Life's Seasons

These past few weeks have been busy with calf vaccinations, selling cattle and 

moving cattle to different fields  for the fall breeding season.

We also planted a few fields of wheat and grass

 after the ground was softened with rain.

A change of the season always brings changes in the work on the farm.

As I walked through the feed barn, these calves seemed to be watching me.

I'm sure they were wondering if I was the person bringing their feed.

What a disappointment it must have been to just have their picture taken!

We have seasons in our own lives.

I made the decision to not seek re-election to the Benton County 

Quorum Court.  It has been my honor and privilege to represent

the citizens of District 9 for the past 12 years.

I shared this special retiring event with my sweet Mother.

You see, she was a great influence in my desire to serve in 

an elected position.

While growing up, my parents were involved in community activities.

Mother served on the Bentonville City Council and the Benton County Quorum Court.

In fact, she was the first woman to serve on the Benton County Quorum Court.

Mother and I made a little bit of Benton County history

by being the only mother and daughter to serve

 on the Benton County Quorum Court.

A season of service.

 

Drought in a Season of Blessings

Drought---it's defined as a prolonged dry period in the natural

climate cycle that can occur anywhere in the world.

It's happening in Northwest Arkansas!

Last week, our area was declared a drought area --D2 --to

be specific.

As you can see all around us--the color is brown.

Brown grass and brown trees.

Ponds are extremely low or dried up.

                                    

                                We actually moved beef cows from this pasture last week 

                                      because of very little water.  Even though there

                            is still water in the pond, the water quality has diminished.

                                 Hay feeding has been a daily job for several weeks.

Even during drought periods there are blessings.

At the beginning of this drought period when the grass

still had a little green color, we were able to chop the

corn for silage.  This silage will be used in our

feed ration and will definitely help provide nutrition 

and help stretch our hay supply.

                                

                                        Blessings come in all sizes---like finding a buyer

                          for our large milk tank.  It left for another dairy farm today!

                                                         

Even during drought--we are blessed with new life on the farm!

                                  A highlight and for sure a blessing during this drought--

                                                               a wedding!

                       We've been showered with blessings during this season of drought!

                              

                                                   

Labor Day Season

Happy Labor Day!

We celebrated Labor Day with our labor of love

called farming!

Labor Day seems to be the beginning of a new season--

the beginning of a wind down to prepare us for fall 

and winter.

It is a day to breathe a sigh of relief and offer a thank-you

to the good Lord for bringing us this far in the year with

sunshine and rain for the crops and water in the pond.

The cows would not understand if we didn't show up 

to feed them and make sure their day was going well!

While we were all doing different jobs today,

Cody chose to mow a field of hay 

located at the back of  a new neighborhood.

As we watched Cody pass by this house, I wondered what the neighbors 

think when a big green tractor passes by their back porch!

In Northwest Arkansas, this is becoming a much more

common occurrence to be farming next to a new 

housing subdivision.

                                               It gives a different meaning to urban farming!

 In this season of Labor,

we will be chopping corn soon to make corn silage

for winter feeding.

And the season of Labor Day continues,

with the very best gift--

                                                                   a farm and  family to love!

Everyday Farming Miracles

Do you cut hay first or get the crop planted?

The hay and corn crops are both important to our

beef cows daily diet.

No matter what decision is made,

farming is filled with these moments of

second guessing about the timing of any task.

Farmers are gamblers--without the trip to the casino!

Hay cutting started before the corn  planting.

It is not unusual to have  two or three activities 

going on at the same time.

Farming is truly a juggling act with a little 

gambling on the side!

Miracles on the farm  often begin with the farmer's hard work

but 

it's the sun and the rain provided by God

that gives the crop.

We are blessed by these everyday farming miracles!

 

Farmer's Perspective

 

Farmers talk about the weather a lot.

That's an understatement.

It's a topic of conversation everyday.

As we watched the ponds get lower and lower in late

March and early April, we were concerned 

about drought and the impact that has on our farm.

While the local weather men and women talked about

the sunny, pleasant weekends, we were hoping for rain.

We definitely have a different perspective when

 it comes to the weather.

Just when we were feeling depressed about no rain,

it started to rain!  

The pastures went from short blades of grass to

thick green pastures  with buttercup weed.

Although you don't want to see weeds in the pastures,

I am thankful for the grass that the rain has provided 

and ponds that are in better shape as we get closer to

summer time temperatures and dry weather.

While weather is a prominent topic of discussion,

there are always fun topics to share with our family,

like the eclipse experience of a 5 year old,

                                              who can blow out birthday candles the fastest,

                                                                                     and

                                          the beauty provided by the long awaited spring rains.

Thankful Thursday

Spring is happening!

Welcoming new babies to the herd is definitely a sign of spring

down on the farm.

We're checking the pastures at least twice daily for any new arrivals 

and making sure we are available to assist in delivery if necessary.

As you can see, this mama was not too sure about us circling

 around for a picture!

Birthdays  on the farm are always special.

Thank goodness for the extra help in blowing out 

the candles when you are celebrating the 93rd birthday 

for my Mother!

 

I love all the seasons on the farm, but I'm thankful for all the beauty

and the joy we experience in the spring!

 

                                                                    Happy Spring!

Baby Days

                                           

                                  It's been a perfect fall for welcoming  new babies to our beef herd.

                                There's nothing cuter than new calves running around the pasture

                           in search of new adventures while under the watchful eye of their mother.

                                    

                                              For the last few weeks, Ryan has been checking

                                          two groups of heifers several times a day that are due

                                          to give birth for the first time.  Fortunately, all but one

                                          have calved on their own and with assistance, that calf

                                          was born alive and healthy.  Needless to say, we feel very

                                          fortunate for a healthy calf crop.

                                          

Aren't they cute?

Cutest in the herd, of course, is the

youngest grandson!

As my mother-in-law said 

"best crop I ever raised" when speaking of her family.

                                               I'm thankful for life down on the farm and 

                                the opportunity we have of sharing our love of the farm

                                                     with the next generation.