Trent Loos, who travels the country motivating and educating audiences on issues related to agriculture and food production, was the key speaker at the Ninth Annual Appriciation Dinner at Tom Farms.

LEESBURG — Trent Loos, a sixth generation farmer with a passion for agriculture, returned to speak at the Annual Appreciation Dinner at Tom Farms, Thursday, Aug. 17. Loos was the speaker at the first event nine years ago.

Loos, who resides in central Nebraska where he trains horses and raises cattle and meat goats and is the father to three daughters, speaks up for the farmers and ranchers of America by taking a stand when misinformation is provided. He hosts a radio show, Loos Tales, heard on 100 radio stations by over 3 million listeners daily.

During his presentation he shared conversations he has had with individuals on flights and their misconceptions about agriculture – organic foods, nutrition, where milk comes from, the amount of food produced by farmers, the number of farms, GMOs and other topics.

He stated in 1900 it required five acres of land to produce enough food to feed one person for a year. Today, through technology, intelligence and ethics of the American farmer, it takes less than one-third of an acre to produce food for one person for a year. He stated the USDA reports one U.S. farmer feeds 156 people, a figure that has not been recalculated since 2000. The Farm Foundation reports there are 76,000 farm families who produce 80 percent of the food. This is the same number of farmers reported in 1862.

Molly Burns, 2, daugher of Steve and Megan Burns has fun during the appreciation dinner gathering.

“I don’t want people who are marketing the alternative to give misinformation and lies about what modern production is,” Loos stated. He related arguments he has heard against GMOs. Loos pointed out since 1997 the overall health and performance of farm animals – that have been fed GMO corn and soybeans – are through the roof. The cows are giving three times more milk than 40 years ago, sows are producing more piglets per year, and the beef industry is seeing production three times as much as in 1951, with the same number of cows. “Their health and well being is better than it ever was before.”

He noted a lengthy study by an investigative journalist who found the public has been given a bad bill of advice since 1978 and the path of chronic illness has been caused by ourselves. Her research was on fat consumption, eating and the cause of diseases. “We’ve moved too far away from what grandpa and grandma knew as important – moderate amount of all food groups and exercise more than you eat.”

The evening was attended by neighbors, friends, family, employees, those who Tom Farm’s does business with, associates and many others. Members of Wawasee and Warsaw FFA chapters were on hand to assist with parking, serving and conducting opening ceremonies. This year Warsaw FFA officers conducted the opening ceremonies.

Kip Tom, who has served on the National FFA Foundation, was presented a gift, in recognition of his years of service, with it being noted his term will end at the October 2017 national convention in Indianapolis.

Recognition was also given to the numerous sponsors for the evening’s event, as well as the employees.