For those of you that were not at the wedding and wanted to know what the "letter" was, I will try to put it in writing. When the preacher ask "who gives this women to be married to this man" I stepped forward and told the following story.....
Kelly and Regan, early on when we found out Jackie was pregnant, we knew it was going to be a difficult pregnancy. We were sent to a high risk Dr. by the name of Dr Thelma Yamboa. Over the course of the next months we would go in every week or so to make sure things were going ok. Dr Yamboa would encourage Jackie and tell her "Jackie, you can do this" and over the next eight months she was basically in bed flat on her back. During that time we had many family and friends come by to encourage us and help us through this time. The day Kelly was born, Dr Yamboa sat on the edge of the bed and watched to make sure things were going ok. At the end of the day, later that night Kelly was born. And you were perfect...and beautiful....just like you are today.
A few years later, Dr Yamboa was killed in a plane crash in Africa along with several other people from Amarillo. She never knew the impact she had on our family, because she was just doing her job. Let that be an example to the people in this room that if she had not done her job on that ordinary day, we possibily would not be celebrating this "extraordinary" day.
Kelly, you have seen your mother wear this though the years. (I have a gold nugget diamond drop in my hand). We have really never told you what it is all about. I gave it to your mother the day you were born in the delevery room with Dr Yamboa. It was always the plan to give it to you on your wedding day. Along with it, is a letter I wrote and will read it to you now.
"Jackie,
What a day of celebration! Take this token and cherish it forever. Let it not only be a sign of our love for each other, but also a symbol of the love that has been shown to us over the past months by both our family and friends. May it be passed on from generation to generation to show the love that was needed to create this special child. Because without that special love, this day of celebration would have never been! May we cherish our babies forever!
All my love, "
This was written on July 24, 1984. I wrote it on the back of an oil can box lid while changing water in a sugarbeet field, and later transferred it to this card. A very ordinary day to be read 26 years later on "THIS DAY". Today we celebrate all the people in this sanctuary that just live "ordinary" lives and "just do their job"that have had an impact on each of you to make you the people you are, and unit together to become a special couple.
June 26, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The truth about GM (genetically modified) corn
February 23, 2010
Vega Enterprise
PO Box 130
Vega, TX 79092
Dear Editor,
As a grower of GM (genetically modified) corn, I was disturbed to read an article, "The Hazards of GM Corn" in your recent edition. The study quoted in the article has been refuted by multiple sources, including the French High Council on Biotechnology, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and the European Food Safety Authority. More information regarding the soundness of the study can be found in the article "Monsanto Corn Causes Organ Damage? Not So," at the following address: http://blog.monsantoblog.com/2010/01/12/monsanto-addresses-study .
As a farmer and past president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, I sit on the Leading Growers Group for Monsanto. Monsanto and other multinational companies are currently in the process of bringing GM wheat to commercialization and consumer safety is always an important factor in all discussions. As farmers are faced with the important task of producing enough food to feed the estimated 9 billion people that will inhabit the earth by 2050, advancements in technology, such as GM crops, will become essential tools in achieving this goal.
I believe it is important to confront the myths circulating about advanced technologies in agriculture. Agriculture practices are being attacked from fringe groups around the world and many do not understand it is going to take ALL forms of production agriculture to meet the challenges of the future, including organic, traditional, and GM technologies. Many radical groups have tried to paint the picture that organic crops are sustainable, when in fact, there is no way that farmers can feed the growing population of the future with organic practices only. There is a growing segment of our population that has chosen to purchase only organic products and I appreciate that decision, but this choice is not practical for all consumers.
Monsanto and other agriculture companies work to protect their name and research to the highest degree. In order for farmers to protect the availability of new technologies in farming practices we must ensure that FACTUAL information is printed and distributed to our consumers. This is not an attack on the author of the article, but a caution that we must check out the sources we quote to make sure they are credible. While some may think that this is "just little ole Vega Texas," and our paper does not reach a national audience, I assure you that many sideline groups look for this kind of reporting to substantiate claims of abuse by major companies.
Over the past years I have had the opportunity to work with upper management of many of these companies and these individuals are just like you and me- they want what is best for their family and community. To allude to the claim that they are some "beast" that seeks corporate profits with no regard to the environment, consumer health, and sound science is simply not true. We, as their customers and producers of consumer products, must work to protect the sound science that will help feed a growing population. As always, producing safe, abundant, and stable supply of food for worldwide consumers is the primary concern of all agricultural producers. The use of advanced technology, such as GM crops, is another safe, productive tool we utilize to feed the world.
David Cleavinger
Past President
National Association of Wheat Growers
Wildorado, Texas
Vega Enterprise
PO Box 130
Vega, TX 79092
Dear Editor,
As a grower of GM (genetically modified) corn, I was disturbed to read an article, "The Hazards of GM Corn" in your recent edition. The study quoted in the article has been refuted by multiple sources, including the French High Council on Biotechnology, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and the European Food Safety Authority. More information regarding the soundness of the study can be found in the article "Monsanto Corn Causes Organ Damage? Not So," at the following address: http://blog.monsantoblog.com/2010/01/12/monsanto-addresses-study .
As a farmer and past president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, I sit on the Leading Growers Group for Monsanto. Monsanto and other multinational companies are currently in the process of bringing GM wheat to commercialization and consumer safety is always an important factor in all discussions. As farmers are faced with the important task of producing enough food to feed the estimated 9 billion people that will inhabit the earth by 2050, advancements in technology, such as GM crops, will become essential tools in achieving this goal.
I believe it is important to confront the myths circulating about advanced technologies in agriculture. Agriculture practices are being attacked from fringe groups around the world and many do not understand it is going to take ALL forms of production agriculture to meet the challenges of the future, including organic, traditional, and GM technologies. Many radical groups have tried to paint the picture that organic crops are sustainable, when in fact, there is no way that farmers can feed the growing population of the future with organic practices only. There is a growing segment of our population that has chosen to purchase only organic products and I appreciate that decision, but this choice is not practical for all consumers.
Monsanto and other agriculture companies work to protect their name and research to the highest degree. In order for farmers to protect the availability of new technologies in farming practices we must ensure that FACTUAL information is printed and distributed to our consumers. This is not an attack on the author of the article, but a caution that we must check out the sources we quote to make sure they are credible. While some may think that this is "just little ole Vega Texas," and our paper does not reach a national audience, I assure you that many sideline groups look for this kind of reporting to substantiate claims of abuse by major companies.
Over the past years I have had the opportunity to work with upper management of many of these companies and these individuals are just like you and me- they want what is best for their family and community. To allude to the claim that they are some "beast" that seeks corporate profits with no regard to the environment, consumer health, and sound science is simply not true. We, as their customers and producers of consumer products, must work to protect the sound science that will help feed a growing population. As always, producing safe, abundant, and stable supply of food for worldwide consumers is the primary concern of all agricultural producers. The use of advanced technology, such as GM crops, is another safe, productive tool we utilize to feed the world.
David Cleavinger
Past President
National Association of Wheat Growers
Wildorado, Texas
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