It caught me by surprise. As I was glancing at all the Facebook chatter, links, updates, and social news, I saw a caption. It was a link to an article titled “How Dairy Cattle Judging Made me Rich!” Nothing could have captured my attention any quicker than this tidbit linked to the “Bullvine” page. Immediately [...]
It happens every time. The ice cream is setting before me, and in my anticipation for the first bite of this creamy confection, I rush the process and the result is a “brain freeze.” It is easy to prevent if I would just eat more slowly. Supposedly the cold stimulates a nerve in the roof [...]
We have a story to tell in our role as dairy farmers. There are countless opportunities to share it with others. It may not always be the setting we like or feel comfortable with, but our lives have dimensions that exceed those who work in the concrete jungles of a city, far removed from farm [...]
It should come as no surprise, but I enjoy the thrill of competition and being competitive. No matter what the score, I will continue to root for my favorite team and never give up or in to the thought of losing. In fact, that term does not fit in my vocabulary. Kellogg cereals says it [...]
Recently, my agriculture pursuits allowed me a venture into pop culture, as I made time to read The Hunger Games. Now the movie has been released and it prompted me to compare the author’s theme with the future of agriculture. Synopsis If you are not familiar with the fictional novel, it takes place in a [...]
From the musical, “Porgy and Bess,” George and Ira Gershwin composed the memorable song that begins with the phrase, “Summertime and the livin is easy.” I mean no disrespect, but summers on the farm are far from easy and 2012 has already given us quite enough of Mother Nature’s wrath. The heat, the storms, the [...]
For nearly four decades, my career path has found roots in the educational system. As a “baby boomer,” I have observed changing attitudes of the generations of students I have taught. With each, I have attempted to discover teaching methods that addressed the “so what” moment with an “aha” response. The graduation season is upon [...]
Years ago, a little girl by the name of Virginia, posed a rather simplistic question that has lived on far beyond anyone’s expectations. Perhaps you could read it one more time and find the same meaning that I will now speak of. It was not so much that her inquiry of whether Santa existed was [...]
With all due respect, move over, Einstein. I have developed my own theory of relativity as it relates to positive youth development. Endurance = Motivation x Challenge squared. At each 4-H dairy event this year, I have observed youth in the learning environment and I am curious as to what methods are used to teach [...]
Those of us who embrace agriculture are keenly aware of the ever-widening gap of fact and fiction when it relates to our lifestyle. The fair is not just a “fair” atmosphere, but an excellent one rich with opportunity to showcase our passion for the land and living things.
