Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

It's not just people that watch the birds!

 

You can find this pair of Egyptian geese under the shade trees in the yard or in the pasture by the house every afternoon just after the grain is fed to the pregnant cows.

 

 

I'm thankful for the wildlife that live on the farm with us and for the habitat that farms and ranches provide for all of God's creatures.

Rain Gauge Ready

Although we can't change or  predict the weather, we do like to measure the rain when we receive it on the dairy farm.  When the TV weatherman announced this morning that it's been three weeks since rain fell in Northwest Arkansas and mentioned the possibility of showers, I immediately felt it was necessary to hang up the new rain gauge just in case he's right.

 As the farmer's wife,  I've decided that  it isn't always as much the amount of rain that we see in the gauge but it's the hope and encouragement we receive  from the blessing of rain--whatever the amount.

Ryan's been no-till planting a Sorghum Sudan grass crop this week  that will be harvested (Lord willing)  late this summer or early fall. It's definitely dry and dusty but...

We're rain gauge ready!

Frannie's Milk Story

Everyone loves to milk Frannie, the fun loving ,friendly Benton County Farm Bureau cow! Frannie and I made the Centerton Day Celebration last weekend with a little help from my sons to transport us to the park.

Although Frannie doesn't talk much, she gives milk generously without kicking and allows us farmers  to share how we work everyday to produce high-quality milk and  the importance of dairy foods to a healthy diet.

If Frannie did talk, this would be her story about that delicious milk she produces:

Dairy foods are nutrient rich foods that provide essential nutrients and minerals that together help to keep the body in optimal health. Milk and other dairy foods provide nine essential nutrients that include:

• Calcium: Helps build and maintain healthy bones and teeth.
• Potassium: Helps to regulate the body's fluid balance and maintain normal blood pressure and muscle activity.
• Phosphorus: Helps strengthen bones and generate energy in the body's cells.
• Protein: The protein in milk, yogurt and cheese builds and repairs muscle tissue, and serves as a source of energy and satiety.
• Vitamin D: Promotes the absorption of calcium and enhances bone strength.
• Vitamin A: Helps maintain normal vision and skin and also important for bone growth.
• Vitamin B-12: Helps maintain healthy red blood cells and nerve cells.
• Riboflavin: Helps convert food into energy the body can use.
• Niacin: Helps bodies digest carbohydrates and fatty acids.

Dairy foods  provide 70 percent of the calcium in the nation's food supply and milk is the top source of potassium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in the U.S. diet. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend these daily amounts of low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products:

• 2 cups for children 2 to 3 years,
• 2.5 cups for children 4 to 8 years, and
• 3 cups for those 9 years and older

I'm sure Frannie would  be sure to mention that you can also find more dairy information and great nutritious recipes at  Dairy Makes Sense!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

Parades, rodeos, fireworks, a good hotdog, homemade ice cream---

Happy Birthday America! 

 

 

I'm thankful for our country and the freedoms that we enjoy daily.

God Bless America!

Happy Ice Cream Month!

If you're needing an easy cake for the Fourth of July celebration or just want to bring a smile to your family--this chocolate  cake recipe will do the trick!  It's also the perfect way to start celebrating July-National Ice Cream Month when you add that big dip of vanilla ice cream!



Uncle Max's Cake

1 Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake Mix
1 3 oz. instant chocolate pudding mix
1 3 oz. instant vanilla pudding mix
1 bag milk chocolate chips
4 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup water

Mix all ingredients together, beat well. Pour into Bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes.


                                             

                                P.S. This cake is also really good with a cold glass of milk!

June Dairy Month in Review

As I review my June Dairy Month 2013, you can see, I had a lot of fun and made some great memories.

 

 

I was privileged to judge the Arkansas Dairy Foods Contest in Little Rock and award some of the prizes to the winners!

 

Ryan and I  hosted a tour of our new milk pre-cooler and water system on our farm.

 

 

I attended the Arkansas Farm Bureau  Dairy Summer Commodity meeting that was held at the Benton County Fairgrounds.

 

I awarded our Arkansas Dairy Ambassador Jessica Crawley her 2013 plaque and shirt.

 

I observed the cutest kids you've ever seen in  PeeWee Showmanship at Dairy Days! 

 

I enjoyed serving 4-State Dairy Days participants  an evening meal with other Benton County Farm Bureau Women's Committee members.

 

I ended my June Dairy Month celebration with Francis, the Farm Bureau Milking Cow at Centerton Days!

 

                                        I hope you enjoyed June Dairy Month as much as I did!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

During the month of June, Midwest dairy farmers will donate $1 to Feeding America for each view of Feedin' a Nation video. With your help, we can donate the equivalent of 160,000 meals for families in need.

 

 I'm thankful for the commitment of America's dairy farmers that work seven days a week on the farm to provide nutritious milk and  to fight hunger by partnering with Feeding America, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the National Dairy Council.