Hi all!
It has been a busy fall to say the least! Last weekend our livestock judging team competed at the American Royal in Kansas City, MO. I love this show and contest, because it's in my home state of course. I've attended the American Royal for many years and loved it each and every time. My absolute fondest memory of the Royal is the year I exhibited my steer Alvin. He was a super sweet steer and I had a blast showing him that year!
I made it back to Mizzou on Sunday evening and will be leaving again bright and early Friday morning. We're headed to Louisville, KY! The North American International Livestock Exhibition (NAILE) is the biggest contest of the year, and the last to make matters worse. Our entire season has been focused on Louisville - it's truly the reason we practice so hard all year. Between catching up with school work, taking tests, finishing projects, keeping up with working, washing clothes and re-packing, I am extremely excited for the trip out west to Louisville!
We have 3 days built in for travel and practicing and the big contest takes place on Monday. We head home Tuesday and then it's back to the grind at school, and FINALLY Thanksgiving Break! I will be one happy girl when that day rolls around.
Until next time, may you have a good and Godly day!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Fufilling Dreams
I have some very big news that I cannot wait to share with the world! Ok, I have to go ahead and spill it... I have officially accepted an internship with Gardiner Angus Ranch in Ashland, Kansas!!!
Now, on to the details and the story behind this life-long dream. Simply put, I LOVE raising cattle. It's in my blood - literally. From the time I was born, I have been around cows. Bouncing in the truck with Dad, pulling feed in my little red wagon, breaking show steers, pulling all-nighters in the barn waiting on a precious calf to be born, and spending countless nights at the sale barn. My dad is a full time farmer and I have officially decided, I want to be one too!
Gardiner Angus Ranch is an elite operation and to say the least I am ecstatic about this opportunity. God continues to amaze me!
(More details to follow!)
Now, on to the details and the story behind this life-long dream. Simply put, I LOVE raising cattle. It's in my blood - literally. From the time I was born, I have been around cows. Bouncing in the truck with Dad, pulling feed in my little red wagon, breaking show steers, pulling all-nighters in the barn waiting on a precious calf to be born, and spending countless nights at the sale barn. My dad is a full time farmer and I have officially decided, I want to be one too!
Gardiner Angus Ranch is an elite operation and to say the least I am ecstatic about this opportunity. God continues to amaze me!
(More details to follow!)
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Manning the Farm
This weekend, I am proud to announce that I am in charge! Ok, not entirely, my dad is only a phone call away in case of trouble. But, the feeding, calf checking, and cow assisting duties are all on me. My dad has taken a livestock judging team to Ak-Sar-Ben to compete and my aunt Nancy is off visiting her new grandbaby and family in Montana.
It is an honor really, to man the farm. I love it! Today I spent the morning doing the routine chores of feeding grain, putting out hay, and doing a thorough check through all the cows. Then, for my pure enjoyment I spent a little extra timing soaking in God's beautiful creations. I have missed the simplicities of farm life!
It is an honor really, to man the farm. I love it! Today I spent the morning doing the routine chores of feeding grain, putting out hay, and doing a thorough check through all the cows. Then, for my pure enjoyment I spent a little extra timing soaking in God's beautiful creations. I have missed the simplicities of farm life!Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Freshly Cut Grass
I love using my senses to take in God's vast beauty on Earth!
Today, I got just a glimpse of this wonderous life on the farm. A mowing service came and mowed my yard filling the air with that amazing smell!
My windows are open and the house is smelling springtime fresh! What are your favorite smells??
- The warmth on my skin on a cool, crisp morning
- The softness of newborn, baby kitties
- The sight of a gorgeous sunrise over the open prairie
- The sound of raindrops hitting a tin roof in the middle of a drought
- And finally, my absolute favorite... the smell of freshly cut hay!
Today, I got just a glimpse of this wonderous life on the farm. A mowing service came and mowed my yard filling the air with that amazing smell!
My windows are open and the house is smelling springtime fresh! What are your favorite smells??
Thursday, September 13, 2012
2012 National Barrow Show
This past weekend, Mizzou's Livestock Judging team traveled to Austin, Minnesota for the National Barrow Show. That's right, exhibitors from all parts of the United States joined together to show their prized pigs!
Our trip began bright and early Saturday morning with the Missouri State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest. The University of Missouri hosts the event and our coach, Chip Kemp is often times a key component in running and officiating the contest. So, as his team, we naturally stayed around and helped with the contest before heading to Minnesota. I truly enjoy helping young 4-H'ers and watching their excitement for agriculture.
After shearing a couple of sheep, washing the pigs, and marking all animals with their numbers the contest was in full swing for the many eager 4-H'ers. They had to judge 6 classes and talk 3 sets of reasons. By midafternoon, the contest had finally wrapped up and after loading out all of the livestock back to their respected farms, all 9 of us on Mizzou's Livestock Judging Team piled into the white van and headed North.
We made it as far as Kirksville, MO and stopped for some dinner at a local bar and grill. We were missing out on the first home SEC football game, so we HAD to catch it on tv. It was a nice evening of team bonding and cheering for our favorite football team. Go Tigers! But, life isn't all play and no work, so that evening when we hit the hotel we went over some judging classes and prepared for the upcoming contest.
The following morning we talked a couple sets of reasons to our coach at the hotel and then joined the "Judging Carvan". Now, let me explain. If you've never seen a judging caravan, it is quite the sight! 20-30 white vans all travel together from one producer's farm to the next. Down gravel roads, through small towns, and all across the country. Many producers are kind enough to let us look at their stock, but ask that we all come at one time so they're not getting their animals out for multiple days.
The first stop was a Berkshire hog producer. We all put on plastic boots (biosecurity is a must) and made a large circle out on the lawn. Imagine 200 kids all in one big circle with notebooks in hand, as the producer drives 4 hogs out for us to evaluate. We continue this parade, driving from one farm to another for the entire day. Lots of pigs and lots of practice!
That night we headed to the hotel where the real fun begins, talking reasons. Reasons are a key component of a judging contest and take lots of practice to become skilled. In the hotel, our coach sits in his room to listen, and we pace up and down the hallways perfecting our justification as to why we placed the class. We often give the safe set of reasons multiple times as our coaches gives us advice on how to improve the set. By 10 or 11, we called it a night and headed to bed for the big day ahead.
Monday morning was contest day! The National Barrow Show contest consists of 9 classes of judging and 4 sets of reasons. From Hampshire boars to Crossbred barrows, we judge them all. The contest started at 8 am and lasted until 4 in the afternoon - a long day of mental stress to say the least. And once the end of the contest rolls around, we are all so relieved and so very tired. The official judges of the contest go over the placing so we know how we placed and can anxiously await results in the morning.
Tuesday morning we headed back to the fairgrounds where the contest was held for the awards ceremony. Many plaques and awards are handed out and teams are recognized. We then walked around the show for a short while and headed back home to Missouri. All in all a great weekend in Minnesota!
A few of the ladies at the awards ceremony!
L-R: Laura Wilsdorf, Alyssa Thomas, Elaine Martin, & Kelly Jahn
After shearing a couple of sheep, washing the pigs, and marking all animals with their numbers the contest was in full swing for the many eager 4-H'ers. They had to judge 6 classes and talk 3 sets of reasons. By midafternoon, the contest had finally wrapped up and after loading out all of the livestock back to their respected farms, all 9 of us on Mizzou's Livestock Judging Team piled into the white van and headed North.
We made it as far as Kirksville, MO and stopped for some dinner at a local bar and grill. We were missing out on the first home SEC football game, so we HAD to catch it on tv. It was a nice evening of team bonding and cheering for our favorite football team. Go Tigers! But, life isn't all play and no work, so that evening when we hit the hotel we went over some judging classes and prepared for the upcoming contest.
The following morning we talked a couple sets of reasons to our coach at the hotel and then joined the "Judging Carvan". Now, let me explain. If you've never seen a judging caravan, it is quite the sight! 20-30 white vans all travel together from one producer's farm to the next. Down gravel roads, through small towns, and all across the country. Many producers are kind enough to let us look at their stock, but ask that we all come at one time so they're not getting their animals out for multiple days.
The first stop was a Berkshire hog producer. We all put on plastic boots (biosecurity is a must) and made a large circle out on the lawn. Imagine 200 kids all in one big circle with notebooks in hand, as the producer drives 4 hogs out for us to evaluate. We continue this parade, driving from one farm to another for the entire day. Lots of pigs and lots of practice!That night we headed to the hotel where the real fun begins, talking reasons. Reasons are a key component of a judging contest and take lots of practice to become skilled. In the hotel, our coach sits in his room to listen, and we pace up and down the hallways perfecting our justification as to why we placed the class. We often give the safe set of reasons multiple times as our coaches gives us advice on how to improve the set. By 10 or 11, we called it a night and headed to bed for the big day ahead.
Monday morning was contest day! The National Barrow Show contest consists of 9 classes of judging and 4 sets of reasons. From Hampshire boars to Crossbred barrows, we judge them all. The contest started at 8 am and lasted until 4 in the afternoon - a long day of mental stress to say the least. And once the end of the contest rolls around, we are all so relieved and so very tired. The official judges of the contest go over the placing so we know how we placed and can anxiously await results in the morning.
Tuesday morning we headed back to the fairgrounds where the contest was held for the awards ceremony. Many plaques and awards are handed out and teams are recognized. We then walked around the show for a short while and headed back home to Missouri. All in all a great weekend in Minnesota!
A few of the ladies at the awards ceremony!
L-R: Laura Wilsdorf, Alyssa Thomas, Elaine Martin, & Kelly Jahn
Friday, September 7, 2012
Judging Season Kick Off
Mizzou's Livestock Judging team is back in full swing! We had a break from practicing over the summer and kicked off this year's first practice at the Missouri State Fair. We've been hard at it ever since. Our first contest is this weekend at the National Barrow Show in Austin, Minnesota.
We hit the road bright and early tomorrow morning, and I have to admit I'm pretty excited! My suit case is quickly filling with button ups, jeans, blingly belts, shiny boots, and of course my lucky steno pad! Tomorrow and Sunday consist of traveling and lots of pig judging. Monday is contest day and Tuesday is the trek back home.
Lots of pictures, details, and excitement to come! Stay in touch :)
We hit the road bright and early tomorrow morning, and I have to admit I'm pretty excited! My suit case is quickly filling with button ups, jeans, blingly belts, shiny boots, and of course my lucky steno pad! Tomorrow and Sunday consist of traveling and lots of pig judging. Monday is contest day and Tuesday is the trek back home.
Lots of pictures, details, and excitement to come! Stay in touch :)
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Hands on Dairy Lab
In my Dairy Production class, each student is
required to sign up for two Calf Watches. This means, from 8:00 pm at night til 4:30 in the morning, two students will be solely in charge of keeping watch on the farm.
For me, this is no big deal. Growing up, one of my absolute favorite jobs around the farm was to spend the night with dad doing calf watch. We'd venture out to the barn at all hours of the night checking on first calf heifers, staying up all night with a weak newborn, and simply enjoying God's miracle of life. I love baby calves!
However, to some kids, being in charge of assisting a 1200 pound cow give birth sounds like quite the daunting task. So, this afternoon our class ventured out to the University's Dairy Farm to get a real life lesson on how this was going to go down. Dr. Poock, one of the staff veterinarians was there to greet us and teach us everything we needed to know. First things first of course. Dairy farms often have a high level of biosecurity, ensuring healthy cows and a safe and nutritious milk supply. We all came in our rubber boots and disinfected them before we stepped foot in any barns. Now that we were clean and ready to go, our fist stop was the maternity barn.
The maternity barn is a quiet and welcoming place. One side is lined with individual pens, fully equipped with water, hay, and comfy straw bedding. Each cow has her private suite so to speak. On the far end of the barn is a chute and ally to aid in calving should a difficulty arise. And my personal favorite space in the barn is the newborn area. Small pens, brimming with straw await the newborn calves. Each pen has a dry-erase board attached to write the date and time of birth, the mother's ear tag number, whether it is a heifer (a girl) or a bull (a boy), and any special comments about the calf. Dr. Poock had now covered the necessary steps and guidelines to calf watch and familiarized us with all facilities and equipment. Needless to say, we are all pretty excited for when our night arrives!
After we all felt confident in the maternity barn, we moved on to the dry stall barns and out to the pastures of expecting cows. We made our round through all of the cows just as we will when we are on calf watch. Every two hours that is. So needless to say, our night will be quite busy keeping on eye on all the soon to be mommas!
We are now well-educated dairy production students! Calf watch for this girl starts September 25. I will be sure to report back on the excitements of this all night endeavor. Details await :)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Fall Calving has Started
Labor Day weekend consisted of 3 long days of life back on the farm! I've moved to Columbia, for my Senior year at the University of Missouri and let me tell ya, going back to the farm for the weekend is the best medicine anyone can prescribe. Friday evening I drove home in the biggest rain storm of the summer and it was awesome! We haven't seen that kind of rain in Missouri since May. The rain from the tropical storm Isaac was truly a blessing. It continued to rain throughout the weekend, tallying up 3 full inches. Saturday morning, my brother, my dad, and I ultra-sounded a group of spring-bred cows for the final time. Bulls were pulled out over a month ago, so all females that scan open are officially open. I got to ultra-sound my first cow, who is 90-days pregnant with a heifer calf! There is nothing more exciting than seeing the ultrasound picture of a baby calf right there on the screen in front of you. We also weaned the baby calves off of these momma cows and moved them to another farm. Sunday is our day of rest and worship. It was nice to be back in my home church and enjoy a meal with the family. And if we hadn't had enough fun already, Monday mom and I kicked the men out of the kitchen and got busy cooking! We marinated and grilled lamb chops, prepared home-grown corn on the cob, roasted garlic potatoes, a fresh salad, and baked cherry cobbler for a big evening meal. The perfect end to a wonderful weekend.
I almost got to mention one of my favorite events of the weekend. Our first fall calf was born! Meet Isaac, a bull calf named in honor of the plentiful rain we received. He couldn't have had better timing. Dad will be keeping a close eye on the rest of the fall calving heifers who are all due within the next 2 weeks.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
The Start of a New Beginning, 2012!
January 1, 2012...the first day of a new year! Resolutions anyone?
As for me, I've never really set resolutions or written down goals for the new year. It's more of an attitude, or new outlook on life in my case. Looking back on the year behind us I am grateful for the many blessings God has bestowed on us. And that is the new attitude I am working toward in 2012, a heart of thanksgiving.
I recently began reading a book, entitled One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live FULLY Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. I encourage you to check out her website and read her book. But I have to warn you, it is truly life changing. A farmer's wife and mother of 6, Ann is a true inspiration of living a Christian life. While faced with some of the most devastating trials and tribulations she shows the power of thanksgiving.
If you stop and think about it, if you are busy being thankful and counting your blessing, there is no possible way you can be discouraged or down in life. Throughout this book, Ann keeps a list of '1000 gifts'. Every little blessing in life she gives thanks for and writes down in a journal. She has now created an App for iPhone users to keep a list of their own '1000 gifts' in an easy and convenient way. I have just began my list and am increasingly amazed with the power of thanksgiving.
May you all have a blessed and wonderful new year! Strive for improvement, enjoy every moment, and take time to take a step back and be thankful for life.
As for me, I've never really set resolutions or written down goals for the new year. It's more of an attitude, or new outlook on life in my case. Looking back on the year behind us I am grateful for the many blessings God has bestowed on us. And that is the new attitude I am working toward in 2012, a heart of thanksgiving.
I recently began reading a book, entitled One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live FULLY Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. I encourage you to check out her website and read her book. But I have to warn you, it is truly life changing. A farmer's wife and mother of 6, Ann is a true inspiration of living a Christian life. While faced with some of the most devastating trials and tribulations she shows the power of thanksgiving.
If you stop and think about it, if you are busy being thankful and counting your blessing, there is no possible way you can be discouraged or down in life. Throughout this book, Ann keeps a list of '1000 gifts'. Every little blessing in life she gives thanks for and writes down in a journal. She has now created an App for iPhone users to keep a list of their own '1000 gifts' in an easy and convenient way. I have just began my list and am increasingly amazed with the power of thanksgiving.
May you all have a blessed and wonderful new year! Strive for improvement, enjoy every moment, and take time to take a step back and be thankful for life.
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