Welcome to Vaughn Elementary

The community is  invited to attend the Vaughn Elementary

 ribbon cutting and open house on Monday, July 18,5:30-7:30.

I can't wait!

I've been excited since the Bentonville School Board chose

the name Vaughn Elementary. It was a labor of love for several 

community members to speak up for the name that brings

many fond memories of school days at the original 

Vaughn School.

The new Vaughn Elementary is located at

5301 SW Barron Road, Bentonville.

Since the new school is located on the southwest side

of our farm, I have watched the construction through 

every phase. It is a beautiful campus. 

This new school definitely changes the landscape of 

our community and our farming community.

At night with all the lights  it looks like a small city! 

It is my hope that  students that attend this school

will love their school like those who attended the

original Vaughn School.

                                                       Welcome to Vaughn Elementary!

                                          

                                        

                                           

                                                   
 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Members of  Bentonville Girl Scout Troop 150 gathered together

this week to honor the memory of our Girl Scout Leader Marilyn Bogle.

From the second grade till we graduated in 1973, Marilyn was our mentor and

guide. She provided countless opportunities and experiences that guided 

us to make decisions that impacted our career and life choices.

It was fitting that the members of our troop gathered for

 a lovely supper and cookie toast to celebrate

the very special bond we feel with our friend Marilyn.

I'm thankful for each member of Girl Scout Troop 150,

the life long friendships that might  never have

happened without the love and devotion of  Marilyn Bogle,

and  the example of what happens when you invest in 

the lives of others.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

December is full of celebrations!

I'm thankful for the happiness new life brings, 

for watching the expression of a child's first site of 

Santa riding in the community Christmas parade,

and enjoying  our dairy traditions 

                                         
                                                               down on the dairy farm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Emergencies involving large animals can occur at any time in any community.

Who do we call when we need help?

Agencies that deal with public safety.

Last week  the Benton County Farm Bureau Women's Committee,

Benton County Cooperative Extension, Farmer's Cooperative and Purina 

were  involved in organizing a training event  for our emergency workers

to learn how to handle large animals in emergency situations.

Experts in animal handling provided hands on training to 

men and women who work

for our community fire departments, police departments,

 and county sheriff''s office.

                                   
                                           I'm thankful for the sponsors of this event and the
                                                   men and women who took advantage of
                                              specialized training for large animal rescue.
                             

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

We kicked off our Benton County Farm Bureau membership drive this week  with the 

signing of a proclamation by Benton County Judge Barry Moerhing to declare

 February 5-9 Farm Bureau Week.

I'm thankful to serve in an organization  that 

promotes and educates about agriculture 

and 

works for all citizens through legislative activities that impact

 our everyday lives in the city, the county 

or

                                                                down on the dairy farm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It was good to see the  dairy cows resting and enjoying the late afternoon sunshine

after all the cloudy,cool and rainy days that we've experienced in the last week.

Even though we had  some damage to our fences and a few trees 

blown down from the excessive wind and rain last weekend, 

I'm thankful for our safety, for the dedication of emergency workers in 

Benton  County and  for the fact that no lives were lost during this flood.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Vaughn Presbyterian Church has been a fixture in our  community for 126 years. 

Our membership is small but we've got a supportive community that came to buy a bean and cornbread supper and bid on pies to help us raise money for a local children's home.

I'm thankful for community friends like State Representative Dan Douglas who 

served as our  pie auctioneer, the church members that baked delicious pies, and the friends who not only  supported our project, but also

                         helped us celebrate my Mother's 85th birthday with cake and ice cream!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Bentonville's second high school, located in Centerton, is scheduled to open August 2016. 

I was privileged to take a tour of this magnificent work in progress

 last week with other community members. 

Here's a few facts about the Home of the Wolverines:

 430,000 square feet

121 classrooms

Collaborative learning environment

900 seat performing arts center

State of the art culinary arts laboratory

2000+seat competition gymnasium

Media center with Commons area

14 computer labs

Greenhouse

Indoor athletic practice facility

Baseball field,softball field,football field,soccer field,eight lane track

                                                     
                                          I'm thankful to live in a community that values education
                                                                               and
                                               invests in facilities to meet the needs of our students.
                                                                       

                                                                           
                                          Go Wolverines!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Last week I was invited to give an update on county government issues to the Bentonville Early Riser  Rotary Club. Since it's June Dairy Month, it seemed only natural to include a little dairy info,too! 

Rex introduced me to the group and explained that our  friendship  began when I worked for him in the drug store during my high school years. It was the first time I had the opportunity to give Rex his proper thank-you for being the reason I became a dairy farmer. If I hadn't worked for him in high school, Ryan's mother would never have given me a chance with her dairy farmer son! 

I'm thankful for all the members in my Bentonville community that mentored me  in serving others  such as my piano teacher,Araminta, my Girl Scout leader,Marilyn, that led us   from 2nd grade till I graduated, and for Rex, the local pharmacist, that taught me that the customer is always right !

I'm thankful to be Arkansas Grown!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Committee work isn't always fun but for the last few months, I've enjoyed meeting with other members of the Vaughn Presbyterian Church to plan a special celebration day for the 125th anniversary of the church.

A highlight for this week's meeting was to display  a banner in front of the church to invite the community to celebrate with us on September 28th.

                            I'm thankful for the dedicated members of the Vaughn Presbyterian Church!

Ninety Years Young

As we drove into the yard by the Logan Community Building in rural Benton County this afternoon, it was obvious by the number of vehicles and the people standing in line to enter the building that it was one whale of a party for our special friend, Ava. Celebrating your 90th birthday is a very Big Deal!!

Ava is a cherished icon to many of us in the county--a retired dairy farmer,wife,mother,dedicated 4-H leader and supporter of all 4-H activities and Benton County Fair superintendent for decades. Ryan and I also have another special connection with Ava as she was a childhood friend of my grandmother and Ryan's mother. We've heard lots of stories about fun in the good old days! Ava is a perfect example of how farm families live and work in their communities for decades volunteering to make sure that the community grows and thrives.

 

Ava's enthusiasm for life is contagious and her family made sure that her 90th birthday would not only be a celebration but completion of an item on her bucket list--a ride on a motorcycle!

 

90 years young!!

 

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

We purchased this piece of spray equipment two years ago. With the mechanical help of one of Ryan's childhood friends, last week we used it to spray liquid fertilizer on this field of haygrazer. As I looked across the field watching these friends working together, I felt very blessed and thankful to live and work in a community of lifelong farmer friends.