Children's Tour from Fort Greely

They showed up active, talkative and excited just to be outdoors. The rain threatened but we were able to walk them through the shop, talk farming, climb on bales, enter the boys and girls silos, get locked into a stock trailer and get weighed as a group on the truck scale.

They had fun, no bison were around but I think they got the quick gist of what it is to be on a farm in Alaska.

Fort Greely Child Care kids and the farm.

Tails of the North Featured in Blog

New feature for the Tundra Talk blog, Tails of the North. Click on link to the right to see what's been happening for the real game ranch owners....:) Have fun and Happy Solstice...I think I forgot to say that ! It's ALASKA's favorite time of year, at least this Alaskan!

Flower Basket Contest for the Deltana Fair

Ruby, this is Michele Trainor at the Delta Wind.

Just letting you know so you can pass it around. Cinde Stamm-Wear, Tina Kezer, and myself have come up with a flower basket contest.

To help add posies to the fair we are asking people to bring in their hanging baskets the Thursday before the fair. If its a sunny basket, it hangs in the sun, shade, part shade, etc.. We are soliciting prizes and ALL WILL BE PEOPLE'S CHOICE.

First, second, third and most original.
Folks attending the fair get to vote. So, get the word out and lets flood the fair with flowers!
(And think sunshine). Thanks for all you do, Ruby.
Take care.
895-5115

Delta Wind
News@deltawindonline.com

Food Grade Barley Sought

You may have heard about Glacier Creek Distillery down here in Palmer - they are producing Alaska Permafrost Vodka with Alaska potatoes.
Check them out at www.glaciercreekdistillery.com

Anyway, they are looking for a source of Alaska Grown *food grade barley*. Can you put this request on out -Toby Foster, of Glacier Creek can be reached at

TobyFoster@glaciercreekdistillery.com

Bison Cooling Off at the Game Ranch

Ag in the Classroom

A great society depends on great educators. Ag in the Classroom sponsored an ag in the classroom agenda for educators who traveled to Delta for part of their syllabus to visit farms and ranches. Tammy Kovalenko, Sandi Schultz, Randy Peterson and myself participated in lessons and demonstrations for their pleasure. It was wonderful hot weather, we chose to eat outdoors and it was nearly unbearable with heat...we survived a great lunch sponsored by the Farm Bureau, Delta Chapter (Jane Hamilton & Grace Gay). I got to meet up with our longtime friend, Lory, who taught many years here in Delta and she now lives in Nenana. So much fun to see her and she looks fantastic, still a runner...time to get me going..good incentive Lory! :)

At GFA 2009 and returning home

On the way to Soldotna from Chugiak

Bruce and Vickie Bush

Palmer residents are readying up their produce the first of May...Check out Bruce Bush and information regarding vegetables and especially rhubarb at www.akrhubarb.blogspot.com

The drive down from Delta to Palmer

Hot Time in the Summer

This just says it all...grandsons Colton and Landon Bobo were dying in the nearly 80 oF temp so they cooled off with the sprinkler over their tunnel in the back yard.

Here's how we do it up north, I left Delta Friday for Chugiak...stayed a bit there with daughter, Leslie's family and we headed (grandsons, Leslie & I) to Soldotna for GFA 2009. It was spectacular. The drive, the conference, the kids...I'll add some photos on the other blog entries. Others from Delta drove the road too...that's about 500 miles one way and then back again. One group of individuals boarded a small 8 seater plane and headed from Fairbanks for the day.

What a blast! The people, the business networking, the wonderful homespun Alaskan food and drink.......absolutely astounding! Thank you Robin and Soldotna and all the folks who came. Its hard times and we know it, tourism was down about 30% we heard while in Soldotna, the salmon fisherman were coming in as the king salmon season had opened and the reds were there the day we left.

Lets see, for dinner...we had Alaskan Beer by Alaskan Brewing, Inc. Juneau http://www.alaskanbeer.com/, Wine provided by Bear Creek Winery, Homer - http://www.bearcreekwineryalaska.com/, Oysters by Kachemak Shellfish Trowers Co-op, Mystic Blue Alaskan Glacier Ice, Smoked Salmon Jalapeno Dip by Alaska Wild Kenai Salmon, http://www.alaskawildkenaisalmon.com/, Mixed Salad Greens by Domer Family Farm, Tomatoes by Chena Fresh, Baked Potatoes by VanderWeele Farms, Applewood Smoked Salmon by RJ Seafoods, http://www.rjseafoods.com/, Smoke Boneless Ham by Delta Meat and Sausage, Gulf of Alaska Sablefish by RJ Seafoods Seward, Fresh Sockeye Salmon by Kenai River Seafoods, http://www.kenairiverseafoods.com/, Wild Delicious Alaskan Halibut by Copper River Seafoods, http://www.copperriversseafoods.com/, Healthy Salmon Wrap by Taco Loco, Anchorage, Bristol Bay Red King Crab by the Crab Broker, Inc. http://www.crabbroker.com/, Homegrown Alaskan Ice Cream by Matanuska Creamery, Palmer, Kahiltna Gourmet Birch Topping by Kahiltna Birchworks, Wasilla, http://www.alaskabirchsyrup.com/ and topped off by shots of Permafrost Vodka over glacier ice, Palmer, http://www.glaciercreekdistillery.com/ .....

You know me, its all about the people and the food. More pictures to follow.

John & Julie Hughes

What a photographer I am....the only shot of John may be the one of the video with him in the ocean. The video if the cruise to South America was spectacular!

It's Official

Julie (formerly Frederick-from IGA) and John---tied the knot while on a cruise with family and friends. An official down-home reception was held at the Clearwater Lodge. So very nice....wonderful pig roast by Dana Mock on his special (up from Georgia grill). Homemade food and a decadent banana cake with cream cheese icing and gorgeous spring flowers. It was so very nice and fun. Congrats to you both and thanks for bringing the reception home!