Dairy Farmer's Labor of Love

As the days grow shorter and cooler, the fields of sweet sorghum  (also called sorgo)  are calling the dairy farmer to prepare for  harvesting  this sweet tasting silage crop for the dairy cows to enjoy this fall and through the winter months.  

Growing a crop is a labor of love for my  third generation dairy farmer husband. I love seeing the smile on his face as he looks across the sorghum field.

We drove to several of the fields this afternoon to see how the sorghum  is maturing and make a plan which field we will begin harvesting first.  Most of the sorghum is seven to eight feet tall and the tops are beginning to change from yellow to a reddish brown  color as it matures. 

He thought he was hiding from me, but I could still see his smile!  

Harvest of this labor of love begins next week!

                                                                         

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It was a perfect first day of Fall  down on the dairy farm!

Babies are always welcome but it seemed fitting that this mama cow gave birth on the very first day of the fall season. We're expecting and looking forward to  a lot more babies in the next few weeks.  

I'm thankful for the cooler temperatures ,the beginning of the fall calving season

and the time we have left with bright summer flowers!

                                                            Happy Fall,Ya'll!

Dairy and Larry Team Up for Protein Power

Do you know the name of the Quaker man on every box of Quaker Oats?  It's Larry!  In the coming weeks, you may notice that Larry is sporting a milk mustache with the hope of encouraging consumers to make their oatmeal with milk. It's a winning combination that provides a boost of protein power to start any day in the right nutritional direction!

Larry's mustache may be new but Quaker Oats has always been a staple in my pantry so to  celebrate the fact that Larry's promoting MILK, I'm planning to bake Quaker's Best Oatmeal Muffins!

Quaker's Best Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients:

Muffins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned,uncooked)

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1 cup skim Milk

1/4 cup Canola Oil

1 egg,lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

Streusel

1/3 cup Quaker Oats

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 Tablespoons butter,chilled and cut into pieces

Preparation:

Heat oven to 400 degrees. line twelve medium muffin cups with paper baking cups or spray bottoms only with cooking spray. For streusel, in small bowl, combine oats,flour and sugar; mix well. Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives until mixture is crumbly. Set aside. For muffins, in large bowl, combine flour,oats,sugar, and baking powder; mix well. In small bowl, combine milk,oil,egg and vanilla; blend well.

Add to dry ingredients all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not over mix.) Fill muffin cups almost full. Sprinkle with reserved streusel, patting gently. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool muffins in pan on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pan. Serve warm.  

                                               Have you had your Milk and Oatmeal today?

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for Farm Bureau leaders like our Benton County Farm Bureau President Bob Shofner,

For the women I serve with on activities to educate children and adults about agriculture,

the youth activities that are supported by our county and Arkansas Farm Bureau,

and for the blessings I have received as a Farm Bureau member and volunteer.

The mission of Arkansas Farm Bureau is to:

1. Advocate the interests of agriculture in the public arena.

2. Disseminate information concerning the value and importance of agriculture, and 

3. Provide products and services which improve the quality of life for our members.

Arkansas Grown

Arkansas Grown is a  branding label developed by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture to assist Arkansas farmers in promoting  products grown in our state. When I found this Arkansas Grown  bumper sticker tucked in my Foodie Friday swag bag at the Arkansas Women Bloggers Conference, I couldn't help but think about our dairy farm and the high quality milk produced every day for Arkansas consumers.

       A big thank-you to Arkansas Grown for sponsoring the Foodie Friday portion of the conference,
       for helping Arkansas farmers promote our products and for providing me with this fun bumper sticker!

                                                           

                      Our Holstein dairy calves are Arkansas Grown  on our third generation dairy  farm!

The milk that our Arkansas Grown cows produce is processed at the local Hiland plant for Arkansas consumers,

                                                                   and if that's not enough,

I'm an Arkansas Grown (born,raised and educated in Arkansas)  farmer

 living down on the Arkansas dairy farm!

A Dessert for Moovelous Mondays

                          We don't have marvelous Mondays on the dairy farm--they are mooo-velous!

                           Creamy Vanilla Rice Pudding is a perfect dessert  choice whether you're
           celebrating a regular Monday, a moo-velous Monday or the fact that it's   National Rice Month !
                            It just happens to be one of the great recipes shared at DairyMakesSense.



Creamy Vanilla Rice Pudding

Ingredients;
3/4 cup white rice,uncooked
2 1/2 cups low-fat milk,divided
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
1 (3.4 ounce) package Jell-O vanilla flavored instant pudding mix
Cinnamon,optional

Preparation:
In a medium saucepan, add 1 1/2 cups water and rice; bring to a boil. Stir once and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked. Add 2 cups of milk ,egg yolk and pudding. cook on low heat, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired. Serve warm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

On the way to our friend's house, we stopped to check the status of the milo crop that we plan to chop for silage.  While I was getting out of the truck, Ryan moved quickly out of site between the rows. 

I was searching for him when his head popped up and I heard him laughing.

                                                  He  reminded me of a Jack-in-the-Box toy!
                     I'm thankful for this Farmer-in-the-Field and for his dedication  and love of farming!