Happy Father's Day

From down on the dairy farm,

from our family to yours,

                                                       Happy Father's Day!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                                    We've been celebrating June Dairy Month since the first
                                      day of June but it's now official in Arkansas according
                                    to the proclamation signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson
                                                        at the Capital in Little Rock.
                                   
                                                             Heidi from Hiland Dairy
                                                brought a lot of smiles for the camera!

and shared a variety of award winning Hiland dairy 

products with the Governor.

                                     
                                               I'm thankful to be an Arkansas dairy farmer
                                             and for those that work in the dairy industry to
                                           make sure nutritious and delicious  dairy products
                                             are available everyday  for Arkansas consumers.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                                 
                                         Arkansas Farm Bureau celebrated June Dairy Month
                                     by sponsoring the Dairy Foods Contest today in Little Rock.
                                            This contest has been a youth activity sponsored
                                            by Arkansas Farm Bureau  for more than 60 years.
                                     
                                         As a dairy farmer, I was honored to be one of three judges
                                               with the task of selecting the best dairy  recipe prepared
                                            and served by 4-H contestants from across the state.
                                                           It was a hard but very delightful  job!

                                        Today's first place winner of the Main Dish category
                                                              was Kalin Key of Eldorado. 
                                        Her recipe was "Almost Cajun Creamy Shrimp and Grits."
                                          I loved her explanation of the title--" I live close to the
                                                         Louisiana line, so it's almost Cajun".

                                              I'm thankful for Arkansas Farm Bureau's work
                                               to provide learning experiences for our youth

and

promotion of dairy!

                                     
                                                             

World Milk Day

                           
                                             What better way to kick off June Dairy Month
                                                      than by celebrating World Milk Day! 

                                                      Through out the month of June, we are
                                          celebrating the amazing things real dairy has done.
                                   One of our ways to celebrate is to ask you to join us in
                                       providing milk to   kids facing hunger this summer.

                                More than 18 million kids may miss out on milk's nutrition
                          when  they lose access to free and reduced-price meal programs
                           at school. Milk is one of the most requested items at food banks.
                                but despite the demand, it's one of the least donated items.

You can celebrate and provide nourishment to kids by donating at

milklife.com.

Happy World Milk Day!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

If you didn't watch the weather reporters on TV, 

you could watch the farmers in Northwest Arkansas to make 

the prediction we were going to have a few days of

 sunshine and dry weather by the amount of hay being cut,

 baled or wrapped in this past week.

I'm thankful...

 for these few days of dry weather that 

enabled us to begin the season of hay cutting,baling and wrapping,

that will feed our dairy cattle through this next year,

for the rain and sunshine that make the flowers bloom in May,

and for the blessings I have received

in 64 years!

Memorial Day Everyday

We might not be farming today if it were not for the

 brave men and women who sacrificed for our freedom.

As I walk by the old hay barn everyday where Ryan's Mother

 milked cows during World War II, I can only imagine

the pain and suffering of our friends and neighbors who 

endured the loss of their friends  and  family members during 

times of war.

I can never repay them but I will never forget them.

Memorial Day is not just a day...

it is everyday.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                                          An ordinary day down on the dairy farm is full
                                                            of extraordinary activities.
                                        It is the Mother's behavior of licking her calf that gives
                                        the new baby strength and encouragement to stand up
                                      for the first time usually within the first hour after birth.
                                       

I'm thankful for the reminder of how important a little 

encouragement can be to all of us!