Grammy's Got a Point You Know...

Do you remember, as a small human or even as a tweener, all those repetitive sayings that your grandmother, uncle or mom were famous for drumming into your skull? Thing's like, "No! You'll poke your eye out." Or, "I'm gonna smack the crap out of you if you don't quit!" Haha just kidding about the second one, Mom *wink, wink.*

"No Ralphy!! You'll shoot your eye out!"

I have three from younghood that stick out the most clearly, I mean out of the constructive life goal encouragement and educational type of sayings, not the I'm going to beat my child ones. Once again, kidding. Sorta.

Oh and if you haven't noticed yet I'm a list and numbers person hence the job in risk management...

On to more important things.

1.  Never write something down that you wouldn't want to see blown up on a court room wall.

Kudos for this one goes to my cousin Richard, he's a big snazzy lawyer that says important snazzy things like that.

But seriously everyone take this to heart. DO NOT EVER right down anything you don't want to see in court. That goes for every aspect of life these day's, you can have a case against you for ANYTHING these day's. Folks are just plum loony.

2. Do not finish sentences with "at." i.e. Where are you at?

My sudo grandmother was an English teacher in a her past life. She was an extremely intelligent woman with very wise and endearing things to tell you about but, for today this is the one that makes the list. It's just bad grammar.

I'm not sure where I picked up this dirty habit but I have been known to drop an at bomb once or twice then proceed to kick myself in the bum, hearing her repeat the mantra in my head.

This one is for 1. and 2. My wonderful family!!!

3. Push that wall of fatigue back. One more!!

Coach Frazee, if you ever read this, please know that this phrase has followed me around since the 10th grade. It is the single most motivational thing I acquired from my entire career in high school sports. I not only repeat this while running or during an intense work out when I feel like giving up but need to give it 10 more second, 10 extra feet or 10 more free throws but also during my life when I hit a tough moment in my career or with my family.

That's been seven years ago and I can still visualize the scene in my head, fall basketball conditioning, we were running down and backs finished with layups and I was coming to the brink when he shouted, "Push that wall of fatigue back. One more!"

Ha. We are the only two not looking at the camera for the
ONE and ONLY picture taken after winning districts...

Thank you, Coach Frazee for that moment of definition in my life.

My point in this post is to tell you that you never know when your giving someone a piece of advice or encouragement how it can effect the rest of their life. Even if they only repeat it in their head and never share it. Remember there is always someone looking up to you, please fill them with confidence, support and constructive criticism!!!

Thankful Tuesday: Peanut Farmers

Well here we are again my little dumplings, it's Tuesday and that means we are 2/5's our way through the work week. 2 day's closer to Saturday. 3 day's away from coffee on the patio (weather permitting.) And 288 hours away from hogging my cattleman selfishly to myself for a precious little while. It will be our second weekend in a row with little to NO schedule *insert happy dance*!! Please tell me your as excited as I am?!!


Anywhoooo, it's time to get thankful and remember to find life's little glasses of lemonade. This week I am thankful for the peanut farmer. I'm sure your saying to yourself, that's random, but I'm Aly and I am random. My inspiration for agvocating the peanut farmer came to me last evening while I was happily munching away on a dozen couple peanut butter-chocolate chip cookies. They were delicious, obviously, and if you don't believe me just ask me. 


So here are a few facts about peanuts and there effect on your daily adventure.


Peanut Facts: Found at the National Peanut Board website located here


Farming:

• There are four types of peanuts grown in the USA — Runner, Virginia, Spanish and Valencia.
• Peanuts are planted after the last frost in April or early May and heaviest harvesting months are September and October.
• The peanut growth cycle from planting to harvest is 120 to 160 days or about five months.
• The peanut plant originated in South America.
• The peanut plant produces a small yellow flower.
• Peanuts flower above ground and then migrate underground to reach maturity.
• A mature peanut plant produces about 40 pods that then grow into peanuts.
• Most USA peanut farms are family-owned and -operated.
• The average peanut farm is 100 acres.

**Funny side note, I never knew peanuts were a root plant or honestly how they grew at all until a year ago. One of the guys I work with grew up on a peanut farm and explained this phenomenon to me. See even though I am in ag doesn't mean I can't learn new things too.

Peanut Plant Diagram

Nutrition:

• The peanut is not a nut, but a legume related to beans and lentils.
• Peanuts have more protein, niacin, folate and phytosterols than any nut.
• Peanuts have a higher antioxidant capacity over grapes, Concord grape juice, green tea, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, carrots and many more. 
• Peanuts and peanut butter contain over 30 essential nutrients and phytonutrients.
• Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free.

And just for kicks

Holiday's:

January 24 – National Peanut Butter Day 
March – National Peanut Month
March 1 – National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
March 8 – National Peanut Cluster Day
April 2 – National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day 
May 18 – I love Reese’s Day 
June 12 – National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
September 13 – National Peanut Day 
November – National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month
November 20 – National Peanut Butter Fudge Day

If you ever wonder how life would be without the peanut, just ask someone that is alergic to them. They can't do anything fun...


Did you know that there are over 108 different products made with peanuts. They range from foods, to houshold products, beverages, medicines, cosmetics, dyes, paints, stains and other general products.


Products made from Peanuts found here


If you want to learn how relevant of a commodity this is challenge yourself to go for 2 day's without a single peanut influenced product. 


So thank you peanut farmers for Reese's, Snickers, Coke and most importantly peanut butter cookies! 

**Also, we have had two peanut farmer presidents, Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter. So they are obv oober important.

Life's Sweet Lemonade

Ok, I know I'm a few months late, literally, but I thought I would give you a post on my 1 and only New's Year's resolution which I actually did come up with wayyy back on 12/31/11.

Again, I am aware my timing is
a smidge off....

Cheers my friend!

I have resolved to find life's sweet little glasses of lemonade. If your not sure what I mean by that it is my twisted interpretation of the old adage: When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

I am sick of people only telling me negative things friends, family, news, workplace... your all guilty. Yes you. We live in such a negative culture it's almost shocking. It's like everyday is doomsday round hur. So to keep my sanity I will consistently be looking for the glass half full part of any situation. I've nearly always had this quality in my personality, yes I am one of those people that awesome, but I have never made it a point of practice.

One way I have come up with to keep me accountable is by posting regular Thankful Tuesday and High Five For Friday posts. It will be two set times a week I need to reflect and enjoy the great things I have been given along with another day to live, another breath to take and another key to strike.

So I guess what I'm saying is, get up Negative Nancy and go to something productive for your community and world. Plus you know if you keep making that face sooner or later it's gonna get stuck that way... seriously.

Let's get this Lemonade Stand crankin!

Kansas Ag Week: Teaching the Younger generations

Were you aware that there were 8 MILLION members enrolled in 329 thousand 4-H clubs and 4-H sanctioned programs? That 33% were in grades K-3, 39% grades 4-6, 16 % grades 7-9 and 9% in grades 10-12. I attribute the dwindling percentages in the older kids to joining FFA (Future Farmers of America) when they are of high school age.

Were you also aware that there are 33 MILLION school age children in the United States? That puts 4-H enrollment at only 24% of kids, which means that only 2.4 out of every 10 kids has ever had any influence of agriculture in their lives. Granted, there are some "farm kids" that are never in 4-H but that is more the exception than the rule.

Wyatt shaking up his ice cream for one
activity during their meeting.

Friends, we have a lot of work to do to touch the lives of these children and teach them the actualities of the agriculture world. There are several groups out there, not naming any names *cough, cough* PETA, set out to convince them that we are wrong and inhumane, if we don't show them otherwise then who is left to blame the kids for believing them? We are. We can no longer just assume that they are being taught correctly about our industry, because that is simply not true. Most are even 2 to 3 generations removed from agriculture which means in some cases their parents and grandparents aren't even educated on what we do for a living. Like I've said before it's time to take a stand, pull our boots up and get to getting, after all that's what we are good at anyway's , isn't it?

A good place to start is by encouraging  the younger generations that are already interested, to pursue a life goal in AG by showing them what a diverse culture we are as an industry, that they actually have options, you don't just have to be a farmer or a rancher. Dream big and go for the gold!

 Wyatt Gigot, the son of Marc and Jackie Gigot (Circle Heifer Development,) invited TJ McClure of Circle Heifer Development, LLC in Garden City, Kansas  to represent him for career day in his 4-H club, The Happy Hustlers.

 TJ set out to inform them of the different options they would have in the heifer development industry. He also, explained to them what actually goes on at his facility.

TJ McClure speaking to the Happy Hustlers
4-H Club

At Circle Heifer, they receive female Holsteins at the age of 6 months. They raise these heifers on a silage/roughage diet, expertly care for them with the help of a veterinarian, breed them and when the time comes send them happily back to the dairy and herd to which they belong. Each heifer has an individual i.d. that can trace their entire record while in the care of TJ and his crew to be sure that she has the attention she needs. Their goal is to provide high quality care, full service development and expertly chosen genetics for breeding to encourage a returning customer.

Examples of careers at his company are:

• General Manager - usually requiring a Bachelors of Animal Science background
• Large Animal Veterinarian 
• Animal Nutritionists
• Commodity Re-seller
• Artificial Insemination Specialist
• Office and Computer help
• Human Resources
• Cowboys
• Feed truck Drivers
• Mill Operators

Heifer calves being trained in stanchions at
Circle Heifer Development

One of my favorite questions from a member to TJ was, "What is your favorite part of your job?" He answered with, "The fact that our organization impacts the entire circle of life in the dairy industry.  Raising the calves from 6 months of age through breeding, we will hopefully see many generations of the same herd through our facility." 

A large point that he really wanted to drive home was that there are many many options for a career field in agriculture. A lot of the time kids are only acquainted with area their parents work in and don't realize how much our industry really has to offer.

TJ is a great leader in agvocacy and truly cares to teach others about his field. What are you doing to teach the consumer about your part?

I of course have to add this picture of Wyatt's little sister, she's too darn cute!

Lauren wanted to take a "silly" picture :)

Until  next time...