babies and mustaches

"Hard work, honesty, integrity, faith, family, love, forgiveness." 

That's what we're about . . . and something tells me, that's true of a lot of other farmers too.

PS Oh yeah, and Baby and my farmer's mustache make appearances too. 

farm blog round-up: the best of the best!

It seems fitting to use the term "round-up" when it comes to farming blogs because old Western songs about round-ups and Roy Rogers' theme songs basically pop right into your head. 

Ok, or just mine. 

Winchester 

Also, you should be forewarned that this post has nothing to do with our farm dogs, although they do enjoy rounding things up.

Trash, for instance. Bottles. Corn stalks. Cardboard. A random glove. Pretty much anything they can find within a three-mile radius ends up in our yard. 

Now if I only could teach them to find discarded vintage Pyrex, we'd be set!

For those of you who may live in the city but are interested in farm life -- and I know you exist because you say so on Instagram -- get your mouse ready to do some clicking and bookmarking. Winter's coming, you know, and there's no better way to spend time waiting for the next blizzard to pass than pretending you're out on the prairie with Pa Ingalls trying to find your way from the house to the barn just by holding on to a rope strung between the two. 

Ok, maybe that isn't as fun as it sounds. 

Still. 

Colt 

Common Ground: The site and blog are written by farmers simply starting discussions about how they produce the food that ends up on your table. And they're super good at helping you break through all sorts of myths and misinformation. 

Country Linked: This is a sweet blog that's just right for all the people who grew up in the country and love hearing stories -- and seeing pictures -- of day-to-day life on the farm that brings all those memories right back. 

Cow Spots and Tales: Just go ahead and zip on over to Lisa's blog riiiiight now. She's a runner interested in nutrition, but she's also a dairy farmer, so all those stories you hear about whether or not it's good to eat meat and if there's antibiotics in your milk? She sets the record straight on pretty much all of them. 

Dairy Good Life: Sadie's blog's tagline says it all: "Cows. Kids. Chaos. It's all good." And it is! Plus, we once stayed at the same hotel in DC while attending two different conferences. We never got to meet, but our IG posts told us we were at least in the same vicinity and that counts for something! 

Petunia 

Dairy Carrie: You've probably seen or heard of Carrie on Twitter . .. or in Chipotle's nightmares . . . or on Facebook. She's a wife and a mom and a dairy farmer and a blogger all rolled into one -- with a sense of humor and a quest to make sure the truth is told to boot. 

Prairie Californian: Beautiful pictures, delicious meals, the truth about gluten and things you never even knew about raising sunflowers -- you'll get all that and more by following Jenny's blog! Just be prepared to leave hungry pretty much every time you visit. 

My Barnyard View: Janet's busy blogging about dairy . . . while learning how to drive a combine . . . all at the same time. I can hardly keep up! 

The Pinke Post: Katie is a wife, mom and agvocate who blogs from the prairie where she -- prepare yourself for this -- lives 97 miles from a Starbucks! That's worth reading about right there! 

You may not have grown up on a farm or ever lived on a farm or even been to visit a farm. But thanks to these ladies and social media, you can still meet the people who raise your food. You can learn how crops are grown. You can ask questions about what animal care looks like. You can hear their stories and tell them yours too. 

Like the time our dogs thought they wanted to take off after a coyote but then Petunia decided to just lay down and bark instead. 

Um, or maybe just go read a good blog about life in the country.

Yeah. 

Do that. 

And their tails all wagged happily every after. 

day 20 of farmacology: our chickens are cray cray

One of the things you may not know about farm folks is that

we have crazy chickens.  

We have five chickens: three Red Stars and two Black Stars. They haven't started laying yet, but we're banking on them producing any day now.

Ok, so we've been saying that for a month. 

But this time we mean it. 

And they apparently do too, because in the last week, they've discovered that their pen can't contain them anymore. 

First, one Black Star learned she could quite literally fly the coop. 

Then, just as quickly, she learned that puppies find wandering chickens a lot of fun to chase. 

Then she learned that if she darted under the electric fence into the pasture, the puppies would leave her alone. 

Now she pretty much fancies herself a heifer. 

And two of her friends aren't far behind. I looked outside yesterday to see three newly free-range, cage-free chickens and . . . 

one snoozing Great Pyrenees. Some livestock guardian SHE is.

This morning, the three chickens were back out again and darting in and out between puppies and heifers. The heifers chase the chickens out of the pasture. The dogs chase them back in. No wonder they don't have any time to lay eggs. 

Crazy chickens. 

day 18 of farmacology: we take breaks . . . sometimes

One of the things you may not know about farm folks is that

we do take breaks. Sometimes.  

We missed the prettiest leaves by about a week, but today we took a little hike at a local state park, and my farmer got to enjoy the weather from outside the cab of a tractor and without his work boots on. Success! 

  

Hiking while pregnant gave me a good foretaste of what growing older will be like. You have to watch where you place each foot like you're walking a mine field, you're basically just trying not to fall, and you lean heavily on your husband, who does his best to humor you with his a fake aged voice. 

  

You also take breaks to learn about acorns. (I told you we were old at heart.)

Here's a fun fact for the day: Did you know that acorns are poisonous to cows? [Click to tweet.]

Neither did I! What a coincidence! 

Not that you or I are busy spending our days cramming nuts down random cows' throats or anything, but it never hurts to know these things just in case. 

Or in the event you're someone phone-a-friend when a million dollar game show question is on the line. 

You can thank us later. 

Chris then pointed out that this plant looked like something I'd attempt to craft with, and as with most things, he's right. 

I left it there . . . but only because I'd probably get it home and then we'd all break out in hives or something equally awesome. 

Because I'm good like that. 

  

We also talked about coming back to that same park in a year and doing some hiking with a little buckaroo or buckarette . . . and how I'd carry the water and he could tote the baby. That's a dad rite of passage, right? Err . . . rite? Errr . . . 

Farmers, to quote Mike Row, are #notafraidtowork. But they're also not afraid to be a little spontaneous, take a little break, go on a little walk, and have a little chat with their wives. 

And that makes me more than just a little happy. 

Want to read more of my 31 day farmacology writing challenge? Click here. 

day 16 of farmacology: life by the seasons

One of the things you may not know about farm folks is that

we are all about the seasons. 

Farmers' lives revolve around the seasons. Spring. Planting. Fall. Harvesting. Winter. Snow Removal. Summer. Sweat. 

Nobody knows the weather -- and thus the seasons -- better than a farmer. 

Except maybe the farmer's wife, who keeps just as close an eye on the weather radar to know when to deliver lunch or when rain might keep him home for an afternoon or two. 

So while some people might say that these two pictures were taken two years apart, one in 2013 and one in 2015, we'd say they were taken three corn silages, 1800 calves, one oat silage, three new dogs, one big mustache, two rye silages and a rooster later. 

And either way, we'd all be right. 

Want to read more of my 31 day farmacology writing challenge? Click here. 

day 15 of farmacology: next generation

One of the things you may not know about farm folks is that

we like to encourage the next generation of farmers. 

My farmer's family has been farming for six generations. Mine has been farming for five. I think that means our kids will be eleventh-generation farmers. That's how that works, isn't it?

Because despite the long hours, the too-wet springtimes and the too-dry falls, the broken machinery, the fluctuation of the market and the risks that sometimes are worth taking and sometimes aren't, the problems no one else can solve and the search for good help, snow drifts to plow in the winter and mud to wade through in the spring, the construction projects and the bills, farming is some of the best work out there. 

There's nothing like the smell of fresh-turned dirt, or counting the Vs of geese flying through the air, falling into bed exhausted after an immensely productive day or owning your own farm, watching a litter of piglets thrive on their mama's milk or seeing a tree trunk filled with monarch butterflies in transit. 

It may not always be easy, but it's worth it . . . whether you're one or a hundred. And we don't want them to forget it. 

Want to read more of my 31 day farmacology writing challenge? Click here. 

day 14 of farmacology: ever ready

One of the things you may not know about farm folks is that

we try to keep baked goods in our freezers. 

Because you never know when neighbors will stop by for coffee. You have to be prepared for these kinds of things. 

I tried it once. I baked a pan of bars, ate some with family, put the rest in the freezer . . . and then promptly proceeded to eat the rest one at a time over the course of the next week. 

Whoops. 

But when done properly, a person living in the country can always be ready for the moment anyone might stop by. 

Take one of my mom's friends, for example. She realized that she was in charge of taking cookies to the PTO meeting one evening, but the small-town grocery store was already closed for the night. 

So she called her neighbor and frantically asked if she had any cookies in her freezer that the neighbor would give up for a price. 

Of course the neighbor obliged. Because she had cookies. In her freezer. 

So whether you're living in the country or living in the city, pop those bars in the freezer. Double wrap that coffee cake. At least have some cookie dough handy. 

You never know when the neighbors might stop by. 

Or just need to borrow some. 

Because cups of sugar and an egg are so yesterday. 

Penzey's Banana Nut Coffee Cake

• BREAD
• 1/2 Cup pecans, chopped
• 1/4 Cup Cinnamon Sugar
• 1/2 Cup shortening
• 1 Cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 Cup bananas, mashed (2 medium to large very ripe bananas)
• 1 TB. pure Vanilla extract
• 1/2 Cup sour cream
• 2 Cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 
  
• CARAMEL ICING
• 6 TB. butter
• 3/4 Cup brown sugar, packed
• 6 TB. milk
• 1 tsp. pure Vanilla extract
• 2 Cups powdered sugar

• 1
  Bread: Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease either a bundt or tube pan and set aside. Combine the chopped pecans and CINNAMON SUGAR, set aside. With a mixer, cream the shortening and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, mashed banana and PURE VANILLA EXTRACT. Add the sour cream and mix until blended. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to the batter and beat until blended. Sprinkle half of the sugar/nut mixture into the greased pan. Top with half of the cake batter. Follow with the second half of the sugar/nut mixture and end with the rest of the cake batter. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in the pan then turn out the cake to finish cooling. Top with Caramel Icing.
• 2 Icing: Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the sugar and the milk. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat, add the VANILLA EXTRACT and gradually mix in the powdered sugar. This icing hardens up rather quickly so you need to work fast. If it hardens up too quickly for you add some more milk to thin it out.

Want to read more of my 31 day farmacology writing challenge? Click here. 

day 13 of farmacology: celebration

One of the things you may not know about farm folks is that

we celebrate. 

Today my father-inlaw, Paul Heins, received the Governor's Award for Agricultural Achievement. 

And that's worth celebrating!

"Missouri's economy depends on the innovation, dedication and resilience of our farm families, who work each and every day to strengthen their communities and feed, fuel and clothe the world," Gov. Nixon said. "Thanks to producers like Paul Heins and Brent Sanddige, Missouri agriculture continues to lead the way." 

Missouri's Director of Agriculture, Richard Fordyce, presented the award on behalf of the governor and made time for a tour of the farm, some good old-fashioned ag chat and even a bite of cheese. 

What does that award mean? That farmers still know how to combine faith, business, family, farming, fun and a lot of hard work. 

And sometimes, just sometimes, other people notice and value it also. 

And that's worth celebrating too! 

So tonight, we're lifting a glass of milk to you, Paul. Thanks to you -- and to all the cows! -- for putting the good stuff on our kitchen tables and in our cereal bowls every morning.

(Ok, and in secret ice cream stashes too.) 

Want to learn more about the award? Click here. 

day 12 of farmacology: farms help communities

One of the things you may not know about farm folks is that

we know that farms are an economic benefit . 

Ok. You probably figured that, but sometimes it's worth repeating. A lot. 

Farms bring jobs to their communities. Our farm hires men and women to milk cows three times a day, mechanics to keep the machinery in working order, calf feeders, heifer feeders, welders, construction workers . . . 

But we also provide work for people outside the farm. The mechanics at our local dealership sometimes have to fix our equipment. The local trucking company supplies drivers to haul our milk, bring in gravel or drop off feed. Local law enforcement and teachers work part-time driving trucks during silage season. The local dozer operator does dirt work on terraces. 

And then consider the money that goes back into the community as a result of the farm's purchases: gas, diesel, electricity, water, seed, fertilizer, tires, paint, equipment, concrete, steel, dog food for our four canines who eat about as much as all the cows combined . . . 

Then there's the auxiliary people whose jobs are also dependent on agriculture: the accountant who keeps tabs on the books, the milk inspector who checks on the safety of the food produced, the public water supply district staff, the seed salesman . . . 

Jobs for people doing the farming, employment for folks providing services to the farm, dollars that go back into organizations providing goods to the farm . . . all added benefits to farming . . . on top of producing delicious things like milk! 

Or pork. Because I'll always be a pig farmer's daughter. 

And that, to quote my farmer, is why "capitalism is so freaking awesome." Its benefits are so far reaching!

Want to read more of my 31 day farmacology writing challenge? Click here. 

day 10 of farmacology: things that go bump in the dryer

One of the things you may not know about farm folks is that

we find weird things in our laundry. 

It's not uncommon to find things like, say, Kleenex in your dryer. Or stuck to your fleece pajama pants. Or in a little trail from where you put on said fleece pajama pants to wherever it is you're currently sitting. 

Ok. So by "you" I mean "me." 

But do you find tools in your dryer? 

What about pocket knives? 

Pieces of fencing? 

Ear plugs? 

What about corn kernels?

Business cards from seed reps?

Ah, yes.

Then you, too, might be a farmer's wife. 

PS Some lovely bloggers and their kiddos toured the dairy a couple of weeks ago and even joined us for lunch. You can see more about their visit and their thoughts on knowing where milk comes from at Sugar Bee Crafts with a sweet post by Mandy. 

Want to read more of my 31 day farmacology writing challenge? Click here. 

day 9 of farmacology: naming animals

  

One of the things you may not know about farm folks is that

sometimes we name our animals; sometimes we don't.

I was homeschooled for a couple of years before I headed off to school. Whenever any kid found out my dad was a hog farmer, he inevitably asked, "Do you name your pigs?" 

I always thought that was a weird question. It wasn't because giving names to animals was awkward. It was because, well, how did people expect me to tell the difference between all those identical-looking pink pigs?

A few did have names. One sick pig got the distinct pleasure of hearing 8- or 9-year-old me read Charlotte's Web outloud. I perched on a footstool next to her while she recovered, thinking I was a pretty good nurse, although perhaps my literary selection could have been slightly more helpful. Her name was Princess. 

We don't name all our cows today, but sometimes we do. There's Snout, Lucy, Snowflake, Snickers, Reba, Ruby, Queen Mother, Talulah, Clementine, Gandalf, the General, Dorothy Lynch . . . Some also have numbers, and my farmer can recall many of those digits just as quickly as he can a name. 

We have a whopping six chickens at our house right now. Our rooster's name is Horace, but the five hens have no names. We've had well-named cats too, like . . . Truck Kitty and . . . Little Kitty. (Ok, so we struggle in the cat moniker department.)

And that's not even mentioning the four canines who keep all coyotes, mailmen, falling leaves and raccoons at bay. 

Some farmers name all their animals. Some don't. Some, like us, go for the combo approach.

But if you come to the farm, and you spot a calf that you think is just downright adorable, tell us her number and give us her name. 

We'll remember both. We promise. 

Want to read more of my 31 day farmacology writing challenge? Click here.