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I’m a bit of a skeptic when it comes to electronic gadgets.
I don’t really know what an iPad is, nor do I care to have one. The only “blackberry” I ever bought was the kind you get at a farmers market, and pour some sugar and milk over top.
I own one personal laptop, one television and a cell phone, and there are days I wish it was less.
But the reality is, some of these things are part of today’s world — the world of sharing news quickly, accurately and to an audience near and far.
Trying new things
In the past year, I’ve learned a little about “social media,” the concept of sharing ideas and information with large Internet audiences.
I’ve started a Twitter account at “ckick1,” and I’ve even made a few contributions to the company’s Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/farmanddairy.
Now, I’ve progressed to the thing you’re reading — a blog. It’s a new concept at Farm and Dairy, and one I think will do well.
A blog gives us a chance to comment on some of our daily experiences, without compromising the integrity of our reporting.
Our stories should be objective and fact-driven, and our blogs … well … objective and fact driven, but also fun.
There’s a backstage scene to everything, and that’s what I think these blogs will show. I look forward to raising questions, answering questions and asking readers for their own insight.
My story
I think this blog will become more about topics and issues than myself, but since it’s the first time around, here’s some facts about me, the blogger.
I grew up on my family’s farm in Wayne County, Ohio, and exhibited steers at the county fair through 4-H and FFA. I return to the farm regularly to hunt and camp.
I graduated from Ashland University with a degree in creative writing and journalism. I’ve been a reporter since 2006, when I started for The Daily Record in Wooster. I’ve covered everything from county government to agriculture. In the fall of 2009, I started with Farm and Dairy.
I work full-time from my home in Wooster, and cover most of northcentral and central Ohio.
I’m a morning person, after a full pot of coffee. I can eat about anything that’s fully cooked. I drive a Chevy car, but if I had it to do over, I would have bought a Ford in an instant.
I care about all types of agriculture and agribusinesses.
I think Ohio is a great place to be a farm reporter and I love the diversity of farms.
Keep reading
It may take me a while to get used to this thing called blogging, but I’m sure it will come. If can learn what a Tweet, a retweet, and a status update all are, and how to upload pictures to a Facebook site, then this should be achievable, as well.
3 comments
Howard Zalkin says:
Apr 3, 2014
Hello Chris Kick,
I recently found, and very much enjoyed, your 2011 article in Farm and Dairy on hauling milk in the winter (http://www.farmanddairy.com/news/ice-road-trucker-hauling-milk-is-all-weather-task/21531.html). I worked on a dairy farm in upstate New York years ago, and it brought back fond memories. I am currently writing a short fiction piece about a trucker who hauls milk. I discovered your article in the process of doing the research. Can you please recommend any books, articles, or magazines (fiction or non-fiction) on hauling milk? Many thanks!
~Howard Zalkin
Chris Kick says:
Apr 3, 2014
Thanks for reading our article, Howard. I don’t know of any books about milk hauling but you might find some information from Ohio State University Extension, your New York Extension or the New York or Ohio Farm Bureau. It may take a lot of calls but you could at least build some contacts.
Eventually, if you could get directly to a milk hauler or milk hauling company, that might be your best bet. There is a lot of history regarding how milk was transported over the years from farm to processor to grocery and to homes, etc. Might take some time to tap into it, but it’s out there.
Howard Zalkin says:
Apr 3, 2014
OK, Chris. Thank you for the quick response!