NUMBER ONE -
I would be remiss in not making this number one, since my dad AND mom have been working really hard on it. We're building a concrete feeding pad for our heifers to eat off of over the winter. It required concrete pouring, welding, bolting, digging ... and we really appreciate all of the work!
Funniest thing about this: My mom texted me and asked if I could go help dad bolt boards, because she had dropped one on her foot the day before and it hurt. I said I wasn't home, but could go later. She said, 'Don't worry about it. I'll go. It doesn't hurt that much." (Are my parents tough or what?!)
NUMBER TWO
Everyone on a farm has a role, and part of mine is public relations. This month I've gone to the SXSW Eco conference in Austin, TX with U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, hosted a tour of MSU students, and visited St Joseph Elementary and Oakview Elementary to do dairy lessons.
Funniest thing: We spent at lot of time listening to people who have never produced anything talk about how farmers are ruining the world. And yet, every single one of them ate food produced by these same farmers ... Later, I was reading a preschool class a book about where food comes from. It outlines each food in a lunch box from where it's grown, to how it's processed, and how it's shipped.
After each food, I'd say, 'So where did it come from?' and this adorable little boy would answer, 'From the store!' (He would have fit right in at the conference!)
Also, I ran my first race as a member of Team Chocolate Milk! Since I love chocolate milk and do love refueling with it after races (and ... just drinking it because I love the way it tastes), this is really exciting! More of these to come!
Funniest thing: There were cider and donuts after the race, (it was at Andy T's, so perfect for that!) but no chocolate milk. I had to go purchase my own to make this truly chocolate milky.
NUMBER THREE
Another part of farming for us is being a part of policy work. Kris is on the Michigan Farm Bureau's state Policy Development Committee. This is one of eight ag boards Kris is currently serving on. That was three days this past week, and then he spent another day at a United Dairy Industry of Michigan meeting.
(This is a picture from the Michigan Farm Bureau site. I don't follow him to his meetings and take his picture. I swear.)
Funniest thing: Kris came down in his suit and Max said, "Where are you going?" Kris said, "I'm going to the barn, of course." Max looked so shocked. (These kids are still easy to fool.)
NUMBER FOUR
It is a gorgeous fall. You can see our cattle here, across the road from our house. It's been warm, it's been sunny, and the leaves are glorious. It's the prettiest fall ever.
Funniest thing: I say this EVERY FALL.
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