So for Christmas I got knee surgery... yup knee surgery. I know I could hardly contain my excitement when I realize that I would be on crutches for about 12 weeks throughout winter.
On the 22 of December my mom and dad took me up to the U of MN Fairview Clinic to have surgery. When we got there they took me into a little room and made me put on this paper gown that had openings for hot air to circulate through... I know it sounds as exciting as it was in person. Then I had a nurse ask me all sorts of questions and take my heart rate etc... Then she took my temperature with this fancy thermometer that they roll across your forehead... they were all about technology at this place I tell ya.
Then after being there for about 2 hours the doctor that does surgery came back and talked to me and put her initials on my leg to make sure she knew what she was operating on and okayed a femoral nerve block, which was weird! The anesthesiologist came in and the stuck his ultrasound on my leg until he found the muscles that controlled the knee cap and then he stuck some big needle in it and made it go numb.
The last thing I remember before the surgery was asking if I was in the operating room because it didn't look like one to me, I never heard the answer and next thing I know I am waking up in the recovery room. It's weird that I had no idea that I was under for 3 hours and I had no sense that I was even out.
From there I was sort of in and out of it. I don't remember getting wheeled to my room or when exactly my parents showed up. I ordered strawberry jell-o and water for supper, my parents watched Home Alone on the tv and then left me. I had the privilege of getting pain killers every 3 hours-ish and went through 5 wonderful nurses while I was there.
The morning after surgery I got sick from the pain medicine (not that anyone really is wanting to know all about this but I figured you might as well get the full effect), and in the afternoon the physical therapist came in and made me do some standing and leg exercises. She wanted me to try the stairs but I still didn't feel good enough so she told me she would be back around 3 to make me try. My mom made it up at around 3:30 in time for me to walk half way down the hall only to feel sick and have to go back to my room. I had to get the ok from the therapist to go home that day and to get that I had to be able to climb stairs, so she just said she would be back at 5 on her way out and if I could do it she would clear me.
At 5 she came back and I made it to the stairs, sat down in a chair, threw up all the fettuccine alfredo they made me eat, got up climbed up and down the stairs a few times and then back to my room. By the time I got back to my room I was in a lot of pain and ended up having to spend the night once again. At about 5:30 my mom got a call from my dad that the shed roof had caved in with all the snow, so that was one more thing on the to do list for the weekend.
Eric showed up at about 7 and ordered a cot and room service and my mom went home so she could get up to milk in the morning.
this blog is getting rather long so I will finish Christmas day on another blog... thank you for all the well wishes and people that have come visit me AND A BIG THANK YOU! TO ERIC, MARY, MOM, DAD, AND MY FAMILY! I appreciate everything you guys have done for me.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Here's the story as I see it
Ok, so last Thursday Grace had the great misfortune of having knee surgery. So, her in all her boredom decided we need to do 2 sides to the story. So here my side is.
I have no clue what on earth they did to her but all i got out of the story she told me was that they took a ligament out of a cadaver and put it in her leg.
So after a long christmas eve day in which we were expecting her to show up at home she had to spend the night in the hospital once again so she got to grandma's house at about 10 am on Christmas day on time to begin the present opening fiasco that is our family tradition. Once again the only story i got out of her about coming home was that she rode out in her little wheelchair, got into eric's car (which was a fiasco in itself, since she didn't want to get into his little putt putt of a car, but finally she did) and she threw up! Yuck! well, anyways, eric being the good boyfriend he is took her little puke bucket into the hospital rinsed it out and they were on their way. So, Christmas came and went, it wasn't quite the same as i was the only one to go to church on Christmas eve with my grandma and cousins (meanwhile, my dad was at home trying to get feed out for a couple days out of our feed shed that decided to collapse at 5 pm on Christmas eve, what great timing huh?) and instead of usual domino's pizza dad and I nachos with sloppy joe meat. Oh and she has this HUGE honking machine that is supposed to bend her leg to certain angle measurements, apparantly she has to be up to 90 degrees by next thursday and she is currently at 54 degrees.
So here comes the next couple of days and how I see it.
Grace is demanding! always wanting one thing or another. (but i've decided i'll get over it and be the world's greatest sister because she would do the same, hopefully she won't ever have to but hypothetically speaking)
She has cravings for weird things at weird times of the day. for example: the other day she had toast or something like that for breakfast at like 8 am and then at like 10:30 she decided she wanted popcorn (i found this a little strange, but maybe this is normal?)
She has a VERY dedicated boyfriend who is even willing to spend the night in the hospital with her while I sit at home and don't even go to the hosptial to visit her. Also one that's willing to empty her puke bucket.
She has the world's best sister!! (that's me, in case you were wondering)
Of course, although we may complain about doing chores most days, she would rather be out feeding calves than laying around on a couch.
She has some good friends who are willing to come visit her, with her favorite candies, while she sits on the couch all day and I make fun of her.
She is quite the coloring fool. I swear she has like finished 2 coloring books already and she only got them on saturday!
Finally, that she (and I) has the world's greatest family! One so great that the cousins and aunt came up with a plan to break her out of the hospital just so she could be at Christmas day with the rest of the family. (after all, it wouldn't be the same without her).
So as I'm leaving for the next 2 days for a basketball tournament, I only hope that she will be able to manage without me being there to lift her leg up on the couch or get her a Dr. Pepper.
I have no clue what on earth they did to her but all i got out of the story she told me was that they took a ligament out of a cadaver and put it in her leg.
So after a long christmas eve day in which we were expecting her to show up at home she had to spend the night in the hospital once again so she got to grandma's house at about 10 am on Christmas day on time to begin the present opening fiasco that is our family tradition. Once again the only story i got out of her about coming home was that she rode out in her little wheelchair, got into eric's car (which was a fiasco in itself, since she didn't want to get into his little putt putt of a car, but finally she did) and she threw up! Yuck! well, anyways, eric being the good boyfriend he is took her little puke bucket into the hospital rinsed it out and they were on their way. So, Christmas came and went, it wasn't quite the same as i was the only one to go to church on Christmas eve with my grandma and cousins (meanwhile, my dad was at home trying to get feed out for a couple days out of our feed shed that decided to collapse at 5 pm on Christmas eve, what great timing huh?) and instead of usual domino's pizza dad and I nachos with sloppy joe meat. Oh and she has this HUGE honking machine that is supposed to bend her leg to certain angle measurements, apparantly she has to be up to 90 degrees by next thursday and she is currently at 54 degrees.
So here comes the next couple of days and how I see it.
Grace is demanding! always wanting one thing or another. (but i've decided i'll get over it and be the world's greatest sister because she would do the same, hopefully she won't ever have to but hypothetically speaking)
She has cravings for weird things at weird times of the day. for example: the other day she had toast or something like that for breakfast at like 8 am and then at like 10:30 she decided she wanted popcorn (i found this a little strange, but maybe this is normal?)
She has a VERY dedicated boyfriend who is even willing to spend the night in the hospital with her while I sit at home and don't even go to the hosptial to visit her. Also one that's willing to empty her puke bucket.
She has the world's best sister!! (that's me, in case you were wondering)
Of course, although we may complain about doing chores most days, she would rather be out feeding calves than laying around on a couch.
She has some good friends who are willing to come visit her, with her favorite candies, while she sits on the couch all day and I make fun of her.
She is quite the coloring fool. I swear she has like finished 2 coloring books already and she only got them on saturday!
Finally, that she (and I) has the world's greatest family! One so great that the cousins and aunt came up with a plan to break her out of the hospital just so she could be at Christmas day with the rest of the family. (after all, it wouldn't be the same without her).
So as I'm leaving for the next 2 days for a basketball tournament, I only hope that she will be able to manage without me being there to lift her leg up on the couch or get her a Dr. Pepper.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
why we are who we are
So, this huge amount of snow we got yesterday has got me thinking. Why are we who we are?? What in our lives has affected the way we live today and the people we're friends with, the way our families interact. Why you may ask would snow lead to you think that?? Well, my answer is I have no idea, but it did so I decided to write about it.
So for my life I have come up with many reasons that I am the way I am. First off:
Why did my dad decide that he wanted dairy cows instead of sheep like my uncle had decided before him?
Next, why did my dad decide to breed his heifer instead of selling her and buying another one?
What made him want to milk cows while he was still in high school?
Why did he choose to milk cows over going to college?
All of these decisions my dad has made in his lifetime have had more affects on the lives grace and I lead than we will ever be able to tell.
I often wonder if my dad had chosen to go to college what job would he have now? Would he have met my mom? Would I be here today?
Then, this all boils down to:
Would I be in 4H?
Would i be in FFA?
Would i still be friends with the same group of kids at school?
Would I be really good at sports because I have time to do more with them in the summer?
What would I end up doing with my life?
Eventually, I come up with agriculture plays such a key role in my life that it's unfathomable what life would be like without it.
So on days like yesterday and today where I spend the whole day outside taking care of baby calves or helping my mom milk her 3rd shift in a row for that day, I'm thankful that my dad chose the lifestyle he did to make me the person I am today. For some this may seem strange considering days like this weekend are almost the worst time of the year for a dairy farmer, yet it gets you thinking everytime. So at the end of one of the longest weekends I've had in a long time, I'm grateful that my life has turned out the way it is, even though at times I would rather be sleeping in on a saturday morning than out feeding some unintelligent calves. So in the end, life makes you who you are because of the decisions and experiences people go through in their lives.
So for my life I have come up with many reasons that I am the way I am. First off:
Why did my dad decide that he wanted dairy cows instead of sheep like my uncle had decided before him?
Next, why did my dad decide to breed his heifer instead of selling her and buying another one?
What made him want to milk cows while he was still in high school?
Why did he choose to milk cows over going to college?
All of these decisions my dad has made in his lifetime have had more affects on the lives grace and I lead than we will ever be able to tell.
I often wonder if my dad had chosen to go to college what job would he have now? Would he have met my mom? Would I be here today?
Then, this all boils down to:
Would I be in 4H?
Would i be in FFA?
Would i still be friends with the same group of kids at school?
Would I be really good at sports because I have time to do more with them in the summer?
What would I end up doing with my life?
Eventually, I come up with agriculture plays such a key role in my life that it's unfathomable what life would be like without it.
So on days like yesterday and today where I spend the whole day outside taking care of baby calves or helping my mom milk her 3rd shift in a row for that day, I'm thankful that my dad chose the lifestyle he did to make me the person I am today. For some this may seem strange considering days like this weekend are almost the worst time of the year for a dairy farmer, yet it gets you thinking everytime. So at the end of one of the longest weekends I've had in a long time, I'm grateful that my life has turned out the way it is, even though at times I would rather be sleeping in on a saturday morning than out feeding some unintelligent calves. So in the end, life makes you who you are because of the decisions and experiences people go through in their lives.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The adventures of cookie making
This last weekend has been an adventure in cookie making to say the least... My roommate Amelia and I decided to make some cookies this weekend starting with what should have been the easiest cookies ever: peanut butter between ritz crackers and dipped in chocolate almond bark. The first part of peanut butter between the crackers went well, but when we went to melt the chocolate is where it got a little sticky... three batches of chocolate later we finally got it melted to the right consistency. The cookies taste great they just look a little messy haha...
Then we decided to make pretzels with kisses and m&m's and pretzels with rolos and pecans... first problem with that was the fact that this town did not have rolo's at the local wally world and the grocery store wanted $3.75 for a small bag, so we only got one bag of rolo's. Anyways getting the melted chocolate over the pretzels from the tray to the counter was interesting. We finally found a method that worked and they turned out pretty good.
Finally in the afternoon when I got bored I decided to make sugar cookies and those turned out to be the best cookies of the day! The cookies are soft and I spent my evening decorating them with frosting, m&m's, sprinkles, and crushed candy canes. They turned out pretty and taste good if I do say so myself (and it only took me 2 trips to walmart to get all the supplies :) )
I am sure I will make more cookies this week between writing papers and studying for tests, hopefully they turn out more like the sugar cookies and less like the peanut butter cracker things.
by the way...ONLY 19 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!
On a side note having nothing to do with Christmas, I went to the gym this morning and did the eliptical machine for 20 minutes and then I walked a mile around the track and I was feeling pretty good that I even made it to the gym and that Jessie didn't get us kicked out, when out of no where an older lady in a denim track suit up and passed me! haha So I finished my mile and left the track since I was so ashamed haha maybe tomorrow I will catch her!
Tis the season....
Since it is only 20 days until Christmas that means Mary needs to start writing the Christmas letter. She informed us that we all needed a list of exciting things we have done this year otherwise she will write a whole letter about herself. I have no doubt that she could and would write a whole letter about herself.
My year has been uneventful, not like when I was in high school and had a whole page of things I had accomplished over the year.
This is my list of things that I have come up with:
- I am still going to school at SDSU for dairy production and agriculture business and am currently on the 4 1/2 - 5 year program....
- I worked for the LeSueur County 4H Program as their summer intern this summer and had the time of my life! I love 4H and it was a dream job planning camp and activities and helping with their fair... now if only I can find an exciting job like that for this summer, so if anyone knows of anything let me know! haha
- I got to show cows at the county and state fair once again as an FFA'er. The end of the summer ends as it usually does I went back to school sick after spending 9 days at the MN State Fair. I was privileged enough to be a MnFRAC peer mentor for the 4H weekend. I got to teach the kids how to talk to the public and educate them about agriculture effectively.
- We got to go on vacation once again up north to agate lake and this year we got to bring along a boat! and Eric. haha The 4 days I got to spend there we went tubing, water skiing, sand castle building, explored Brainerd, and laid around in the sand.
- Once again weekends that were not filled with county fairs, working, or other obligations were spent at the lake tubing, water skiing, and hanging out with friends, it was a great summer!
I am sure Mary will be able to make up for the rest of us having a boring year. Although my parents probably had a more exciting year then me with my dad turning 5-0! and my mom traveling to Guatemala this fall.
Anyways I am sure that Mary will post the final Christmas letter when she has time and hopefully we will get a classy picture taken to send along. Ever since we sent the one with us "fishing" on the frozen pool we have tried to out do the last Christmas picture. I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season as much as I have been!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
I'm Going to College
So lately the question that everyone is burning to ask me is 'what are you going to do after high school?' Of course, my instant response is 'i'm going to college.' The conversation usually procedes as follows:
'Well, what college do you want to go to?'
Me: 'well, either the u of m, sdsu, or iowa state, but i can't afford iowa state so i guess the u or sdsu'
'What are you going for?'
Me: 'I couldn't tell you that, i'm not sure'
'What are you interested in?'
Me: 'Something in agriculture or dairy that will make me enough money to live off of and something that i enjoy.'
'That really narrows it down'
Me: 'Not really, but i guess we'll see i still have like 2 years to figure it out'
'i guess so'
This is usually the first conversation I have with a lot of people after the normal 'hey how's it going' part. Needless to say, all these people asking me what i'm going to do with my life is not helping at all with the decision. So I've decided that I'm going to go to college, take my required courses and hopefully by then I will have had enough exposure to things that I might have the slightest idea of what to do for the rest of my life. But then again, apparently the average person changes their major seven times before they graduate. SEVEN TIMES!! Wow! that's alot! So I figure I will get it figured it by that time, (hopefully it takes much less). So for all those inquiring minds out there who are just waiting to figure out what i'm going to do in life next time you see me. I'm going to college!!!
'Well, what college do you want to go to?'
Me: 'well, either the u of m, sdsu, or iowa state, but i can't afford iowa state so i guess the u or sdsu'
'What are you going for?'
Me: 'I couldn't tell you that, i'm not sure'
'What are you interested in?'
Me: 'Something in agriculture or dairy that will make me enough money to live off of and something that i enjoy.'
'That really narrows it down'
Me: 'Not really, but i guess we'll see i still have like 2 years to figure it out'
'i guess so'
This is usually the first conversation I have with a lot of people after the normal 'hey how's it going' part. Needless to say, all these people asking me what i'm going to do with my life is not helping at all with the decision. So I've decided that I'm going to go to college, take my required courses and hopefully by then I will have had enough exposure to things that I might have the slightest idea of what to do for the rest of my life. But then again, apparently the average person changes their major seven times before they graduate. SEVEN TIMES!! Wow! that's alot! So I figure I will get it figured it by that time, (hopefully it takes much less). So for all those inquiring minds out there who are just waiting to figure out what i'm going to do in life next time you see me. I'm going to college!!!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The most wonderful time of the year....
That's right folks: CHRISTMAS!
Christmas is coming soon, and to me that is the best time of the year! Don't get me wrong I like thanksgiving and have a lot to be thankful for but there is just something about Christmas! This year though it will be a little different... of course we are still going to church Christmas Eve and will probably order Dominoes like we have for every Christmas! that I can remember, however, no one seems to remember when that got started my parents came to the conclusion it was back in the days when they were the only ones doing chores in our old barn with 40 cows and they had to get up early.... so why cook a big dinner? I love that we do that though because we go to church come home eat Dominoes, open our family presents, watch a Christmas! movie and go to bed. Then my parents get up at 3:00 to go do chores and Mary and I come out at 7:00 to help. Then when chores are all done we rush to the house to get cleaned up and ready for Grandma Liebenstein's. Now that is an adventure in itself... when we were younger we would get to Grandma's take the Christmas! picture in front of the Christmas! tree then eat brunch and start by opening our stockings. We would gradually move to the bigger presents with multiple snack and potty breaks in there, and then finally 5 or 6 hours later we would sit down to Jesus's birthday party complete with a birthday cake and ham. Now we do all that same stuff but instead of everyone buying presesnts for everyone we draw names, but sometimes the pile is still to the middle of the living room! I wouldn't trade any part of this for anything! I love my family and Christmas! The best is when everyone can be there, but now that everyone is getting old and has to split their time with other family's.
The Byrns side is different but still fun in it's own way.... This year we are lucky that my cousins, grandparents, great aunt, and great grandma are joining us at our house for Christmas! We have some different traditions on that side including eating noodles, yes folks noodles for Chrismas! dinner.... if you know my dad you can imagine how well that flys haha.... then we all sit in a circle and play the greed game where everyone buys a $50.00 present that they would want and we roll dice until everyone has a present, for the most part everyone goes home with something they like.
I have pretty much had a count down going for the past month on how many days until Christmas! (Its 39 days in case you were wondering....) haha and I plan to sneak our little tree from the basement back to college with me until Christmas! break (hopefully Mary won't notice)
So if anyone needs help getting into the Christmas! spirit after Thanksgiving I'm your girl! I already plan to put up Christmas! lights the day after Thanksgiving, take in some black friday shopping, and bake cookies for my friends at school, as well as get a HUGE Christmas! TREE for our house... the perks of having a vaulted ceiling is getting HUGE Christmas! TREES! The only thing left is taking our classy Christmas! Card picture... so watch your mail for that special treat haha Rumor has it G & M are planning their own Christmas! letter too....
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
FALL SALE
So last week I had the privilege of being the co-chair in training for our annual fall sale, and let me tell you that it was exhausting. The two co-chairs, my other co-chair in training and myself each put in over 85 hours a piece! That leaves us with less then 15 hours of sleep over 6 nights.
We spent all day Sunday the week before gathering supplies and taking them to the animal science arena where everything was being held. That was an adventure in itself! Then that evening we had 20 dairy club members come in and help set up for the sale. On Tuesday the animals started rolling in and from then on we never got to sit down. We spent the rest of the week washing, clipping, feeding, and taking care of the animals there. There were some animals that came in extremely dirty that we worked on in the wash rack for over an hour a piece. I am glad that there are more farms out there like mine that would not tolerate their animals being as dirty as some of the cows that came in. On Friday we started to finalize the toplines for the sale and did the final washing on all the animals. Friday night we had a night line that was in charge of keeping the cattle clean until the next morning. Saturday we cleaned the arena before everyone came and then spent the sale leading cows to water then to the final fitting station and then into the arena. The last animal left around 3 pm and we spent the rest of the evening cleaning up by taking down fences, hauling out straw and other supplies back to the farm. At 10 we were all done!
At about 9:30 pm on Saturday we were cleaning up the last of the straw with the skidloader and rakes and I happened to have my foot too close to the skid loader bucket and one thing led to the next and I now have a big toe that is as big as the big toe and second toe on the other side... let me tell you that REALLY REALLY HURT!!!!!! Luckily my toe is still attached and the sale is all cleaned up, and we had all the help that we did from the dairy club.
This weekend I get to go home to see my puppy and family then return back to school until Thanksgiving, and in case you didn't know Christmas is less then 51 days away and I am already getting excited!
We spent all day Sunday the week before gathering supplies and taking them to the animal science arena where everything was being held. That was an adventure in itself! Then that evening we had 20 dairy club members come in and help set up for the sale. On Tuesday the animals started rolling in and from then on we never got to sit down. We spent the rest of the week washing, clipping, feeding, and taking care of the animals there. There were some animals that came in extremely dirty that we worked on in the wash rack for over an hour a piece. I am glad that there are more farms out there like mine that would not tolerate their animals being as dirty as some of the cows that came in. On Friday we started to finalize the toplines for the sale and did the final washing on all the animals. Friday night we had a night line that was in charge of keeping the cattle clean until the next morning. Saturday we cleaned the arena before everyone came and then spent the sale leading cows to water then to the final fitting station and then into the arena. The last animal left around 3 pm and we spent the rest of the evening cleaning up by taking down fences, hauling out straw and other supplies back to the farm. At 10 we were all done!
At about 9:30 pm on Saturday we were cleaning up the last of the straw with the skidloader and rakes and I happened to have my foot too close to the skid loader bucket and one thing led to the next and I now have a big toe that is as big as the big toe and second toe on the other side... let me tell you that REALLY REALLY HURT!!!!!! Luckily my toe is still attached and the sale is all cleaned up, and we had all the help that we did from the dairy club.
This weekend I get to go home to see my puppy and family then return back to school until Thanksgiving, and in case you didn't know Christmas is less then 51 days away and I am already getting excited!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Infinite Potential! Leaders of Tommorow!
My travelling has now come to an end for awhile finishing with a recent trip to Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention. On a 13 hour bus ride things can get a little uncomfortable. Sleeping on a dirty bus floor was definitely not all that great although it does bring back to wonderful memories of my trip to Washington DC this summer.
First off we left Ed's house at 9pm and stopped in Red Wing and Pine Island to pick up those chapters. And then we were off to Indianapolis. So we stop and we're like it must be like 7:00 and we all actually slept through the night, so we go to mcdonald's and order our food only to look at our phones and find out that it is 3:30 AM! i repeat 3:30 AM! Now don't ask why we would stop at 3:30 for breakfast but we ate and got back on the bus. Only to stop at 7 am for breakfast round number 2. Got back on our bus and drove to Fair Oaks Dairy. This is a farm that has 30,000 cows on 10 different farms. We saw one of the 10 farms that has 3,000 farms. It was very impressive and as a dairy farm kid myself I was very excited to see this farm as well as the 72 cow rotary parlor. Moving on from their we drove until we stopped for lunch at noon ate and got back on the bus to go to our hotel which was very nice however was, i kid you not, 1/4 mile long in just one hallway.
Then we got on the bus in our nice little blue jackets and scarf things and a goat. And went to the opening ceremony which was actually quite exciting. Then we went to the lady antebellum concert with easton corbin which was actually quite fun!
Thursday we boarded the bus a 7 am and went to the career fair and spent 5 hours collecting free stuff!! wow! it was fun. then we went to do our radio interview which my own mother and grandmother didn't even listen to! then we went to the talent show and another session.
Friday morning we went to the Indianapolis Speedway, needless to say i never need to go back there. We then went back to the career fair for another 2 hours. Then we went to a session where we watched Charlie Tank, a member of the Randolph FFA, recieve the national vegetable gardening proficieny award which is a great honor. We then returned to the hotel and went to applebee's for dinner and a night of swimming and talking.
Saturday we went to watch some fellow Randolph FFAians recieve their American Degrees and boarded the bus for home.
Besides the whiny kids that cause other FFAers to hate us and all of the fast food we ate, this was a great trip! Ed will definitely be taking me back next year!
First off we left Ed's house at 9pm and stopped in Red Wing and Pine Island to pick up those chapters. And then we were off to Indianapolis. So we stop and we're like it must be like 7:00 and we all actually slept through the night, so we go to mcdonald's and order our food only to look at our phones and find out that it is 3:30 AM! i repeat 3:30 AM! Now don't ask why we would stop at 3:30 for breakfast but we ate and got back on the bus. Only to stop at 7 am for breakfast round number 2. Got back on our bus and drove to Fair Oaks Dairy. This is a farm that has 30,000 cows on 10 different farms. We saw one of the 10 farms that has 3,000 farms. It was very impressive and as a dairy farm kid myself I was very excited to see this farm as well as the 72 cow rotary parlor. Moving on from their we drove until we stopped for lunch at noon ate and got back on the bus to go to our hotel which was very nice however was, i kid you not, 1/4 mile long in just one hallway.
Then we got on the bus in our nice little blue jackets and scarf things and a goat. And went to the opening ceremony which was actually quite exciting. Then we went to the lady antebellum concert with easton corbin which was actually quite fun!
Thursday we boarded the bus a 7 am and went to the career fair and spent 5 hours collecting free stuff!! wow! it was fun. then we went to do our radio interview which my own mother and grandmother didn't even listen to! then we went to the talent show and another session.
Friday morning we went to the Indianapolis Speedway, needless to say i never need to go back there. We then went back to the career fair for another 2 hours. Then we went to a session where we watched Charlie Tank, a member of the Randolph FFA, recieve the national vegetable gardening proficieny award which is a great honor. We then returned to the hotel and went to applebee's for dinner and a night of swimming and talking.
Saturday we went to watch some fellow Randolph FFAians recieve their American Degrees and boarded the bus for home.
Besides the whiny kids that cause other FFAers to hate us and all of the fast food we ate, this was a great trip! Ed will definitely be taking me back next year!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
welcome to the wonderful world of dairy!
so, last week I went on this super freakin amazing, most awesome trip that I have ever been on!! yes that would be the National 4-H Dairy Conference held in conjunction with world dairy expo in Madison, Wisconsin. It was freakin' sweet. Here is a little recap of the 4 days I spent with the most amazing people I have ever met.
Sunday: after almost losing a kid on the ride to Madison as well as almost being killed we made to Madison around 3 pm. From there we took a group picture, got moved into our rooms and began the weeks festivities. We had a pin exchange where we traded things with people from around the country and Canada in attempt to learn all 180 names from there we ate a not so delicious supper. First dance lessons!! oh boy is all i have to say.
Monday: ABS baby!! boliver!! freakin' sweet! any ways we toured ABS and their bull facilities. from there we went on various tours of many different places including the National Dairy Shrine, Hoards Dairyman Farm, Hoards Dairyman publishing and the Nasco supply store. Although alot of walking and listening it was quite the enjoyable day. We then returned back to our little hotel thingy and enjoyed some free time. We then ate again a not so delicious meal (although not NEARLY as bad as our lunch). Once again we had dance lessons!! woohoo! not gonna lie I really enjoyed these.
Tuesday: We toured the Guenther Heifer Raising facility as well as the Sassy Cow Creamery but really just the organic farm. Then we got the wonderful opportunity of touring the cleanest, fanciest, biggest farm I have yet to be on at the Crave Brothers Farm and also cheese processing plant! wow! is all I have to say. it was amazing! Then we had a decent meal of hotdogs and continued our dancing skills in a barn dance which was super fun!
Wednesday: We enjoyed some seminars that we signed up for to learn more about all the great dairy industry has to offer everyone and then we had the opportunity to go to the World Dairy Expo. After enjoying a short lunch with the breed associations we were given 4 hours to look around. Now, if you have never been to WDE you are for sure missing out. Free stuff everywhere and the most fricken awesome cows in the world! now for most people this doesn't make a difference but as a dairy kid it's awesome!! After this we got all dressed up and went to a dinner and then we prepared for our last night and dance. The dance was a little awkward as they usually are especially cause the lights were on but whatever I have nothing hide. and of course Minnesota were the trend setters wearing our it's gonna be a hot time in the old barn tonight tshirts we got for free.
Now Wednesday night. After returning to our rooms at like 11 our chaperone told us that we didn't have to go to bed as long as she didn't have to tell us to be quiet. Well, me being me, i of course stayed up to past 3 am when everyone decided we should maybe go to sleep. (not going to lie that I am still trying to catch up on sleep from this fun filled week, but it was worth it!)
So, in conclusion, this was the fricken best trip I have ever been on. mostly because of the people i have met through it but also the things i learned. If you have the opportunity to go on the National 4-H Dairy Conference take it!
Also, when deciding to do chair races in the hotel, check to make sure the security guard is not watching you.
Oh and one more thing... do not, i repeat DO NOT sing shots in an elevator with 10 boys and 2 girls, bad things will happen.
Sunday: after almost losing a kid on the ride to Madison as well as almost being killed we made to Madison around 3 pm. From there we took a group picture, got moved into our rooms and began the weeks festivities. We had a pin exchange where we traded things with people from around the country and Canada in attempt to learn all 180 names from there we ate a not so delicious supper. First dance lessons!! oh boy is all i have to say.
Monday: ABS baby!! boliver!! freakin' sweet! any ways we toured ABS and their bull facilities. from there we went on various tours of many different places including the National Dairy Shrine, Hoards Dairyman Farm, Hoards Dairyman publishing and the Nasco supply store. Although alot of walking and listening it was quite the enjoyable day. We then returned back to our little hotel thingy and enjoyed some free time. We then ate again a not so delicious meal (although not NEARLY as bad as our lunch). Once again we had dance lessons!! woohoo! not gonna lie I really enjoyed these.
Tuesday: We toured the Guenther Heifer Raising facility as well as the Sassy Cow Creamery but really just the organic farm. Then we got the wonderful opportunity of touring the cleanest, fanciest, biggest farm I have yet to be on at the Crave Brothers Farm and also cheese processing plant! wow! is all I have to say. it was amazing! Then we had a decent meal of hotdogs and continued our dancing skills in a barn dance which was super fun!
Wednesday: We enjoyed some seminars that we signed up for to learn more about all the great dairy industry has to offer everyone and then we had the opportunity to go to the World Dairy Expo. After enjoying a short lunch with the breed associations we were given 4 hours to look around. Now, if you have never been to WDE you are for sure missing out. Free stuff everywhere and the most fricken awesome cows in the world! now for most people this doesn't make a difference but as a dairy kid it's awesome!! After this we got all dressed up and went to a dinner and then we prepared for our last night and dance. The dance was a little awkward as they usually are especially cause the lights were on but whatever I have nothing hide. and of course Minnesota were the trend setters wearing our it's gonna be a hot time in the old barn tonight tshirts we got for free.
Now Wednesday night. After returning to our rooms at like 11 our chaperone told us that we didn't have to go to bed as long as she didn't have to tell us to be quiet. Well, me being me, i of course stayed up to past 3 am when everyone decided we should maybe go to sleep. (not going to lie that I am still trying to catch up on sleep from this fun filled week, but it was worth it!)
So, in conclusion, this was the fricken best trip I have ever been on. mostly because of the people i have met through it but also the things i learned. If you have the opportunity to go on the National 4-H Dairy Conference take it!
Also, when deciding to do chair races in the hotel, check to make sure the security guard is not watching you.
Oh and one more thing... do not, i repeat DO NOT sing shots in an elevator with 10 boys and 2 girls, bad things will happen.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
those dang fool bikes.... i tell ya...
So the other day I was riding my bike to school... now this is a common occurrence because I always ride my bike to school even in thunderstorms (which it was doing yesterday), but yesterday was different. On my way to school I thought my petal felt funny but I didn't think any thing of it until I was riding home in the rain and I was almost home and it started making a funny noise. All of a sudden the left bike petal and shiny thing that connects it to the bike FELL OFF!!!!! I am not kidding I was just biking along the sidewalk minding my own business next to a busy street where millions of cars were driving by pointing a laughing at me that my bike petal fell off. Now this is no exaggeration there had to have been a million cars drive by that saw smoke coming out of my ears and me fuming about having to push my bike back the 40 miles to my apartment up hill in the pouring rain.
So anyways I push my bike back and I then call Eric to ask if he had the nerves to have loosened my bike petal when he was monkeying around with it last weekend.... he claimed he had nothing to do with it, and we proceeded to argue about what happened. Finally it ended up that he sent me a detailed picture instruction of how to fix this stupid problem (an 8 step procedure note picture), but I DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS! Finally after calling around I found that my friend Jesse had the sockets I would need, but he was working until 5 pm and this was about 4:30 when I had cooled off enough to figure out this problem. By that time I had made 5-6 trips out to the bike to hammer on the piece look at the other side etc.... and of course the 6 apartments around the bike rack all had their windows open, because by this time the weather was getting nicer, and watching and laughing at me, HOW RUDE!
So first Peter came by and checked out the bike, he decided I should wait for Jesse because he didn't have the proper tools, so that was what I did. Now when Jesse came and looked at the bike he decided that the socket wouldnt work to take out the other bolt to go find one I needed, and that I should go to the bike store and maybe they had the right piece. So off to the bike store I go and two nice ladies listened while I tried to explain my predicament...only to discover they couldn't sell me a stinking bolt! They had to sell me a $90 crank blah blah blah because there is no reason it should have come apart if it was not damaged... JUST GREAT!
So I go home and am complaining to Katie who is home by now when I discover that my roommate Jessi's boyfriend left us with a tool kit so I open it up and guess what is inside!!?!?!?! A RATCHET AND SOCKET SET! So we track on down to the bike rack again and unscrew the bolt on the other side and get in the car and head on over to our friendly neighbor hood ACE. When we get there we try to find the piece ourselves... no such luck, and so we ask the man behind the counter. While we were waiting for him some lady tries to cut in front of us in line and the man was like those young ladies were here first and so the lady got really mad, but he helped us find the right stuff we needed, we also found an exciting present for Shaina's birthday but that is a whole other story.... Anyways we got out of ACE with a new bolt and washer for a whopping $1.10 and went home and tried to put the bike back together which was confusing because everything turns the opposite way so Katie held the petal and i tightened... luckily I put the petals on right the first time. AND THAT IS HOW I FIXED MY OWN BIKE!
Eric should be proud.... haha but today I told him that if fell off again when Katie and I were doing some off road bike riding and attempted to fly over a wood chip pile and it busted off and Katie had to pull me home, now if you know Katie and I this would create a funny image in your mind.... Some day I will write about the adventures of our biker gang.
Now thank you for sticking with this whole blog while I wrote about the most interesting story ever... NOT! but really thank you... maybe one of you will chuckle at some point in the story, I guess it is sort of funny now that I look back on it
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
more school, school, school
I have now started my junior year at Northfield High School after recovering from the Minnesota state fair that I spent out of the 12 days at, it was well worth, you always have to love the state fair and watching people. On Monday night I got home at about 4:30, did my chores, ate supper, took a shower and went to bed, which happened at only 7:30 and I slept all the way to 6:00am. Wow! i love sleep!
Anyways back to the school. I am a link leader, which means I help litte 9th graders find their classes and stuff like that so I had to be at school at 7 am yesterday. That was a lot of fun, we did some challenges and played some games and it was actually pretty cool. Then I went to classes for 15 minutes which is always a nice way to ease back into the school schedule. I then returned home and did chores then left with my dad for the Twins game. Note to self: it takes longer to ride the tranist than it does to drive there, next time we're driving. It was a pretty good game we left after the 7th inning but it was cool nonetheless. Then I got home at 11 pm and went straight to bed and here I am waiting to go to Randolph for FFA for the first 2 hours and ready for another day of school.
Anyways back to the school. I am a link leader, which means I help litte 9th graders find their classes and stuff like that so I had to be at school at 7 am yesterday. That was a lot of fun, we did some challenges and played some games and it was actually pretty cool. Then I went to classes for 15 minutes which is always a nice way to ease back into the school schedule. I then returned home and did chores then left with my dad for the Twins game. Note to self: it takes longer to ride the tranist than it does to drive there, next time we're driving. It was a pretty good game we left after the 7th inning but it was cool nonetheless. Then I got home at 11 pm and went straight to bed and here I am waiting to go to Randolph for FFA for the first 2 hours and ready for another day of school.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
school school school
Some interesting things that have happened since I have been in the great town of Brookings South Dakota:
1. We took mom and dad to the backyard BBQ Shack for lunch when we got here Monday, first words out of their mouth... Is it safe to eat here? haha no one has gotten sick yet....
2. Purchased a bed, which we managed to shove into the back of the suburban, that was interesting to say the least
3. It has been 3000 degrees since we have been here and Katie and I purchased the last 2 fans in the town of Brookings from Runnings yesterday, and this is no exaggeration, however the temperature has managed to drop 15 degrees since we purchased them.
4. Coming home from the bookstore yesterday we saw an older man laying on the ground next to his bike with 3 cars pulled over behind him, best we could tell he got hit by the car... this is pretty scary because I have to cross that road on MY BIKE!
5. We also managed to get acquainted with the grocery aisle of walmart yesterday by each spending $50.00 on groceries
6. We cooked lunch yesterday! Yes Mary, Katie and I made sloppy joes... no big deal haha
Alright I know that none of this was all that interesting but I know someone out there was dying to hear about the wonderful adventures of Grace today. Hopefully one of these days I will actually have something exciting to tell you all!
1. We took mom and dad to the backyard BBQ Shack for lunch when we got here Monday, first words out of their mouth... Is it safe to eat here? haha no one has gotten sick yet....
2. Purchased a bed, which we managed to shove into the back of the suburban, that was interesting to say the least
3. It has been 3000 degrees since we have been here and Katie and I purchased the last 2 fans in the town of Brookings from Runnings yesterday, and this is no exaggeration, however the temperature has managed to drop 15 degrees since we purchased them.
4. Coming home from the bookstore yesterday we saw an older man laying on the ground next to his bike with 3 cars pulled over behind him, best we could tell he got hit by the car... this is pretty scary because I have to cross that road on MY BIKE!
5. We also managed to get acquainted with the grocery aisle of walmart yesterday by each spending $50.00 on groceries
6. We cooked lunch yesterday! Yes Mary, Katie and I made sloppy joes... no big deal haha
Alright I know that none of this was all that interesting but I know someone out there was dying to hear about the wonderful adventures of Grace today. Hopefully one of these days I will actually have something exciting to tell you all!
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Great Minnesota Get Together!
Our state fair is a great state fair, don't miss it don't even be late, it's dollars for donuts at our state fair, it's the best state fair in our state!!
The state fair will be upon us beginning Thursday morning. I can't even explain to you how excited I am about the state fair!! I wait all year long for these two fun filled weekends and just as quickly as they came they went, and the countdown begins for next year. Both Grace and I will be going to the State Fair on Wednesday afternoon. I will be bringing my grade holstein summer jr. yearling and Grace will be bringing a 45 minute prepared presentations to present to the exhibitors about the importance of our impression to the public. We will both be there until Sunday afternoon.
Grace will then return to school for a week and I will sit at home thinking "this is the last week of summer and I have to start school the next week :(". Then friday morning bright and early Dad and I will load up the trailer with 2 fall calves, a summer jr. yearling and a winter sr. yearling and go back to the state fair for FFA weekend. Grace's heifer is still not tame and can hardly be led around the pen which of course leaves that to me while Grace is out galavanting around school I will be here being drug around the yard by some phsyco animal that's not even mine, but anyways. We will know whether it was all worth it on Saturday morning for 4H and the following Saturday for FFA.
I also applied for something called the 4H Dairy Showcase which is a thing that highlights the top 25 kids in the Dairy project each year. Last year, it's inaugural year, I was number 14, I'm hoping to up that placing this year but we'll see. Well that's all for now I have to go prepare for dairy judging which I will also take part in the state contest the 2nd Sunday of the fair. Wish me luck, we'll see how it goes with 3 sets of reasons. Hope to see everyone at the fair next week.
The state fair will be upon us beginning Thursday morning. I can't even explain to you how excited I am about the state fair!! I wait all year long for these two fun filled weekends and just as quickly as they came they went, and the countdown begins for next year. Both Grace and I will be going to the State Fair on Wednesday afternoon. I will be bringing my grade holstein summer jr. yearling and Grace will be bringing a 45 minute prepared presentations to present to the exhibitors about the importance of our impression to the public. We will both be there until Sunday afternoon.
Grace will then return to school for a week and I will sit at home thinking "this is the last week of summer and I have to start school the next week :(". Then friday morning bright and early Dad and I will load up the trailer with 2 fall calves, a summer jr. yearling and a winter sr. yearling and go back to the state fair for FFA weekend. Grace's heifer is still not tame and can hardly be led around the pen which of course leaves that to me while Grace is out galavanting around school I will be here being drug around the yard by some phsyco animal that's not even mine, but anyways. We will know whether it was all worth it on Saturday morning for 4H and the following Saturday for FFA.
I also applied for something called the 4H Dairy Showcase which is a thing that highlights the top 25 kids in the Dairy project each year. Last year, it's inaugural year, I was number 14, I'm hoping to up that placing this year but we'll see. Well that's all for now I have to go prepare for dairy judging which I will also take part in the state contest the 2nd Sunday of the fair. Wish me luck, we'll see how it goes with 3 sets of reasons. Hope to see everyone at the fair next week.
Monday, August 16, 2010
BEEF FOR SALE!
Homegrown beef for sale!
1/4's
1/2's
Whole
You pick the cuts.
***Let us know if you would like to purchase some or know someone who would by leaving a message on here or finding us on facebook and sending us a message.
We will have beef ready the second to last week of august and the beginning of september
1/4's
1/2's
Whole
You pick the cuts.
***Let us know if you would like to purchase some or know someone who would by leaving a message on here or finding us on facebook and sending us a message.
We will have beef ready the second to last week of august and the beginning of september
Friday, August 13, 2010
Arkansas: land of the ....
Now that everyone is caught up on the whole fair and what not I figure I can enlighten you about my trip to Arkansas last week.
Well, for starters, it was a 15 hour drive their, we took two vans for 11 people. On the way down we stopped in St. Louis, MO and went up in the arch (not sure how I felt about this, it was cool but I don't feel the need to go back again.). Then we spent the night in Arnold, MO. We then continued our travels to Arkansas. Once there we went to an Arkansas Traveler's game which was fun except for the 107 degree temps when we got there plus humidity.
The following day we went to the Bill Clinton Library which was more like a museum I didn't see any books. Then we went to the Waterpark. (probably the best part) except that we all had blisters on our feet by the end of the day. That night my friend Christa, and I went bowling with the girls that we were staying with.
The following day Christa and I once again went go carting together and then we went on the tour the bathhouse row. Very interesting to say the least. It's like a spa of sorts with water from the Hot Springs, that apparently is meant to cleanse your body inside and out.
Thursday, we went to the state capitol for a tour and then to tour the USS Razorback, a submarnine used for combat in world War II as well as the Vietnam war.
The next day we packed up and were on our way to Minnesota by 9 am. Thanks, to our lovely drivers, Carol and Brian we eliminated an overnight stop and were home at the 4-H building by 11:30 pm.
All in all it was a very interesting and fun experience.
Well, for starters, it was a 15 hour drive their, we took two vans for 11 people. On the way down we stopped in St. Louis, MO and went up in the arch (not sure how I felt about this, it was cool but I don't feel the need to go back again.). Then we spent the night in Arnold, MO. We then continued our travels to Arkansas. Once there we went to an Arkansas Traveler's game which was fun except for the 107 degree temps when we got there plus humidity.
The following day we went to the Bill Clinton Library which was more like a museum I didn't see any books. Then we went to the Waterpark. (probably the best part) except that we all had blisters on our feet by the end of the day. That night my friend Christa, and I went bowling with the girls that we were staying with.
The following day Christa and I once again went go carting together and then we went on the tour the bathhouse row. Very interesting to say the least. It's like a spa of sorts with water from the Hot Springs, that apparently is meant to cleanse your body inside and out.
Thursday, we went to the state capitol for a tour and then to tour the USS Razorback, a submarnine used for combat in world War II as well as the Vietnam war.
The next day we packed up and were on our way to Minnesota by 9 am. Thanks, to our lovely drivers, Carol and Brian we eliminated an overnight stop and were home at the 4-H building by 11:30 pm.
All in all it was a very interesting and fun experience.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
So Much To Do So Little Time To Do It!
Now that the fair is over in Rice County, I can prepare myself for the Le Sueur County Fair. It has been busy at work lately and all the stuff I am putting together is making me really excited for the fair! I have been working on the premier showmanship stuff, herdsmanship, in charge of the Ambassadors, creating beautiful posters if I don't say so myself, and the newest addition to our fair the $hell out or Show contest! After going to the Waseca county fair I got really jealous of all the fun things they do down there so I told our PC about it and she said to go ahead and do it. I am really excited for this fair.
Besides the fair I am trying to get ready to spend 5 days at the state fair as an ag mentor for 4H livestock participants with my friend David! I love the state fair I can't wait to go back, I know it will never be the same as when I was a 4Her but hey at least I get to go back!
Then I will head out to South Dakota with mom and dad to move into my appartment with Jessi, Katie, and Amelia! Then that Friday, I will be headed back for another wonderful weekend at the state fair!
I am showing 2 heifers in the FFA dairy show so Mary and I will be back up there until labor day. So in the mean time I need to start training the big heifer, Adam already trained the little one when he showed her at the county fair.
Anyways, its going to be a really busy next couple of days! I am sure someday Mary will update you about her trip to Arkasas where she saw quite a few interesting things.... haha and then about the state fair, where she eats a bacon, egg, cheese breakfast sandwhich every morning and then 4 twist cones from the dairy bar every afternoon, and no that is not an exageration!
Besides the fair I am trying to get ready to spend 5 days at the state fair as an ag mentor for 4H livestock participants with my friend David! I love the state fair I can't wait to go back, I know it will never be the same as when I was a 4Her but hey at least I get to go back!
Then I will head out to South Dakota with mom and dad to move into my appartment with Jessi, Katie, and Amelia! Then that Friday, I will be headed back for another wonderful weekend at the state fair!
I am showing 2 heifers in the FFA dairy show so Mary and I will be back up there until labor day. So in the mean time I need to start training the big heifer, Adam already trained the little one when he showed her at the county fair.
Anyways, its going to be a really busy next couple of days! I am sure someday Mary will update you about her trip to Arkasas where she saw quite a few interesting things.... haha and then about the state fair, where she eats a bacon, egg, cheese breakfast sandwhich every morning and then 4 twist cones from the dairy bar every afternoon, and no that is not an exageration!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Fair Highlight-M Version
Here it is as promised, only about 2 weeks late. Highlights from the Rice County Fair 2010 Mary's Version.
Tuesday: Let the fair begin!!! The fair starts off as another wonderful year.
Wednesday: So, I was going to show a little beef calf, (which is like 350 lbs.) for a friend of mine in his cow calf pair. Little did I know this would be a great adventure. He said 'ok, you take the calf, he hasn't really been led or anything, but you'll be fine.' Ok, that shouldn't be a problem, it's just a little baby calf. Boy was I wrong! I went to adjust the halter and apparently chose the wrong way to adjust it because the next thing I know the halter is around the calf's neck and I'm rolling on the ground (which I was later told, I'm a very graceful roller). So I was being dragged through the judging arena by a little baby calf and eventually it got to his mom and it was all good. So he told me you can lead the cow she'll just stand there for you, just scratch her belly. Wrong once again. I could hardly hold on to the cow and neither could his dad so that made me feel better. So, in the end I ended up not showing the calf or cow and I had a sweet scrape on my arm, that has now turned to a scar which is pretty sweet.
Thursday: The dairy show happens!! I won champion showmanship which qualified me for premier showmanship. I also had a very good day as I got a state fair trip, champion yearling, and reserve champion net merit and production, and blue in all my classes.
Friday: The great dying of sawdust for the Rice County Fair 4-H Auction. This is always a great adventure as we usually end up all green, but it's still fun. We actually had to go into the horse barn to get the sawdust. But, needless to say it was a great time and we didn't have green nearly close to all the other places in earlier years.
Saturday: The Auction was held and my animal was bought be Ag Star Financial Services. Thank you to all those who bought things in the auction and help to fund many wonderful opportunities that 4-H offers.
Sunday: Sadly, the Rice County Fair ended for 2010. Looking forward to another great year next year.
Tuesday: Let the fair begin!!! The fair starts off as another wonderful year.
Wednesday: So, I was going to show a little beef calf, (which is like 350 lbs.) for a friend of mine in his cow calf pair. Little did I know this would be a great adventure. He said 'ok, you take the calf, he hasn't really been led or anything, but you'll be fine.' Ok, that shouldn't be a problem, it's just a little baby calf. Boy was I wrong! I went to adjust the halter and apparently chose the wrong way to adjust it because the next thing I know the halter is around the calf's neck and I'm rolling on the ground (which I was later told, I'm a very graceful roller). So I was being dragged through the judging arena by a little baby calf and eventually it got to his mom and it was all good. So he told me you can lead the cow she'll just stand there for you, just scratch her belly. Wrong once again. I could hardly hold on to the cow and neither could his dad so that made me feel better. So, in the end I ended up not showing the calf or cow and I had a sweet scrape on my arm, that has now turned to a scar which is pretty sweet.
Thursday: The dairy show happens!! I won champion showmanship which qualified me for premier showmanship. I also had a very good day as I got a state fair trip, champion yearling, and reserve champion net merit and production, and blue in all my classes.
Friday: The great dying of sawdust for the Rice County Fair 4-H Auction. This is always a great adventure as we usually end up all green, but it's still fun. We actually had to go into the horse barn to get the sawdust. But, needless to say it was a great time and we didn't have green nearly close to all the other places in earlier years.
Saturday: The Auction was held and my animal was bought be Ag Star Financial Services. Thank you to all those who bought things in the auction and help to fund many wonderful opportunities that 4-H offers.
Sunday: Sadly, the Rice County Fair ended for 2010. Looking forward to another great year next year.
Monday, July 26, 2010
THE HIGHLIGHTS (G's version)
Last week was the Rice County Fair and of course many exciting things happened! Here are Grace's Highlights, Marys are soon to follow:
Monday- Of course I had work, so I do not have a fair highlight
Tuesday- The LeSueur County had their fashion revue judging and I was very impressed their clothing project had over 35 kids bring in their projects for judging! Their fashion revue at night also had cupcakes so I was pretty excited about that!
Wednesday- I got up early to haul Ms. Pretty, and crabby pants ( I mean the heifer and not Mary) down to the open class /FFA show. It was an overall successful day! I also enjoyed Marys highlight of the day, but I will let her tell you about it....
Thursday- 4H Dairy show offered free milk and cheese to the public, watching Mary win showmanship and champion heifer was also very exciting!
I also got to show a goat for the FFA goat show! I really enjoy showing goats and wish I would have started my goat handler career earlier.
Friday- Open class beef show at night was exciting and people watching afterwards
Saturday- Auction, G & M Cattle Co. purchased their very first item from the auction, a purple mum which we gave to mom... there may have been alterior motives when it was purchased (getting our name displayed on the auction buyers board)
Sunday- Loading everything up and bringing the cattle home, this was the first time I have driven the cows home by myself, Dad had to pick Mom up when she droped the Mustang off to get detailed
Overall it was a very successful week at the fair
Monday- Of course I had work, so I do not have a fair highlight
Tuesday- The LeSueur County had their fashion revue judging and I was very impressed their clothing project had over 35 kids bring in their projects for judging! Their fashion revue at night also had cupcakes so I was pretty excited about that!
Wednesday- I got up early to haul Ms. Pretty, and crabby pants ( I mean the heifer and not Mary) down to the open class /FFA show. It was an overall successful day! I also enjoyed Marys highlight of the day, but I will let her tell you about it....
Thursday- 4H Dairy show offered free milk and cheese to the public, watching Mary win showmanship and champion heifer was also very exciting!
I also got to show a goat for the FFA goat show! I really enjoy showing goats and wish I would have started my goat handler career earlier.
Friday- Open class beef show at night was exciting and people watching afterwards
Saturday- Auction, G & M Cattle Co. purchased their very first item from the auction, a purple mum which we gave to mom... there may have been alterior motives when it was purchased (getting our name displayed on the auction buyers board)
Sunday- Loading everything up and bringing the cattle home, this was the first time I have driven the cows home by myself, Dad had to pick Mom up when she droped the Mustang off to get detailed
Overall it was a very successful week at the fair
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The fair is upon us!!! I still have yet to finish my general project, being kolaches that need to be done by 10 am tommorow morning, YIKES!! Calves, cows, and steers alike have all had their haircuts and are looking better than ever. They go down to the Rice County Fair in Faribault on Tuesday afternoon. Come visit us in the dairy barn if you get the chance. The week will continue with at least one show on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and the auction on Saturday morning. After this extremely stressful week of waking up at 4:30 or 5:00 am we will be enjoying our rest and relaxation away from the farm for a week. After that I will travel to Arkansas with the 4-H exchange program. Well, I must finish this project before I am allowed to go to the races with my dad and sister.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Now that I have returned from Washington DC it is time to get back to the grindstone and get back to training those lovely animals that we call fair calves. This week consists of giving all fair calves and cows a special hair cut as well as training them to walk on a trailer to save further frustration the day we take them to the fair. Furthermore, it also leads to training a dairy steer that has yet to be tied up (and probably won't be until friday or saturday) and make sure it doesn't weigh to much. Other than that, many other preparations go into getting ready but are too numerous to remember until the first day of the fair. I'm off to go walk 'the beasts' as Grace would call them and make sure they are all looking their best for the fair that starts next Tuesday. Come visit us in the Dairy barn at the Rice County Fair next Tuesday night to Sunday afternoon.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
FAIRS! FAIRS! FAIRS!
The Rice County Fair is fast approaching! There are less then 13 days until the cattle is getting loaded up and brought down to the fair. While Mary has been in DC Grace has spent several hours pulling the old girls around the yard.... in the pouring rain Mary had better be appreciative of it, however she will most likely reply with "It's pay back for the times I have walked hers!" Which is probably true but I am sure she didn't walk them in the rain. Walking heifers is quite the process, it goes a little like this...
- First you rope the beast... usually Mary runs it into a corner, at which point Grace throws a halter around its head and ties it to the fence quickly. (Repeat until all animals are caught)
- Then you let them stand there and pull until you have decided to find out if they have been tied up long enough.
- At this point one of several things can happen...
a.) They take off like a rock out of a sling shot and pull the rope out of your hand or you hold on and hope that you can stay on your feet, after all no one likes a rock burn haha
b.) They stand there and by stand there we mean don't move no matter how much persuasion is used.
c.) any combination of the other options
- After this method has been used several times either you have many bumps and bruises or rope burned hands or hopefully a well trained calf.
-When the calf is halter broke enough it is lead for hours, days, miles it feels like around the yard and several obstacle courses, like around the barn, through the trees in the wind break, around the lagoon, etc...
Overall it turns into a pretty exciting couple months before the fair, and that is only the heifer training parts, We have many exciting stories that will follow like the time Mary's heifer kicked her in the butt.... haha it makes me chuckle just thinking about it.
Look forward to more posts about funny calf walking stories and the life of G & M!
- First you rope the beast... usually Mary runs it into a corner, at which point Grace throws a halter around its head and ties it to the fence quickly. (Repeat until all animals are caught)
- Then you let them stand there and pull until you have decided to find out if they have been tied up long enough.
- At this point one of several things can happen...
a.) They take off like a rock out of a sling shot and pull the rope out of your hand or you hold on and hope that you can stay on your feet, after all no one likes a rock burn haha
b.) They stand there and by stand there we mean don't move no matter how much persuasion is used.
c.) any combination of the other options
- After this method has been used several times either you have many bumps and bruises or rope burned hands or hopefully a well trained calf.
-When the calf is halter broke enough it is lead for hours, days, miles it feels like around the yard and several obstacle courses, like around the barn, through the trees in the wind break, around the lagoon, etc...
Overall it turns into a pretty exciting couple months before the fair, and that is only the heifer training parts, We have many exciting stories that will follow like the time Mary's heifer kicked her in the butt.... haha it makes me chuckle just thinking about it.
Look forward to more posts about funny calf walking stories and the life of G & M!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
G & M Cattle Co.
Now that our mother got wind of this blog thing she has demanded that we change it from it won't be all that interesting to something more catchy... so here it goes...
This is the G & M Cattle Co. Blog! It is about the exciting life and times of the two youngest Liebenstein girls as they travel on the journey called life. It is guarenteed to have some funny stories, well at least we will think they are funny, and probably only funny to those who were there, and some serious conversations about the bigger things in life like our favorite fair food which we all know Mary's is pork burgers from the pork producers stand, and probably some not so exciting things like the story of how Grace fell off the bucket trying to clip a heifers head.
I'm sure when our Grandma finds out about this wonderful piece of literature she will be very proud... haha
We will just try to remember my fathers famous motto:
DON'T EMBARASS THE FAMILY!
This is the G & M Cattle Co. Blog! It is about the exciting life and times of the two youngest Liebenstein girls as they travel on the journey called life. It is guarenteed to have some funny stories, well at least we will think they are funny, and probably only funny to those who were there, and some serious conversations about the bigger things in life like our favorite fair food which we all know Mary's is pork burgers from the pork producers stand, and probably some not so exciting things like the story of how Grace fell off the bucket trying to clip a heifers head.
I'm sure when our Grandma finds out about this wonderful piece of literature she will be very proud... haha
We will just try to remember my fathers famous motto:
DON'T EMBARASS THE FAMILY!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
G & M Cattle Co.
We are new to this blogging stuff, and I guarentee it will not be all that interesting, but this blog is about the exciting lives of G & M.
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