Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Tractors are used every day down on the dairy farm for a variety of jobs.

Although we have more than one tractor, the little Ford tractor 

serves to bring the dairy  cows to the milking barn twice each day.

No doubt it's  a priority to repair the wheel. 

Unfortunately, we don't plan on these common events

but it does teach us about being flexible and making the most 

of every day--good or bad.

I'll admit, I'm still a student on handling being flexible.

When we are most discouraged or hit with an unexpected event,

I'm thankful for the signs  and  gifts God

freely provides to us on a daily,moment by moment schedule.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Farmer

Ever heard of Action Jackson?

Well, this is the Arkansas Farm Bureau version of  Action Jackson,

that is, Matt Jackson, Agriculture Educator!

Kindergarten students at Pea Ridge Primary School

listened intently to all that Mr. Matt shared with them about

 the dairy cow and how to milk her. 

     My job was easy--I was the local dairy farmer

who brought Cow hats,coloring books and crayons provided by

Midwest Dairy!

Hugs and smiles from a child definitely give you star power.

                                       
                                            I'm thankful for the portion of our Farm Bureau
                                            membership dollars that are spent for educating
                                             children and  adults  and for the opportunities
                                                            to share our agriculture story.
           
                                         

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

It was the perfect spring morning to walk across the pasture to 

find this baby snuggled down in the loose hay around the manger.

As usual, Mama stayed between me and the calf just in case 

I should act wild and crazy or the farm  dogs following me got too close!

                                                         
                                           I am thankful for new life down on the dairy farm
                                                                              and
                                                           

                                                                 for the gifts of spring!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Whether you are nearly 3  or celebrating your 88th year,

birthdays are special occasions down on the dairy farm.

I'm finding that with each family  birthday celebration,

life becomes sweeter and richer as each year passes.

I'm thankful for the sweet relationship I  share with my

Mother and my granddaughter Hattie

and 

                                             
                                             for the birthdays that are just in time to help us
                                                                      kick off spring!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Happy National Agriculture Day!

March 14,2019

Arkansas Governor Hutchinson proclaimed Arkansas Agriculture Week and

Farmers Day at the Legislature on Tuesday.

I felt honored to stand with farmers from across Arkansas to celebrate 

Arkansas agriculture. 

It was also our opportunity to speak with our legislators on issues that impact

our family farms and the agriculture industry.

I'm thankful for my farmer friends and the

organization of Arkansas Farm Bureau

that strive everyday to advocate for agriculture

                                                                 
                                                                              and
                                                         protect our farm family values.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

The construction of the new Bentonville  Walmart Distribution Center 7842 began in 2017.

The removal of the trees between our farm and the new construction site

has given us the perfect view of this completed project from the pasture 

next to our house where the dairy cows wait on their soon to be born calves.

It's definitely a landscape changing experience

and one of sadness when you realize that our third generation 

farm is in the middle of this ever changing environment.

On the other hand, I am thankful for the $171 million investment by Walmart

that will employ 600 people in Northwest Arkansas.

As a member of the Benton County Quorum Court,

I was honored to be invited to the grand opening and ribbon cutting

 for DC7842. 

It is an amazing 1,269,000 square foot  facility full of technology.

As a neighbor, I was also interested to see what goes on in this building

that has become part of my everyday view.  

                                I found that our farm and this facility have two things in common:
                                        we are open 24 hours a day and work 7 days a week.
                               Fortunately for their employees, DC 7842 is closed on Christmas.
                                                     
                                                       
                                           

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                                                                         
                                     Making sure we provide plenty of hay and grain for
                             our cows and calves  is an everyday job down on the dairy farm.
                                                       On this last day of February,
                                     with the temperature hovering  around 22 degrees,
                                              the calves were enjoying their hay buffet.

It's obvious that our farm dog, Bea, does not appreciate this  calf contentment.

The minute she spots the calves gathered in one spot, 

she assumes her job is to scatter them.

Doesn't she look proud?

Although I'm not always appreciative of her perceived farm dog duty,

I am thankful for her ability to make me laugh and smile on the ordinary days

down on the dairy farm.