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Call 877-4DAD411 or visit www.fatherhood.gov be a dad today. Take time to WASHINGTON Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack an- nounced Friday that the U.S. Department of Agri- culture is accepting applica- tions for its Distance Learn- ing and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program, which pro- vides increased access to education, training and health care resources in ru- ral areas. "This program pro- vides people who live and work in rural areas with better access to a vari- ety of educational and health care services," Vil- sack said. "For example, because of the DLT program, stu- dents in rural areas can take advanced placement classes, residents can have access to specialized med- ical services not typically available, and many other benefits for rural commu- nities." USDA's Rural Utilities Service, a Rural Devel- opment agency is mak- ing $19 million available for fiscal year 2015. The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program finances telecommuni- cations equipment, com- puter networks and ad- vanced technologies for use by students, teach- ers, medical profession- als and rural residents. Minimum grant amounts are $50,000; maximum amounts are $500,000 for fiscal year 2015. Since 2009, USDA has provided more than $182 million to expand access to learning at nearly 4,700 rural educational facilities and to improve delivery of medical care at more than 2,500 rural health facili- ties. Details of the DLT fund- ing are on Page 29602 of the May 22 Federal Register. The application deadline is July 6. President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic in- vestment and resulted in stronger rural communi- ties. Under the President's leadership, these invest- ments in housing, commu- nity facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way — strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities sup- port the rural way of life that stands as the back- bone of American values. President Obama and Ag- riculture Secretary Vil- sack are committed to a smarter use of federal re- sources to foster sustain- able economic prosper- ity and ensure the govern- ment is a strong partner for businesses, entrepre- neurs and working fami- lies in rural communities. USDA Fu nd in g an no un ce d fo r di st an ce l ea rn in g fo r ru ra l ar ea s Last weekend, Irene Fuller, Geneva Toms and I attended an Amer- ican National Cattle- Women Region V meeting in Klamath Falls at the Running Y Ranch with 50 women from Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming and Northern California. Years ago it was the Geary Ranch, and now it is a beautiful resort with an Arnold Palmer de- signed 18 hole Golf Course located on 3,600 acres overlooking Upper Klam- ath Lake. We stayed in the Lodge, but there are 525 custom built homes scat- tered among the 950 homesites of an average size of a half acre when we drove on the winding roadways, after the wel- come reception by the golf shop. There were 67 cha- lets at Pelican Springs, and 48 townhouses at Eagles Landing, plus 105 time share condos on the acreage with the deer. Not to mention the sports and fitness cen- ter, the ice arena and the 8 miles of paved walking paths, and unpaved hik- ing trails on the penin- sula with Western white oak, ponderosa pine and juniper. One afternoon we boarded a large school bus for a tour to view all the cattle grazing on the Klamath Marsh, with two local cattle- men Bill Nicholson and John Monfort as step-on guides. We were told the Wood River Valley is 47,000 acres and is 6 miles wide and 12 miles long. The cattle come in the spring and leave in the fall, with 40,000 head grazing for the 120-130 days. Nicholson was more familiar with stocker cat- tle since he mentioned 500 trucks will bring in 600 weight calves, and in the three months graz- ing period they will leave at 900 pounds. Said cows get too fat, so stockers are better. When this area was first settled there were dairies, farmed land, hogs and many fami- lies on the homesteads. In 1940 there were 400 school children that were bused to Chiloquin and now there is a school bus that goes past his home at 7 a.m. with one child enroute to Klam- ath Falls. We drove through the Winema National For- est, Monfort mentioned the many names it has known as over the last 100+ years. In 1930 there was no snow, and in 1933 it was very deep. They told us about an irrigation well that was 500 feet deep, and the last 100 feet was through charcoal. Another well that was farther east was 500 feet deep, and no charcoal was found. It has a 24 inches wide pipe and water constantly flowing out, but can't use it for ir- rigation because of sucker fish. We would have liked to have seen where the Wood River comes out of the ground as a spring, 200 second feet, at 38'F. Were told another large spring is headwaters of Fort Creek, with pure water, no iron. Fort Klamath was es- tablished to protect the settlers in 1863 and the fort was abandoned in 1889. Yamsi Ranch, 24 miles out of Chiloquin was our destination and home of Gerda Hyde, American Na- tional CowBelle President in 1987. The ranch was estab- lished in 1911, and her home was built in 1928 with no power tools. They have a small build- ing where the genera- tor for power is located and high atop a tall pine tree was a television an- tenna. When Gerda was asked for advice about membership for young women in the organiza- tion, she said "Give them a job." Good advice for any age. Six months of the year they have fly fishing guests from all over the world, as eight miles of Upper William- son River flows through Yamsi. Grandson Joe James manages the 450 mother cows on the deeded 4,000 acres, and they winter in Oregon instead of ship- ping to Northern Califor- nia. We enjoyed delicious rib eye steaks, potato salad and tossed green salad, black beans and brownies for dessert. There were Oregon wines, both white and red with our meal. My favorite was white vintners blend, Toasted Cow, Willamette Valley, Oregon. It was chilly, and we appreciated the fire burn- ing in a fire pit and then it was time for the two hour trip back to the Lodge on the school bus. Going and returning, you wanted to ask "Are we there yet?" On a serious note, Sarah Liljefelt, attorney at law in the Schroeder Law Office, spoke on Water Shortage Strategies and the Klam- ath Basin Adjudication, since the Lost River and Short-Nose Sucker gets the water. Schroeder Law Office's focus is water law in Ore- gon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada and California. In Oregon the snow pack peaked 40 to 80 per- cent below peak, and melted 4 to 10 weeks early. Liljefelt told us to get educated. Get in- volved. Know ex- actly what you have in your water right, the amount of water. It is like a property deed. Have the claims that were filed, and make sure they currently serve how you use the water. You want all documents that concern your certif- icate. Each state is dif- ferent. In Nevada, the amount of water needs to be in the deed. Water is a property right. Another informative talk was Planning for a Productive Family Ranch/ Farm Transfer by Bart Eleveld, PhD, Oregon State University Extension Economist, Farm Manage- ment and Sherri Noxel, PhD, Director , OSU Aus- tin Family Business Pro- gram, College of Business. Succession Planning is transfer of ownership. Transition Planning is transfer of management to next generation. When finding a law- yer and CPA to help you in succession and tran- sition of the ranch, ask a farm family who has been through the "war" for recommendations. You need them to work together, and your law- yer must know agricul- ture. Eighteen of the Cattle- Women enjoyed viewing Crater Lake National Park at the conclusion of the meeting. There was a lit- tle snow in the shady ar- eas, and the lake was an incredible blue. The Washington ladies headed toward their home, and 11 of us enjoyed a de- licious dinner at Rocky Point Resort, established 1910, on the shore of Upper Klamath Lake. A fun, informative busi- ness meeting with Cattle- Women friends. JeanBartonhasbeen writing her column in the Daily News since the early 1990s. She can be reached by e-mail at jbarton2013@ gmail.com. JEAN BARTON CattleWomen regional meeting in Klamath Falls COURTESYPHOTO CattleWomen from Northern California at Yamsi Ranch during the ANCW Region V meeting. 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