Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday



Can you guess which one is the mother?
Fortunately we found this new calf with her mother
earlier in the day so there was no guessing down on the dairy farm!
It's fairly common for other cows to try to adopt a new calf even though
they will have there own calf in a short time. 
Having too much love is never a bad trait!


This week seems to be filled with a lot of sharing experiences.
I'm thankful for witnessing the sharing of maternal instinct,


for the donated  Ginko tree  received from the 
Tree Program sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation
for citizens living in the county
and


                                      to witness  love  while sharing your favorite popsicle.

                                                     Life is too sweet not to share !

Sunday, April 4, 2021

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.

                                          

                                                            

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

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.

                                                         

Monday, March 15, 2021

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.


 

Monday, March 8, 2021

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!

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

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!


                                           

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

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!