Cook smart - The Red Cross' fire safety mantra

Oct 10, 2023

Fire Prevention Week (October 8-14) has the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago drawing attention to the dangers lurking in our kitchens: the risk of cooking fires.

Mark Thomas, Interim CEO for the Red Cross of Illinois, urges vigilance. "While cooking is a communal joy, it's also the main source of home fires. “Don't leave it unwatched,” he advises.

Key cooking safety guidelines include:

Constant supervision when frying, grilling, or broiling.
Wearing appropriate attire.
Keeping a keen eye on simmering, baking, or roasting dishes.
Using a timer as a safety net.
Keeping a clear three-foot radius around the stove.
Ensuring potential fire sources are kept away from heat.
Regular kitchen cleaning to prevent grease fires.
Owning and understanding a fire extinguisher.
Double-checking kitchen appliances before bedtime or outings.
Properly setting up and maintaining smoke alarms.

The Red Cross offers help for those in need of smoke alarms. They also recommend their First Aid app for immediate emergency advice. Through their Home Fire Campaign since 2014, the Red Cross has championed fire safety, resulting in saving almost 2,000 lives.

In the past week alone, they assisted 35 people affected by home fires in several cities. Their support encompasses financial, food, and essential supplies. For emergency aid, dial 800-RED-CROSS.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.