On the run.....

it has been a crazy two weeks. We were busy getting ready for and then participating in Dairy Days at MSU. Suzanna placed well in showmanship, judging and management. She also had a reserve all Michigan junior owned heifer in one of her classes. Thomas learned the hard lesson of stubborn heifers. His was very uncooperative in the show ring and despite the frustration, he kept a smile on his face and says he will do it again. Kathryn placed in one of her showmanship classes as well.

I must say going from one in the project to three was a bit of an adjustment, but thankfully they worked well together. Thomas and Kathryn have spent three years watching Suzanna do it and I am sure that helped them a lot.

It was fun to have some of Trainer Mike's horse clients stop by and see how different it is to show cattle. They all wanted calves at home, not to show, just to pet.

Monday Kathryn and I were able to head to the Lenawee county fair with another family from our 4-H club and study the finer points of sheep showmanship. It was a wise choice to go and hopefully it will pay off in a couple months when the girls are showing at our fair. Today, Thomas and I took a trip over to Lenawee to get information about showing dairy starter steers. I think that will help him a lot and mom and dad too.

Now we are doing the mad pack to get away for a few days. We are headed way up north to a family wedding and then a few days around the Mackinaw bridge area for fun and relaxation. Supposedly the campground has WIFI, so I will try to post again while we are away.

Reacting.....

How do you react to news? Especially news that affects you? Perhaps political news? I am one who pays attention to what is going on in the world of politics. I grew up in a family that was very aware, I worked for a gentleman during my high school and college years who had spent time in Washington and knew a lot of the "movers and shakers" in politics during the 1980s. You couldn't help but be aware with Mr. Lipsett around. I was told once to get my head out of the MSU cow barn and report to work immediately at the new Conservative newspaper which had sprung up on campus. That was his style. He also said you needed to write letters to let people know your opinion of issues.

So jump forward a few years (lets not count how many!). I have really begun to follow Mr. Lipsett's advice. I am a letter writer.....well, maybe more of an emailer....but I am letting my opinion be known. My latest was to our US Congressman. There is a committee meeting on the Dairy industry today. He happens to serve on the agriculture committee and I sent him a letter to let him know my concerns relating to the dairy business. Yes, granted our family isn't making our living on dairy, but we are indirectly involved since the kids are raising replacement heifers. And they have been affected by the downturn of the milk price. So I made sure that our Congressman knew that.

Back when the stimulus was being voted on, both my senators and the congressman heard from me then too. Do I think I am going to change the world? Doubtful.....BUT I am involved! Even if it is one in many, my voice has been heard. Oh and a couple weeks ago, the voices of most farmers in our county were heard by our state Representative and he made his decision on a vote for the future of Agriculture in Michigan due to the overwhelming opinions he heard that day. React.....you may change something!

It's Summer and we're runnin' out of ice......

For those who don't recognize that line. It comes from the musical Oklahoma. It was the first thing that popped into my head this morning as I heard yet another report of the Michael Jackson memorial. I am a little tired of the whole saga.

I grew up in the 80s. He was a big deal then, and I have to admit enjoying some of the music he did. But then I got older and he got weirder (is that a word?). The insane focus that has been on him for the past week and a half is really over the top in my book. He was just a person!

How sad it is that people have come absolutely unglued at his passing. He is worshipped as a god. How wrong and how sad that there is this much sorrow for a man who could do nothing for these people. How different would the world be if they sought God the same way this human was sought and worshipped? Just a little food for thought.

Yikes.....time is flying!

And in two weeks, we will be headed for Dairy Days at MSU. I can't believe how summer is getting away from us.

The kids have been leading their heifers, but it would seem we have a stubborn bunch. Suzanna's younger heifer was better until she hurt her foot and we had to mess with her each day. Kathryn's heifer lead real well until she was dehorned and decided humans are something to be avoided at all costs. Thomas's heifer is the best of the three, until she decides to plant her front feet and stop walking. Could get interesting!

Kathryn's lamb, Lydia, is tame. She sees Kathryn and starts baaing at her. She loves to be scratched. She sleeps in the rabbit shack and one of the rabbits has figured out how to open his cage and gets out and hops around following Lydia. It is funny to watch.

Summer weather is here for the week, lots of sun and warm temperatures. Hope the garden gets going. It has been a rough spring for growing stuff.