Mud Wrestling

It’s finally Friday!  So what’s going on in your neck of the woods this weekend? Wade and I are going to the rural routes this weekend! And I am soo happy!  It will be like re-charging my batteries to be home for a few days!

Saturday I am going to help work in my mother’s garden and Wade is off to help his brother-in-law work some cattle.   Sunday we hope it will be nice enough to take the horses out for a ride and check his family’s cattle.  So we will be busy – bouncing from family farm to farm this weekend!  I always enjoy coming home. 

Our final story for calving week – belongs to Wade, and it’s a messy tale!

It had been a long, wet winter – the kind of winter that creates nothing but a mess when the snow melts.   It didn’t help that additional rains came after the snow was gone and the whole countryside was squishy with water.  It also happened to be calving time at Wade’s house.   He was out riding - checking on the cows when he noticed one acting strangely. 

She had calved the day before, but her calf was nowhere in sight.  She was hanging around their pond and acting very distressed.   So he rode over to her and that’s when he found the calf, up to its stomach in mud near the pond bank.   When you come upon these situations you always wonder – how in the heck do they get themselves in these predicaments?

Wade threw a rope around the calf and then made his way into the muck to save the calf.  Have you ever walked in mud? Ever felt the way it sucks you down as you wallow your way onward?  It’s hard work! Now try to do that with a calf in your arms.  That was Wade as he fought through the mire with the calf back toward the bank.  

He was lucky the calf was still spry enough to wobble back to his mammy – who had been circling nervously near the pond bank.   Wade took a breather and walked a little ways leading his horse- letting the mud dry a little before getting back in the saddle.  He watched the calf suck, and made sure everything was ok before leaving the couple.  The old mammy cow was thrilled to have her calf back and led him away from the pond to join the rest of the herd. 

Ol' Chuck Wagon Update!

With all The Help jokes aside here is a recipe for Chocolate Pie.
Given the theme for our week of calves and calving stories you might be confused with the selection of this recipe.  

First - I come from a long line of cooks, and my mom’s chocolate pie recipe is very similar – however it is not written down and this one is pretty close to it. (I like to have things online with reviews other than my own.  I am also not a food photographer – websites have more attractive photos than I could take)

Second - I also come from a long line of goofy country women that refer to meringue as “Calf Slobbers.”- There you go! There is the connection! 

If you grew up around cattle or had to bottle feed a calf you may get the reference.   That is why it is featured this week!  Enjoy!

Chocolate Pie!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/margarets-southern-chocolate-pie/

Check out the Ol' Chuck Wagon page for easy and delicious recipes! 

*All recipes are kitchen tested - meat and tater boy approved! *

Cowboys Love FAT Calves...

This has been fun - writing about calves!  Wade and I have been very lucky - we haven't had too many wild calving moments. Below is one of his stories.  It was his most difficult calving experience to date.  

He was riding his horse and checking the heifers.  There was one - a small frame red heifer that was due to calve any day.  They were paying extra attention to her cause they were expecting trouble.  She was getting close – her bag had dropped and she was springing. 

He found her in a wooded draw.  There she was laying down having a bit of a time.  Wade could see legs and the nose.  He thought he could pull it there in the field but as he tried, there was no headway made.  So he called his dad to give the heads up that he would be driving the heifer up to the corrals.  Slowly he got her up and marched her back to the corrals.  Making sure the nose didn’t slip back in; if it did the calf would have suffocated.   Luckily it didn’t and he was able to make it to the corrals without any trouble.  

What's up? 

At the corrals he threw a rope around her neck and tied her to a steel post.  Wade’s dad was coming home and stopped at the corrals.  That’s when they realized the pulling chains were not in the truck; but they did have some bailing twine.  Using the twine they made a loop and put it around the two front feet and began to pull.  With a little bit of elbow grease they were able to pull the calf.  

                                                        Checking the "newbie" out 

It was huge bull calf, there would have been no way for that little red heifer to birth him alone.   It was lucky Wade had come upon her.  As soon as the boys let the heifer off the rope she went to mothering up and licking the calf clean.  Wade and his dad stayed until the calf sucked and was up and going.   Just another day in the life of a cowboy I guess – making do with the supplies on hand. 

                                                      

Instead of Shooting the Bull, they Pulled the Calf

So to continue with the cows are calving celebration week I have a little bit of a different story to share.

To begin with the circumstances surrounding Wade and I finally getting together hover around livestock, manure, rodeo, music, dancing, and beer gardens.  Apparently when you put those things together you’ve got the setting for romance.  So it should have came as no surprise that on our 5th or 6th date out at least a few of those elements would collide again.   Sadly, it was manure and livestock this time only!

We had decided to go out and eat at a local diner, and end the night at my uncle’s house.  He and his wife had recently had a baby and I was named godmother.  I hadn’t seen the baby in a while and wanted to introduce Wade to that side of the family. ( I had already met his by our first date - but thats a different story)   We got there and were visiting, everything was going smoothly. Both Wade and my uncle like to talk and shoot the bull.   My uncle made a motion to get up – he was off to check cows as they had heifers calving.  He asked Wade to come along  – this was an honor!  I didn’t think much of it, they would be back in a couple of hours. They were gone those hours plus some.                                          

They came back in the house rosy cheeked and laughing; that’s when I learned Wade had spent the last couple of hours with 3 of my uncle’s at my grandpa’s house pulling a calf.   I could just picture my uncle’s and Wade – their first time meeting behind the tail end of a heifer.

I knew it had to be love as I climbed into Wade’s truck he eagerly gave me a play by play of the entire birthing event.  I couldn't help but notice the old sweatshirt he kept in his truck was on the floor board spotted with manure and afterbirth.  Yep, I am pretty sure at the point driving down the gravel roads listening to him talk about the heifer that he was the man for me!

Each one of my uncle’s called me the next day to tell me how good of a guy I had.

Does anyone else out there have a romantic bovine date story?

Mishaps and Miracles

Those with cattle know that calving season is crazy and full of mishaps and miracles.

All these calving photos on the web really make me miss being home on the farm!  So to ease my homesick heart I have decided to share two of my favorite calving stories.  One today and one tomorrow!  I think I can talk Wade into sharing one or two.  I would love to hear your stories too!  Shoot me an email, leave a comment or a note on our new facebook page! Heck we will just dedicate the week to calving!  Why not?! 

*******************************************************************

Farms allow us to watch the entire life story unfold; from birth to death farmers witness it all.   And we truly understand that there is a time for everything under heaven.

I have never lived where I couldn't see corn or cattle from my window; even in my early years when my family lived on the outskirts of town.  So it was not a huge adjustment when we moved from the little house on the edge of town to the country on a farm of our own.  Once settled my parents made their first cattle purchase. They bought several heifers and a bull and began raising calves for market.  We've been doing it ever since. In that original herd there were several characters, and culls. But one cow in particular was my favorite. She was different from the others. She was a very productive cow; always had calves.  They were always good calves; easy to put weight on and really sharp looking. 

 It was kind of sad this past fall when she died.  She was the last cow from that original herd.  We began to notice in the summer just how old she was.  It was hard to keep weight on her and she looked downright shabby compared to the young sleek cows grazing near her.  Mom and Dad wouldn't sell her. She would live out the rest of her days in the pasture.  And I have to agree it was the right thing to do by her. Farmers can be sentimental like that.
                                                   
She was like clockwork and had calves every year.   And true to her nature before she died, she gave us one last calf.  That little bull calf was born a couple of days before she died.  I wasn't there when my dad found her and the calf. I'm sure it was very sad sight.  But as I said earlier, farmers often get to see the beginning and end of the life.  I just found this particular instant to be a little more poignant.

    Look at that milk mustache!!! 

 We now have a "bottle" calf of sorts on the farm.  We are not sure if he is stubborn or dumb but the calf would not take a bottle. We lucked out and were able to teach him how to drink from a pail.  So we mix up some milk replacer and he drinks it up like a champ!  It's given my family a little extra chore to do but, no one is complaining. 

 He seems to be gaining weight he still has a lot of catching up to do.   We were lucky to have a mild winter this year; the rest of the herd is healthy and happy, very little mud to deal with. The calf was kept in our special ICU unit on the farm; a dry lot next to the corral. He has been off the milk ration for a while, and has been eating feed and hay.  The isolation allows us to keep an eye on him and ensure he gets enough to eat. When the grass is back on the pasture he will be turned out with the rest of the cattle.  A sight  I can’t wait to see!

The book of face and High Tunnels

Big News! In case you missed it.  Circle the Wagons was the featured farmer on the FARMnWIFE website.  A big THANK YOU to this website for all the tips and advice it provides to bloggers!!

Need blog help and advice?  Check out the FARMnWIFE website below!

http://farmnwife.com/

And with her encouragement - Circle the Wagons is now on Facebook!   

Check us out on Facebook!! – link below! 

http://www.facebook.com/wagonramblins?ref=tn_tnmn 

My husband and I have been accused of being twitterpaited (anyone? – name that movie?)  but we are not on Twitter yet…sorry.

This weekend was a mixed bag.  The main highlight was helping some friends put up and finish a high tunnel greenhouse.  It’s basically a large hoop house! It extends the growing season and can increase vegetable production.   I didn’t have a chance to photograph the process.  It was a team effort to get it covered – even got a little sunburned.   She has plans to have a road side market this year.  Can’t wait till she is up and going!  It will be nice to have access to some fresh veggies!

Since the ol apartment doesn’t have garden access Wade and I have decided to construct some kind of box to hang off our little patio area.  I really want to plant some lettuce greens and maybe some herbs (cilantro and basil – yum!).   I will also be planting some flowers in pots! I would like to have either Indian blankets, or straw flowers.  If all else fails I will just plant some vincas – they are easy keepers!   

For a joke Christmas gift, I got some plastic flamingos – the pink yards ornaments.  Those will get zip-tied to the patio too.  It’s gonna be real cute – just our little redneck apartment – complete with mini grill.  I will have photos of that!  J  Can’t wait to have a BBQ this summer! 

On a completely separate note the initiative that I wrote about last week (see post  - “Don’t Lose Your Voice) has been dropped by HSUS!  A major win for Missouri! Congrats!

And cowboy is his name

There's a hundred years of history
and a hundred before that
All gathered in the thinkin'
Goin' on beneath this hat.
The cold flame burns within him
'Til his skin's as cold as ice
And the dues he paid to get here
Are worth every sacrifice.
All the miles spend sleepy drivin'
All the money down the drain,
All the 'if I's' and 'nearly's, '
All the bandages and pain,
All the female tears left dryin',
All the fever and the fight
Are just a small down payment
On the ride he makes tonight.
It's guts and love and glory,
One mortal's chance at fame.
His legacy is rodeo
And cowboy is his name

                                                                    - Original Poem by Baxter Black

Can anyone name the movie that poem was featured in???

Last night I was going through the memory card on my camera and came across these little gems.  They are from a rodeo that my husband works. It's actually the same rodeo we met at 2 years ago.  His family has been involved in the planning and working of this rodeo since its beginnings over 35 years ago. His grandfather was one of the founders of the two day rodeo event. It's now a PRCA sanctioned rodeo.
It was the first chance I really got to utlize the action settings on my new fancy camera.  Below are a few photos that I just love!

And this one!  He was F-A-S-T!

                                There is such focus on his task even among the crowd and bright lights 

The guy in the blue shirt is my husband.  He works with the rough stock, chutes, and anything else.  He also has done a little work as a pick-up man.  I am very proud of him. 

                                                    I call this one "Run Wade, Run".    

I can't wait till we start going to rodeos again.  I have a new lens I am dying to try out!  I will have a chance to take photos behind the chutes too this summer! It's going to be awesome!!

*** I Linked these Photos on Farm Photo Friday*************
http://farmchickskitchen.blogspot.com/2012/03/farm-photo-friday-link-party_30.html
Click the above link to view the gallery!

On the Road Again....

With all the gentle rains, mild and unseasonably warm temperatures, farmers in my area are getting the itch to get into the field and plant that corn!   So keep in mind as you head out on the roads this spring to be patience with our farmers.  I expect to see a lot of machinery movement in our area – tractors, anhydrous tanks, fertilizer carts, plows, discs, cultivators, planters, grain trucks, trailers, etc.

Be aware of your surrounding and make good driving decisions.  Farmers don’t like traveling on busy highways, and we know it backs up traffic – if there was an easy alternative we would take it.
 But in the meanwhile we would appreciate it if you would slow down, give us plenty of room, and when passing as the chance safely presents itself – abstain from rude gestures.  - Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some tips for traveling safely on rural roads!

– The farm vehicle operator may not be able to see around the equipment, so don’t assume that the operator knows you are approaching. Similar to semi-trucks many use large extended mirrors. When a driver follows too closely, the vehicle isn’t visible to the farm equipment operator. Keep a distance back.

– A majority of farm equipment and motor vehicle crashes occur when the farm equipment operator slows down to turn left and the motorist moves to pass. When you pass farm machinery, make sure the driver is not about to turn left. Before you decide to pass, look for driveways into farms or fields where the farm vehicle operator could be turning.

– Farm equipment operators are not required to drive on the road shoulders. If safe, the operator may pull off to allow traffic to pass.

– Wide equipment may extend into the oncoming traffic lane. Also, make sure the road is wide enough and watch for roadside obstacles such as mailboxes that might cause the equipment operator to drift to the left.

– Farm machinery crossing the road moves slowly and may be pulling equipment that will take longer to clear the road. Don’t try to pass on the left as the equipment may swing out differently than you expect.
In addition, make sure that you have enough time and distance to pass safely. It is illegal to pass farm equipment in no passing zones.


Source - (http://fyi.uwex.edu/news/2011/04/22/watch-for-slow-moving-farm-equipment-on-rural-roads/)

Chuck Wagon Update!!

New recipes have been posted on the Ol' Chuck Wagon Page!! 

We head south of the border and try Wild West Beef Hash and Tamale Pie!  Two great little recipes that are easy and delicious!! 

* All recipes are Kitchen Tested  - Tater Boy approved :)
Enjoy!

Don’t Lose Your Voice!

In 2010 the Humane Society of United States (HSUS) supported and launched a measure that would put restrictions on Dog Breeders in the state of Missouri  – as a way to limit animal cruelty.  It was known as the “Puppy Mill” law by the media.   The measure was voted on - and 11 out of 114 counties were in favor.  Those 11 counties were the most populated, and most urban. The initiative passed into law.  Fortunately, the MO legislature noticed and repealed most of the measure. 

Now there is a new fight in the Show-Me State.  It’s called “Your Vote Counts,”  a constitutional measure would require a three-fourths vote in both the House and the Senate, or a vote of the people by referendum, in order for the legislature to repeal or amend any voter-approved initiative. In theory it sounds legit but….the money behind this initiative is the Humane Society of United States.    Not only should this rankle agriculture supporters but the general public, just on principal alone! 

 My opinion would be different if it was backed by a coalition of Missouri citizens – not a multi-million “non-for profit” organization.  Missouri campaign finance reports show two-thirds of the more than $345,000 donated to the petition drive through the end of 2011 came from HSUS. Another $50,000 was donated by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Just 2 of the 11 individual donors to Your Vote Counts! in the fourth quarter of 2011 live in Missouri. My spidey senses are tingling!?  There is an agenda; don’t doubt it!

 If this measure is passed it would limit the ability of legislative officials - who are elected by the people! This initiative would take away the voice of rural Missourians. Why would we want to mess with the current "check and balance" system of our government?  We need to preserve the legislative ability of our elected law makers.

I know of other states who are taking the attack on Missouri agriculture to heart - Nebraska, and Iowa have been are taking action to protect agriculture producers.   The dog breeding measure was just a way to slip into the state - under the guise of taking care of furry little puppies.  The real agenda is very anti-agriculture.  It will start with a dog, who knows where it will end.   In writing this I hope to spread the word and true motives behind HSUS, I hope you will do the same – don’t lose your voice!!!

Don't just take my word for it!  Check the facts yourself!  

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Mo-dog-breeding-vote-wake-up-call-for-farmers-3419606.php#src=fb

http://humanewatch.org/  

http://www.mofb.org/BigMoneyTalks.aspx 

http://mofarmerscare.com/

http://www.tsln.com/article/20120220/TSLN01/120219944

Any Nebraska Fans out there???
http://m.kearneyhub.com/mobile/news/local/article_4d633620-7285-11e1-a7fc-0019bb2963f4.html

And just so you can examine the actual website yourself here is the "Your Vote Counts" website.  

http://protectvoters.com/ 

Cattle Drive Recollections

Every spring Wade’s family goes on a cattle drive in Nebraska. His family has friends out there and it has been a tradition for Wade’s family to help move the cattle to spring grazing.  They wake up about 4:30 in the morning and eat a big breakfast and pack a lunch – cause it’s a 10 hour day in the saddle, they move about 400 head of cow calf pairs to spring pastures.  

In that time of the year the mornings are cool and the horses are fresh.   It’s a 15-20 mile drive to the pastures.  Most of the morning is dedicated to rounding up the pairs.  The older cattle know their way and are easy to push.  Occasionally you will have a calf stray and it is your job to bring him back.   The first half of the journey the cowboys spend their time chasing the strays back to the herd. The other half of the journey is pushing the tired calves on ward.  They swing their lead ropes to keep the herd moving.   The trip is about over when they get to a large fenced meadow.  There the cowboys take the time to separate and pair up the cattle into groups of 75.  Those smaller groups are led to different pastures on the range.   Stock trailers are waiting at this meadow to load up the tired horses and cowboys and take them back to the home place. 

After the big drive, the next day; the boys will scout out the country – as calves have been known to make the trip back.  

Wade loves the country out there.  It’s full of gentle rolling grasslands.  He say’s going out there is like taking a step back into time. Everything is done on horseback.  It’s all about the cattle and horsemanship.  There is a focus on tradition.

Sadly we will not be able to attend the round up this year.  Wade’s horse is fat and sassy.  Since we’ve moved he has not been able to spend the time getting him into shape.  I am also a novice rider and not ready for such a huge expedition yet.  Next year we will go.   We hope to implement some of those traditions and values into our own farm one day.   It just amazing how cattle operations differ from state to state. 

Sale Barn Widow

I have a wonderful husband, his name is Wade.  While we were engaged I had to move away from farm and family for a new job, and after we were hitched he moved too.  It’s been very hard for him to adjust from his families’ cattle farm to an up stair two bedroom apartment.  He misses the cattle, calves and horses. One day we will have an operation of our own, but in the meantime I think he has finally found a way to get his cattle fix.  

He has found employment at a local sale barn.  He has been working nights loading pots (livestock potbellied trailers hauled by semi).   The first day he worked he came home black and blue covered in bruises with stories about getting kicked by calves and smashed against the gate by a kamikaze cow.   Needless to say this job has added a little anxiety to my person.  One day/night he worked 26 hours straight. There have been times when I only get to see him for an hour or two in between sale days because of his crazy schedule.  We joke that I’ve become a “sale barn widow.”  I just pray he keeps on his toes and alert while he loads thousands of cattle. He sends me updates throughout the night, usually its prices he just watched cattle sell for and little comments on the quality of animals he works with – but it lets me know he is alive!   He seems to enjoy the work, and when he comes home he is covered in manure.  I don’t have a porch or mud room.  So when he opens the door he is right in the kitchen.  We have a little spot in the corner specifically set up for his clothing and boots.   If you ask him about the way he smells, he just smiles and says, “I smell like money.”   He has also developed the habit of moving cattle in his sleep.  He has woke me up a couple of nights yelling, “hey, hey, hey” and waving his arms as he dreams.  He has told me a couple times after a big night loading that when it's quiet he can still hear the sound of calves bawling and cattle calling. 

There is one perk to him working at the sale barn.  He meets all types of people!  I wanted to share a story about one of the folks he has met to date….

It was a typical night loading trucks.  Wade went to the back pens to bring up the next lot of calves for the truck.   When he arrived back with the calves there was a little old lady stepping out of the truck.  She was all of 5 feet nothing and had snow white hair.  Wade and a fellow worker began to push the calves up the alleyway to load her truck.  She stopped them. She got in the alleyway with a hotshot and began to push the calves herself.  All the while she kept saying, “come on my babies, let’s go my babies, into the truck,” in a very grandmotherly tone.  If one would kick out at her she would scold him and tap him with her hotshot.  She loaded every last calf onto the truck.  Wade and the boys just looked on flabbergasted at what they had just witnessed.  Wade got to talking with her while some paper work was being completed. She was just very particular how her cattle were loaded. She even showed him her hotshot, it was dead – no batteries!  It was just for show!  Wade watched her hop back into the truck, and pull out with a pot full of calves bound for Nebraska.  

I love this story - Never judge a book by its cover!  There are all sorts of people involved in agriculture!  We owe a big thank you to those who not only produce our food, but those who are involved in the logistics of getting the food to our plate!  So this is a shout out to all the sale barn workers, grain elevator workers, truck drivers and anyone else who works behind the scenes!  Thank you!!      

Chuck Wagon and Burning Daylight Update!

So there are some new items in the Ol' Chuck Wagon and Burning Daylight Section!  It's way too nice outside to stay indoors!  So have a great weekend and we shall see you back here bright-eye and bushy tailed Monday! 

Lookin' For Adventure!

What is more fun than going on a road trip?  It’s a great way to see the country side.  For our honeymoon my husband and I decided to go to a part of the country that neither of us had seen.  We headed for the southwest.

 We drove thru Oklahoma and got to see cotton fields, and those fields being harvested.  I had never seen that before and wished we had time to stop. But it was a long drive to Arizona and we had to keep moving.  We drove thru the panhandle of Texas and experienced the vast plains and drove past large feedlots.  In New Mexico we saw open range and blue sky.  Finally we made it to Northern Arizona, destination Flagstaff.  Apparently in the madness that led up to the wedding and mapping out our trip I neglected to check the weather.  We got married in November and never expected to run into snow - but we did.  We hit a mini snow storm right outside of Flagstaff.  We didn't let a little snow ruin our trip! In the morning we drove to the Grand Canyon.  It was beautiful to see the contrast between the red rocks, and white snow. 

  The rest of the trip was thru Arizona down to Tucson.  In Tucson we visited the Saguaro National Forest.  Something I have wanted to do all my life.  I never dreamt that a cactus could grow as large as a tree!   We also visited San Xavier Del Bac, an OLD Spanish mission. Our final destination spot was Tombstone, Arizona.  I admit it was a bit of a tourist trap, but so worth it! We walked down Allen Street, and visited the OK corral gunfight site.  We also took a stage coach ride around town.   

 Then it was time head back home.    In a spur of a moment decision we decided to take one more side trip.  We were driving thru Amarillo anyway, so we stopped at the American Quarter Horse Museum.  I was very impressed by this museum and had no idea how much history and people were involved in the breed itself.  In my defense I knew nothing about horses before meeting my husband. I loved watching cutting horses working cattle and have admired the Quarter horse breed for their confirmation, but I grew up on a farm that raised corn, soybeans, wheat, cattle, and hogs.  I had ridden a little bit in college for fun but, not the hard core riding that he has done.  His family enjoys working cattle on horseback and trail riding.  So I have been learning.  In the museum my husband pointed out his favorite bloodline - Joe Hancock.  That was our last stop.  Several long hours later we were finally home. It was a relief to get back to the home turf,  we had a wonderful trip.

American Quarter Horse Museum 

We hope to go on at least one road trip over the summer.  We have a wedding to go to in Wyoming this spring, and will be in Iowa for a rodeo, but I want to take another mini vacation.  Any ideas?  

Here are some links if you are interested in visiting any of the places I've mentioned. 

American Quarter Horse Museum

http://www.aqha.com/Foundation/Museum.aspx 

San Xavier Del Bac 

http://www.sanxaviermission.org/ 

Saguaro National Forest 

http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm 

Tombstone  Arizona 

http://www.tombstoneweb.com/ 

Grand Canyon National Park 

http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm 

Animals In Translation

So I love to read!  I started a book last summer and in the midst of getting a new job, having to move away from the farm, and getting married; it kinda got put on the back burner.   I have made it a goal this month to finish it (I’m almost done!!).  The book is called Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson.

 I was first introduced to Grandin by my animal science professor in college.  I later had the opportunity to listen and watch her give a presentation at a Livestock Conference.  Temple Grandin has a PH.D in Animal Science and is professor at Colorado State University, as well as a bestselling author, and consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior.  She also has autism. Grandin's interest in animal welfare began with designs for sweeping curved corrals, intended to reduce stress in animals being led to slaughter. She is just a fascinating person to me.

A friend recommended the book to me.  So I purchased her book in hopes it would provide additional insight to her life and her way of thinking.  I must say I am surprised and have really enjoyed the read.  I promised myself I wouldn’t watch the movie about her until I had finished the book. It’s been tough!

But I thought I would pass it along with a recommendation that if you want to know more about the woman and some of her approaches and attitudes on animal behavior it’s a worthwhile read.  It provides a different perspective and causes you to think!

 Has anyone else read this book?  What are your thoughts?? 

Here are some helpful links for those who wish to learn more!

http://www.grandin.com/inc/animals.in.translation.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278469/

http://www.grandin.com/index.html

Ag is more than Cows, Plows, and Sows

There has been a lot of talk about the Lean, Finely Textured Ground Beef (LFTGB) aka "Pink Slime" and the public opinion.  Yes, I agree it does sound kinda icky, but I believe our food system is safe.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm still going to eat fast food, and not bat an eye at the possibility of "pink slime" in the burger, and you know what?  So will most people!!! LFTGB helps provide an affordable food product. Don't like it?  Fine, never order off a dollar menu again, and buy steak the rest of your life, or buy from a local butcher shop.  Trust me, the ag community will support your decision!!   Agriculture is under constant attack, and the ag community seems to always be in a defensive position...why is that? This is what I think...

 Something has been lost in our society (other than common sense) and that is our agrarian way of life.  We’ve lost touch with nature and the land.  I know these sound like something from a new age "hippie" blog, but in all reality I think it is true.  This would explain the outcry over our food supply and the sudden need to know how food is produced (as if it's new topic). People want that connection. This is a good thing; that "they" have finally expressed some interest to what’s going on out here.  But what’s troubling is where the information is coming from and how they have decided to influence agriculture.

 It does no good in my eyes to explain where LFTGB comes from when the majority of those consuming hamburgers don’t even know what a beef cow looks like.  We need a basic approach, basic agriculture education and awareness.  That’s why I am a huge supporter of the FFA and 4-H programs and agriculture education.  In fact agriculture awareness was the core of my student research project in college.   Agriculture is so misrepresented in the media that it’s no wonder the average American doesn’t know which end is up.  For example the movie Barnyard…the main characters are cattle – and by anatomy cows, yet have male voices.  This also reminds me of a friend I made during college.  He was from an urban background and wanted to be an aggie. I spent over an hour with him explaining the difference between, bulls, cows, steers, and heifers.  We also had to overcome the stereotypes of farm animals.  It was a major breakthrough for him when he learned that just because an animal had horns didn’t necessarily make it male. Example - a long horn cow with an udder, it would trick him every time.  In his mind bulls had horns, cows did not.  Working with him made me realize that it would be a great boon to our society if a basic general agriculture class would be made mandatory at the high school and/or college level.

 We are living in a society that thinks bulls have udders, all pigs are pink, and a farmer is someone in bibs who speaks slow and is too dumb to know how to care for their animals properly.  Agriculture like all industry had to modernize to keep up with those vast urban centers that didn’t produce their own food!  Gone are the days of that slow talking farmer.  Agriculture today is a collage of educated producers.  The problem is that the consumers are not educated.  Keep in mind,  the people that can’t ID a corn plant are the same people who vote on agriculture topics and anti-agriculture organizations target (HSUS).  This point is made clear with the Missouri Dog Breeding Issue.  Only 11 counties out of the entire state voted in favor of this bill, 11 out of 114.   The counties in favor were the most urban, and most removed from the farm. 

 This issue is real with real impact.  The links below are some articles that I feel are related and deal with agriculture awareness across the board.  They are issues that we need to think about and be talking about!   Let's be sure our side of the story is told before we let the media tell it for us.

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/e-newsletters/drovers-daily/CFI-Consumer-interest-grows-in-farm-and-food-info-142340555.html

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/03/12/148320219/children-face-dangers-on-farms-but-not-from-farmwork

http://www.tsln.com/article/20120220/TSLN01/120219944

Tractors and Tater Bandits

It wasn’t the daffodils blooming, or the robins hopping around, nor was it the occasional buzzard sighting that led me to believe spring has arrived.   I relied on much more obvious clues in the forms of large farm machinery.  The tractors are coming out of hibernation as farmers begin to make preparations for planting!   This weekend the sun was shining and temperatures mild. In my hometown that meant it was time to spread some spring fertilizer on the fields. 

At my parents farm it was all about the pasture.  This last summer was tough on pasture.  With little rain and little growth the grass was hit pretty hard.  So this weekend the cattle that were still roaming the pasture away from the hay rings were jerked off and put up in the dry lots, while my dad applied a little TLC to the pastures.    Here is a photo of the action!   

Another sign of spring is the garden seed catalogs that arrive by the bundle in the mail.  We will be planting potatoes here very soon.  My family has a tradition of planting potatoes around St. Patrick’s Day, weather permitting.  We buy seed potatoes through the local grocery store in town.

The store called on Friday to let my folks know that they were in.  On Saturday morning my dad informed me and my husband that while in town that morning we needed to stop by and pick them up.  I asked him if they had been paid for.  His answer was yes, mom had already paid for them all we had to do was pick them up.      

So we get to the store, picked up the potatoes from the back and walked out of the store.  When we get back home, my mom looks at us and asked how much she owed us… I was really confused, as we didn’t pay for them.  I just smiled and said you should know, as I thought she had already paid for them.  To my dismay we learned that no one had in fact paid for the potatoes!  My husband and I were tater bandits!  Another perk to living in a small town…this wasn’t a big deal, and we did go back and pay for them later that afternoon.   But I have now been exposed to a life of crime!! 

Odds and Ends

So day 2 of the blog, and I am almost ready to launch some actual content! 

But first I wanted to address a few items and lay some ground rules.   My general purpose will be to provide snapshots of rural life and living.  I will also express concerns and issues facing the agriculture community from the farm bill to HSUS.   I encourage conversation on these topics and would love to hear from you.  With that please keep it polite. I’m open to other opinions but… “I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them" – thank you John Wayne, Amen.   If we abide by this rule I don’t foresee any problems!

Burning Daylight – I just like the sound of it!  It brings to mind yet another John Wayne movie…anyhow; this section will house the more random topics.  Books, music, movies, photos, oddities!  It should be a fun little section!

The Ol’ Chuck Wagon – this will be the recipe headquarters.  I love to cook, and have been taught the art of down home cookin’ by the best members of my family.   I am recently married and my husband is a meat and potatoes boy. I come from a family that eats out of the garden all summer long. I am gradually introducing him to veggies – I sneak them into everything.  He also doesn’t do spicy or hot food.  I do, therefore I also sneak mild heat into some of my dishes – in hope he may build a tolerance and then I can finally use jalapeños and chipotle peppers as the good Lord intended.  But for the most part I make “everyday” food, nothing to fancy.  I know we all get into food ruts, maybe this section will give you something new to try! 

And finally, just a little more about me! I am a farm girl born and raised.   I was the first of my family to attend college and earn a degree!  I studied Agriculture Science with a dream to one day own a farm of my own.  After college I returned home, and one random summer night I went to a rodeo.  There I met the man of my dreams.  For all sake and purposes we shall call him the “Cowboy.”  He was covered in mud and manure when I first saw him.  He was part of the rodeo crew and had been working the chutes that night.  No matter; it was kinda, sorta, love at first sight.  After a whirl wind romance we got married.  So here we are two farm kids working in the real world and living in a second floor apartment, trying to make ends meet and save enough to one day go into farming ourselves.  It’s gonna be interesting. 

Here we go!

So I couldn't think of a better time to start an agriculture blog than on National Ag Day!  You can expect to see personal stories, recipes and other lively discussions from cowboy boots to John Wayne movies.  The possibilities are endless!