Back to School Smoothie

Although the calendar still says it's summer, the relaxed summer schedule is coming to an end  as the first day of school is approaching rapidly for families everywhere.  Even though my boys are no longer in school, I don't think I will ever forget those first of the school year moments of excitement mixed with a little anxiety.

 We often struggled with returning to routine bedtime hours and making sure breakfast was not traded for an extra minute in bed! It's been shown that breakfast is a brain booster and an  important part of the school success equation.   To help ease into the schedule, you may want to offer a Fruity Splash Smoothie as part of the breakfast routine.

You can find more Back to School nutrition tips and nutritious recipes  at DairyMakesSense. 

Fruity Splash Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 cup fat-free milk
5 to 7 large unsweetened frozen strawberries
1 medium banana,cut into chunks
1 tablespoon honey
3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in blender; blend until smooth and creamy. Pour in glasses.

Servings: 2

Substitution Idea:
For frozen fruit pops, pour leftover smoothie into small plastic cups. Cover cups with plastic wrap; insert stick and freeze.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

One of  the most popular spots at the Benton County  Fair  for the last twenty-five years is the Benton County Farm Bureau Petting Zoo. It's hard to believe that I have volunteered with this project for twenty of those years!

I'm thankful for the opportunity to provide a fun  connection to agriculture  for kids of all ages,

to see the smile on a first time cow milker,

to experience the love for baby chicks,

to hear the squeal of a baby pig,

and 

                                                       
                                                          to be a farmer in Benton County!
                                                                           

Hide and Seek

Just as we started feeding baby calves this morning, this cute little Holstein bull  was born.

We put a red neck tag on him and left him in the field with his Ayrshire  mother.

Late in the afternoon, I saw his mother standing in the shade with the other cows without her baby. 

It's way too hot to be playing hide and seek!

After riding the 4-wheeler  around the pasture in search of the baby, I found him resting in the grass.

I guess he decided  it was just too hot to tag along with mom!

His  mom appeared within a minute of my arrival in front of the calf

 and quickly let me know   who was in charge...and that 

the game of hide and seek was over.

Mama and baby are doing well in spite of our 100 degree weather!

                                                                               
 
                                                                             

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that...

At 5 days old, August is doing great

we've enjoyed a little cooler weather,

had  rain in August,

and  

                                                                the garden corn is picked!

Happy Birthday August!

While families are thinking about the last days of summer vacation and taking advantage of tax-free weekend school shopping, we're celebrating birthdays on the dairy farm!

In the middle of the afternoon on this first day of August, this heifer gave birth to her first calf.  

I'm naming this baby...August,of course. 

We try not to have too many calves born in the month of  August due to the heat and humidity we experience in Northwest Arkansas   but as you see, we often adjust our plans on the dairy farm.

August and her mother are doing great! 

Happy Birthday August!

Don't you just love August?

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The leader of the Egyptian Geese started her training class early this morning as we began feeding calves. 

It was obvious by the response to the leader's call, they had been through this drill before as they marched from the feed bunk to the edge of the grass.

These are just one of the many birds that we see and enjoy  everyday on the dairy farm. 

                   I'm thankful that our farm land provides a natural habitat for many of God's creatures.

Faith of a Farmer

I never cease to be amazed by the faith of a farmer as I watch the planter 

moving back and forth across every field.  

Other than an unexpected downpour, nothing stops the planting process. If the machinery breaks, you fix it. If you miss lunch, your wife brings it to you in the field.  If employees don't show up for work, the planting is delayed until all our cows are fed and cared for, but the planting is going to continue as planned.

It may even continue into the darkness if needed. Thank goodness for tractors with lights!

Although the look of the family farm and the technologies have changed, the same values of caring for the land and animals still exist. In fact, 97 percent of U.S. dairy farms are family owned and operated, often by multiple generations of the family.

It's the dreams and determination of a farmer in combination with faith  that provides

 the food on our table and milk in the refrigerator.