Did you know birthday cakes and the future workforce are linked? Local manufacturers in Henderson County, Kentucky have discovered a powerful way to make an impact—by giving every elementary school child a birthday cake and books.

While most people think football season is the kick-off of fall, the team at the Old Rotation begins fall with the crop harvest.

The Old Rotation was established in 1896 and is the world’s oldest continuous cotton experiment. This season, corn, cotton and soybeanshave been harvested.

A decade ago, Mary Kathyrn Whatley, owner of Tart and Tartan, never dreamed she would be opening her own bakery.

She always experimented with new recipes but never considered making baking her full-time job, she said.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, John Deere halted all shipments heading to Russia. But someone had to tell them. Someone was charged with the task to send out a news release to inform the whole world of John Deere’s decision, including Russia. Someone typed the words on behalf of John Deere that landed in the hands of Vladimir Putin. Someone was the reason the Agriculture Minister of Russia reached out to the company.

The “someone” behind the high caliber news releases and thumb-stopping content that landed on Putin’s desk is Jennifer Hartmann, Global Director of Strategic Public Relations and Social Media at John Deere, headquartered in Moline, Illinois.

Hartman started this job amid a pandemic, George Floyd’s murder, and President Biden taking office. She said it hit like a ton of bricks. On March 1, 2020, she took over a position that had previously been held for 21 years by her predecessor.

Every morning when she starts work, the public relations and social media teams have a “social media huddle.” This quick 30-minute call is an opportunity for them to review what is happening in the world to set the tone on social media for the day.

“We don’t want to be tone deaf to what farmers are experiencing or seem unsensitive with our content,” Hartmann said.

John Deere’s social media platforms shifted from a photo dump of free advertising to cultivating a community when she took over. Her first order of business was telling everyone they could no longer use John Deere’s social media as free product advertising.

To her, she said, John Deere is more than a product. It is a lifestyle.

The strongest brands have emotional attachment to customers. Prior to her current job, she was the Gold Key Coordinator for John Deere Harvester Works.

In 2007 when Gary Keever, retired professor in the department horticulture, started growing live oaks from seeds, he had no idea how important they would become after the original Auburn Oaks at Toomer’s Corner were poisoned.

Curiosity struck when Jack Irwin entered the ocean in Panama City, Florida, holding a can of spam and wearing goggles. As a child, he dove into the crystal-clear water as fish swarmed him and his Spam underwater.

By 2050, there will be ten billion people on the planet. Currently, there are only half a billion. Most of the farmable land is already being used. This sparked a search for new ways to grow food for a growing population. How do agriculturalists feed more people with no land left to farm?

This question led to exploring an untapped, yet plentiful resource: the ocean. Auburn University leads the pack in researching aquaponics to combat food insecurity around the world.

What is Aquaponics?

Aquaponics is growing aquatic fish alongside plants in a controlled environment to produce two marketable products, fish and plants. As fish put solid waste in the water, it breaks down into nitrates, which is what plants want.

Essentially, aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and aquaculture. Hydroponics is growing plants without soil, while aquaculture is farming fish. Putting these two concepts together results in aquaponics.

In recent years, Extension Aqua Culturalist and Associate Extension Professor in the School of Fisheries Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Dr. Cline, said fish producers have latched on to this idea because they can repurpose the nutrients left over from their fish to get profit from selling fish and the water they live in.

“The primary cost of raising aquatic animals is feed,” Cline said. “It’s not magic that the nutrients come free from aquaponics, but you can make the most use out of those nutrients that are supplied from the feed and get double duty out of it.”

Cline said most people in aquaponics are interested in the liquid part of the waste, but there is still value in the solid part before it is dissolved. Solid parts can be used as a soil amendment.

Landing in Jamacia the same time as category five 1988 Hurricane Gilbert were 40 college students from the Auburn Christian Student Center (ACSC) in Auburn, Alabama. Long before cell phones or good communication sat Mary Brinkerhoff in Auburn while her late husband, Jim Brinkerhoff, led the group during the hurricane. Stuck between missing students in Jamaica and their parents in the United States sat Brinkerhoff at the age of 27.

Receiving the title Miss Auburn University 2019 her freshman year was an unexpected blessing for Lauren Bradford. Although she was surprised, she knew she had put in the work and did not let young age hold her back.

On the bank of the Ohio River sits Henderson, Kentucky. Overlooking the water are vibrant sunsets, trains passing over tracks on the bridge and an occasional boater in the summertime.

Auburn University makes being involved on campus easy and convenient through AUinvolve. This is a website for students to learn about events, organizations and volunteer opportunities. It is constantly updated to provide students with the most accurate dates and times of activities. Auburn has over 500 on campus clubs for students to be a part of, so AUinvolve offers something for everyone.

Nothing is better than fall to me: football, cool air, and visits to the pumpkin patch. I grew up working at Cates Farm, a pumpkin patch in Kentucky. This is where my love for fall began. The owner of the farm, Amy Cates, taught me everything I know about turning a pumpkin into a pie. I want to share this recipe, so you know how to pick a “pie pumpkin” out of the patch that can be used in your next pumpkin pie!

Taking steps to prepare your garden for next year’s gardening season is important no matter where you live. The cold can be harsh on a garden, but there are ways to prepare. Caring for your equipment and nurturing the soil prevent major problems. Taking these steps will help your plants grow better in the spring and summer.

Clean out the weeds.
Weeding your garden is never fun, but it needs to be done. If you’ve noticed an infested plant with bugs or a plant that didn’t grow well, it is important to remove it. You don’t want those plants to continue taking over your garden. Weeding in the fall is much easier because the roots are easier to see and pull out.

2. Create a protective layer.

Covering your garden with an organic layer is one of the best practices in winterizing your garden. This insulates the soil and root vegetables to keep them safe and healthy. The three best varieties to use to layer are compost, mulch, and leaves.

3. Plant your bulbs.

While this is not part of “cleaning-up,” it is still important to get done before the ground freezes. If you wait, the ground gets too hard and you won’t be able to get the hole deep enough. The hole needs to be several inches deep so it has good protection over winter and will bloom in the spring.

4. Dig up delicate plants.

Digging delicate plants up is important to keep them alive through the winter. Make sure you research the storage recommendation for each plant. Most of the time, you’ll want to place them in a dark, cool location. Keeping them alive through the winter can be a bit of a gamble, but it doesn’t hurt to try. If they make it, you can replant them in the spring.