that using them at restaurants and gas stations. Although many sites are secure, there are several precautions that you should take to make sure you are fully covered.
computerbilities.com
Do you have John Deere green and yellow decorations covering your home? Does your son or daughter have every John Deere tractor in the toy catalog on their list? We would love to see how you spend your Christmas with John Deere. Send us your photos and we will feature them on here (our blog) as well have have a spot in our monthly newsletter! To submit your photos, send them to glencoe@mmcjd.com with “Photos” in the subject line. If you want your name included or a fun story to go with the pictures, include that as well. Can’t wait to see your photos!!
Remember this month we have a special in honor of Women, being it is breast cancer awareness month. Place an order for 25.00 or more and receive John Deere Green and Yellow M&M’S or a package of Harvest Blend coffee. What could be better, free chocolate or free coffee. Make sure you use the coupon code, CANDY or COFFEE, (case sensitvie) Enjoy!
Girl's Pink John Deere Easter Basket
Boy's John Deere Easter Basket
Easter is “hoping” in faster than ever, even with it being late this year. I thought I would share a few ideas for Easter Baskets with you.
There are many different John Deere toys you could use for Easter baskets: TBEK35350, 21″ Big Scoop Dump Truck, Tbek37613, 15″ Big Scoop plastic Assortment. Each of these would be great toys for the sandbox too.
Bubby and Pop Pop filling the planter
I’m Heather from 3 kids and lots of pigs where I blog about our crazy, hectic, but full of fun and love life as I try to balance being a full-time off-farm working momma while raising the 5th generation of corn, soybean, and pig farmers in The Farmer’s family.
There are many reasons that I love being a farmer and a part of a farm family, but the absolute best part is watching my children grow up on a family farm. There truly is no better place to raise a family in my opinion.
The Farmer working ground
My children get to spend each day with their parents and grandparents (with the exception of my full-time off-farm job travels that occasionally keep me away from home at night) helping on the family farm and learning the importance of hard work and dedication. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not a party every day at our pig pen, but whose is?
Our kids love helping with every part of it and we love having their help… most of the time. But truly, it is a blessing to be able to raise our children on the farm and teach them about the life cycle with very real examples.
Big Sissy loves to help too
From planting to harvest, our children understand the stages of corn and soybean growth. This is a lesson The Farmer and I both learned early on in life as well. Although my agriculture roots are not quite as long as The Farmer’s (he’s a 4th generation farmer), both of my parents come from farm families and my mom grew up on a grain and hog farm. In fact, my first science fair project was entitled “Stages of Corn Growth.” So needless to say, it was important to both of us to carry on this tradition with our children.
Bubby loves riding in the combine with Pop Pop
When it comes to our pigs, our number one goal on our family farm is raising healthy pigs that produce healthy pork for our family and yours. Giving our pigs the absolute best care is our top priority and our kids want to help provide this care every day. Bubby is already worried as to who will help when he goes to school every day next year for kindergarten.
So as Mother Nature starts to tease us with some nice weather, everyone is starting to get a little stir crazy. We know spring is right around the corner which means it will soon be time to work the ground, plant corn and soybeans, and most importantly tractor rides for all. What an exciting time of year.
And in case you were wondering, we bleed Green! So if you want to continue to watch that Green in action and all the other action on our family farm and pig pen, you can follow along at 3 kids and lots of pigs, on Twitter @proudporkmom, or Facebook at 3 kids and lots of pigs and The Real Farmwives of America and Friends.
Big Sissy, Bubby, and Little Sissy
About the Author: This is a guest post by Heather from 3 kids and lots of pigs. Heather is a sweet tea drinking, Disney World loving, church going, soccer mom of 3 that is proud to be raising the 5th generation of future hog, corn, and soybean farmers in her husband’s family while working full-time off the farm. Trying to balance all of this can make her life crazy at times, but it is full of love and fun.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day! Let’s play a little game of “I Love John Deere”.
Here’s how it’s going to work.
Read through the Trivia questions below. When you are ready to answer all the questions, leave one comment with your guesses. The first person to answer all the questions correctly will be named the WINNER.
The WINNER will be announced on our blog after February 14th, along with the correct answers.
*We’ll let you know right now that we have two Facebook fans who are serious about holding the title of WINNER in our last Trivia Question. They’ve told us to “bring it on.”
I Love John Deere Trivia
- How many US Presidents were named “John”?
- How many NFL teams have green as an official color?
- What piece of maintenance equipment was introduced at an expo in Louisville, Kentucky in 2007 that started to replace the existing line of zero-turn mowers?
- Finish this John Deere quote, “I will never ___ that does not have in it the best that is in me.”
- Who won the 2010 PGA Tour John Deere Classic?
Good luck!
We were recently notified by John Deere that out of all the dealers in the United States and Canada, we have been selected to receive the honor of Top 50 Dealerships in the United States and Canada!
For the second consecutive year, we’ve been given this award from John Deere based on a long list of criteria that includes five star ratings, inspection, market share, and more. Another critical element John Deere factors in is outstanding customer satisfaction reports, from you! This award includes our nine store locations.
Top 50 John Deere Dealerships
We know that without you, our customers, we wouldn’t be able to do what we love everyday. Thank you for your business and continued support, as we accept this honor in 2011!
Do you have a favorite John Deere photo? Please submit your photos to us, and we’ll feature them on a future video that you can share with family and friends to enjoy. Without further ado, here’s the first “Are You a Fan” video by WeGotGreen featuring only some of the many photos submitted to our site. Enjoy!
WeGotGreen is on Facebook!
We’re excited to get our John Deere by WeGotGreen community started on Facebook. Fans are already joining the page and having fun. Facebook will be the place you can talk to us and tell us what you’d like to see. We want to hear from you and get to know you better. People who “Like” WeGotGreen are already submitting fantastic photos that you’ll enjoy. If you have an idea or a question, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment here or join us on Facebook!
How Do You Find Us On Facebook?
Click on the Facebook icon anywhere on our site, follow this link, or use the search bar later when you are logged on.
