Kitchen Sink Spaghetti Recipe By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

This is a simple yet very tasty main dish that is aptly named because the list of ingredients is very flexible—basically, you build the recipe to suit your tastes.  The example below is one of my favorites:

INGREDIENTS

8 oz (dry weight) of angel hair pasta, broken into half

4 oz feta cheese, cut into small cubes

4 to 6 oz tomato paste

Small jar of sun dried tomatoes, in oil

Olives—pitted black, medium size, cut in halves

Two medium onions

One or two bell peppers—red and green for color

Italian herb seasoning

PROCEDURE

·         Prepare the pasta as per package directions; when done, drain, cover, and set aside

·         Chop the onions and peppers into bite sized pieces

·         Put enough olive oil a cast iron skilled to cover the bottom about 1/8 inch deep, and put

                     the onions and peppers to cook with medium heat until they show a bit of brown on

                     the edges

·         Add the sun dried tomatoes, with the oil that they are packed in, and cook for 3-4 minutes

              under low heat

·         Add the pasta, the tomato paste, and the chopped olives, along with one to two teaspoons of

               the Italian herb seasoning, and mix thoroughly, while cooking over low heat for about

               five minutes; stir every minute

·         Add the chopped feta cheese just before serving; mix in

·         If desired, top with dried dill or grated parmesan or asiago cheese

ENJOY!

Note—I often add small pieces of sautéed shrimp or chicken to the recipe just before adding the feta

cheese.

This can be made with almost any kind of cheese. I like the feta because it gives some kick to the rest of the ingredients.  The sun dried tomatoes are a key ingredient; they provide a lot of flavor.

Other ingredients could be chopped artichokes, sautéed mushrooms, or pine nuts.

Whenever I make this dish, I scour the refrigerator to use up whatever leftovers can contribute interesting flavors to this dish.

Serves at least six people generously.

Leadership By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

There are common traits to being a true leader, whether it involves leading a Boy Scout group, or a nation. At the core of leadership is having a moral code, e.g., understanding the difference between right and wrong, and applying that guideline to everything that we do.  

Doing the right thing means, for example, treating people equally regardless of race, color, or religion, and it means contributing a fair share of one’s wealth for societal good.  It means keeping in mind that we take nothing with us when we leave this earth, and that how we are truly remembered is by the legacy that we leave behind.

  

There is a leadership vacuum in this country now.  Hurling insults, tweeting falsehoods, and demonizing certain groups, is NOT leadership. It is reminiscent of tactics used during Hitler’s reign of terror in the 1930s and 40s.  Have we forgotten the lessons that that historical period taught us?  Have we left behind the democratic principles upon which the United States was founded?

The social fabric of this country has been torn by some who want to lead us down a path of nationalistic, racist policies.   The vast majority of Americans know that that is wrong on all counts.  It is time for the sometime “silent majority” to exercise its democratic right to create change, and that begins with electing leaders who have the best interests of the country, not themselves, in mind, when they run for office. 

Leaders are not born into it.  Principles of leadership can be read in many books. Real leadership comes from living by a set of principles every day, and in every situation, and never selling out for the appeal of the moment.  It means doing the right thing for all those who look to you, and inspiring them, by your words and deeds, to do the right things in their daily interactions with their fellow citizens.

Tips For Farmers When Working With Lenders By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

There are signs everywhere in the farm sector that credit availability is tightening for 2019, and that lenders will exert extra scrutiny of many loan applications, whether for renewals, or new financing.  What can a farmer do to be prepared?

The first and foremost thing is to be proactive, and upfront with the lender.   This will give you, the borrower, the opportunity to frame the discussion, rather than being on the defensive from the get go.

Second, be organized, detailed, accurate, and prepared.  Have your financial ducks in a row. Analyze with great attention to detail your costs per unit of production over the last 3-4 years, and be ready to justify certain expenditures from the standpoint of ROI.

Third, have a good handle on your risk management strategy.   Be ready to explain to the lender how you are mitigating risk, whether it be on the cost of, say, diesel fuel, or with regard to the price potential for your crops.  

Fourth, put yourself in the lender’s shoes. Ask yourself whether you would lend money to someone wearing the same shoes as you, and think about what you would ask the prospective borrower.

Fifth, even if you have been with one lender for a long time, look around, and have a Plan B in case things do not pan out with the current lender. 

Finally, perceptions matter.  Do a drive through of your farm with the lender; show him a clean farmstead, well maintained machinery, and fields in good condition. 

Civility And Morality In Public Life By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

Inherent in the idea of a “leader” is the idea of showing, by example, the ways in which we should conduct ourselves as part of a civil society where differences are tolerated, opinions are freely expressed, and good rules of social interaction are followed.

 

Sadly, in today’s world, especially in America, our “leader,” and some of his disciples, have completely disregarded these principles, and that reflects poorly on us as a leader among nations.  Some of my friends in Europe believe that we have lost our way, and that America is now a dark place where the worst of human emotions are on display.  

There is hope.  The majority of people are good and decent human beings, and their “better angels” will carry the day.  People, young and old, know that each of us must lead by example, and that the seemingly small things like respect, civility, and decency, matter, in this life.  All of us need to remember that each of us have a moral duty to make a difference, each and every day, in how we live our lives, and that means showing respect to others, and conducting oneself in a way that sets an example for our children, and others.

Societies are built on many things. One of the most important of them is hope; hope for a better tomorrow for our children, and their children, and for ourselves.  We must not lose hope that things will get better, and that we will return to the American society that we knew before it became tarnished by the politics of hate and divisiveness.  The ability to change is in our hands.  And it is our moral duty to facilitate that change.

Year End Thoughts On The Us Farmland Market By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

These are precarious times for the US farmland market.  I have previously written about the headwinds that it was facing from large crop inventories, trade and tariff issues, and rising interest rates.  None of the uncertainty has diminished.  In fact, the longer these issues linger, the greater the concern about this market.

A factor that looms large, and which was not on the radar screen, say, 15 years ago, is the large amount of land owned by investment groups, along with the amounts of “dry powder” that some of these funds have.  It’s important to keep in mind that the newness of many of these funds means that they have not gone through a significant adjustment (downward) in land values, nor have they had too much experience with historical annual cash returns from owning farmland.  

Will the funds be buyers, or will they be sellers?  That is a question that is impossible to answer right now.   And the answer will likely vary by region of the country, with possibly more pressure on these funds in the broad acre crops areas, and less so in the permanent crop areas.

The issue of the direction of some of these funds also has the backdrop of rising yields on interest bearing financial instruments, and a falling stock market. 

It would appear that, for the savvy buyer who understands the cycles of the farmland market, and who has “patient capital,” there will be opportunities during this market reset.   This requires very careful analysis of a farm, the area in which it is located, and, of course, good knowledge of the macro factors that I have noted.

Farm Safety Considerations By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

Farming is widely considered to be a very dangerous occupation, and according to some statistics, as dangerous as construction.  That being said, it is worth thinking about the differences in safety awareness and accident protocols on a typical farm and construction site.  Having had experience in both industries, the differences can be somewhat surprising.

For instance, on most construction sites, one would find personnel who have had various levels of safety training, ranging from basic first aid, up to CPR.  It is typical on a construction site to have multiple first aid kits, along with protocols for getting injured personnel to the nearest hospital, to accident investigation procedures.   Periodic safety training classes are given, and having trained personnel and a written safety program not only help to ensure a safe workplace, but they can result in lower insurance premiums for the company.

Many farms, even the larger ones, do not seem to have the same level of safety awareness or training.    For instance, thinking about the last farm that you have visited, do you know how many personnel are trained in CPR? Do you know how many first aid kits are in vehicles and buildings?  Do the personnel know what to do in case of an accident? Is there a written safety program?

Sadly, the answers to many of these questions might be surprising—in a negative way.   The safety culture that is often engrained on a construction site is frequently lacking on a farm, especially ones with small numbers of employees.    Given the difficulties in attracting qualified labor to many farms, it would seem that having a safety culture would be a “hook” for bringing capable employees into a farm situation. 

Working As A Volunteer For A Food Bank By Benedict T. Palen, Jr.

Here in America, many people are used to having all or most of what they want when it comes to food. For those who are reasonably well off, it may not occur to them that the lack of enough food is a daily issue for a fairly size able segment of the population.   Many of those folks in need rely on food banks for regular nutritional needs.

It is both a humbling and satisfying experience to volunteer at a food bank, and something that I would recommend, without hesitation, for people who can find 1-2 hours a week to help out.  Let’s be honest—we can find that small amount of time if we really want to make a difference.   Put aside the focus on oneself and do something for others. You will find it to be highly rewarding.

As a long time volunteer with charitable organizations, the memories that I will carry with me for all of my days come from the simplest acts of kindness—handing packages of food to those in need, and seeing their faces brighten up, and receiving a heartfelt thank you from them, or helping to sort food received in a food bank warehouse so that quality products were provided to its customers. 

This is simple stuff. It falls into the category of the little things in life that I have written about elsewhere. But it is these little things that help to give us meaning in our lives, and help us to maintain a perspective as we go about our daily routines.

Volunteers are always needed at food banks and other charitable organizations.  Check them out, and no doubt you can find one where there is a good fit.   You will find that you get back far more than you give of your time.