Happy July 4th!

We've got the best of both worlds...

the freedom to farm 

and 

to celebrate our freedom and love of country

all in the same day on this July 4th!

                                                           
                                                              Happy July 4th 
                               from down on the dairy farm!

July's Favorite Flavor

What's so great about July?

It's Ice Cream Month!

I can't think of a better way to transition from celebrating 

all things dairy during  June Dairy Month to enjoying

 a variety of  very dairy ice cream flavors.

According to  The History of Ice Cream 

by the International Dairy Foods Association,

 "the first official account of ice cream in America comes from a letter 

written in 1744 by a guest of Maryland Governor William Bladen. 

Manufacturing of ice cream became an industry in 1851 by a 

Baltimore milk dealer named Jacob Fussell. Like other American 

industries, ice cream production increased because of technological 

innovations, including steam power , mechanical refrigeration,

the homogenizer, electric power and motors, packing machines, 

and new freezing processes and equipment.

Today's total frozen dairy annual production in the

 United States is more than 1.6 billion gallons."

What's your favorite ice cream  flavor?

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Farmers from across the United States gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan

this week to attend the National Commodity Conference hosted by Michigan Farm Bureau.

It's an opportunity for different commodity groups to share information, 

discuss issues that impact their farming operations,

 and develop potential policy ideas to present during the grassroots

 policy development process of Farm Bureau.

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall gave us an overview 

of issues we are facing in agriculture. Things are tough in agriculture but 

President Duvall has the ability to tell the truth and

 season it with hope for our future.

I  met with the dairy commodity group for information and discussion

about trade,immigration, and milk price.

You don't find all the answers at any meeting, 

but

 we can gain strength and insight from talking

 with others on shared problems and concerns.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to work with others on behalf of dairy farmers,

to experience  the beauty of other places,

to learn about agriculture in other states,

and

                                             to be home  down on the Arkansas  dairy farm.

Dairy Pride

My dairy farm family takes great pride in working everyday to produce high-quality,nutritious milk. 

Dairy products are an important part of a healthy diet for children and adults but it has been found that most Americans are not meeting  the recommended intake for the dairy food group.

I would love for milk to be your first choice but I know that is not realistic.

 However, I do want you to have the correct information in making healthy

 choices for you and your family.

It's a fact, all milk labeled products you find in the dairy case are not created equal in nutritional benefits.

 

   Marketing of any product can create myths and misconceptions but it is 

hard to deny the truth of dairy nutrition science and research.

                             Dairy farmers are supporting the Dairy Pride Act "to protect the
                      integrity of dairy products by enforcing existing labeling requirements."

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

I was blessed this week with a sweet but short visit from my friend Nancy.

Our friendship began 43 years ago when we became nursing school roommates.

We still  laugh about our challenges as beginning nursing students

 and the life lessons we learned together.

Although she is an Atlanta city dweller and I am a dairy farm dweller,

friends are still forever.

                                                                   
                                I'm thankful for this precious friend that not only loves me but
                           appreciates the dairy farm and couldn't resist presenting me with the
                                 Fresh "A" Milk Wagon for our assortment of dairy memorabilia.
                                       

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.