Today my hat is off to Jim Haslam owner of Pilot Travel Centers. The minute he learned who HSUS truly was he said lets get this fixed. It is important we "communicate" with folks and not go around pointing fingers until they have the chance to do the right thing. Personally I will be fueling up at Pilot Travel Center every time I get the chance. Also my thanks to Chuck and Fred Bosselman for creating the opportunity for me to visit directly with the owner himself. No "Silver Bullet" but one day one person at a time we are making a difference. Don't let up now. Trent Loos

Link to story at Feedstuffs

Obama administration details Healthy Food Financing Initiative

The Obama administration is triple teaming the problem of food deserts in America’s urban core and rural regions with a planned $400 million Healthy Food Financing Initiative.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services and Treasury Department are poised to play a role in providing resources for new outlets for fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy food to America’s underserved populations.

The initiative was announced in Philadelphia Feb. 19 by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and First Lady Michelle Obama.

The Healthy Food Financing Initiative seeks to eliminate food deserts — urban areas more than a mile from a supermarket — in the U.S. within seven years, according to a news release from the USDA. The goal for the $400 million for fiscal year 2011 is to expand healthy options in as many as one-fifth of the areas in need, the release said. The money will be used to provide financial and technical assistance to expand healthy food options, including tax credits, below-market rate loans, loan guarantees and grants to attract private sector capital.

Through a new tool, called the Food Environment Atlas the USDA has determined that 23.5 million people live in low-income areas that are more than a mile from a supermarket.

Question for the day. If you live within a mile of the grocery store would you buy morefuits and veggies?

RockyMountainJoe I spotted Trent Loos at LAX as I dashed to to the gate for my flight back to Denver. The hat probably caught my eye first, but the way he was focused on his machine, and his arm in a sling made for a great portrait.

He was editing an episode of his podcast, 'Loos Tales'. From his website: "Loos Tales is dedicated to e...xploring the interesting people and places of Rural America. It is the creation of Trent Loos, a sixth generation United States farmer with a passion for the rural lifestyle." Check it out:

http://www.loostales.com/

(And he had hurt is arm in a recent rodeo and expects a full recovery.)

Check out Rocky Mountain Joe.....Thanks Joe