Happy Father's Day!

                                As I looked across the field late this afternoon, Ryan and the
                                   boys were wrapping the last few bales of hay for today.
                                     Although it's a fairly common picture of them working
                                         together to complete a task down on the dairy farm,
                                                 it is a sweet reminder of how special the
                                                    relationship between father and son.

Working together as a family has its challenges but in the long run, 

those are overcome by respect and love for each other.

                                        

Father's Day gives us a special moment in time to celebrate 

our family relationships.

and 

                                           
                                               appreciate the love that has shaped our family.

                                                        Happy Father's Day!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It's always on honor to be invited to attend the proclamation of June

 as Arkansas Dairy Month by  Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson.

In today's tough economic climate for dairy farmers, Governor Hutchinson

 must have felt our need for encouragement when he spoke at this year's event.

"Dairy farmers are strong, they are survivors. I am proud to recognize

 their efforts during Arkansas Dairy Month."

Julie Griffin, our Arkansas Farm Bureau Dairy Ambassador,

will receive this year's proclamation in appreciation for her 

service promoting dairy in a variety of ways for the last two years.

Members of the newly established Arkansas Dairy Recruitment 

Task Force also joined us for the celebration of June Dairy Month.

 The task force is working to  assimilate information and resources that

 would be beneficial to existing Arkansas dairy farmers or farmers from

 other  states interested in relocating to Arkansas.

I'm thankful for the support of Governor Hutchinson, Arkansas Farm Bureau

 and the  Arkansas Department of Agriculture  in working to sustain 

and recruit dairy farms in our great state.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Twenty nine years ago a few  Benton County dedicated to 

dairy volunteers began what  we know as Dairy Days 

in the month of June. 

The reason for beginning Dairy Days was to provide another event

 for 4-H and FFA kids to show their dairy cattle and provide more 

dairy learning experiences.  Twenty-nine years later, 

the purpose is the same with expansion to include kids from 4 states.

 4-State Dairy Days  is an all youth dairy show  and competitions for

 kids from Oklahoma,Kansas,Missouri, and Arkansas promoting youth 

participation in dairy cattle showing and dairy educational events. 

I'm thankful for the dedicated organizers and businesses that support 

4-State Dairy Days,

 for the multi-generation family members involved in dairy activities,

for the skills learned with dairy project animals,

and 

for the life lessons learned by caring for dairy 

animals in a fun family oriented environment.

World Milk Day 2018

Have you heard...

It's World Milk Day!

Well, it's more than that. 

We also are celebrating the start of June Dairy Month! 

According to Midwest Dairy,

National Dairy Month  

is the perfect time to celebrate foods made from milk.

 From pizza to parfaits and chocolate milk to cheese plates,

 dairy is a part of all the things you love to eat. 

After all, the best memories are made over milkshakes! 

Down on the dairy farm, 

we celebrate every day with our cows 

and today we raise our glass to them!

                       
                                                    Happy World Milk Day!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It's easy to get so busy and involved with work and life schedules 

that you miss the special moments that can never be recaptured.

I'm thankful for the moments we've spent in the beautiful month 

of May with Hattie wandering around the flower gardens just

 enjoying her curiosity 

 about the ladybugs and picking any flower she sees,

to experience the fun of family events that involve

 cake,ice cream and candles,

and

to celebrate  all birthdays down on the dairy farm.

                                       
                                                 

Freedom to Farm

My Country,'Tis of Thee

My country, 'tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing: 

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the Pilgrims pride.

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring.

                                          --Samuel F. Smith

                                                                   
                                     Words are inadequate to express my thanks and gratitude
                                       for the men and women who have given their lives to
                                                          insure our  American freedoms.
                                         

May we never forget.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Spring harvest of our wheat crop down on the dairy farm  started this week.

It's a process dependent on timing and weather from start to finish.

You want to cut when there's no chance for rain so it can 

have a little drying time after cutting and it stays dry until it is 

chopped,

hauled from the field to the silo,

and packed  into the pit silo.

                                       I'm thankful for the great weather we've had this week
                                       and for the good wheat crop that our  dairy cows will enjoy
                                                                   through the summer.