Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Governor Asa Hutchinson declared June Dairy Month in Arkansas.

It's the perfect kick-off to a month that celebrates the nutritious goodness of milk and a variety of dairy products that consumers across our state and the nation enjoy everyday.

Milk is our Arkansas state drink!

I was honored to take part in this ceremony with 

Arkansas Farm Bureau Dairy Ambassador Julie Griffin,

other dairy  farmers and industry leaders.

                                         
                                       I'm thankful for a governor who supports dairy farmers,
                                                                                 and

                                              showed his love for milk by raising his glass
                                           to celebrate June Dairy Month and World Milk Day!
                                                                 

Farmer Celebrates June Dairy Month with a Birthday

It seems fitting for a dairy farmer to celebrate his birthday during June Dairy Month! It's a tradition in our family for the birthday celebrant to choose the kind of cake or pie for his day. Ryan's favorite is his mother's recipe for  Applesauce Cake. Thank goodness I inherited  my mother-in-law's recipe box and can fulfill his request!

Applesauce Cake


2 cups unsweetened applesauce
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup raisins
1 cup black walnuts
2 Tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Mix sugar,flour, and spices together. Soak raisins in water,squeeze and then add to flour mixture.
Heart applesauce and butter. Add baking soda and applesauce to flour mixture.  Stir in nuts.
Bake  in floured and greased 13 x 9 inch pan at 350 degrees for 45 minutes . Cool completely before adding icing.

Icing:
6 Tablespoons Butter
3 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
Light cream (about 1/4 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter; gradually add about half the sugar, blending well. Beat in 2 tablespoons cream and vanilla. Gradually blend in remaining sugar. Add enough cream to make of spreading consistency.

                              Serve with several scoops of vanilla ice cream for best results!

Raise Your Glass for World Milk Day

We're  kicking off June Dairy Month celebrating World Milk Day (June 1)

 down on the dairy farm 

by raising a glass of our favorite ...MILK!

World Milk Day was established  in 2001 by the Food and 

Agriculture Organization  of the United Nations to recognize

 the importance  of milk as a global food.

Behind every nutritious drop, is a dedicated dairy farm family.

We invite you to celebrate with us today  by raising a glass (or two) and

 if you share your toast on a social media channel using hashtags 

#WorldMilkDay or #RaiseAGlass, 

our Dairy Farmers of America Cooperative will donate $1 

to the Great American Milk Drive, up to $10,000. 

Just think how many more of our friends could enjoy a glass of nutritious milk 

by today's #World Milk Day celebration!

                                                     
                                                        I just love milk...how about you?

Memorial Day Reflection

Even though it's another day of work on the dairy farm,

Memorial Day for us is always a  time

 for remembrance and thankfulness for the men and women 

who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we have the

 freedom to farm and all the freedoms we Americans enjoy.

Ryan's Dad served in Japan during World War II.

 Fortunately for us, he did return home.

Although he  never talked about the war, 

we knew it was  a life changing experience from the way he 

loved us and shared his love of country.

We must never forget the sacrifices of those serving to protect our freedoms .

I'm grateful for this day of remembrance across our great nation.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Dairy farmers across America support the Fuel Up to Play 60 program

 that empowers students, with the support of adults, to take a 

lead in making healthy changes and have a positive 

impact in their communities. 

We loved providing a tour of the dairy farm  for students involved

 in the Fuel UP to Play 60 program in Rogers.

Seeing the cows up close and personal in the milk parlor was

 the perfect opportunity to get answers to their questions.

While waiting for Domino's pizza, students also learned from others 

about food production.

I'm thankful for the students and teachers involved in Fuel Up to Play 60,

for a program that is making a positive difference

 by improving life long health habits,

and

                                              to be a dairy farmer producing a nutritious food
                                                              for my family and yours.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Even the principal at Frank Tillery Elementary school wanted to milk

the Arkansas Farm Bureau cow!

                                         
                            I'm thankful for teachers and principals that love teaching students
                                      and give us the opportunity to share information  about
                                                                 Arkansas agriculture.
                                                             

                   

Sweet Mother'sDay

                                          Mother's Day is one of the sweetest celebrations
                                                   when surrounded by the ones you love.

                                It was a great time of food, fellowship and of course...dessert!
                                  You can't beat a piece of Crusty Cream Cheese Pound Cake
                                             topped with strawberries and vanilla ice cream.
                     

Crusty Cream Cheese Pound Cake

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
3 cups sugar
1 8 oz  pkg. cream cheese,softened
3 cups sifted cake flour
6 eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla

Cream butter and shortening; gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed with electric mixer.
Add cream cheese,beating well until light and fluffy. Alternately add flour, and eggs, beginning and ending with flour. Stir in vanilla.

Pour batter into greased and floured 10 inch tube pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until pick comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes, remove from pan and let cool completely on wire rack.

                                                    Happy Mother's Day!