文：劉培德 金花有機牧場

　　Ransom是我筆友的名字，他今年九歲，住在Kansas，爸爸和媽媽開了一家獸醫院，他自己也養了好幾頭牛，還常常去比賽，他曾寄給我得獎比賽得金牌的禮物——一個做工精美的金屬皮帶釦！

　　他們家也有牧場，養了好多動物，不久前嘗試養雞，但被野狗闖入全部咬死了，他們很難過，我更難過。我告訴他，我家是全臺灣唯一的有機牧場，生產無大豆、無玉米飼養的雞蛋，還讓他看我家的國際獎牌和雞蛋照片。我告訴他我們的牧場去年遭到楊柳颱風的重創，全部的建築物都毁了，需要重建，他很關心我們，我很謝謝他的關心！他曾分享他的牧場很大，是用電網圍起來，他知道我們牧場重建會使用太陽能，他覺得很好，也希望他們的牧場可以利用太陽能，因為Kansas的陽光特別好，比台灣還好，發電量應該更高。而他們家在不久前有遭到龍捲風的威脅，到現在還沒有收到他的訊息，希望他平安！

　　Ransom五月過生日，家人帶他去划獨木舟、烤肉、釣魚，還有一樣很特殊的甜點，看起來他很開心，我也替他開心。我的筆友很喜歡幫忙他爸爸的獸醫工作。

　　他在6月1日就開始放暑假了，且學校的功課壓力一點都不大，暑假作業每天只要20分鐘就可以了。他的暑假被安排了很多園遊會和牛的比賽。

　　Ransom 是個很好的筆友，我很喜歡他，他希望可以做一張海報，告訴別人四健會的筆友計劃，會用到我的照片，我授權他可以使用我的照片，期待他的園遊會成功。希望他有機會來亞洲，我會介紹臺灣菜給他。

Ransom is the name of my pen pal. He is nine years old and lives in Kansas. His parents run a veterinary clinic, and he also raises several cows. He often takes part in competitions, and he once sent me a gift from a competition where he won a gold medal. It was a beautiful metal belt buckle!

His family also has a ranch where they raise many animals. Not long ago, they tried raising chickens, but wild dogs got into the ranch and killed all of them. They were very sad, and I felt even sadder. I told him that my family has the only organic ranch in Taiwan that produces eggs from chickens raised without soybeans or corn. I also showed him photos of our international awards and our eggs.

I told him that our ranch was severely damaged by Typhoon Yangliu last year. All of the buildings were destroyed and needed to be rebuilt. He was very concerned about us, and I really appreciated his care! He also told me that his ranch is very large and is surrounded by an electric fence. He knew that we planned to use solar power when rebuilding our ranch. He thought it was a great idea and hoped that his family’s ranch could also use solar power because the sunlight in Kansas is especially strong, even stronger than in Taiwan, so it should be able to generate more electricity. Recently, his family was also threatened by a tornado. I still haven't received any messages from him, so I hope he is safe!

Ransom's birthday was in May. His family took him canoeing, had a barbecue, went fishing, and enjoyed a very special dessert. He looked very happy, and I was happy for him too. My pen pal also really enjoys helping his father with his work as a veterinarian.

His summer vacation started on June 1, and he doesn't have much homework from school. During summer vacation, he only needs to spend about 20 minutes a day on his homework. His summer is also filled with many fairs and cattle competitions.

Ransom is a very good pen pal, and I really like him. He hopes to make a poster to introduce the 4-H Pen Pal Program to other people, and he will use my photo in it. I gave him permission to use my photo, and I hope his fair goes well. I also hope he will have a chance to visit Asia someday. If he does, I will introduce him to Taiwanese food!