A mom, her boys, too many cows and lots of farming
For everyone who believes cows should only exist on pastures of green grass and far away from feedlots and barns, let me introduce you to our calving barn. On a Saturday night - after enjoying dinner with fellow farming friends - the hubs and I stopped in to check on our heifers. These ladies are … Continue reading Why yes, we put our cows in barns
I am privileged to not only work for a member of Congress who serves on the House agriculture committee but has made agriculture one of his top priorities. But when the days is done, I get to come home to the farm and move into my most cherished role of mother and wife. It's no … Continue reading When Times Get Tough Don’t Forget the Spouses
This proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln during the U.S. Civil War. His reminder to thank God for the many blessings we enjoy - in the midst of great strife - is something we all should remember this holiday season. We live in the most prosperous time in history. Our lives may not be … Continue reading President Lincoln Thanksgiving Proclamation
Every month I receive a paycheck, each one the same as the month prior. It's guaranteed as long as I'm employed. But my farmer husband isn't as fortunate. There are no guaranteed paydays and there's no guessing what the pay will be when it arrives in his bank account. That's what makes farming risky but … Continue reading How Do Farmers Get Paid?
I didn't grow up with pets. For a few years we had a goldfish that I'm pretty sure was actually a dozen different fish my parents rotated through after one died off or we starved it to death. We finally adopted a dog when I was in middle school and I remember being frustrated by … Continue reading The Value of Animals
Sunday is Mother's Day and will mark just over 6 years of my time as a mother. I have two boys - Evan, age 6, and Owen, age 3 - and being their mother is both the most difficult and rewarding job I have. I've learned a lot while raising two boys and I've slowly … Continue reading Thoughts from a Farm Mom
It's #SmallBusinessWeek and while we all stop to lift up the downtown shop or local manufacturing company, farms often are not part of the business landscape we celebrate because those outside of farming don't see what we do as a business. But for many communities and states - like Kansas - farming and agriculture is … Continue reading The Business of Farming
My husband has spent the better part of the last 10 days behind the wheel of his yellow 18-wheeler. We had cows at our farm this winter and now it’s time to send them east to enjoy a summer grazing in the Kansas Flint Hills. The state of Kansas has more cows than people – … Continue reading Using Our Resources
For our first date, Derek and I met at a sandwich shop in downtown McPherson. I had walked over from work and Derek had just pulled into town after being on the road all morning. When I asked him what he had been doing he responded that he had been delivering bulls to the cows … Continue reading Making Babies (Calves, of course)
During the winter months we have a lot of mouths to feed on the farm. More than 500 to be exact. That makes dinner a big deal and important part of the farmer hub's day. We put a lot of time and attention into the feed for our cattle because, just as in humans, proper … Continue reading The Dish on Dinner Time
