Farms and Friends

A crane is not part of our dairy  farming operation but we were happy to see our friend and his crane   this morning after the axle under our feed wagon broke as the loaded wagon was moving towards the barn to feed the cows. Although this is a bad situation, we were very fortunate that no one was injured and that we have a friend that owns a crane and was willing to help us get it pulled up right so that it can be repaired.

 

 

Before the crane had set the mixing wagon upright, the boys were hooking up another friend's mixer wagon so that our cows could be fed.

 

Our cows definitely appreciated our friend's willingness to let us borrow the wagon.

They never missed a bite of nutritious feed!

 

 

 

If our days were always trouble free, we would miss out on these opportunities to appreciate the friendships we have in our farming community!

Fruit Salsa Yogurt Parfait

I picked 5 strawberries from my three brave  strawberry plants that survived our harsh winter. What can you do with 5 strawberries? The simple answer is--just eat them! Thanks to strawberry farmers, I bought fresh strawberries this weekend  and can combine them with my five to try  Fruit Salsa Yogurt Parfait from the recipe collection of Dairy Makes Sense.


Fruit Salsa Yogurt Parfait

Ingredients:
 1 can (15 oz) peach slices in juice
1 can (8oz) pineapple chunks in juice
2 kiwi, peeled and chopped
1 cup strawberries,chopped
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon each ground cinnamon and ground ginger
1 carton (32 ounces) non-fat vanilla yogurt

Preparation:
Drain peach slices, discarding juice. Drain pineapple chunks, reserving juice. Chop peaches and pineapple.

Toss peaches, pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, brown sugar, spices and reserved pineapple juice in a medium bowl.

Layer 1/2 cup yogurt with 6 tablespoons of fruit salsa in each of 8 parfait glasses or dessert dishes. Serve immediately.

Memorial Day Remembrance

When I look at these old pictures of my dad, the Navy boy, and Ryan's dad, the Army guy, I find it hard to imagine how the world really was when each enlisted to serve our nation. As I placed the flowers on their graves yesterday for Memorial Day, I felt fortunate to have known and loved  such great men  that served  their country and instilled a love for  our nation   in both Ryan and myself.

 

I'm grateful for  the men and women who have given their all for our country for  the freedoms we enjoy. Memorial Day gives us an opportunity to remember the sacrifices made for all of us.

 

 

 

 

God Bless America!

Saturday's Sweet Treat

If you're needing a quick, easy and delicious fresh fruit recipe for a busy schedule, I suggest Berry Brownie Pudding.  What better way to enjoy fresh local fruit and nutritious milk!


Berry Brownie Pudding

Ingredients:

4 cups 1% low-fat milk
2 packages (4 serving size each) vanilla pudding mix
1 cup of 1-inch low-fat brownie pieces
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup blueberries

Preparation:
Add milk to pudding mix and prepare according to directions on box (instant pudding may be substituted).

Place half of brownie pieces on bottom of a medium glass bowl and layer with half of vanilla pudding, 1 cup of strawberries and 1/2 cup of blueberries.

Repeat layers with remainder of ingredients. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.

Substitution Idea: If fresh berries are not in season, you  can also use frozen berries, thawed.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

Benton County Farm Bureau Women's Committee brought Farm Expo to Russell Jones Elementary in Rogers on Monday.  Students rotated through stations to learn about Arkansas agriculture  from  farmers, University of Arkansas  extension agents, Arkansas Farm Bureau and Arkansas Beef Council staff.

I'm thankful for the students and teachers who allowed us to share about...

 

how seeds germinate and farmers raise crops,

 

the life cycle of a water drop and the importance to agriculture,

 

 

how farmers raise healthy chickens that included

 

 

 poultry terminology bingo,

 

 

how dairy farmers work to provide high-quality milk,

 

the benefits of beef and beef by-products we use every day,

 

safe food handling,

 

cotton farming and ginning,

 

 

rice production,

 

 

including milling the rice.

 

It was a win-win day for students and volunteers---

the students had a fun learning experience and the volunteers passionately  shared how agriculture  impacts our everyday lives!

Chick Whispering

It was all in a day of fun learning about Arkansas agriculture that Russell Jones Elementary fourth and fifth grade  students turned into chick whisperers! 

 

 

As the students held the chicks, we provided information about how  farmers care for the chicks  to provide food for our families.  It's pretty amazing that even though we don't have any formal education for chick whispering, the students are experts!

 

 

 

 

One observation about chick whisperers--they always smile when holding a baby chick!

Arkansas Dairy Supports Ditch the Rule

 

After little rain in the month of April, mud puddles and water standing in the pastures and fields is a welcome sight. This has always been a very expected outcome after a good rain in Northwest Arkansas!

Normal Arkansas weather outcomes  could become costly if the Environmental Protection Agency, lovingly known as the EPA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)  get there way in proposing the rule to change the definition of "waters of the U.S." and expand the range of waters that fall under federal jurisdiction.

 

Can you imagine needing a permit for a mud hole? Sounds silly, but under the proposed rule change, it's not impossible. It goes deeper than just water--it would impact common farming practices that have existed for years. The rule change would make it more difficult for private landowners to farm and ranch, build homes or make changes to the land--even if the changes that landowners propose would benefit the environment.

 

Even if you live in the city, you can be affected by this rule change because cities and counties would be subject to new rules or standards that will increase the cost to citizens by requiring increased  permitting of more ditches  that will be more time-consuming and expensive for local and state  governments. 

 

You can learn more about the impact of this law change and how you can help oppose this law   at Ditch the Rule.

 

 

We already follow rules enacted by the Clean Water Act and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and  use best management practices that help us to protect our natural resources for our cows, our family and our community. 

 

I support Ditching this Rule!

 

                                                                     #DitchTheRule