Easter Blessings

Our Easter blessings began  

with the  ordinary daily work

of caring for our dairy cattle ,

the opportunity to gather with our church family for the

first time in months due to the pandemic,

gathering around the table to enjoy a family meal,

the joy and excitement on the faces of the grandchildren

as they investigated the contents of their Easter baskets,

the beautiful weather that made hunting Easter eggs

one of the afternoon's  highlights,

and

the joy of sharing our dairy farming way of 

life with the next generation.

                                           Our greatest blessing is that we serve a  risen Savior!

                                           It's His great love that blesses us  on the ordinary and 

                                              extraordinary days of life down on the dairy farm.

                                          

                                                            

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Spring is in the air everywhere down on the dairy farm!

Our ordinary day became extraordinary  with a visit from

the grandchildren and their cousin William that arrived from 

Texas for a spring break adventure.

What better place to come than the dairy farm!

It was obvious by the smiles that a tractor ride ranks 

pretty high on the fun to do list.

A tractor ride can also be a serious experience. At two,

Breck kept a close eye on the calves as they were feeding 

grain. 

We celebrate new life often but  spring also 

gave us the opportunity to celebrate my Mother's 

ninetieth birthday!

Always supporting the use of dairy foods,

the cake contained a lot of butter and cream cheese!

I'm thankful for all these experiences in the past

few days that have put a little more spring in my step

and a greater appreciation for the blessings

of everyday life down on the dairy farm.

                                                         

National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month!

As a dairy farmer, I am proud to work everyday to 

produce milk, a food that  contains nutrients, including

 calcium, potassium, protein and phosphorus; plus,

 it's fortified with vitamins A and D.

It's the perfect month for learning a little more about

the true difference in the milk you find on your grocery shelf.

       Thanks to the National Dairy Council for providing this 

        comparative information and for their commitment since 

    1915 in taking a leading role in the fight against poor

         nutrition,  inactivity and obesity among our nation's youth.

 

Impact of Women in Agriculture

During Women's History Month, I often think about the

impact of   women working in agriculture. 

My late mother-in-law definitely made an impact

on my life and provided a great appreciation for living

down on the dairy farm.

The barn you see behind this row of calves was the

milking barn on our farm during World War II.

Ryan's mother, Bonnah Lyn, milked cows every day while 

waiting on Bill, my father-in-law, to return

from Japan. 

Bonnah Lyn kept the home fires burning as 

she worked beside her father everyday caring for

livestock and helping with the apple orchard.

 Bonnah, in her own stubborn way, was progressive.

She never liked change but she was always 

striving to improve the farming operation.

In the early fifties after moving down the 

road from where she was born,

this barn provided a larger area for milking,

 hay storage and a shelter for other livestock.

Raising chickens was added for diversification.

One of her greatest accomplishments in her view was 

raising a son. In her words," the best crop I ever grew."

I fully understand and agree with her  as I work with her

 son and grandsons everyday down on the dairy farm.

                                    May we never forget the sacrifices made by those before

                                    us to make a  better life for the next generation. 

                                     Women's History Month reminds me that  our

                                           challenge  is to continue that tradition!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

No tears were shed when we ended February and began

the month of March with the delightful fifty degree temperature

and the feeling of spring just around the corner.

I'm thankful for the little bit of green that is beginning to 

show up in the pastures down on the dairy farm,

the new baby calves that are being born without 

the worry of below zero temperatures,

and 

for the joy brought by just being with grandchildren

on a spring-like winter day!

                                           

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

One of the best things about farm living is that we have

so many  moments  that fit the old phrase

 "a picture is worth a thousand words".

The sun has been more than welcome in helping to melt off

the two weeks of cold temperatures, ice and snow.

Last week we had cows calving in below zero temperatures and

today's baby arrived with a warm forty degrees.

Isn't is amazing what a difference the sunshine makes to our stress level?

In the very same day, I received a box of sunshine from my

dear friend that is working every day as a nurse during the 

pandemic of our lifetime.

In her very own words, "a little ray of healthy vitamin C and

sunshine". She's my hero!

I'm thankful for the sunshine gifts of life and love

that God sends us everyday! 

                                    

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                             

                                      

    After carefully walking around on ice last week,  we were  extremely happy for the    snow that made it easier and safer for us and the cows to  gain a little bit of traction.   We prepared as best would could for what we consider normal  cold weather but nothing on the farm works when temperatures drop below zero and hover in the teens through out the day.

From the equipment in the milk barn to the water tanks, well houses,

 and ponds, everything has been frozen.  Every minute of each day 

has been busy with hauling water, breaking ice on the ponds,

  feeding the cows and repairing damaged equipment to get 

the milking done. 

If you want to see a farmer's determination to care for his animals,

come on  down to the dairy farm and I will show you  my family of farmers.

 

I'm thankful that my family and our employees have

been kept safe this week  as we worked together

down on the dairy farm.