Galaxy Ninja

Believe it or not, here at GalaxyNinja headquarters, we're fairly conscious of societal and environmental issues, and we do a fair amount of activism. One of the projects we're really excited about (and donating a little time to) is Francis Thicke's campaign for secretary of agriculture in Iowa. We really care about the quality and economic/environmental sustainability of food in the USA and the world, and we've got to say, this is hot stuff. Agricultural policy in Iowa effects the whole country, and we've got a great candidate on our hands. Francis Thicke owns and operates an 80 cow sustainable, organic dairy farm in Iowa, he holds a Ph.D in Agronomy and Soil Science and has worked for the USDA as Program Leader in Soil Science and his campaign focuses on solutions for issues of safe food, economic and environmental sustainability. Additionally! supporters of Francis Thicke (Friends of Francis Thicke) have launched a viral music video contest to help promote! Word is, There are cash prizes, the video does not have to be about Thicke or the campaign, and video entries will be reviewed by some pretty high profile celebrity judges. This is a cool opportunity for all your film makers out there. First, check out Francis: Now, check out the press release for the music video contest, tell your friends, and enter to win at Friends of Francis Thicke: FRIENDS OF FRANCIS THICKE HOST NATIONAL ONLINE MUSIC VIDEO CONTEST Friends of Francis Thicke are pleased to announce the HAPPY COW MUSIC VIDEO CONTEST. Individuals aged 18 and over are invited to submit a music video for the song, "Happy Cow," written and performed by musician Arthur Lee Land for a chance to win cash prizes and have their work viewed by a celebrity judge panel. Arthur Lee Land was inspired to write the song after meeting Francis Thicke and visiting his dairy farm, Radiance Dairy in Fairfield, Iowa. Thicke, (pronounced "ticky") a sustainable dairy farmer with a Ph.D and former USDA Soil Science Program Leader, is campaigning against a candidate backed by corporate agribusiness for the position as Iowa's next Secretary of Agriculture. The Happy Cow Music Video Contest encourages participants from across the country to get creative and spread the word that what happens in Iowa will impact the nation, by producing a music video in support of Thicke's campaign promoting clean and healthy food systems, sustainable energy and more profits for family farmers. A celebrity judge panel, including filmmaker David Lynch, bestselling author Michael Pollan, actor Stephen Collins, and King Corn filmmaker Aaron Woolf, will select a best overall winner and a second place winner. The overall winner will receive $1500, second place will win $700, and the People's Choice award will win $300. Entries will be judged on creativity, imagination and inspiration, effectiveness of communication in telling story, and visual and graphic innovation. "I feel like the issue of clean food and sustainable agriculture is reaching critical mass. From my perspective, this IS a national election. When I heard that the people who typically vote for this office are over 55 I knew we needed to find ways to reach younger people in Iowa who care about their food and systems that produce it." "The song pretty much wrote itself after I started to think about what the cows would be asking humans: What's it gonna take...? Our intention is for this video contest to be a fun, creative way to bring attention to Francis and the issues at hand. We are fortunate to have Tim Hawthorne, Founder and CEO of Hawthorne Direct sponsor the $2500 prize money as well as our celebrity judges who have volunteered their support." Entries are due by September 22, 2010, midnight CST. For more info and/or for free download of "Happy Cow" song visit: www.friendsoffrancisthicke.com.

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