Since last year...

... We got a new farm website!

Rose, in her spare time, designs websites for small businesses, and she put her skills to use for our farm. The website is designed to let our neighbors know what's going on with our cows, but it's also going to be used to attract attention to the custom work we can do.

Check it out. 

What do you think?

Last published July 24?

I logged on to Blogger tonight to see the facts hitting me in the face:

Last post: July 24.

Has it really been over five months since our last blog post? I guess so.

(Insert lame excuse here.)

Truth be told, there is no excuse. However, here's my social media pledge for 2013: one Facebook page update a week, one blog post a month, and a few tweets scattered in.

So, stay tuned for more frequent updates from our farm.

Real Conversations

If the drought has brought one positive thing, it's the conversations. Suddenly, agriculture is in the news  pretty much daily. People are paying attention to challenges farmers face on a daily basis.


I've noticed lately that people want to talk about how the weather is affecting our livelihood. People who seemingly didn't care in the past are asking questions. Finally, some real conversations about agriculture are happening.


It's sad that it takes a natural disaster to begin these conversations, but nonetheless, I'm grateful they're happening. Food doesn't come from a factory; it comes from hard-working individuals who deal with ups and downs like everyone else.


Take a few minutes to say a prayer for rain this evening. While you're at it, bless the men and women who are wondering what tomorrow will bring on America's farms and ranches.

Faith on the Farm

This spring has been full of warm weather and sunshine... and breezy temperatures and snow! Some times in Ohio, it's difficult to predict what Mother Nature will bring tomorrow. When you are banking your whole year on having a successful crop, it's essential that you have faith. 


Our corn is in the ground, and our soybeans aren't far behind. With favorable weather conditions and a little bit of luck, we hope to have a successful harvest in the fall. This summer, as you drive down the road, watch the crops progressing through the various stages of growth, and say an extra prayer for the farmers. They have unending faith, but a little extra support never hurt.

Here's a shot of our soybeans during last year's growing season.

Mooooove your vocabulary up a notch

I had a student tell me the other day about the "cow" they were taking to the fair. They were explaining how it they had castrated it over the weekend. I held up my hand and said, "Stop right there." I knew that this student was in fact not telling me about a "cow," but instead they referencing a "steer." What's the difference? Funny you should ask! Here are some words that will help you sound more intelligent the next time you're standing around the water cooler. 

Calf: A young animal of the cattle species (Our calves stay in individual pens at an early age, so we can provide specialized care for them.)

Heifer: A young female that has not yet had offspring (This is Greg's heifer, Barb. Heifers live together in groups on our farm.)

Cow: A female that has had at least one calf (These are two of our lovely cows enjoying a balanced ration.)

Bull: An intact male that is capable of reproducing (This picture is courtesy of NREL. Bulls are used for breeding.)

Steer: A castrated male (Iowa State Extension gets the credit for this picture. Steers are most often raised for meat.)

There you have it: five words you can use to impress your friends with your knowledge of the cattle industry!