Author Archives: Maegan Clark

About Maegan Clark

Maegan Clark lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, and started working at Heifer International in 2010 in social media. She is currently pursuing her master’s in public administration and has a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a specialized study in public relations. She is often found ‘tweeting,’ reading recipe articles and learning how to grow an herb garden.

Heifer International at the World Dairy Summit 2012

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World Dairy Summit 2012This week, Heifer CEO and President, Pierre Ferrari was asked to speak at the International Dairy Federation’s World Dairy Summit in Cape Town, South Africa. The World Dairy Summit brings together individuals and organizations around the globe that are involved in working in the dairy sector. This year’s theme, “A World in One Country,” reflects the diversity seen in South Africa’s farming systems, climates, markets and cultures. The conference is devoted to the dairy industry in emerging countries, with a focus on how the socioeconomic benefits of the business on smallholder famers.

By 2030, it’s estimated that the global demand for food will be up by 30 percent as the population continues to rise. As the food security need will increase, it’s important that Heifer continues to work within communities to provide them the tools they need to lift themselves out of hunger and poverty: training and livestock.

World Dairy Summit 2012

Photo by Dero Sanford, courtesy of Heifer International

In order to address these concerns, the summit topics focus on: developing innovative ideas for the dairy sector; the health benefits of consuming dairy; and how to create a holistic, sustainable approach to dairying that protects the environment. By learning how other organizations are working with dairy cooperatives, Heifer’s East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) program can learn to further improve sustainability in the dairy value chain. Heifer’s work with EADD brings smallholder farmers in communities together into cooperatives to better position them to sell their surplus milk. Through Heifer’s work, smallholder farmers receive more training to strengthen their businesses and earn more income to provide for their families.

As Heifer’s CEO and President takes part in the 2012 World Dairy Summit, our message is simple: Heifer’s farmers are not just providing milk in a growing dairy industry, they’re creating sustainable livelihoods and strengthening their communities.

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Chef Patricia Yeo on Choosing Heifer International for Bravo’s Top Chef Masters

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On July 25, Chef Patricia Yeo started competing on Season 4 of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters to win the title and a $100,000 for her charity of choice, Heifer International. For the past six weeks, Yeo has won $16,000 for Heifer through quick-fire challenges, and the best dish of the night, mackerel coconut ceviche. Yeo took some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about her career and cooking background.

Good morning, Chef Yeo! Thank you for taking some time today to answer some of our questions. Heifer donors and supporters have been sending supportive messages about your Top Chef Masters competition on our Heifer Facebook and Twitter pages. 

Heifer:  Chef Yeo, what made you choose Heifer International as your charity of choice for Top Chef Masters?

Yeo: Heifer International has been my Christmas charity for many years.  As a family we do not exchange gifts during the holidays instead we make a donation to our favourite charity, in our case it is Heifer International.

Heifer:  Where did you learn about Heifer?

Yeo: I don’t remember how I learned about Heifer, I think through my sister.

Heifer:  Did you find on Top Chef Masters that chefs were even more competitive to win money for their charities?

Yeo: Chefs are a pretty competitive bunch of people, yes I’d say that winning money for our respective charities makes us more so.  We were moved to pick our charities for many reasons, some personal and for others like myself it was/is because I truly believe in the cause.

Heifer: While in college at Princeton, you were working on a degree in biochemistry, how has that helped you in the kitchen?

Yeo: Not at all, everyone thinks it should alter the way I cook but cooking is so much more organic and creative.  Also I love the instant gratification.  Science is so much more time consuming and meticulous.

Heifer: You seem to really enjoy what you do in the kitchen, what’s your favorite dish to cook?

Yeo: I like cooking whatever is in season, there is nothing better than going to your local farmers market and picking up super fresh ingredients that are grown by local farmers.  Cooking is also about camaraderie; whether it is with other chefs as in Top Chef Masters or cooking for friends and loved ones.  I just like to cook!

Heifer:  Just between us, what’s your secret guilty food? (fast food? Cupcakes? Pringles?)

Yeo: I don’t eat sweets, never acquired a taste for it so my guilty pleasure tends to be savoury.  I would say McDonalds Hash Browns!

Heifer: You’ve spent a lot of time working with Chef Bobby Flay, what lessons has he taught you that others can learn from? (Motivation, inspiration, determination)

Yeo: I often say that if I had not started working with Bobby I would not be in the industry (as it originally started as a one year hiatus from science).  He made it so much fun, he gave me so much license to play, he introduced me to some many wonderful aspects of the culinary world,  I think the one thing Bobby absolutely taught me is to have a vision of what I want and to go after it.

Heifer: What advice would you give to those who have a desire for cooking?

Yeo: If you are thinking of getting into the industry I suggest you actually spend some time in a professional kitchen before committing to culinary school.  If you love cooking for friends and family and having dinner parties then really consider if you really want to cook as a career, sometimes doing it as a career “ruins” the joy of cooking at home for friends and family.  If you want to hone your skills lots of chefs and some colleges and adult learning centres actually have great classes.  Reading is also a wonderful tool, magazines like Saveur especially not only share recipes but food ways and food anthropology.  And don’t forget (this is coming from a chef who depends on your business) eat out often.

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Heifer Haiti Country Staff Reports Loss of Animals, Farms from Tropical Storm Isaac

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In the wake of Tropical Storm Isaac, Heifer International’s Haiti country team is reporting damage to several Heifer Haiti projects, including loss of animals, loss of and damage to farms and homes, as well as damage to one of the breeding centers.

Ewaldy Estil, northern field coordinator for Heifer Haiti, said the damage was greatest in the Southeast and Southwest departments, and that the country team is reaching out to Heifer project community leaders by phone, and is able to report the following thus far:

·       In the community of Gressier, where Heifer works with MOPLANDAH, 32 goats werekilled (eight from the breeding center and 24 that belonged to project families). The roof of the breeding center was also damaged.

·       In Petit Goave, where Heifer works with AIFO, one bull was killed and 86 smallfarms were destroyed. Irrigation canals were littered by debris.

·       In Montrouis, where Heifer works with Tet Kole, the water irrigation system for the forage crops around the breeding center was damaged, and one goat from the breeding center was killed.

·       In Ivwa, leaders reported that 50 houses were destroyed, and 10 homes built byHeifer had their roofs damaged or destroyed.

·       In the region of Artibonite (Lester and Marchand Dessalines), where Heifer is working with RACPABA, crops were lost.

·       On Lake Peligre in the center of the country, where Heifer is working with ACDELP on a cage-fishing project, fingerlings were killed by excessive sedimentation in the lake.

·       Information is pending from Gros Morne.

Tropical Storm Isaac swept over the island Saturday, dumping torrential rains on the country and destroying several tent cities where survivors and refugees from the January 2010 earthquake were living. Heifer country staff continues to assess the situation and communicate with project leaders and participants, so more information will be shared as it becomes available.

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Hurricane Isaac Damages Breeding Centers in Heifer Haiti

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Tropical Storm Isaac, which dumped torrential rains on Haiti and flattened tent camps housing survivors of the January 2010 earthquake, damaged some Heifer International breeding centers in the country and killed some participants’ livestock, according to Hervil Cherubin, Heifer Haiti country director.

Isaac’s rain and winds lashed Haiti’s southern coast on Saturday, flooding parts of the capital Port-au-Prince and ripping through flimsy resettlement camps that house more than 350,000 survivors of the 2010 earthquake.  Fueled by warm Gulf waters, it is forecast to strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane with 100-mph (160-kph) winds and hit the U.S. coast somewhere between the Florida Panhandle and New Orleans at midweek.

A team from Heifer is evaluating the situation and assessing damage. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

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Young Heifer International Supporter Reaches Top of Mt. Kilimanjaro

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As I mentioned a week ago, our young supporter Ian, 13, was working to raise awareness and funds for Heifer International by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. This morning we received word and a picture that Ian made it to the top!

Check out our Q&A with Ian on his climb, his passion for Heifer and what his friends think about his goal.

Great job, Ian! We all appreciate your support at Heifer!

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Weekly Article Roundup: The Heifer Blog

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Read more about alpacas in the recent edition of World Ark

This week on the Heifer Blog we discussed young supporters, how kids can change the world and showed you a sneak preview of the World Ark arriving in mailboxes now.

Our young supporter Ian is currently on the climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and funds for Heifer’s mission. At 13 he’s already raised over $1k to donate to Heifer to help lift families in need out of hunger and poverty. Check out our Q&A with him on why he decided to choose Heifer and how he’s trained for this journey.

We know that a kid can change the world, but do you know what type of kid we are talking about? We mean baby goats, also known as a ‘kid.’ Goats are gentle enough for even small children to feed and play with. Children get a fuzzy buddy to snuggle with, and learn some responsibility at the same time. Check out how our Kid 2 Kid program can invest in ‘kids’ who can really change the world.

Has the recent edition of World Ark hit your mail box yet? From the latest in alpaca fashion, to where food comes from, you will learn a lot of Heifer’s work in Peru to some fun facts. For instance, learn how much water it takes for a chicken to produce eggs.

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Heifer’s Heart: Reflections from Heifer Intern Payton Hurst

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In a slight departure from our traditional Heifer’s Heart, we have instead an essay written by Payton Hurst, our summer intern on the Communications team, reflecting on his time spent with us.

Today is my last day as an intern for the Communications Department at Heifer’s headquarters in Little Rock, Ark. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I showed up on my first day, but the people I met, lessons learned and experiences gained have been invaluable.

The story of how I came to work at Heifer is sort of a procrastinator’s fairy tale. I am currently studying Public Relations at Harding University, a small private college in Searcy, Ark, and one of my degree requirements is that I participate in an internship. As I am planning to graduate in May of 2013, I knew this summer was my last opportunity to fulfill my requirement. Naturally, being the responsible student I am, last May I still wasn’t sure what I was going to do for the summer.

Just when I was starting to re-think my entire college plans, I received an e-mail from my advisor informing me of the internship at Heifer. I happened to be qualified, so I sent in my resume, came in for an interview, and just like that, I went from no prospects to happily employed.

As a Little Rock native, I knew a little bit about Heifer before I started, but I hadn’t ever truly grasped the scope of their work. Much of my time this summer was spent reading and editing stories submitted from Heifer project participants, and these stories allowed me to fully understand the good Heifer is doing to help families all across the globe.

Almost every day I had the opportunity to read about farmers in places like China, Guatemala, Armenia, Uganda, and even families in the U.S., who Heifer is helping to free from the hardships of poverty and hunger. I was able to see tangible examples of people in the world who were once struggling to survive, now thriving because of the work Heifer is doing in their lives.

Along with editing these stories, I was able to meet many of the staff members here at headquarters who work behind the scenes to make these stories possible. I was able to film and edit videos, and work with social media to help inform the world about Heifer’s mission. I love working in communications, but more importantly, I love seeing how my work is able to make a difference in people’s lives.

I came to Heifer International looking for a job. I came looking for an opportunity to gain experience in the field I will one day be working, and to gain credit for an internship required of me by my university. While I achieved all of this, the most valuable thing I gained is a new perspective. During my short time at Heifer, I learned about the situation of millions of families that are fighting every day to improve their livelihood, and what I can do to help.

I will always value the work I did this summer, and I am positive the experience I have gained will help me in my future endeavors. I want to thank the staff at Heifer for the opportunity to work for such a wonderful organization, and I hope to see all of them again soon.

- Payton Hurst

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Young Heifer International Supporter to Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to Raise Awareness

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Every day at Heifer we are lucky enough to hear incredible stories of supporters and volunteers donating their time, resources and money to help share our mission. Recently, I had the pleasure of learning about a young supporter, Ian, 13, who is climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro starting August 9. After hearing his story, I wanted to ask him a few more questions about his journey and why he chose Heifer as his charity to support. Check out our Q&A below:

MC: Ian, what made you choose Heifer International as your charity of choice?

IAN: I chose Heifer International because when you donate money, the gifts of animals (that provide food, income, and education) keep on giving to others.

MC: Where did you learn about Heifer?

IAN: My parents first taught me about this charity.  They showed me an article about Heifer International and let me chose an animal to donate.  I chose a water buffalo that was given to a family in Southeast Asia to work farmland.

MC: What kind of preparation does one have to make before this type of climb?

IAN: My family trained together.  We started by running two miles a day and hiking on the weekends.  We ran 2 miles a day at first and built up to ~4 miles a day.  We also hike 6-9 hours up hill on the weekends.  In the beginning I hated waking up early to run and complained a lot.  Now, I am used to it and the training feels easier. It is nice to spend time with my family and set goals together.

MC: What are your fundraising goals, now that you have met your first goal?

IAN: I have already raised $1,075 on my Crowdrise account for Heifer International.  Before I leave I hope to raise a total of $1,200.

MC: What are you most excited for regarding this trip?

IAN: I am most excited for sleeping in the crater on Kilimanjaro and buying a special artifact from our trip.  In each place we have travelled, I have bought something meaningful to remember my trip by.

MC: What do all of your friends think about this?

IAN: My friends think it is pretty amazing that I get to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro because it is the highest free standing mountain in the world.

MC: Are you scared of heights at all? 

IAN: Actually, every human is born afraid of heights, but some learn to enjoy them.  I don’t remember being afraid of them, but I do enjoy heights now.  I have climbed many mountains with my family like Mt. Washington, Mt. Monadnock, Machu Piccu’s Dead Woman’s Pass, and soon Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

MC: How will you be sharing information during the climb?

IAN: Me and my dad will be taking pictures and hope to be posting them via a sat phone and iPhone.

(To follow Ian’s track, click here)

MC: What do you want to be when you grow up?

IAN: I really don’t know what I want to do when I grow up.  I enjoy spending time outside, reading, playing chess and video games.  Perhaps I will have a job as a video game designer, author or engineer.

MC: What would you tell other kids out there thinking about raising awareness for Heifer?

IAN: Kids should know what is happening in the world around them.  Knowing about charities like Heifer is important for pre-teens and teenagers because they can start thinking about others in need.  Giving to charities can happen at any age, kids don’t have to wait until they’re grown up to help people.

Good luck, Ian! Everyone from Heifer wishes you the best of luck on your climb!

Check out Ian’s CrowdRise page and keep up with Ian on Tusker.

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Weekly Article Roundup: Drought in the U.S. to Raise Food Prices?

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USDA drought map showing affected counties

USDA drought map showing affected counties

Following a recent announcement by the USDA, consumers are expected to see rising food prices throughout 2013 due to the worst drought in U.S. history for the past 50 years. According to Reuters, it is predicting an increase of no less than 2.5 percent in 2012 and between 3-4 percent in 2012. Because of it’s early harvest, corn has been the number one crop that has been affected by the drought so far. Results for soybeans are still pending.

It is important to note, that consumers may see a higher price from meat and poultry than from their vegetables since the higher costs of feed corn for animals will also impact the increase of costs for meats. Eggs and milk may also see an increase based on these reports. Check out these articles that discuss the drought and how it may affect food prices in the U.S.:

Tell us in the comments section, have you experienced the drought where you live?

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Weekly Roundup: Be Classy, Vote for Heifer’s Global Blogging Ambassador

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Be Classy, vote for Heifer’s Global Blogging Ambassador to win the Volunteer of the Year Award. The Classy Awards is the largest philanthropic awards ceremony in the country. They celebrate and recognize the greatest achievements from nonprofits to individuals worldwide.

This year, Heifer’s Global Blogging Ambassador, Betty Londergan has been nominated for the Volunteer of the Year in the South region for her time spent on spreading the word of Heifer’s work on www.Heifer12x12.com. Betty even wrote a blog on HuffPo Impact discussing her blog.

While visiting projects in the U.S., Betty was interviewed by local Little Rock’s news outlet KTHV:

Curious on how you can vote for our Global Blogging Ambassador to win the Classy Awards? Check out this easy how-to.

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