This is my favorite scene from our farm. The barn sits where my great grandparents’ house use to be. It was the original homestead. If you look in the horizon you can see the grain legs where our other barn and office sits. I also love this photo because the cows are grazing the pasture as the day cools down and the sun sets. Taking in this sight is a perfect way to end the day. It’s my perfect ending.
What’s your perfect ending to your day?
Your mission: Be so busy loving your life you have no time for hate, regret, or fear.
I have been very busy lately! So busy that I have not had very much time to myself. Surprisingly I have been alright with this (I have to have some me time). All summer I was busy working at my internship every week day and loving it.
After finishing my internship I was busy attending my county fair to watch my favorite 4-Hers show their livestock and having conversations with some of my favorite farmers.
Next thing I knew I was meeting my mentor teachers for my student teaching placement. Lucky for me my school is close to the Indiana State Fairgrounds and I was able to attend the 2012 Ham Breakfast to kick off our great Indiana State Fair. That next day I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity representing Marion County Farm Bureau. I also worked for Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom later that day. It was a long and busy day but I loved volunteering and teaching!
I made it through my first week of student teaching. I absolutely love my school, I feel so welcomed and the staff is so supportive of me and the other student teacher interns. The students are awesome! Who knew I would ever love the 6th grade again!
After my first day of student teaching I headed over to the State Fairgrounds to watch the Grand Champion Drive. I love watching 4-H kids showcase their livestock! It’s a great way to show people how the ag industry cares for their animals.
This past weekend I visited Nashville, TN for a great family friend’s wedding. I loved that city and cannot wait to visit again. Of course I purchased a pair of boots. I may have an addiction to boots, but twenty years from now I’ll be so glad I got them!
To sum it all up, I’ve been one busy gal! I’m loving every moment of my busy life and have no regrets, except maybe the shoes I wore to student teach in yesterday!
Have you been as busy as me? Are you loving it or do you need a break? Either way I hope you are loving your life!
The picture on the left was taken at the end of May and the picture on the right was taken at the end of July. I think this shows how severe this drought has been.
I took this picture this morning. We were lucky enough to get some rain last night and the night before. The pasture is trying to get some color back but I know it’s going to be a while before its back to its old green self.
Please continue to pray for rain and for all the farm and ranch families who are having a rough year.
“Consumers should understand the importance of agriculture and that they have the safest, most abundant and affordable food supply because of farmers.”
— Michael Scuse U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary
I think U.S. farmers are so unappreciated today. The everyday consumer is two to three generations removed from the farm. Many of them do not personally know a farmer, so they do not know how hard a farmer works to provide them with their needs. Because of farmers you, me, consumers are provided with food, fuel, and fiber that are our essential needs. We need farmers, we will always need farmers! Farmers HAVE to be the jack of all trades. They have to be a scientist, mathematician, marketer, environmentalist, veterinarian, student and teacher. If you are a farmer connect with your consumers or if you know a farmer introduce them to a consumer. Please educate yourself or try to educate a consumer. Correct those crazy misconceptions and stereotypes about agriculture and farmers. Farmers are professionals and because of you they get to do what they do best, provide you with safe, abundant, and affordable food, fuel, and fiber.
To sum it up, we need farmers and they need to be appreciated. I love farmers and I thank God for them every day. So remember if you ate today…thank a farmer, because you need them.
Today is the opening day for the Indiana State Fair. It’s the year of the Dairy Cow!
The state fair is a way to connect farmers to their consumers. It’s also a great way for farm families to showcase all their hard work and love for agriculture.
Please keep all those who were involved in the tragic accident last year in your thoughts and prayers.
I hope that you have the opportunity to attend the State Fair and connect with all the great people in agriculture!
Indiana State Fair dates
August 3-19, 2012
“When the road looks rough ahead, remember the man upstairs and the word hope. Hang on to both and tough it out.”
— John Wayne
If you know me well at all than you know John Wayne is one of my all time favorite people. I guess I have my Dad to thank for that! These words not only come from a Hollywood legend, but from a man who experienced rough times just like everyone.
These are definitely rough times and I have no doubt that there will be more to come. So during this drought and the rough times ahead I am going to continue to remember the man upstairs and have hope for my future and the future of agriculture. To sum it up, I’m going to tough it out!
Tuesday night my Mom and I were sitting on the front porch and the most marvelous thing happened…
It started to RAIN!!!
Even better it was a good soaking rain! My Mom looked over at me and said, “What is this?” It had not rained like that since May. So we sat and we watched and we cried as the rain drops continued to fall. Our phone would not stop ringing and I yelled at my Mom for talking out loud about the rain because I thought talking about it would jinx it and then it would stop. But it didn’t, it kept pouring.
We got a half an inch Tuesday night. While that was certainly not enough to turn around this year’s corn crop, it was still very much welcomed. This year’s drought is starting to make history and I am beginning to think that it was sent to see what my generation is capable of in the agriculture industry. To see how we can handle all of what Mother Nature is capable of and to test our character. At some point we have to learn that there are things that we cannot control and we need to learn “that’s just part of it.”
I continued to sit there admiring the rain even as the wind started to blow it up onto the porch. I did not care to get soaked by the it. I welcomed it. I began praying to God, thanking him for this gift. I could hear the cows in the pasture begin to moo and I believe they were saying “thank moo” to God too.
“Have passion finding your passion.”
-Katie Thomas
I love seeing people show their passion and I love that these boys’ passion is agriculture. They definitely have passion for their crops and livestock and that has led them to find their passion for agriculture. I also love the fact that they are brothers and I hope that they stay in the industry and make farming a passionate family tradition.
My passion is also agriculture. I love giving people the facts about agriculture. I believe that it is extremely important for the everyday consumer to know the facts about where their food, fiber, and fuel comes from. I also want consumers to know about the farm and ranch families that make it all possible. I guess that’s where the teacher in me comes into play. I think of my self as an advocate for agriculture also known as an “Agvocate.” To sum it up I support and love agriculture because it is my passion.
What is your passion?
This is the longest stretch of dry weather Indiana has had in 104 years. What does this mean for the corn crop? It is in stress…a lot of stress. And as my Dad would have said, “That’s just part of it.”
Here is a great video to watch and learn what exactly the corn crop is doing during this drought.
I believe it is time for us all to break out into our rain dances! Please continue to keep farm families in your thoughts and prayers!
When I would ask my Dad about how things were going with the farm or about anything in general and I didn’t like his answer he followed by saying, “That’s just part of it.”
Well he wasn’t the only man in the business of agriculture that said those same words.
The following conversation was between the Pioneer Woman and her rancher husband, Marlboro Man.
Pioneer Woman: Okay, so how do you feel to live in an ocean where the waves that carry you are the markets, the weather, and other factors that are beyond your control?
Marlboro Man: That’s just part of it.
Pioneer Woman: Part of what?
Marlboro Man: Part of agriculture. Part of life. It’s actually kind of liberating at a certain point — you do the best that you can with what you can control, and you pray about what you can’t control. And you have faith that it’ll all work out in the end.
This drought that has come upon us this summer is out of our control, but that’s just part of it. My Dad always said you can’t have a good year every year. I believe this is the worst year that I have seen in my lifetime. So I will continue to understand that “that’s just part of it” in this industry. I will also continue to “pray about what you can’t control.”
Sarah Sums It Up 