Family Tradition

As I was working in the kitchen yesterday preparing food for Easter lunch, I happened to hear the Hank Williams song "Family Tradition". It sparked alot of thoughts about the traditions we have in our family as dairy farmers. Holidays of all kinds are like a juggling act with the daily chores of milking and caring for our animals added with the holiday activities. The best part of every holiday is that we are together as a family. 98% of farms in the United States are family farms with real families working together to produce the safest and most affordable food in the world. Today was a bitter sweet holiday, the first Easter without my mother-in-law. One of her Easter traditions since my husband was a little boy was to bring out the small red basket that held the old stuffed and faded calico hen sitting on top of dozen colored plastic eggs. The eggs were always stuffed with candy,coins or small toys for my sons to discover after Easter lunch. I really did not have the heart to bring the old hen out for this Easter and I thought the boys probably wouldn't care since they are 21 and 19 years old. Just before Easter lunch today, as I was welcoming some of our guests in the back door,my oldest son came up to the door with the old hen and basket in his arms. Family traditions are hard to break--next year the eggs will have candy,coins, or toys for the big boys!

Dairy Icon

This past week I attended the Dairy Farmers of America annual meeting in Kansas City. One of the attractions in the trade show was Elsie the Borden Cow. A real live cow waiting to have her picture taken with any admirer! Did you know that Elsie is in the top ten list of icons for the twentieth century? Elsie was a real cow owned by family farmers in Connecticut. The Borden family purchased Elsie and began promoting her as their mascot. Elsie was created in the 1930's to symbolize the
"Perfect Dairy Product". She is still being used to promote the Dairy Farmers of America's Borden cheese. Taste, trust, and tradition are what consumers relate to when they see Elsie on the Borden package. Dairy farmers have a lot in common with Elsie---we are producing a great tasting product, we are trusted to provide a safe and nutritious product and we are working to maintain the family farm tradition. Check out recipes and meet some of our dairy families at Friends of Elsie.com.

DAIRY AND DAYLIGHT

All the farmers I know are celebrating the arrival of Daylight Savings Time. Dairy farming is a management and labor intensive occupation. Every day of the year we are milking cows twice a day on our farm, feeding and caring for all of our livestock and working to maintain the farming operation. So what is so exciting about Daylight Savings Time? Daylight Savings Time brings more daylight for the farmer to work longer hours. The warmer spring weather and longer days signal the beginning of our other task which is to prepare farm equipment and fields for crop production. As I moved my clock forward last night, I thought about stories my mother-in-law told us about Great Aunt Edna. In the 1940's, Aunt Edna worked as a nurse in town, milked cows before and after work, and raised a huge garden for her family's food supply. She often hoed her garden by lantern light. With Daylight Saving Time, we now use tractor lights instead of the lantern!!

Dairy Consumer Choices

While waiting to visit with my congressional representatives in Washington,D.C., I was enjoying a half pint of skim milk. This bottle of milk was labeled BST hormone free and that this was verified by dairy farmers. Bovine somatotropin (referred to as BST) is produced naturally in every dairy cow and is present in all milk--including organic. This is a protein hormone and is digested as any other protein. Scientists developed rBST for farmers to use as a management tool to help cows produce more milk. Utilizing this technology increases milk production,helps reduce the environmental resources needed to produce milk and it is proven safe. We must utilize every bit of science and technology that we have to continue to feed our nation and the world population. Dairy farmers pay attention to what consumers want and provide choices for them. Dairy farmers are listening to consumers and providing safe,affordable and nutritious milk and milk products.

Dairy Stimulus Package

As a volunteer for Farm Bureau I have been involved in activities this past week promoting Food Check-Out Week which celebrates the fact that farmers and ranchers are committed to providing safe,abundant and healthy food. As a dairy farmer I am proud to produce a healthy economical food product. Milk is a nutrient rich food providing four of the seven nutrients Americans are missing the most in their diet--calcium,potassium,magnesium and Vitamin A. Milk, at about 25 cents per 8oz glass, is one of the best beverage bargains. In these tough economic times, we are all looking for ways to stretch our food dollars and provide healthy diets for our families. As a dairy mom and consumer, my dairy stimulus package includes banking on the basics by purchasing more nutrient rich foods, like fruits,vegetables,whole grains, lean meats and dairy. As part of your dairy stimulus also consider yogurt, flavored milk and cheese. The best outcome of this stimulus will be the benefits from a healthy diet and a very happy family!

Kansas City Style

I traveled to Kansas City this week and enjoyed a little bit of city life. Every region of the United States is known for its own particular delights. Kansas City is known for its great steaks and BBQ. Cattle and Kansas City just go together when you learn about the history of the stockyards in the downtown area. It's hard to imagine those droves of cattle in the streets as you are driving around looking for the right hotel! I enjoyed some of that famous BBQ and couldn't help but think for how long the American farmers and ranchers have been providing quality meat for us to enjoy. Thanks to the farmers for doing such a great job in providing safe,affordable and abundant food for all of us!

The Farm Team

Getting ready for the Superbowl entails thinking about the food we are going to consume and the friends and family we will enjoy being with as we watch this great American tradition. It brings to mind that farmers are the team that produce the food,fiber and fuel for consumers to enjoy. Our team enlists a variety of players such as veterinarians, animal nutritionists and the consuming public. Our playbook uses scientific knowledge and technology to provide the best product for consumers while caring for animals and the environment. Farmers are playing by the rules to provide the safest and most affordable food for our consumers and those across the globe. Agriculture has a connection to everyone. Enjoy your Superbowl experience when you reach for that slice of pizza and marvel that even the football came from agriculture! I'm rootin' for the Farm Team!