What is a family farm? Simply put it is a farm that is owned and operated by a family unit. There is a lot of talk about corporate farming and the evils of such farming practices.

The truth is 97 percent of U.S. farms are family owned. Whether they grow crops such as cotton, peanuts, soybeans, corn, tomatoes, vegetables, pecans or cattle, they all have one thing in common. They work hard as a family to make the farm successful.

Each year Okaloosa County Farm Bureau and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Okaloosa County Extension recognize one outstanding farm family. This recognition honors the farmer’s dedication and commitment to agriculture in Florida and to their superior values.

For 2017, we are delighted to recognize the Russell Boyett family of Baker.

Russell, along with his fiancée, Debbie McLain, farms about 250 acres of cotton, peanuts and soybeans.

He grew up on a farm belonging to his grandfather, who raised row crops, cows and hogs in Okaloosa County.

Russell began farming part-time in 1983. In 2010, after retiring, he began farming full-time. Russell plans to keep farming until he just can’t farm anymore.

Personally, I’ve visited fields and watched Russell and Debbie help other farmers harvest their crops. I’ve seen them working alongside each other to get the job done.

They represent farm families everywhere as the backbone of U.S. agriculture. Here in Okaloosa County, we are proud to call Russell and Debbie our farm family of the year for 2017.

Jennifer Bearden is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Boyett heads 2017 Farm Family of the Year

We here in the Crestview area are blessed to have a fairly safe place to work and live. Many of our neighbors and friends are military or retired military that know how to defend themselves and our country. We are fortunate that we haven't had tragedies such as those in Orlando or Las Vegas. Since we are adjacent to military bases, this probably isn't an ideal place for a terrorist attack.

The devastating attack in Las Vegas may take weeks to sort out and answer such questions as what motivated this attack, how many people were involved, why this venue was chosen and so on. Time is needed to follow leads and interview people.

One question I have is why the absolute hatred towards fellow Americans? What motivates someone to murder their neighbors? The Bible states in Jeremiah 17:9-10a, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart."

 We are sinful people, prone to sinful acts, but as Christians we are commanded in I John 4:7, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God." When we love each other, we certainly don't kill one another and we want what is best for them.

My heart breaks for those who lost beloved members of their families, friends, co-workers and those they may have only known casually. While I can't comprehend why someone would carry out such an attack, I can pray for all involved.

Here are some suggestions for our prayers:

•For quick and complete healing for those who were injured

•For the families of those who lost loved ones

•Give thanks for first responders

•Wisdom for our leaders

•Unity in our country

While we may never know the motivation of the shooter or shooters, we can pray and love one another as we have been commanded by the Lord.

Some people call to sacrifice our liberty for a sense of security. Here is a quote from Benjamin Franklin, who stated on Nov. 11, 1755, "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." It's something to seriously think about.

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Thoughts on the Las Vegas tragedy

I write this article in the wake of the devastating carnage perpetrated in Las Vegas earlier this week.

My heart breaks for those who lost their lives while enjoying a time of recreation and fun. I am deeply grieved for those who must now move forward in a life in which hopes and dreams were shattered.

When will the madness end? When will the senseless taking of human life stop being a game of one-upsmanship to see who can wreak the worst carnage? When will individuals start treating one another with compassion instead of contempt?

I will not debate the topic of gun control. I have my own personal position on that. But I believe no matter what laws may be passed, people will always be able to purchase guns and weapons to do heinous acts.

The issue is not one of gun laws. It comes down to a matter of God's laws.

The madness will end when people realize and accept completely that every person is a creation of God; that each person is worthy of love and respect; that every person deserves to be treated kindly.

The madness will end when people stop thinking it is okay to do anything they desire in order to grab attention and feel important.

The madness will end when selfishness and a sense of entitlement are understood to be a devastating mindset in our society.

Our Lord says, "Love your neighbor as yourself." If each person did that, there would no longer be any senseless killing. There would be plenty of food and resources to go around. There would be a true sense of well-being among people.

Let us all strive to do better at bringing an end to the madness. It may seem like an insurmountable task. But if we each start to bring about change in ourselves first, a major first step will have been made.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

"The issue is not one of gun laws. It comes down to a matter of God's laws."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'

Columbus Day is observed on Oct. 9. And while it may be true that Leif Erikson and the Vikings beat Columbus to the New World, Columbus Day nonetheless remains important in the public eye, signifying themes such as exploration and discovery.

As an investor, you don't have to "cross the ocean blue," as Columbus did, to find opportunities — but it may be a good idea to put some of your money to work outside the United States.

So, why should you consider investing internationally? The chief reason is diversification. If you only invest in U.S. companies, you might do well when the U.S. markets are soaring, as has happened in recent years.

But when the inevitable downturn happens and you're totally concentrated in U.S. stocks, your portfolio will probably take a hit. At the same time, however, other regions of the world might be doing considerably better than the U.S. markets — and if you put some of your investment holdings in these regions, you might at least blunt some of the effects of the down market here.

Of course, it's also a good idea to diversify among different asset classes, so, in addition to investing in U.S. and international stocks, you'll want to own bonds, government securities and other investment vehicles. (Keep in mind, though, that while diversification can help reduce the effects of volatility, it can't guarantee a profit or protect against loss.)

International investments, like all investments, will fluctuate in value. But they also have other characteristics and risks to consider, such as these:

•Currency fluctuations — The U.S. dollar rises and falls in relation to the currencies of other countries. Sometimes, these movements can work in your favor, but sometimes not.

A strengthening dollar typically lowers returns from international investments because companies based overseas do business in a foreign currency, and the higher value of the U.S. dollar reduces the prices, measured in dollars, of individual shares of these companies' stocks. The opposite has happened in 2017, when the weaker dollar has helped increase returns from international investments.

•Political risks — When you invest internationally, you're not just investing in foreign companies — you're also essentially investing in the legal and economic systems of countries in which those companies do business. Political instability or changes in laws and regulations can create additional risks — but may also provide potentially positive returns for investors.

•Social and economic risks — It is not always easy for investors to understand all the economic and social factors that influence markets in the U.S. — and it's even more challenging with foreign markets.

U.S. markets are now worth less than half of the total world markets, and growth in the rest of the world is likely to keep expanding the number of global opportunities. You can take advantage of that global growth by putting part of your portfolio into international investments, including developed and emerging markets.

In any case, given the more complex nature of international investing, you'll want to consult with a financial professional before taking action. If it turns out that international investments are appropriate for your needs, you should certainly consider going global.

This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of your Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: International investing: still a journey to consider

When you were a child, did you enjoy the stories your grandparents, aunts and uncles told? I did, and feel they are a valuable tool to transfer information from one generation to the next.

The problem with storytelling is that over the years, facts can be forgotten and specifics may be remembered differently. How does your family preserve its history?

I highly recommend writing down familial stories to preserve them. I dearly wish I had written down stories from my grandparents before they passed away, as they had lived through so much during their lifetimes.

My dad's mother was born in 1896 and certainly saw a plethora of changes in her lifetime: from every home having electricity, to air conditioning, microwaves, cars for everyone, jets, computers and a man walking on the moon. What an amazing era in which she lived. I wish I had been able to question her more about her childhood and write down her wonder about the new inventions.

My mother's dad was quite a storyteller and I am sorry I didn't write down his wonderful stories about growing up on a farm in rural Missouri. He was a very positive and upbeat person that could make work seem like play. We loved being around him as he made everything fun, even pulling weeds.

When I first moved to Crestview, I would hear the ladies at the beauty shop talk about how much Crestview has changed, and that when they moved here there was only one stoplight. It was very different from when we moved here and there were multiple traffic lights. Visit the Baker Block Museum (http://bakerblockmuseum.org/clouds/intheclouds/index-a.html) for more historical information on this area.

A friend of mine just took a three-generation family vacation and had the opportunity to share with her grandchildren stories from when she was young; as well as amusing stories about their parents when they were children. These are fun stories for families to know and share.

Make your family a grandparents book. Write down memories from your childhood, special moments that you treasure, recipes you enjoy and special photographs so that your family will remember specifics after you are in heaven.

Your family will certainly treasure such a book.

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The importance of recording your family's history

With the weather changing and cooler temperatures on the way, get out the slow cooker for simmering soups and stews that will be waiting for you when you get home.

Slow cookers are popular and allow us the convenience of prepping ahead of time and having a hot cooked dish when we get home from a long day of work.

The advantage of slow cooking is to set it and then forget it. Stirring is not usually required and remember to keep the lid on as the food simmers.

Today’s slow cookers are food safe and keep food at a safe temperature of 170 degrees to 280 degrees. The low heat allows use of less expensive and leaner cuts of meat as the slow cooking will tenderize and shrink less.

Cooking with a slow cooker means planning ahead but the payoff is a great meal. You can prepare all the ingredients the night before like chopping of vegetables, cutting up the meat and gathering the other items and have them handy for the next morning. Remember to refrigerate all items needing refrigerating until it is time to place in the slow cooker.

Here are some tips for using your slow cooker safely and economically.

•Start with a clean cooker and utensils. Always use a clean work area and make sure to wash your hands during the preparation.

•Keep perishables in the refrigerator until ready to use. Store meat and vegetables separately if preparing ahead of time.

•Always thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. If frozen pieces are used, they will not reach 140° quick enough and could possibly result in a food-borne illness.

•Do not lift the lid unnecessarily during the cooking cycle. Each time the lid is raised, the internal temperature drops 10 to 15 degrees and the cooking process is slowed by 30 minutes.

•After enjoying your meal, do not leave cooked food to cool down in the cooker. Store leftovers in shallow containers and refrigerate immediately.

•Do not overload the slow cooker. Fill to a minimum of 1/2 full and a maximum of 2/3 full.

Try some of these favorite recipes to get you started.

Hamburger Soup

2 pounds lean ground beef, browned and drained

2 teaspoons dried basil

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons garlic powder

5-6 cups tomato juice

1 cup stewed tomatoes

1 large onion, chopped

2 cups chopped celery

1 cup sliced carrots

2 cups sliced green beans, fresh or frozen

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

salt & pepper to taste

Place browned meat in slow cooker. Add all remaining ingredients and stir to mix well. Cover and cook on low for at least 5 hours. Makes 6 servings.

Old-Fashioned Chicken & Rice

2½ cups chicken broth

1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast meat, cut into 1-inch pieces or strips

1½ cups long-grain rice, uncooked

1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced or

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 cup chopped onion

6 garlic cloves, minced

1 small red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 (6-ounce) jar sliced mushrooms, undrained

1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or until chicken is no longer pink and rice is plump and tender.

Favorite Beef Stew

3 carrots, sliced

3 potatoes, cut in 1-inch cubes

2 pounds beef stew meat, cut in 1-inch cubes

1 cup beef broth

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 clove garlic, minced

1 bay leaf

salt to taste

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker in order listed. Stir just enough to mix seasonings throughout. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours, or on high for 5-6 hours. Makes 6-8 servings.

Pamela H. Allen is the interim county director and an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Slow cooking ideas for the busy family