“Thinking outside of the box.” We use the phrase to refer to a nontraditional idea. Perhaps the exact definition isn’t so important, but we should never underestimate the value of such logic.
Maybe the following 4-H dairy program is an example of an idea created outside of the normal parameters. Dairy “COW”reers Day will be […]
While recently catching up on some reading, I saw an article that caught my interest. It was titled “Is your child ready for farm chores?”
Since I work with dairy youth programs, this topic captured my curiosity. However, as a parent who had regularly enforced chores upon our sons, I had not posed such a question […]
The most beloved Christmas poem of all time begins with the phrase “‘Twas the night before Christmas.” Although it speaks of a family’s preparation for Santa’s visit, here at the office we are on the eve of a new year and there is the usual hustle and bustle to plan the 2010 calendar, review 2009’s […]
If you listen to country music, you have heard Toby Keith’s new song, Great American Ride. Over the past couple of months, I have heard it countless times while the 4-H and collegiate judging teams have been traveling to different judging competitions.
Strong connection
As I was singing along, there was a moment I realized a […]
Just like story of Camelot, the Ohio State Fair emerged in 2009 rather like a knight in shining armor. In the midst of the dismal economic times for the dairy industry, the fair may have been just what we all needed to rescue our spirits.
In case you did not know, the theme was “Share […]
I have either observed or been a part of many competitive events in my lifetime. Watching the Olympics on television has been almost like being there.
Then there was that time I watched a dairy judge take 15 minutes to decide what two-year-old would end up with the blue ribbon. I’ve even attended OSU/Michigan games […]
Spring lifts all our spirits. It is the season that allows us the time to step away from reality and renew our hopes for a better year than the last.
We can briefly put away our dismal moods and enjoy the simple beauty of turning the cows out to pasture for the first time in […]
It began with a simple idea. It was then shared with American Dairy Association Mideast and they too saw merit in the concept.
On March 28, Cowmunicators 101 became a reality. Held at the Nationwide and OFBF 4-H Center, the attendance far exceeded the original goal and those who attended took part in a one-of-a-kind […]
Dairy farmers are often advised that listening to their cows is a valuable management tool. Working with dairy youth programs, I remind myself of the same logic when it comes to kids, parents and volunteers. If I hope to plan programs that are progressive and useful, time should be set aside to listen to the […]
About 9:30 p.m. on Labor Day, 16 4-H and Ohio State University collegiate judges and their coaches drove into the Waterman Dairy at OSU. Dairy judging boot camp had officially ended. Everyone scrambled to locate their luggage and find their vehicles or parents to head home.
Some had another two or three hours to drive […]
