Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Preparing for a Potential Storm


Let me start by taking a moment to say that our thoughts and prayers are with those in Newtown, CT.  I cannot imagine what those families are feeling.  I have h\hugged my children a little tighter, yes, even the grown ones this week.

Our area is forcasted to get our first snow of the year.  What do you do to prepare?  Do you make sure you have ice melt, milk, bread and a snow shovel?  What else do you need?

On the farm, we must do all of these to prepare us and much more to ensure the health and safety (as much is under our control) of the animals.  Hay must be put out so that they have something to eat.  If we have some that appear to be close to having a calf, they are brought closer to or put in the barn.  If the ponds could freeze, the cows need to be shut away from them as much as possible.  This helps to ensure none fall through the ice and freeze.  The equine need to have shelter, hay and water ready.  The dogs need extra straw in their dog houses and a wind break in place so that they are not as cold/wet.  Tractors need to be plugged in and have winterized fuel in them.  This will help ensure that they will start when we need them.  The electric waterers must have the heaters on so they do not freeze.  All of these chores, the ones that I am sure I missed and our daily chores must be done.

While completing all of these chores, we are anxiously awaiting our first calf of the season.  Our first due dates are for tomorrow!

May God keep you and your loved ones safe.

Until next time,  remember.......Beef, It's What's for Dinner!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

"Agriculture is Important to Me"


Tonight a new video was released that reminded me why we do what we do.  The video is from the Peterson Farm Brothers, http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePetersonFarmBros?feature=watch .  It can be found on their You Tube page, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX153eYcVrY .  While watching this video as a family we were laughing agreeing with the lyrics and saying whom in the family certain sections of the video seemed to represent.  We watched it several times to hear all of the lyrics and enjoy how this parody represented exactly how we felt.  I am so thankful that these young men are representing agriculture so well.  More of us need to find our own way to get our story out there to the general public.  Maybe we can't all reach as many people, but every person we educate is one more that may have a slight understanding of what we do every day and every year.

Lately, we have been busy preparing for calving season, making sure we have enough hay, moving Ashley and Jeff, working our jobs and trying to make sure we have enough hay for the winter.  If this was all that we did, life would be much easier.  Like everyone else, we have other things that seem to distract us from what we know we need to do.  It is the time of year where we have to change our focus.

Our main focus on Windy Hill Farm has not got to be calving season and caring for moms and newborns.  We are a couple of weeks away from our first calf, but time to plan on moving the cows that are close to calving closer to home and make sure the pens and barn are ready and the bulls are where they can not get in with the cows after the calve.  We keep the bulls away so that we can control when we have calves.

Remember that we may not all do things the same way, but as Farmers and Ranchers, we are feeding ourselves, our families and the world.  We need more people to understand why and how we do this.  The best way for this understanding to occur is for EACH of us to find a way to tell our story that is comfortable for us.  I choose to blog, share with friends and have preschools tour the farm and be around the animals.  This is not the only way or the best way, but it is my way.  Find your own way and know that you DO make a difference!

Until next time,  remember.......Beef, It's What's for Dinner!