Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Spring is in the air everywhere down on the dairy farm!

Our ordinary day became extraordinary  with a visit from

the grandchildren and their cousin William that arrived from 

Texas for a spring break adventure.

What better place to come than the dairy farm!

It was obvious by the smiles that a tractor ride ranks 

pretty high on the fun to do list.

A tractor ride can also be a serious experience. At two,

Breck kept a close eye on the calves as they were feeding 

grain. 

We celebrate new life often but  spring also 

gave us the opportunity to celebrate my Mother's 

ninetieth birthday!

Always supporting the use of dairy foods,

the cake contained a lot of butter and cream cheese!

I'm thankful for all these experiences in the past

few days that have put a little more spring in my step

and a greater appreciation for the blessings

of everyday life down on the dairy farm.

                                                         

National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month!

As a dairy farmer, I am proud to work everyday to 

produce milk, a food that  contains nutrients, including

 calcium, potassium, protein and phosphorus; plus,

 it's fortified with vitamins A and D.

It's the perfect month for learning a little more about

the true difference in the milk you find on your grocery shelf.

       Thanks to the National Dairy Council for providing this 

        comparative information and for their commitment since 

    1915 in taking a leading role in the fight against poor

         nutrition,  inactivity and obesity among our nation's youth.

 

Impact of Women in Agriculture

During Women's History Month, I often think about the

impact of   women working in agriculture. 

My late mother-in-law definitely made an impact

on my life and provided a great appreciation for living

down on the dairy farm.

The barn you see behind this row of calves was the

milking barn on our farm during World War II.

Ryan's mother, Bonnah Lyn, milked cows every day while 

waiting on Bill, my father-in-law, to return

from Japan. 

Bonnah Lyn kept the home fires burning as 

she worked beside her father everyday caring for

livestock and helping with the apple orchard.

 Bonnah, in her own stubborn way, was progressive.

She never liked change but she was always 

striving to improve the farming operation.

In the early fifties after moving down the 

road from where she was born,

this barn provided a larger area for milking,

 hay storage and a shelter for other livestock.

Raising chickens was added for diversification.

One of her greatest accomplishments in her view was 

raising a son. In her words," the best crop I ever grew."

I fully understand and agree with her  as I work with her

 son and grandsons everyday down on the dairy farm.

                                    May we never forget the sacrifices made by those before

                                    us to make a  better life for the next generation. 

                                     Women's History Month reminds me that  our

                                           challenge  is to continue that tradition!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

No tears were shed when we ended February and began

the month of March with the delightful fifty degree temperature

and the feeling of spring just around the corner.

I'm thankful for the little bit of green that is beginning to 

show up in the pastures down on the dairy farm,

the new baby calves that are being born without 

the worry of below zero temperatures,

and 

for the joy brought by just being with grandchildren

on a spring-like winter day!