They are barely able to walk and yet they pick up the end of rope halter and make their first debut in the show ring. We can hardly wait to watch them grow up and move closer to the other end of the halter. Yet turn around and they are graduating from eighth grade, high [...]

It’s no secret that experiences define life. I’ve had my fair share, but I find myself continually challenged by the youth I spend time with. However, they come with strings attached and one of these is their continual pursuit of new technology. Many have never known a day without touching a computer. When our sons [...]

2010 … It has been a “dickens” of a year! The challenge of the American job market has loomed in blogs, coffee shop conversations and in every form of printed material. It can even be likened to the plot of the classic Charles Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol. It seems that our country is haunted [...]

The events of the past two years have given us cause to stop and ponder the quality of our life. Along the way, it would be good if we could take time to recognize some life-altering moments that provide the secure notion that dairy farming is indeed sustainable AND that we can feel satisfied with the quality of life that a dairy farm offers.

“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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]