Dear Daddy,

Dear Daddy,

We miss you a lot.  We wish Nebraska was closer to Ohio.  We know you are working hard finishing a home for us and getting a head start on the EQIP project. Mom told us that we got a few more loads of cattle, that is exciting! We are enjoying the pictures you send. Did you buy a horse?

We can't lie, we have spent most of our time goofing off. We have already seen three movies this summer.  Two of them were outside. We have been swimming a lot.  We have made a lot of new friends and had lunch with some old ones.  We even got invited to go to Bible School this past weekend with some of our new friends.  One night we got to stay overnight at Grammy's.   Grandpa Jim tried to talk us into sleeping in a bed. We don't think he understands the idea of a "camp out", you know when you sleep on the floor in a Tinkerbell sleeping bag.  He did stay up late with us to watch reruns of Duck Dynasty, because he is fun like that.

We have been trying to teach Chip to ride in the wagon, because Jag won't participate in our adventures.  But, they both got sprayed by a skunk, so we don't play with them anymore.

We have been working on our Cloverbud 4-H projects.  We are really good at the cinnamon toast lesson, yesterday we made Jason cinnamon toast in bed.  (He didn't get home to really late from the Kenny Chesney concert)

This week we are staying with Grandma JoEllen. We are also celebrating our country's birthday without you.  Please hurry and get your work done and come back and get us, we are ready to be with you in Nebraska.

Love,
Your girls

What is happening in Washington DC?

I just get so confused.  It may be because I spend a lot of my time around the normal population of middle class working Americans. For example, the ones lined up tonight after work to watch their kids jump off the diving board at swimming lessons.  Tonight I find myself wanting to understand this crowd in Washington DC.
 
Did you vote to fail the Farm Bill?
Are you telling Americans that you are unable to work together as a group to find what is best for all of the population?
Did I hear some of you say, "sorry I can't vote for any of this bill because I don't think it is right to give the state the right to drug test people that receive all of their income from the working class (some of which stand to lose the most from this no vote - the farmers and ranchers)?
Did some of you say we are not voting for the Farm Bill because it will cut 20 billion dollars from the needs of people getting food stamps? Even though YOU could be the task force finding the 20 billion from the fraud within the system.
Did 6 of you elected officials really not bother to vote on this very important issue?
Check this if you want to know how your representative voted.

Of course if you live in Ohio I'll share this list of people that voted against the farm bill with you . . .
If you support their vote you should tell them.  If you support agriculture, the farmers and ranchers you should click on their link and tell them you don't appreciate their vote.
Democrat Joyce Beatty, Representative from Ohio's 3rd District
Republican Steve Chabot, Representative from Ohio's 1st District 
Republican Jim Jordan, Representative from Ohio's 4th District
Democrat Marcy Kaptur, Representative from Ohio's 9th District
Democrat Tim Ryan, Representative from Ohio's 13th District 
Republican Brad Wenstrup, Representative from Ohio's 2nd District

If you are interested in finding more about your representative you can check here GovTrack.us: Tracking the U.S. Congress.

If I had a vote to cast this week I would have voted yes for the farm bill, for a number of reasons.
- This is the best compromise we have.
- We are way over the deadline with this assignment.
- Americans want me to do my job more than they expect me to be perfect at my job.
- Farming and ranching is the leading industry and one of the most successful in our country right now and the success of that trumps any of the places that money is going.

If you had an individual vote for your area, how would you have voted?  How would you have explained that vote to the people you represent?

Pasture rides and Patriotism

Last night I blogged about the joy ride that turned into real work of gathering cows.  I mentioned that I was hoping to get a great picture. While collecting the cows with the girls I did capture this great picture and a wonderful conversation.  Sometimes these blogs are more about a personal journal.

As we drove through the pasture I stopped to take this pic of the well pad that is continually progressing and I believe is now drilling.

This conversation followed.

Jacie: "Mom, do you think since they have that flag up there, they say the Pledge of Allegiance everyday?"

I am thinking no, however I didn't want to ruin everything she was learning in school. Therefore I said this.
"They probably don't, but do you know why people display the American Flag?"

Jacie: "Yes, to show their patriotism."

Jaelin: "What is patriotism?"

Jacie: "You will learn about patriotism in second grade, I don't want to give too much away."

Me: "Jacie, tell her what patriotism is."

Jacie: "I forget."

Me: "Patriotism is being proud of your country."



I think patriotism is like charity - -  it begins at home. - Henry James

When the herd turns on you . . .

Jake called earlier today to ask if we wanted to help him get the "U's" in.  I said, "sure the girls and I  can meet you at the barn in 20 minutes, when the cookies get out of the oven".  Since Jake didn't mention a need for my help nor did he insist on my help, I thought it to be more of joy ride.  Therefore I did not receive nor did I ask for any directions of where we were moving cows to or from.  I just followed along camera and two girls in tow.  Jake and Aaron went clear up in a wooded area to gather a group of cows in the shade.  The girls and I stayed at the bottom of the hill, hopefully to catch a great picture.

When the cows got to the bottom the girls and I helped to drive them through the valley. Jake disappeared, later I realized he had went to gather the rest of the herd just on the other side of the ridge.  After coming around the hill the herd was reunited.  They then needed to cross a ravine and move through a gate opening.  It is best to give cows the space to move through the gate hole at their own pace.  If you push the herd too hard they will turn on you and then break and it will be very difficult to gather them again.  It was at this point I realized, Jake hadn't called to see if the girls and I wanted an afternoon activity, but rather he need an extra bike and people.  I am of little value with a buggy and two girls I am not willing to risk injury on hillsides.  Jake on the other hand once this close to the barn with the herd, will risk life and limb to gather the herd. I guess that's just the cowboy in him.



We were almost to the barn, about the time where the cows always stop moving forward (because it is unclear where they are to be going) and then they tend to want to break back to where they came from.

They were breaking back and not headed in the right direction. To the right of the herd is a steep hill and the only other place to exist  is in the rear of the cows, as we keep trying to get them moving forward to the barn.  The girls and I avoid the hill side.  Therefore we were in the rear, trying to move the herd forward.  By accident we let a calf get past us, which rightfully made Jake angry. He went back on his bike to get the calf back with the herd.  He then rode quickly back up along the herd on the hill side.  Then from the buggy, with the girls all I saw was his bike tip over and roll, his body going with it.  I was mad and scared.  I jumped off the buggy and ran over to the side of the hill, where he was riding back up the hill and yelling at me to get back on my buggy (he apparently thought this herd was still going to the barn).  I was still anxiously wondering if the bike rolled on top of him.  Knowing Jake like I do, I knew that just because he was back on his bike and riding didn't mean he wasn't injured.  He is the type of person to finish the job and then go to the ER and find out that he had serious broken something.

Jake later said he jumped before it rolled over him.  It rolled a couple more times before he grabbed it (before rolling clear to the bottom). He flipped it back over and rode up the hill.

Luckily everyone is safe and sound this evening and the cows will be brought to the barn early in the morning when it is cooler and there are more people to help.

Gathering cows in style.

 

Ag Gag Bill

I like to read about politics and sometimes I will follow interesting political stories.  Unfortunately I find it difficult to find credible sources that don't become so extreme in their opinions and the swaying of the public.  I hope that one day we will see the media trust Americans again. I believe when I see this trust it will look like facts being presented with the intent to trust Americans' intelligence enough to understand the right and wrong.  It will be like heaven if we also at the same time were able to elect politicians that were able to do their jobs with their full intent to do the right thing, instead of what benefits them. It would be so much easier to understand politics if we knew that politicians never did anything, but what benefited the people.

These thoughts lead me feeling "more confused than cows on astro turf", while studying politics. 

picture from a google search

The Ag Gag Bill that is being introduced into state legislatures across the country. North Dakota, Kansas and Montana already have similar wording in the books.  Utah and Iowa have recently passed legislation which will give people taping or photographing animal cruelty 24-48 hours to turn these pictures and videos to authorities and subsequently reporting the matter.  This would then end the ability of the animal activist groups to be hired to work with animals undercover to collect videos and pictures and then edit them to create news worthy pieces to try to end livestock production.  The question remains in my mind of why you would watch animals being abused and continue taping it sometimes for weeks and never turn them in? 

I believe most farmers and ranchers are open to sharing their stories, farms, ranches, feedyards, when asked.  I hope that more media will help to share the positive stories of the humane treatment of livestock for the use of feeding the world. 

The enemy is blooming.

Sometime in the 1800's apparently someone thought it was a good idea to bring this plant to America.  

The Russian Olive

Historically these plants have been used for erosion control, strip mine reclamation, wildlife habitat, and in landscaping. Regrettably these bushes have erosion around them.

The Russian-olive are an invasive, deciduous shrub or small tree that grows to 20 feet tall.  It has yellow flowers and dry yellow mealy fruit. Silver scales occur on the underside of the leaves. The twigs of Russian-olive are typically covered with thorns. These shrubs begin to flower and fruit annually after 3 years. An individual plant can produce 8 pounds of fruit each year. Currently these flowers are blooming and from all research they would call them fragrant.  However with so many of these blooming around the pastures and the fact that I believe fragrant to be a positive term, I find this a false statement.  These plants stink really bad.  I am wondering how long this "fragrant" blooming will go on.

Some of the problems or benefits, of the  Russian-olive are that they have nitrogen-fixing root nodules which allows them to adapt to many poor soil types. They are found in areas such as pastures and fields, grasslands and sparse woodlands. The grow aggressively  and take over native plants and shrubs. They grow rapidly and re-sprout heavily after cutting or burning.   

To make a longer story short, these shrubs are a nuisance like with most non-native species they don't do what they were intended to do.  The thorns that cover the shrubs/trees do not allow you to maneuver through them to find cows or calves.  I believe the cows are aware of the thorns and purposely hide in the Russian Olives.  They do not stop all erosion. They are unmanageable and cause a great deal of expense.  Oh and did I mention they smell bad. They smell like the enemy.

May is Beef Month - Happy Grilling

May is a month to celebrate beef. This is the beginning of the grilling season.  Have you used your grill yet? One of the challenges I have with butchering our own beef is, you get what you get and you don't through a fit.  Therefore if you want filet but you only have sirloin, you make the sirloin.  I have always struggled with cooking sirloin properly and getting it tender enough to enjoy chewing it.  I have found the answer.  I am sharing this marinade choice with you as a tip for Beef Month. What is your favorite cut to cook? If you butcher your own beef, how do you cook your less favorite cuts?  

Also as part of the celebration of beef month, please check out this Beef website for all of your questions about the beef industry.  There are nutrition, cooking, production, animal care and environmental facts and information.  Please share how you plan to celebrate Beef Month.

Beautiful day for a beautiful celebration.

Although I was secretly praying for rain for Jacie First Communion Celebration, it turned out to be a beautiful day for a beautiful celebration.

Jacie was making her first communion and since planting season is behind schedule I was sure if it didn't rain we would have a poor turnout.  However, to my surprise my brother left the tractor seat and planting to attend his Goddaughter's special day.  May God Bless his crop and give him plenty of sun to keep on planting this week. Aunt Katy, Jacie's Godmother was able to bring her brand new daughter for her first road trip to the special event and along with her came Aunt Leslie and Payton in order for Uncle Andy to stay home at the Wolfinger Farm to keep the tractor wheels turning.

My parents along with Jake's parents also made the trip leaving the farm behind.  My cousins Jamie and Julie who I spent many church hours with also came with Bryer, Kinnley and Luke (for their second church service of the day).  My sister Jenny made the four hour trip one way with her two boys for the celebration.

We appreciate all of the support and the celebration that you each brought to Jacie's First Communion.

Jacie has learned so many wonderful things about her faith and continues to teach me.  She had a remarkable teacher with years of experience preparing students for First Communion.  Jacie came home the other day telling stories about being very careful with the "body of Christ" or the hosts.  She said, Mrs. DeVendra told them a story about a "communion helper" that tripped and dropped the hosts.  She then said, "Mrs. DeVendra told them, you can't just through Jesus away".  No Jacie you can't just through Jesus away that is for sure.  A special thank you to Mrs. DeVendra for continuing leading Jacie to Jesus and teaching her so many things this year about her faith and being a good person.

  
After leaving the church with our family we enjoyed some great food, farm talk and a ride through the cows with everyone under the age of nine and a few chaperones (thanks Aunt Leslie).

Calving and Euchre

Do you remember learning to play Euchre?

Jake called the other night after I had started cooking supper, because he thought he may need an extra hand pulling a calf.  I shut off the stove and the girls and I loaded up.  By the time we arrived Jake literally just needed an extra hand and my brute strength to help pull. The cow was down, making it difficult to use a calf jack. In about five minutes we were done and headed back to finish supper.  After supper Jake mentioned he thought she may have been able to have the calf herself.  I was thinking that could be a 1000 dollar risk.  My thought is we are there, lets just help her.  The calf looked big to me - probably overdue.

After dinner this made me think of an analogy for calving - Euchre.

A live calf that is ready to grow with a good mama with a perfect udder trumps everything - like the right bar.
A dead calf with a dead mama is like an off suit 9.

You get the idea.

So, I told Jake a big live calf trumps a dead calf everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

HSUS your names sound kinda hinky.

I don't remember when I first learned about HSUS, but I like the other roughly 70% of Americans thought the name sounded a lot like the local Humane Society.  But, then you learn the similarity in the name is where it stops. After all the Humane Society spends it's time wanting to unite unloved pets with loving caretakers.  Then there is the HSUS and as you can tell from this map, they aren't spending much of their money to help shelters find loving homes for their abandoned pets.  In fact they are on record as saying they have no problem with the extinction of domesticated animals. However the bad publicity of HSUS does keep people from donating to their local Human Society and further hurts their ability to help animals.  If you want to donate money to help animals I would encourage you to drive to your local humane society and make a donation.



HSUS is now back in Ohio with another hinky name. HSUS has decided to start an organization made up of farmers and supporters of humane animal care called Ohio Agriculture Council. The strange thing is there is already an organization in Ohio that supports the well being of the entire agriculture industry (obviously including the well being of all animals) and it happens to be called Ohio Agricultural Council. Does HSUS lack creativity in naming their organization or is this on purpose?

Jake and I are members of a few organizations that support the Agricultural Industry including Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Ohio Cattlemen's Association, and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. These organizations support and lobby for the humane treatment of animals. They also continue to educate producers on the best management practices for caring for animals.  I am proud to be affiliated with all of these organization and the wonderful people working for these groups on behalf of producers.

Feedlot Magazine - the message of a dying industry.

Do you remember reading your first magazine?

Jacie "reading" her first magazine the National Cattlemen.

Was it the Highlights magazine?

Why do we read magazines?

The first magazine I read was the Highlights magazine because I thought it was cool that I got mail and it made me happy to do the hidden picture.

The second magazine I received was the FFA New Horizons.  This was back when I still thought it was fun to get mail and I read it for inspiration and knowledge.

I did occasionally browse the Glamour Magazine while in high school, until I realized there was so little in fashion that I would enjoy wearing in the magazine.  I like to tuck my shirt in and it has been pointed out by many high school students that I have taught that "that isn't cool".

I know you are wondering where this is going.

I stopped to get the mail on my way to pick the girls up the other day and found the Feedlot Magazine in our mailbox.  I really enjoy the Feedlot Magazine. The interesting thing about Feedlot/yards is that they are all so different, however usually lumped into one group. Among Agriculture magazines it is just a sector.  In the mainstream magazine world, you are hard pressed to find an article that is about feedyard/lots written in a positive or respectful way. This leads to the excitement of finding the Feedlot Magazine in our mailbox. It is an entire magazine written for and about the feedyard/lot industry.

Although I became a little discouraged this time when browsing the magazine as I stumbled upon this article that might as well said get out while you can. After I read this article I was disappointed that they would put something so sad and depressing in their magazine for people already fighting against odds and regular negativity from every direction including weather, animal rights organizations, environmental groups and the markets.  I can handle articles reporting cow numbers being the lowest since the 1950's and that battling drought for a second year should be something we are prepared for or even the fact that corn prices should lead you to alternative feed sources that will still push your fed cattle into the Choice grade. However what I don't have much appreciation for is a Highlights Magazine without a hidden picture a New Horizon magazine without an inspirational story of an FFA member starting their own business. I also no longer like reading Feedlot Magazine stories that would like to lead feedyard/lot owners to somehow believe the cattle feeding industry dying.

Let's be serious we have people lined up to eat beef. We have established ourselves as healthy as we actively advertise our Lean Beef.

Maybe I am overly optimistic as I am packing for a move across the country to be a part of this dying feedyard/lot industry.  Maybe I will someday have to write a eulogy for 4+ Feeders and post it here on fortheloveofbeef.  But until then you can find me advocating for feedyards/lots and the beef industry, raising beef and thanking you for enjoying beef with your friends and families.

What? It's just grass and water.

Jake, the girls and I spent some time this afternoon with Kristy Foster from the Farm and Dairy.

 

After she left I was helping the girls with their homework and cooking supper. Jake (in his good jeans) announces he needs to go "find a calf".

He returns after the supper is cooking and homework is done with cow manure all over his good jeans.  He comes into the kitchen and says "hey do you think you can get this out".  I am assuming at this point he has "found" the calf. I put on my "I complete believe that" face and said "really Jake, those are your good jeans".

Of course if you have ever scrubbed cow manure out of denim, you also know the answer is probably not.  Not only is this cow manure, but it's green fresh grass manure that stains like nothing I have ever seen.

He then goes on to explain how it happened.  I needed to separate this calf that is in with the Y group that we are moving in the morning.  I didn't want it to be moved with the group.  The calf wouldn't drive, so I picked him up and he didn't have any manure on him, I swear.  (Does anyone believe that?).  He said by the time I had him on the 4-wheeler I was covered.  He then says "it wasn't his s**+". I just smiled and was thinking this story doesn't make any since, your jeans are ruined and you better not utter those words "it's only grass and water".    

oh, for the love of beef

Life has thrown me a couple of curve balls the last couple weeks, leaving me a little stressed.  Possibly the most troubling thing about life's curve balls are that they leave you thinking me, me, me.  However, once you are able to get up dust yourself off and lift your head up to realize there are so many other people needing more thought and prayer than me, me, me.

I would find it hard to believe that anyone has not been touched in one way or another by the Boston Marathon tragedy. It is becoming harder and harder to understand these acts of terrorism.  I don't pretend to understand what it might take to train for a marathon and maybe taking my spare money and vacation time to travel to Boston to run the marathon, all to be a victim of senseless violence.

We were sitting in an Ohio Cattlemen's Board meeting with the accountant last week going over the yearly financials when the line item for the Beef Team came up.  The accountant paused looked around the room and said "so you guys run?"  There was an even longer pause (as people looked around the room of beef producers, wondering do we look like runners, does this guy really think we run) until Bill Sexton laughed and said no "we pay people to run for us".  Laughter erupted around the room.

When my life gets stressful, I often like to honor others.  Tonight I honor Team BEEF USA , especially those of you who ran in the Boston Marathon on behalf of beef producers.

Let's Graze

It seemed like winter was never going to leave! Recently we have had a few warm days and some rain, and then almost overnight the grass really greened up. On Saturday evening on our way to Mass you could smell the scent of freshly mowed lawns.  I really like that smell, especially in early spring.

After school today Jaelin and I helped Jake move some cow/calf pairs to greener pastures.

We located the free grazer that still has not made her way home to her owner. Does anyone need a pet?

Cows are making their way to grass as calving is coming to a close and breeding season is almost here. 

Committed to the toboggan. - Life on the other side of the table.

It was one of my first years teaching when a boy named Cory who had a great personality and was very intelligent told me "some people are happy with a pickup truck and a coon dog". As a recent college graduate I was unaware that a student with the ability and means may not want to go to college.  Heck they may not want to drive a new car, live in a 2000 square foot house with a white picket fence or any of the other "normal" American wants. It was an awakening moment and that comment has stuck with me for the rest of my life.

It is a really important lesson (that I still struggle with today) that not everyone wants to live like me.  

We live just outside the metropolis of St. Clairsville where our girls attend school.  I car pool with another very special mother.  She is a supporter of rural living, eating beef and has become a proud supporter of her local beef producers.  She volunteers a lot of time at school, so she often meets me in the morning and drives the girls to town.  A few weeks ago temperatures were reaching a high of 30 degrees and a windchill below 0, making a 4-wheeler ride to check cows even more frigid.  I often showed up dressed from head to toe with just my faced exposed.  Colleen is so kind she often will compliment my zebra print toboggan.  Really there is not much to compliment about work clothes, however I always appreciate her effort. More so I appreciate that she drives the kids to town so I don't have to face an entire crowd of parents decked out in business attire with the prettiest dresses, accessorized and wearing the best heals. Yea, sometimes I am jealous.

However a few weeks ago Colleen drove the girls to school and I headed to disperse minerals to the cows.  She must have called me when I was out riding.  I hate that you can't hear your phone on a 4-wheeler (although I don't let Jake use that as an excuse, when I call him). She was calling to say Jacie had forgot her lunch and that if I called her back she would go to the store for me and get her something, of course her daughter said she would just share her lunch. By the time I got her message she was home. Jacie's lunch was in my backseat, and I needed to take it town.  However my dilemma was my commitment to my toboggan.  Once you put a hat on in the morning, you can't take it off.  Really no one wants to see hat hair, that is all matted to your head. So, off to school I went hat, ski pants, heavy coat and everything.  I was really hoping to sneak into town, with no one seeing me.  But we all know how that turns out. There I was getting a once over from a lady in town. The look that screams "really those shoes with that outfit".  Maybe it wasn't the shoes or the hat or the muddy ski pants, but it wasn't my hat hair (it was looking bad, under my hat). It is difficult to get a "once over" without having your self esteem a little injured.  Jacie now had her lunch and I was headed back to the ranch that most people don't even know exists outside of St. Clairsville thinking I am just as guilty.

I drive into a subdivision with houses just feet apart and sidewalks leading to all the beautiful homes and think, who wants to live like this.  These are the same thoughts and comments that people have about my want to live miles from people, raising the beef for this country.  I hope I can get to a place in my life to fully appreciate that one person's happiness could be the complete opposite of someone else's. The truth is backyard barbeques in the subdivisions don't happen without beef producers and if all those people didn't enjoy living in subdivisions we wouldn't need to produce so much beef.  Thanks for enjoying beef with your friends and neighbors.

photo taken by Meg Roussos

Setbacks - Hay Fire

I have made promises to share setbacks, disappointments and sadness, for people to understand that everyone has challenges in life.  I am much too authentic, to share our story in a way to make others believe it is all sunshine and rainbows.  The past week has been a little challenging and disappointing as feed that is both difficult to find and valuable caught fire at the feedyard.

The fire continued for several days and burned . . .

and burned.

Thank you to the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department for your help.

We have been left with a mess of water, wet feed and a lot of paperwork. The good news is we still have plenty of feed for cattle through the summer.

It was stressful to get a third hand report through Jake about these fires.  I think it may have been less painful to be there to watch it.

After a short cry, a talk with Gail Martin, a talk with the insurance agent, a longer cry, a sleepless night and then a trip to Mass, things are going to be alright.

A new home with a view

As reported  on the rumor mill the Wolfinger's are in full swing of another move half way across the country.  It really is just one of three in the last four years.  This time for an extra challenge Jake decided we should build a house. After an exhausted search of only one potential home (that sold rather quickly) I agreed.

The building process is underway and so I thought I would share our new view from the front porch.

Spontaneous Calf Feeding Fun

On the way to the bus stop to pick our girls up, I called the other mom's that pick up their kids there and said I would take them for a few hours.  It was spontaneous, mostly because suddenly I realized heck it's Friday, the sun is out and I have a few free moments. I called Jake on the way back to the ranch and he said great! Then he said "I have two orphan calves in the barn can you guys feed them"? The kids screamed with excitement!

Celia came over last year and helped feed a calf once.  However she jumped right in and fed the hungry calf like she had done it a thousand times.

Jake and I gave Colleen (a first timer) a few instructions about feeding a bottle to a calf . . .

Keep the bottle pointed down, so the milk flows to the nipple.  If you don't the hungry calf thinks it's empty causing it to ram the bottle into your leg or stomach depending on your height.  I explained to Colleen, that is how the calf gets the milk to come down in it's mamas udder. 

As you can tell the intelligent and animal lover Colleen fixed the problem and the feeding continued.

Joshua had a great time feeding the newest calf it's first bottle with Jake. But then . . .

 the calf got up and the bottle got heavy and he said "how do I get out of here?"

Happy Birthday to my Baby Bother!

Today my Baby Bother turns 33. I started calling him my baby bother to the girls, when they watched a show called Olivia.  Olivia the main character who is a pig has a younger brother she calls her "baby bother".  I told the girls that I have a baby bother and his name is Jason.  They asked why he was a baby bother.  I told them because he used to take my Barbies and take their heads off.  I didn't tell him later when I had to drive him to school he would put my car in neutral so when I would push on the gas it would rev up the engine.  He mostly does anything that irritates me - because he is my baby bother and he is very good at it.  However, he taught me to drive, has been their to move me (on several occasions), loves his nieces (as long as he doesn't have to change diapers, wipe butts or cook for them), he is my husbands best friend and also works for free at the feedyard.  He is spending his Happy Birthday evening hauling manure for Poorman Farms.  We love you Uncle Jason and Happy Birthday!  

Moving Cow/Calf Pairs to Greener Pastures

Jake and I spent the morning moving cows that have calved from the calving pasture to the "kick-out" fields. This mornings work in the pasture I have often called Marriage Counseling, where Jake and I go to work on our communication skills.

Today as we were moving the mamas with their calves, I began to realize many life lessons are learned when moving these creatures.

1. Life is easier when you point the cow in the right direction and let her find her own way to the gate hole. (even if it seems a little out of the way)
2. The calf almost always follows the mama cow.
3. Marriages are made stronger in the pasture field.

** These pictures are from last year. I couldn't help but post the beauty of the green pastures. Still waiting for the green pastures of 2013.**