A Life Worth Living: Mitchell’s Jody Lamp co-authors a history book about Nebraska agriculture

A Life Worth Living:

Mitchell’s Jody Lamp co-authors a history book about Nebraska agriculture

By Voice Staff - March 9, 2017


MITCHELL – Earlier this month, Jody Lamp of Mitchell and her American Doorstep Project partner Melody Dobson of Billings, Mont. announced the title of their new Nebraska book, “A History of Nebraska Agriculture: A Life Worth Living.”

The timing of the release on March 1 coincided with Nebraska’s 150th Sesquicentennial Statehood day celebrations.

“As we celebrate Nebraska’s statehood for years to come, we honor all who contributed to Nebraska’s agriculture advancement,” Lamp and Dobson said in a press release. “This Nebraska agricultural history book is not all-inclusive of farming, ranching or the significant role Nebraskans have played in the success of technological and biological advancements in the past 150 years. But it is with utmost integrity and desire that we bring attention and recognition to what we refer to as the “SPICE” (spaces, places, inventions, commodities, events) and the people of the Cornhusker State who helped us to narrow and identify the stories that were selected.”

Lamp, who grew up in Scotts Bluff County and graduated from Minatare High School, signed a multiple-book publishing agreement with The History Press in 2016 to produce a series of agriculture history books, beginning with “A History of Nebraska Agriculture: A Life Worth Living," which debuts in retail outlets, book stores, museums and similar venues throughout Nebraska in early June.

She met Dobson while she and her husband Mike and their children Mark and Jessie lived in Billings, Mont., from 1997 to early 2015. They began working together in 2012.

The Lamps moved to Mitchell in 2015, but she has continued to work closely with Dobson through the American Doorstep Project. She and Dobson will do similar books on agriculture history in Montana and North Dakota in 2018 and 2019.

Lamp has a journalism degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and when she is not busy working as an independent consultant and national project director for the books, she owns Lamp Public Relations and Marketing, LLC.

The cover art and illustrations on Lamp and Dobson’s new book was done by nationally-renowned Nebraska artist, Gene Roncka.

The book’s front cover image, Sunset on the Sandahl Home Place; was a commissioned piece Roncka painted for the Dean Sandahl family farm near Wakefield, northeast of Norfolk. The back cover image, River Bottom, tells a story of several generations that have lived and continue to live in a typical Midwestern farm house.

Both prints and other examples of Roncka’s work are featured at Willow Point Gallery/Museum at 1431 Silver Street, in Ashland, the town where Roncka and his wife, Mary, live.

“We are honored and humbled to have the opportunity to work with Gene and Mary Roncka and to feature someone of Gene’s stature in the art world in our first book,” Lamp and Dodson said. “We’ve been fans of his work since we stumbled upon the Willow Point Gallery and believe the Ronckas’ to be as much a treasure to the community of Ashland and the state of Nebraska, as Gene’s beautiful illustrations.”

Local artist’s work chosen for book on agriculture

 Local artist's work chosen for book on agriculture

ASHLAND – Paintings by a local artist will grace the cover of a book celebrating Nebraska’s agricultural history.

Gene Roncka’s work has been selected for the front and back covers of “A History of Nebraska Agriculture: A Life Worth Living,” which will be released on June 12. Presale orders are being taken Saturday, March 4 at Roncka’s Willow Point Gallery in downtown Ashland.

“A History of Nebraska Agriculture: A Life Worth Living” is written by Jody Lamp and Melody Dobson. The business partners have an office in downtown Ashland where they spend time at least once a month while on this end of the state.

The book is the first in a series of three agriculture history books written by Lamp and Dobson as part of their American Doorstop Project. The other two books will be about Montana and North Dakota.

The book tells stories of the state’s farmers and ranchers that may not otherwise be documented in print.

“Overall, the book is about Nebraska’s agriculture history from the standpoint of bringing stories to life that have been forgotten or not even written about,” said Lamp.

The book includes stories about homesteaders, a five-generation farm in Ogallala, the Grand Island horse and mule markets, the state’s dry bean industry and more.

“From Saunders County to Scotts Bluff County, we feature stories of Nebraska’s agricultural history with a whole bunch in between,” Lamp said.

Lamp and Dobson chose art created by Roncka, a Nebraska native, to connect his work with the history of farming and ranching in the state.

“In particular, we wanted to feature someone in Nebraska whose illustration and art would be forever documented and associated with this type of literature,” Lamp said.

Initially Lamp and Dobson chose a painting by Roncka called “River Bottom” for the front and back cover of the book. However, when they showed their editors at The History Press another painting Roncka had done, they were even more impressed by it.

The painting, called “Sunset on the Sandahl Home Place,” was of a farm near Wakefield that had been in the Sandahl family for 100 years.

The editors fell in love with the painting, which was commissioned by the family of Dean and Della Sandahl for their 60th wedding anniversary. As a result, the painting became the cover art for the front of the book. The editors chose to use “River Bottom” was on the back cover.

The choice of a second piece of art meant even more of Roncka’s work would be featured.

“Better that we have two of his pieces of work on the front and back cover,” said Lamp.
Mary Roncka, Gene Roncka’s wife, said her husband is pleased that his art was chosen for the book.

“He’s very excited about it,” she said.

Some of Roncka’s art is also featured inside the book. For example, a painting he did of the historic Beetison house outside of Ashland is used on the introductory page to the section on education, Lamp said.

“We wanted to feature that because the Beetisons were farmers and ranchers in that area,” she added.

Lamp is a big fan of Roncka’s work. She learned about the artist after she and her family considered moving to Ashland in 2014. They ended up moving to Mitchell to be near family instead, but Lamp and Dobson chose to open an office in Ashland.

While exploring the community, they came across Willow Point Gallery, which is located on the same block as their office.

“When Melody and I first came to Ashland, I just fell in love with Gene’s work,” Lamp said.

Little did she know, Lamp had actually been a Roncka fan for many years. About a decade earlier, her father had given her a print of Memorial Stadium that had been done by Roncka. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lamp loved the print, but didn’t put the name with the artist until she visited Willow Point Gallery and saw a copy of the print there.

When she stays in Ashland, Lamp enjoys spending time at Willow Point Gallery, where she has gotten to know the Ronckas well. She also eats at area restaurants and does business in the local shops when in town, which is at least once a month.

“I just love Ashland,” she said. “I call it my little Hallmark town.”

Lamp grew up in Scotts Bluff County and after graduating from UNL with a degree in journalism and minors in psychology, anthropology and history, she worked at a newspaper in Beatrice. She was hired by an ag-based public relations and advertising agency and moved to Wisconsin and later Montana, where she started her own public relations and marketing business.

While in Montana she began collaborating on projects with Dobson, who is from a fourth-generation farm/ranch operation in the northeastern part of the state. The pair has worked together for five years.

Lamp and Dobson spent about four years researching before they sat down to write the book, which took less than a year to finish.

“The bulk of the Nebraska book was written within six months,” Lamp said.

Through their American Doorstop Project, Lamp and Dobson plan to give back to local communities.
“Melody and I want to get to the point where we are philanthropists,” Lamp said.

They plan to give back to the community of Ashland during their March 4 event to celebrate the upcoming book. At Willow Point Gallery, they will offer a discounted price on pre-sale orders of their book.

Lamp and Dobson coordinated the publication of the Nebraska book to coincide with the state’s sesquicentennial in 2017. They were a part of the Statehood Day activities in Lincoln on March 1 and plan to join the community in marking Nebraska’s 150th birthday at the “Ashland-Nebraska Connection – 150 Years” celebration on March 4 at the Ashland Public Library from 2 to 4 p.m.

A book signing is also planned during Ashland’s Stir-Up celebration in July. The book will be on sale at stores throughout the state beginning June 12.

The book puts the spotlight on agriculture, a key element in the formation of Nebraska and the villages and cities that make up the state.

“We get to tell people how agriculture shaped their towns,” Lamp said.

And they get to do so with the help of a beloved local artist.

“We feel so fortunate, so honored to feature Gene’s work in this book,” she added.

National Coordinators Launch Agriculture Advocacy Venture, American Doorstop Project; Sign Strategic Sponsorship with 21st Century Equipment, LLC

Media Contact:

American Doorstop Project

www.AmericanDoorstopProject.com                                                              

jody@AmericanDoorstopProject.com

(406) 698-9675

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

National Coordinators Launch Agriculture Advocacy Venture, American Doorstop Project; Sign Strategic Sponsorship with 21^st Century Equipment, LLC

Billings, MT – Oct. 13, 2015 – Independent strategic planning consultants and national project coordinators, Melody Dobson and Jody Lamp, announce the launch of their new joint-agriculture advocacy venture called the American Doorstop Project, and name Nebraska-based 21^st Century Equipment, LLC., as one of its first Agrarian Ambassador Sponsors.

With 17 John Deere equipment dealerships in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska, the 21^st Century Equipment, LLC, Corporate Support Center at 601 5^th Ave., Scottsbluff, Neb., will serve as the centrally-located national headquarters for the American Doorstop Project, as the team travels the United States to research, collect and preserve the stories that shaped the development of American Agriculture through the Agrarian Discipline.

“As a company, 21^st Century Equipment, LLC recognizes the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the customers we serve,” says Chief Executive Officer, Owen Palm. “So, we applaud and support the efforts of the American Doorstop Project team as they bring agriculture stories to the forefront and develop even more education tools for consumers to understand those that work the land.”

As the creators of www.YourOnePowerfulVoice.com, Dobson and Lamp also recently worked with filmmaker Conrad Weaver of ConjoStudios, LLC, serving as national coordinators for the Great American Wheat Harvest documentary film, which received a 2015 Mid-America Regional EMMY® Award for Best Documentary-Cultural. The team currently works as the strategic planning partners for the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc., and will help the organization launch its Strategic Plan 2016-2020.

“We are honored to work with Agrarian Ambassador Sponsors, like 21^st Century Equipment, LLC, who have a direct connection to the import role agriculture has played in America’s past, present and future,” Lamp says. “They understand the disciplines and needs for the industry to continue producing food for a continually growing population.”

The American Doorstop Project stories will be featured in large-format book with accompanying website, video vignettes, social media links and pages, national and community engagement events, signage, and oral history narratives.

“Once completed and throughout the process, this project will connect presenters, public speakers, educators, docents and students with historical facts and narratives that provide insight to our country’s beautiful heritage,” Dobson says. “The stories we will share come from a deep understanding and appreciation for our own heritage and a desire to learn more about others and to help tell their stories,”

Dobson and Lamp bring a collective 40-plus years of professional communication experience and historical preservation knowledge. They work to create relationships of integrity that build the “esprit de corps” necessary to launch and fulfill the strategic plan and fund development program identified for a phase one project completion by Spring 2017.

To learn more about the American Doorstop Project and to find out about how you can make a financial contribution to help honor the legacies of our past and shed light on our nation’s agricultural history, visit the www.AmericanDoorstopProject.com website. For more information about sponsorship packages, media interviews, speaking appearances, call Jody L. Lamp, at (406) 698-9675 or by email jody@AmericanDoorstopProject.com

 

About American Doorstop Project

The American Doorstop Project is a joint-venture agriculture advocacy collaboration between independent national coordinators, Melody Dobson and Jody Lamp. The project preserves and promotes historical places, spaces and events that have shaped our country over the past hundreds of years. American Doorstop Project features a collection of stories that were instrumental in shaping America’s agricultural roots and had they not happened, America, as we know it, would be different than it is today. The strategic plan and fund development program for a project phase one completion is planned for Spring 2017.

Resource Links

Website& Blog: http://www.americandoorstopproject.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShareAgHistory?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanDoorstopProject

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shareaghistory/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCijrIr3NPyKlVMnWDNbBvrA

Instagram: https://instagram.com/americandoorstopproject/

About 21^st Century Equipment LLC 

 21^st Century Equipment LLC established in 1996, offers 17 John Deere dealerships in Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming. In addition to the traditional parts, service and new/used equipment offerings, 21st Century Equipment offers support with precision ag and big data management, water management, equipment leasing, RTK support and much more. Serving those who work the land, 21^st Century Equipment LLC is committed to reducing risk, improving profitability and increasing the competitive advantage for its customers by “Making Farming Easier. 

Resource Links                                                                                                                                                  Website& Blog: http://21stcenturyequipment.net/ 

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/21stCenturyEquip?ref=hl 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/21CenturyEquip

Promoting Pure Gold by Julie Koerber

http://www.yellowstonevalleywoman.com/promoting-pure-gold/

Promoting Pure Gold

by Julie Koerber —5 June 2015

Billings area women help shine the light on The Great American Wheat Harvest

Every year at about this time, you see the stalks sprout and start to manifest into a golden carpet over sections of the Montana landscape. Nearly six million acres of wheat is harvested each year in our state bringing in a cash value of more than $1 billion. The sight is so common that you might not even pay much attention to it as you travel down the state’s back roads. You might not even give it a second thought when you go to buy your weekly loaves of bread. One Maryland film maker, however, was determined to change that and enlisted the help of two well-connected Billings women and agriculture advocates to shine the spotlight on The Great American Wheat Harvest. It’s been center stage at viewings in nearly every state in the nation and come 2016, the footage will be shown in classrooms all across the nation.

 

 

The result of Conrad Weaver’s exhaustive research and filming is an hour-long documentary that chronicles the wheat harvest through the eyes of custom harvesters. Starting right about now, in early June, these men and women pack up their crews, their families and their combines and hop scotch across the country, traveling as far south as Texas and straight north to the Canadian border to cut the wheat that helps to feed the world.

“So many people around the country have no idea what goes into producing the food that we eat every day,” documentary maker Conrad Weaver of Conjo Studios will tell you. “I wanted to tell the real story of real people who are taking incredible financial risks so that the rest of the world can eat.” He wanted people to have a better understanding of what it truly takes to get a loaf of bread on our dinner tables.

Weaver’s connection to Montana came in a rather odd way, thanks to social media. Jody Lamp, a public relations and agricultural marketing guru, was sitting in on Ag Chat Foundation’s Tuesday evening event on Twitter. This live chat draws in voices from coast to coast to talk about various topics within the industry. During one such chat, Conrad Weaver chimed in asking for help with press releases for his brand new documentary project on the wheat harvest. Jody not only answered the tweet, she enlisted her friend Melody Dobson’s help as well. Dobson was well versed in P.R. after serving as the Coordinator for Montana’s part in the National Lewis & Clark Bicentennial. “I told Jody, I think he needs a lot more than someone to write a few press releases,” Melody says with a chuckle today. Turns out, she was right. The pair went on to not only help raise funds to get the documentary produced, they provided a vital link to get this film shown in cities and towns in all corners of the nation.

“To say that Jody Lamp and Melody Dobson played a vital role in raising funding for the Great American Wheat Harvest documentary would be an understatement. Without them, this important film would not have been made.” Weaver went on to say this duo was not only driven but persistent. He says, “I remember Melody telling me one day that when a company says, ‘No’, (to a sponsorship opportunity) it just means ‘Not yet’.”

 

 

Over the course of two years Weaver says Jody and Melody have driven countless miles, made hundreds of phone calls, and sent thousands of emails all in the effort of trying to convince people this story of the Great American Wheat Harvest was one that was worth telling.
“The harvest intrigues everyone,” Jody says as she reflects on the last two years she’s spent promoting this project. She laughs when she says, “If you ask people, ‘What do you think is the sexiest crop?’ I think it is wheat. How many people do you see photographed standing out in a wheat field? It’s that wide open space. It’s our daily bread.”

For Melody, the project was nostalgic. Her father spent a few decades working as a custom harvester. She smiles and says, “I graduated from high school on June 9, 1978 and the very next day I left driving a truck headed south to Elk City, Oklahoma.” This fourth generation Montanan says, “I can relate to everything in the documentary. I can relate to the stress of my dad when something would break down. I can relate to the changes in the weather. I know what it is like when a crop gets hail damage.” She remembers vividly lining up individual slices of bread just to make sandwiches in an assembly line fashion for the entire harvesting crew. While she helped with the day to day operations of getting laundry done and food prepared, many times Melody would be sitting in the combine itself, serving as one of the chiefs of the harvest. “A lot of the farmers liked women drivers because they were a little more particular. Farm kids, you just did everything.” It’s the very reason why, when Billings hosted a viewing, Melody wanted her dad in one of the seats. Melody says, “My dad just smiled through the whole documentary.”


In the opening scenes, you hear the voices of the men and women who work all season long to harvest the wheat that turns into our cereal, our breads and the pastas we bring to a boil for our dinner. Huge combines can be seen kicking up dust as they cut and gather up each precious kernel of wheat. The documentary chronicles a handful of harvesters and shares their stories through the weather woes, the mechanical breakdowns and worker shortages. It’s not a lifestyle for those who don’t like to roll with the punches. These families hit the road in May and are lucky to be home by Thanksgiving.

“One of the older harvesters that watched the documentary said, ‘I have waited all my life for someone to tell this story,’” Jody says. Melody adds, “You can take the DVD and show it in the most important theater in the United States, your living room. It is our friends. It’s our neighbors who might have no idea how bread is made.”

The DVD isn’t the end of the story for The Great American Wheat Harvest. After all the video was put into the hour-long video, what was left was 83 hours of unused footage.  Jody and Melody knew that to leave this on the cutting room floor would be a tragedy. Where it needed to be is in the classroom, to make sure our youngest generation won’t become even further removed from the industry that feeds them. Thanks to this duo, the footage will be delivered to classrooms nationwide as a part of the National Ag in the Classroom curriculum. Jody says it is lessons like these that are critical to the future of agriculture. “Farmers have always been such hardworking people. Now, we’ve had to teach them in agribusiness to talk about what they are doing and to be transparent. That’s what we expect from farmers. It is critical in a sense that we have so many generations not growing up on a farm and getting dirt under their nails,” she shares. The documentary team secured funding from New Holland Agriculture and the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. to develop the educational phase of the project. In the end, there will be seven lessons that will meet national curriculum standards and will focus on wheat production, harvest, career opportunities and labor issues within the industry. The video lessons should be ready to launch sometime in 2016.
It’s a lesson that Jody and Melody know is an important one.

With each viewing, it means one more person has a little deeper understanding of the men and women that fuel our existence. Jody sums it up by saying, “It’s absolutely critical. We as a country are not hungry enough. We truly take our food for granted.”

 

THE GREAT AMERICAN WHEAT HARVEST

To get your copy of this telling documentary, visit greatamericanwheatharvest.com.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Montana exports about 80% of its total wheat production overseas, heading for the most part to Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and South Korea.
• Montana, in the past ten years, has produced an average of 150 million bushels of wheat each year. One bushel can provide the flour to bake up roughly 45 loaves of bread.