Kansas co-op director on Today Show

Larry Hoobler, a board member for Farmers Union Cooperative Business Association in St. Mary's, Kan., and his wife Diane, were featured on NBC's Today Show on April 27. They participated in a "City-Country Life-Swap" segment, which contrasted life in the Big Apple (Manhattan, N.Y.) with the Little Apple (Manhattan, Kan.)

Trying out country life was Sarah DiMuro, a New York City-born and raised woman in her twenties, who had never spent time out of the city. While on the farm, she milked a cow, sheered sheep, rode in the tractor and planted sweet corn. Meanwhile, the Hooblers navigated the subway system and went to a New York City nightclub. They also took over some of their counter part's work duties as a personal assistant.

How did they get so lucky? The Kansas Cooperative Council reports that four years ago the Hooblers were included in an MSNBC show on the 9/11 terrorism attacks on America, and how they affected agriculture. The producer, who spent time at their farm to prepare for the show, is now a producer for the Today Show. When this story came up as an idea, he said he knew just who he wanted to cast!

Send items to: dan.campbell@wdc.USDA.gov

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