12/05/08 Women of the Year, Blair

Rhonda Blair and her husband grow 500 acres of wheat on their 15 hundred acre farm outside Kendrick in Nez Perce County. Rhonda farms after giving up a career in the state juvenile justice system. BLAIR "And at that time decided I was too far away from home, having to commute and too many hours away from the family. I didn't realize how hard I would be able to remember which side the auger is on but after being out in the field and driving some circles and getting to know the lay of the land a little bit better, you have a patient husband that will teach you with matchbox cars and little toy tractors and little toy combines to know which way to go in a field it's a lot easier. When you look at wheat prices and the cost of putting on nitrogen and fertilizers and coming out ahead and being just past the break even point, only applying the product where you need it. Also it makes you a better steward of the land that you're not overdoing any of the processes or having to do as much fertilizer, chemical or nitrogen lets say and I think you do a better job taking care of the ground and getter yield and a better bottom line dollar." Rhonda Blair, Idaho Farm Bureau's District Five Woman of the Year. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott