Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

"It takes a village" was the phrase that came to mind as I observed

this mama-to-be assisting with welcoming the new calf. It's not unusual

to see this behavior  in a pasture full of expectant mothers and although it

appears to be helpful, it can be a distraction to the new mother causing her

not to do her job of cleaning off the calf.  

We don't always separate these cows but today due to the frigid,damp weather, we

moved the new baby and mama to the maternity barn for protection and to assure

that the mama could do her important job.

Observing the behavior of animals is always interesting and part of the 

dairy farmer's job in providing good care of their cows and calves.

I'm thankful for all the birthdays down on the dairy farm

and in our family!

Happy 1st birthday,Breck!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

I've had a lot of thinking time this week while sitting in the

 hospital  with my Mother who is battling pneumonia. 

It's moments or events like these when  you realize what is important

 may be different than what was on the daily schedule.

I'm thankful that I live in a community with state of the art medical

facilities, dedicated nurses and skilled doctors ,

for the beauty of the Christmas season,

                                                                           
                                         for my family that have taken over my farm duties
                                                while I have been taking care of Mother,

                                                                                 and
                                                    for the extended family and sweet friends
                                              that have lifted us up in prayers and offers of help.
                                             
                                          --------------------------------------------------------------

                                              Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything
                                           give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
                                                                                               I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Members of Arkansas Farm Bureau are in Little Rock this week for 

the annual convention which includes the policy development process of

the organization. One of the issues of discussion this year is in regard

to reforming Federal Milk Marketing Orders.  It's a complicated 

subject and definitely not for light dinner conversation! 

I do appreciate the importance of the Federal Orders in  providing 

 stability in the milk marketing process and ensuring that milk

 is available to consumers across the country. 

As I have been learning more about the Federal Milk Marketing 

system,my appreciation has grown for how hard our

 dairy cooperative works to market  milk for all of its members.

It's a great honor to be a dairy farmer working everyday

to produce high-quality milk for your family and mine

and

I'm thankful to 

be a member of  a cooperative that I trust to

do the very best job in marketing the milk we produce.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Thanksgiving is a holiday of  giving thanks for our bounty of blessings and

gathering around the table with family and friends. Like most families,

we will take the opportunity to tell family stories and reminisce about

those who we are missing around the table.

The woman in this picture is my Great Grandmother Harral holding my 

grandmother. Their farm was just a little over a mile from where I live 

today. I would imagine that they enjoyed a home raised turkey for

their Thanksgiving dinner in the early 1900's.

By the time I met my Great Grandmother, the turkeys and apple

orchard were gone but she always had marshmallows in the 

cookie jar waiting for little hands to pick for a sweet snack!

I'm thankful for the memories we have to share with others

and the opportunity to make new memories for the next generation.

Happy Thanksgiving 

from down on the dairy farm!

Farm Story Anniversary

My Undeniably Dairy  Farm Story began when

I said "I do" on 

November 24,1984.

It's been thirty-five years of  loving a dairy farmer,

making a home and raising a family

and

 working everyday with my family to produce nutritious 

milk for your family and mine.

                             
                                                     You can't make up stories like ours!

                                               Just as my sweet anniversary card said,
                                         "love takes work, and time, a Lifetime, to be exact."
       

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Our three farm dogs are usually the first to greet any visitors with

a chorus of barking that unnerves most UPS and FedEx drivers.

It's not a bit surprising that many of the delivery drivers carry

a lot of dog treats  and are now considered on the OK list by 

our farm trio.

No matter what I am doing on the dairy farm, the dogs 

wait patiently outside the back door so that they may follow me. 

They are not trained to do anything helpful but it's 

obvious that each one of them loves me unconditionally

 and are happy to contribute  a tail wag or a hand lick

 to improve my day.

Even though the dogs don't understand that it's okay for the 

cows to stand close to the fence or gather around the hay manger,

I'm thankful for the devotion of our farm dogs

that provide their own kind of  daily love and encouragement 

 for dairy farmers down on the dairy farm.

                         
                                             

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Arkansas is known for unpredictable weather changes but 

this week has been ridiculous!

Our cows and calves had less than 24 hours to adapt from a 

beautiful 70 degree fall day to what felt like January bone-chilling

twenty degrees with a little sleet and snow. 

We prepared as best we could by unrolling hay

for the cows to rest on and bedding calf hutches  

with extra hay or shavings for warmth. 

I'm thankful that this baby was born on the 70 degree day

before the chilly weather

and all the calves survived with no symptoms of  illness

or hypothermia.

                                                         
                                                  I'm also very appreciative of  and thankful for
                                              the warm insulated coveralls that  kept me warm
                                                                  and a little less cranky!