Friday, September 17, 2021
School to Farm
We were honored to share our dairy story with University of Arkansas
students a few days ago. In past years, I have done farm tours for a variety of
groups but this was my first tour since the CoVid pandemic began in early 2020.
I'll admit, although I certainly was out of touring practice, I enjoyed
every minute sharing what we do every day to bring a healthy product
to consumers by caring for our animals and the land we call home.
It was just this week that I read on social media a question that
asked what could you talk about for 10 minutes without any preparation.
I decided that the answer was easy if you have a passion for the
subject and having the desire to share makes it even easier.
Dairy farming would obviously be my topic!
After all, who doesn't love the story of a third generation
Arkansas family farm that raises beautiful cows,
produces a nutritious product for families in our community,
and cares for the land !
but this really is the School to Farm version.
From our conversations during the tour, I hope it gave each
student a new perspective to share about where food
production really begins.
Sharing our dairy farm is really a delight for me
and I will wear my new hat (and maybe share it with Ryan)
and
appreciate the opportunity to provide a School to Farm experience!
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Labors of Love
Labor Day down on the dairy farm, like everyday,
will be full of the daily chores that include
milking the cows,
mixing and preparing feed to provide the
daily nutrition for the milking cows,
driving tractors to complete a a variety of daily chores,
welcoming new members to the herd,
checking crops,
and enjoying time together as a family.
Every activity down on the family dairy farm is a
labor of love as we work together to care for our animals,
produce nutritious milk and make Labor Day memories
for our next generation.
Happy Labor Day!
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday
If you would like a job filled with variety,
dairy farming would be your perfect choice.
We have the jobs that happen everyday of the year
like mixing the balanced feed ration for the dairy
cows and making sure the cows are fed and milked twice a day.
Then we have the jobs that are unexpected but
necessary like spraying a field for the
disgusting armyworms that will devour a crop
in just a few days.
One of our sweetest jobs is to welcome new life to the farm.
Finding two at a time is always fun!
I'm thankful for the blessings we find in both the
ordinary and the challenging days down on the dairy farm.
Thursday, August 12, 2021
Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday
One of my morning dairy farm jobs is serving as the taxi driver
to deliver the newborn calves to their private hutch in the
calf raising area. The calf's mother is walked to the
milk barn to join the milking herd and
I become the substitute mother making sure that
each calf is monitored closely and fed milk and grain
twice daily.
One of the best parts of my day is sharing this
job with my sons.
It's been a busy week with one or two calves delivered
every day and baling hay like crazy.
I'm thankful that even in the busyness of farm life,
we always have time for celebration with our family.
We managed to celebrate a special "Going to Kindergarten"
lunch and shopping day with Hattie Claire
and
shared a picnic supper in the hay field that
ended with watching the Decatur Barbecue fireworks show
from the top of a hay bale.
We couldn't have asked for a better August picnic!
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday
Who would ever think August
temperatures in Arkansas would be less than 90 degrees
with little humidity! Cooler summer temperatures make
every job on the farm a little easier.
It was perfect weather for bringing this group of
dairy cows to the pasture by the house so we can
observe them closely and assist with delivery if needed.
I love to watch them graze in the late afternoon.
I'm thankful for these first days of August that
have increased the comfort of our cows,
calves,
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday
Who would of thought we would still be working
on this wheat crop! The boys are wrapping it up this week
with hauling and storing straw bales in the barn.
Making room for the straw in the barn was a great
incentive to clean out old hay and make it handy when
straw is needed for use on the farm or to sell.
We also have welcomed a few new calves
in the last couple of weeks. It's always a treat
to find a red one!
The Ayrshire cattle in the herd belong to Cody.
His first one was purchased for his 4-H dairy project.
I love it when Hattie and Breck spot these red cows and
calves because they instantly know they belong to them!
I'm not sure their daddy has given up ownership!
I'm thankful that July is winding up and
we are looking to what August has in store
for us down on the dairy farm.
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday
Teamwork is part of life down on the family dairy farm.
While Ryan and Casey moved straw bales off the fields,
Cody was preparing to spray the fields before planting
hay grazer and millet seed.
Once the fields were sprayed, it was another picture of teamwork
as Cody and Ryan added seed to the planter.
With the spring rains delaying our wheat harvest and crop planting,
the race is on to get the crops planted while we can still
hope for a few rain showers and moderate growing temperatures.
The donkeys even seemed to be working as
a team as they strategically moved
close enough to make sure we didn't have
any feed with us!
I'm thankful for the teamwork we experience
down on the dairy farm and for the cutest surprises
when we least expect them!
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