Okoye (withoutquestion) wrote in thedisplaced, @ 2018-09-25 05:55:00 |
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Feathers were ruffled at the Future Farmers' of America Pie Mary Sunday as Mayor Amanda Baker delivered a keynote speech as stirring as it was startling. Asked to speak on the difficulties facing Tumbleweed's agricultural sector--which this year alone has seen droughts, ranch-hand strikes and a recent uptick in predation by wolves and hawks--Baker delivered a sharp 12 minute address that hammered the importance of innovation and, bizarrely, scientific education in the world of agriculture while offering several unwarranted cultural critiques to the assembled group of high school students, [Church], and Community members. Among topics touched on by Baker included the expanding desertification of the Southwestern United States (to an audience much more anxious for dessertification to commence!) Caused, Baker claimed by "man-made climate change" and "a willful antipathy towards environmental regulation." Mayor Baker spoke of a plan adopted in several muslim nations in Africa called Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration--a fancy way of suggesting we plant more trees in open spaces. The proposal was coupled with an idea of harnessing solar energy to cool aquaponic greenhouses which utilize sustainably recovered groundwater. Ace Goodrich of Longhorn Ranch, on stage no more than ten feet from Baker comment, had other thoughts. "That sorta fancy nonsense may work in California or Africa, but here in Texas we value wide open spaces, beef, and oil." Baker atypically snapped back that "that is why Texas is dying." Turning then to the Tumbleweed High kids assembled, Mayor Baker encouraged farmer to pile on science courses, typically reserved for students on the college prep course path, even at the expense of more practical FFA pursuits. "You would be better served focusing on your studies, environmental sciences, biology, physics rather than ornamental pie crusts." However, the attack on pie feels targeted. Ornamental crustwork, in the vein of Tumbleweed's legendary Donna Murble's fruit pies, has long been a staple of culinary Tumbleweed. Tumbleweed strawberry pies frequently place in the top ten at the West Texas State Fair. Several students in attendance were stunned by the admonition, particularly when Mayor Baker refused to judge the contest citing that she "had no time for this." Her bizarre behavior has led many to speculate a shakeup in the Staff at City Hall, particularly the Mayor's office. Baker, 54, nearing the end of her second term as Mayor has long been known around Tumbleweed for her boisterous sense of humor, ever-changing hairstyle, flamboyant sense of style. Rising to prominence through her work with Mount Zion Baptist Church following the death of her husband, Pastor Marcel Baker, she has served Tumbleweed as a faithful and traditional voice. Recently however, Baker has been observed in the company of a younger man, University professor Darnell Addison. Baker's office has clarified repeatedly that Addison, a professor of economics, is a political consultant, but the pair being recently observed leaving the Chili's on Alameda Drive has reignited rumors. Could this speech and Mayor Baker's shocking new shaved head be the start of a radical turn for Tumbleweed or just a midlife crisis? Mayor Baker's office was unavailable for comment. Related Links: |