Sensational Cheese Support

One thing I love about attending our Dairy Farmers of America cooperative annual meeting in Kansas City is the opportunity to taste new dairy products provided by a variety of dairy food companies. It also makes me proud to know that milk produced on family farms just like ours are providing the main ingredient for these tasty foods for all of us to enjoy. One of my favorite products is Borden Cheese. When you purchase Borden Cheese, you are supporting local dairy farm families just like mine. Two new flavors of cheese slices have been introduced in the Borden Singles Sensations product: 3 Cheese Italiano and Extra Sharp Cheddar. These two flavors join Hickory Smoked Swiss,Bacon Cheddar, Pepperjack, and Chipotle Cheddar. You may want to try this sandwich recipe for your family this weekend!

Meatball Grinder

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 cup Italian breadcrumbs or panko

2 eggs,lightly beaten

1 garlic clove,minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian (flatleaf) parsley

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese,divided (3oz.)

2 (24-oz.) jars marinara sauce

4-6 hoagie rolls,split

8-12 slices Borden Three Cheese Italiano Singles Sensations

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine ground beef,breadcrumbs,eggs,garlic,parsley,1/2 cup Parmesan cheese,and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Shape into 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Place meatballs on a metal wire rack coated with nonstick cooking spray. Place rack in a foil-lined baking pan. Bake 20 minutes or until meatballs are browned and an instant-read thermometer registers 155 degrees F. Place marinara sauce in a large heavy pot over medium heat; Bring to boiling. Add meatballs; Reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, 20 minutes. Preheat broiler to low. Place 4 or 5 meatballs and sauce into each roll. Top with 2 slices of Borden Three Cheese Italiano Singles Sensations. Place uncovered, on a broiler rack; place under broiler. Broil until cheese melts. Serve warm.

You can find more tasty recipes at http://www.friendsofelsie.com/. Thank-you for supporting your local dairy farm families!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

With the arrival of spring, I am thankful for warmer weather,the smell of fresh green grass and the miracle of new life on the farm! This baby Holstein calf was born just a couple of hours ago and being cared for by her mother while the dairy farmer watches over both.

Spring Break Breakfast

Spring has finally arrived! With every change of the season, I love spring because of the warmer days, new baby calves, the beauty of budding flowers and trees and spring break! Even though our work continues as usual on the dairy farm, we always look forward to a change in routine just like families that are enjoying spring break this week. Even on spring break, a nutritious breakfast is an important start to the day. I love peanut butter and chocolate milk so I'm suggesting you might change your breakfast routine and try a tasty shake!

Peanut Butter and Banana Breakfast Shake

1 cup of fat-free or 1% low-fat chocolate milk

1/2 cup frozen banana slices

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation

Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth and creamy. Serve in tall glass or on-the-go container.

You can find nutritional facts about this recipe and other great dairy recipes at http://www.dairymakessense.com/.

Have a very dairy good spring break!

A Tribute to the American Farmer

Tucked away in a collection of newspaper clippings and personal memorabilia of my mother-in law's personal keepsakes was this poem about the American farmer. We celebrate the bounty of food in America because of the farmers across our nation. I do not know who wrote this piece but I do know it was clipped from some type of farm magazine. I am sharing this today as a tribute to all farmers and farm families that are working so hard everyday and embracing the challenges to provide food,fiber, and fuel for our citizens.

A Tribute to the American Farmer

I am only a farmer. I know the sun better than anyone. And the soil. And the wind. And the rain. I am the man who works with them. Who lives with them. Who loves them. And who sometimes fears them.

I am only a farmer. I am the sower of seeds. I am the tender of stock. I am the reaper of harvest. I am sweat. And tears. And pride.

I am only a farmer. I am the man the feeds the young. And the old. The weak. And the strong. I am the black earth of Spring. The green hills of Summer. The harvest gold of Autumn. And the cold white stillness of winter.

I am only a farmer. I am warm memories of the past. The steely reality of the present. And a hopeful dream of the future. I am an optimist. A thinker. A watcher. And a doer.

I am only a farmer. I live in a complex world. Made of simple things. And they are my source of joy. And hope. And comfort. I have walked the morning fogs. I have paused for the Summer song of the meadowlark. And I have savored the breeze off freshly cut hay. I have paused, remembering, by the stream I knew as a boy. I have felt the power of a thousand storms. And rejoiced in the fresh world left in their wake.

I am only a farmer. I am an accountant. Chemist. And doctor. I am midwife.And mechanic. I am seller. Trader. And buyer. I am husband. Helper. And partner to my wife. I am father. Friend. Comforter. And teacher to my children.

I am only a farmer. Not a man of riches. But a man of great wealth. I have learned to treasure life. And all things living. To respect their maker. And my own. I am humbled by the earth's bounty. And awed by endless rebirth. I am facinated by the marvelous intricacies of my world. And enriched by their beauty.

I am only a farmer. If a man can be truly free, then I truly am. The day. The week. The month. They have been entrusted to me. They are mine to spend. They are mine to invest. They are mine to use wisely. It is a solitary profession I have chosen. Or,perhaps, that I have been chosen for. A profession where there are no certainties. Where no guarantees are granted. No promises granted. No promises given. No excuses taken. I have but one man to answer to. One man to depend upon. One man to confide in. And in the quiet of the years,I have come to know him well.

I am only a farmer. In perserverance and creativity. And courage.

I am only a farmer. I am confidence. And ingenuity. And intelligence.

I am only a farmer. A seeker of excellence...And I will endure.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Last week I was presented with my very own milk can as a remembrance for serving the past two years as Arkansas Farm Bureau Women's Committee Chairwoman. I am thankful for all the Farm Bureau Women that I not only call my friends but for the fact that we share our passion for agriculture through promotion and education in our communities across Arkansas!

National Agriculture Day

Dairy farm families across America are working every day to provide safe,high quality milk and dairy products. National Agriculture Day is a great opportunity to celebrate that fact and point out that while producing a great product, we are also caring for our land and animals.

You might find these dairy facts of interest:

• According to USDA, 98 percent of all U.S. dairy farms are family owned and operated


• More milk is produced today with only 9 million cows than with 26 million cows in 1944


• Dairy is the No. 1 agricultural business in California,Idaho,Maine,Michigan,New Mexico,New York,Pennsylvania,Vermont and Wisconsin

While American farmers are providing the safest,most affordable and available food, we are also providing jobs and economic support for our local communities. In a recent article about American agriculture, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack stated,"Every one billion dollars in agriculture exports supports 8,000 American jobs, which means agricultural exports supported nearly one million jobs in 2010."

Food security is important to all American families. With only two percent of our population providing food,fiber and fuel for all Americans, National Agriculture Day is a great opportunity to not only celebrate agriculture but share information about how we continue to provide for all consumers.

Happy Ag Day!

Dairy Cows and Clocks

Farmers love daylight savings time! It means more daylight hours to work at the many tasks on the farm and begin work in the fields planting the crops that we raise to feed our dairy cows. Turning the clocks back is the easy part of this change to daylight savings time on the farm. Dairy cows are creatures of habit and even though they don't wear watches or look at clocks to know what time it is, they know when it is time to come to the milk barn to be milked. The day before we change our clocks, we talk to all of our employees about how we will gradually change the milking time for the cows. Changes in our milk schedule will often change the cow's milk production. We know this from when we have the unexpected breakdown of equipment or loss of power in the milk barn. Milking too early or too late not only affects production but can also have an impact on cow comfort. The cows look forward to coming to the barn to be milked! Yesterday, the first day of daylight savings time,we started each milking at 8a.m. and 8p.m. , which is thirty minutes later than our regular milking time. Today we started milking at 7:30. We have found after many years of the time change that this gradual change in schedule works well with the cows' clock. The cows adjust much better than I do to this change. In about thirty days, I will quit whining and complaining about getting up in the dark and I will enjoy the warm spring days as I work outside. Thank goodness the cows' clock adjusts quicker than mine!