VOLUME 56 NO. 2 - FEBRUARY 1997USDANEWS VOLUME 56 NO. 2 - FEBRUARY 1997
Move over, David Letterman, you've got competition. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has come out with its own "Top Ten" list, and Brad Fisher deserves the credit--or blame.
Fisher, a writer-editor at the NRCS state office in Davis, Calif., was "invited" to come up with a humorous--yet pointed and factual--list of reasons why soil and water conservation are important.
"So I decided to employ the approach that David Letterman often uses on his late night TV show," he said, "in which the comedian puts together lists of wry, offbeat, and irreverent comments explaining some recent development in the news or in society."
Dave White, director of NRCS's Office of Public Affairs, explained that he wanted to use a humorous list of reasons, emphasizing the importance of soil and water conservation, as attention getters and icebreakers in meetings with citizens around the country who would be interested in that subject.
"We wanted to inject some fun into the subject area--and still keep people interested and involved at the same time," he explained.
So Fisher put together a list of 15 items. "Dave then took out all the offensive and bizarre material," he quipped, "and we whittled it down to ten items."
Here is Fisher's list depicting "The Top Ten Reasons Why Soil and Water Conservation Are Important:"
10. Swimming in a lake is more fun than
walking across one.
9. Brussels sprouts have
to come from somewhere.
8. Muddy water leaves
a nasty bathtub ring.
7. Roots get very
frustrated if they don't have soil to grow into.
6.
An abundant food supply is needed to keep the diet industry in business.
5. Supermarkets need stuff to take up shelf space.
4. Scarecrows can get into trouble if they're not kept
busy.
3. So the U.S. can keep making better
french fries than the French.
2. Worms need a
home, too.
1. Corn! Corn! Corn!
So what's the big deal with corn--especially as the number one reason listed?
"Hey, look at the stuff; it's an unusual looking object--but it has lots of positive uses," Fisher declared.
And, to your knowledge, have any other USDA agencies put together similar Top Ten lists?
"Oh, I'm sure they all have better taste," he laughed. ¤
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