12/20/06 Mint dessert

Mint Dessert I recently went to a convention that had nothing to do with animal production. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back right after this to tell you a little about it. The first of this month I was invited to the Washington Mint Growers Association meeting in Pasco, Washington. While the title states Washington mint growers, I learned there were members from Oregon and Idaho in attendance. The mint growers were great hosts and Rod Christensen, their executive secretary and his assistant Sherry had a nice line up of speakers including legislators, researchers and marketing specialists. They even had somebody in a cowboy hat for a luncheon jabber mouth. As soon as my wife and I got our name cards, I started looking at the products and equipment displays. It seemed a little strange being at a convention and not seeing squeeze chutes, vaccines, fencing or breed association displays, but I did see the same type of people who are at cattlemen's conventions. Producers who were learning about research development, new production methods that might work for their operations and legislation that might affect their commodity. These were people proud to be bonded to the soil and the crop they harvest. I was really impressed with their lunch menu  a beautiful steak, perfectly grilled, potatoes and vegetables. These mint guys really know how to make a rancher feel at home. I told them I would lobby hard to get all the state cattlemen's associations to include mint desserts at their conventions. I'm Jeff Keane.