One of my favorite cartoonists is Gary Larson, creator of The Far Side cartoons. I have followed him for years and have one of his cartoon collection books. I can see one of his cartoons for the tenth time and still chuckle at his humor.

I have lots of favorite The Far Side cartoons. One of my favorites is one that fits my mood as of late. I would like to reprint it here so you can get the full effect but, you know, with copyright laws and all, I would perhaps be writing my next column from a jail cell.

So picture this. A student is raising his hand in a school class and says to the teacher, “Mr. Osborne, may I be excused? My brain is full.”

I’m feeling like my brain is definitely full. Over the past summer and early fall I’ve been to a number of meetings/symposiums, field days, conducted several grower and researcher interviews and read, as I pointed out in my last column (“Mountains Of Information—Literally,” Potato Grower Magazine, September, 2022, page 8), I read a lot of articles, research papers — anything to do with potatoes and agriculture.

Over the past several weeks I’ve collected a lot of information, information that would make great stories — if we had the room to print them all. So I have to pick and choose what I think is most relevant at the time and plan ahead for those stories that might carry over. I’ll admit it’s a little frustrating that I can’t share all that information. I think it would be useful for growers and others in our industry.

But then I try to remember that growers already have a lot on their minds and sometimes don’t need me trying to stuff more in there. Because as much as I think my brain is full, I am sure growers feel the same way much of the time. Their minds are always racing, figuring out what’s next, figuring out how to solve this or that, figuring out how they’re going to get everything done today that needs to be done today. I’m guessing “My brain is full” doesn’t really hold a candle to their “My brain is full.”

Even though I think my brain is full, I’m trying to create space for some upcoming events I’m kind of excited about.

 I do sometimes think, optimistically (delusionally?), that hey, I just got all that done or made it through that deadline or something along those lines and I can coast for a little while (don’t tell my boss I think that, though). Yeah, not so much. There’s always something else waiting in the wings.

And then, if all that isn’t enough, there was that whole mid-term elections thing going , providing plenty of distractions (and entertainment) for weeks this past fall. Thankfully, by the time you read this, all that will be over and we’ll have a better idea of where we are (or are not) headed. It’s especially important right now to have some clear direction with the Farm Bill coming up. But I’m not going to get all political right now … there’s probably plenty of that coming up in the weeks and months ahead.

I had this thought a while back, before one of the field days I was headed to, that I would take some video, edit it when I got back to the office and then post it on the Potato Grower Facebook page. I had really good intentions. And I have posted a handful of videos but not nearly the number I thought I would have and definitely did not use close to all the footage I have. So that’s one of my projects for the next while. I had the same thought for using some of the MANY photos I’ve taken over the past several months. I’ll just post some of them on our webpage (www.potatogrower.com) and Facebook page. And I have done that too, but when I have hundreds of photos, 10 or so here and there doesn’t really whittle down the pile much. Anyway, you might check out those two pages every once in a while just to see what’s new or where I’ve been or just … because. You know, because most likely you don’t have much else going on.

Even though I think my brain is full, I’m trying to create space for some upcoming events I’m kind of excited about. Potato Grower Magazine is headed to the Potato Expo in Denver in early January and I’ll be tagging along. I’ve never been to the Potato Expo before so it should be fun and I’m guessing maybe there will be some things to fill my head with? I’m also excited for the upcoming Idaho Potato Conference. I haven’t been to that event for quite a few years and it will be fun to go back. And fill my brain.

I’m going to try to hit the Washington-Oregon Potato Conference and some other events this upcoming spring — you know, just to make sure my brain stays full.

I hope to see (and meet) some of you at these winter events.