TEXAS NEIGHBORS | WINTER 2017 Dirty kids are healthy kids By Julie Tomascik Associate Editor Squeaky clean and always sick. You’re armed with an arsenal of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. On a mission to protect your kids from a world full of germs. Ready to erase every spot of possible filth. But have they had their daily dose of dirt? It just might be what the doctor ordered, according to the hygiene hypothesis. Where less exposure to germs leads to a greater risk of allergies and asthma. No one wants that, especially for their kids. But there’s a pretty easy fix. Visit a farm. Feed the cows. Get your hands dirty. And take a deep breath of fresh air. It’s the farm effect. Working with livestock, stirring up the dust and drinking from the water hose. It exposes farm kids to good bacteria. Building up their immune systems. And lessening their chances for getting sick. But one dose won’t do the trick. Exposure to germs at a young age, and often, is why this works. That means the old adage “a little dirt don’t hurt” has some science to back it up. And healthy farm kids are the proof. So swap screen time for farm time. And mingle with the good “bugs.” *2)857+(5�f;)$67(5�f;)25/(66 NEW XUV590i *32 hp, 45 mph (72 km/h) *4-wheel independent suspension *65 amp alternator *Optional power steering WE CAN HELP YOUNG SCHOLARS We offer a number of scholarships that can help ease the financial strain of a higher education. Whether you want to pursue a career in agriculture, are a high achiever or want to compete against other students, we have a scholarship that will fit your needs. Visit www.texasfarmbureau.org and search scholarship. • Dick Mitchell Scholarship • Young Farmer & Rancher Scholarship • District Scholarship • Free Enterprise Speech Contest • Collegiate Discussion Meet Contest • County Farm Bureau Scholarships HAMILTON LAWSON IMPLEMENT COMPANY 800-658-6807 Goldthwaite 800-548-7865 % 5 %<&81c;a;c; c;  MARBLE FALLS MUSTANG EQUIPMENT 830-693-5414 mustangequipment.com WWW.TEXASFARMBUREAU.ORG