Today is the Holstein heifer show in East Lansing, so we’ll head up there after chores are done. Plus we get to bring the boys home…I’m glad of that… I miss them.

I need to give a Holly update. She’s been gimping along, not really getting any better but not any worse. But Wednesday morning when I went to the barn for the first time since Monday morning, I noticed she look absolutely awful! Bobby called the vet and he came out and ended up doing surgery, she had a right DA (displace abomasum). Left DA’s are no problem and are quite common, but right DA’s are bad and the vet usually gives them a 50/50 chance to recover. We’ve had 2 right DA’s one lived, one died….so those stats were running pretty close on our farm. Last night when we went to the barn she was eating much more aggressivly..a great sign. By this morning she was on her knees eating the other cows feed next to her. The old Holly is back and on the mend…Madison…here we come!

Today is the Holstein heifer show in East Lansing, so we’ll head up there after chores are done. Plus we get to bring the boys home…I’m glad of that… I miss them.

I need to give a Holly update. She’s been gimping along, not really getting any better but not any worse. But Wednesday morning when I went to the barn for the first time since Monday morning, I noticed she look absolutely awful! Bobby called the vet and he came out and ended up doing surgery, she had a right DA (displace abomasum). Left DA’s are no problem and are quite common, but right DA’s are bad and the vet usually gives them a 50/50 chance to recover. We’ve had 2 right DA’s one lived, one died….so those stats were running pretty close on our farm. Last night when we went to the barn she was eating much more aggressivly..a great sign. By this morning she was on her knees eating the other cows feed next to her. The old Holly is back and on the mend…Madison…here we come!

Good Morning from the Knolltop. We’re home…kind of. Yesterday I brought the heifers and two kids home from Dairy Days. I left the other two boys up there to work the Holstein Sale and then JW will do the dairy judging contest today and Dairy Management tomorrow. Luke has to help do some things for the Holstein Association today. But Jake and Sarah and I are home for one day and then we’ll go back up for Thursday and Friday to help run the Holstein show.

Usually we stay the whole week, but this year we didn’t have much in the way of quality cattle to show so we just decided to let Jake and Sarah do their thing and come home. They did a great job of taking care of their “show string.” Jake’s first time out was successful in my eyes. Success in mom’s eyes is taking the calf in the ring and having it behave without running off on him…regardless of his placing. But obviously that’s not Jake’s idea of success. He still had a good time.

Sarah on the other hand had a great day in showmanship. She started out in 6th place and worked her way up to 2nd. There is one boy who always beats her and beating him is her personal goal. They are the same age and this will always be a rivalry. She came very close to beating him…but he had the edge yesterday. Next time!

Right now, this farm is grand central station….more later!

Good Morning from the Knolltop. We’re home…kind of. Yesterday I brought the heifers and two kids home from Dairy Days. I left the other two boys up there to work the Holstein Sale and then JW will do the dairy judging contest today and Dairy Management tomorrow. Luke has to help do some things for the Holstein Association today. But Jake and Sarah and I are home for one day and then we’ll go back up for Thursday and Friday to help run the Holstein show.

Usually we stay the whole week, but this year we didn’t have much in the way of quality cattle to show so we just decided to let Jake and Sarah do their thing and come home. They did a great job of taking care of their “show string.” Jake’s first time out was successful in my eyes. Success in mom’s eyes is taking the calf in the ring and having it behave without running off on him…regardless of his placing. But obviously that’s not Jake’s idea of success. He still had a good time.

Sarah on the other hand had a great day in showmanship. She started out in 6th place and worked her way up to 2nd. There is one boy who always beats her and beating him is her personal goal. They are the same age and this will always be a rivalry. She came very close to beating him…but he had the edge yesterday. Next time!

Right now, this farm is grand central station….more later!

We’re all packed and ready to go, and everything is on the trailer except the heifers and in a little while we will be headed north for MSU and that wonderful event called Dairy Days! The kids are excited to say the least and we had fun getting everything around for it. Jake and Bobby clipped his heifer Saturday night and Sarah and Bobby clipped her heifer last night while we loaded the trailer. I have to say, this is probably the most trouble free trip so far…I know, I shouldn’t have said that!

Well, I’d better get going…pray for safety for us!

We’re all packed and ready to go, and everything is on the trailer except the heifers and in a little while we will be headed north for MSU and that wonderful event called Dairy Days! The kids are excited to say the least and we had fun getting everything around for it. Jake and Bobby clipped his heifer Saturday night and Sarah and Bobby clipped her heifer last night while we loaded the trailer. I have to say, this is probably the most trouble free trip so far…I know, I shouldn’t have said that!

Well, I’d better get going…pray for safety for us!

It’s a beautiful Saturday morning! It’s clear, breezy, sunny and going to be 75. But we still need rain.

The boys are down working for the neighbor cleaning out a grain bin and as soon as they get back I’m kidnapping them and taking them for haircuts. I told them this morning I felt like I was their dispatcher…every time the phone rings its someone to ask for the boys to work. I think I should get a cut out of their pay for that! I mean really, when I have to sit them down in the morning and say…okay…now when so and so calls, when are you available to work? Can you go to town with me at this time? When can you do this? When can you work for that guy? Really…that’s what I did this morning…I sat them down and went through their schedules for the day to make sure I could get everything done.

Well, now their back and I need to get them in the van and head to town before anyone calls! Be back later!

It’s a beautiful Saturday morning! It’s clear, breezy, sunny and going to be 75. But we still need rain.

The boys are down working for the neighbor cleaning out a grain bin and as soon as they get back I’m kidnapping them and taking them for haircuts. I told them this morning I felt like I was their dispatcher…every time the phone rings its someone to ask for the boys to work. I think I should get a cut out of their pay for that! I mean really, when I have to sit them down in the morning and say…okay…now when so and so calls, when are you available to work? Can you go to town with me at this time? When can you do this? When can you work for that guy? Really…that’s what I did this morning…I sat them down and went through their schedules for the day to make sure I could get everything done.

Well, now their back and I need to get them in the van and head to town before anyone calls! Be back later!

It’s another beautiful day on the Knolltop. The sun is shining, the air is cool, so cool in fact, I had to wear a sweatshirt to milk this morning. JW is gone to the neighbors to help with the hay and the rest of us are getting ready for breakfast.

Yesterday I felt like I had to put a rope around my boys to keep them from being taken. JW had committed himself to work for one farmer in the afternoon. That was great because we had a load of hay that needed to go in the barn in the morning. The hay unloading was scheduled right after I got done doing Rural Route. I was just about to go on the radio and in drove another farmer, the one they usually help out. Before he could even get on the porch I shouted out, “You can’t have ’em until they get done unloading that hay, and that won’t be til after 10:30, unless you want to do it right now, in that case, I can’t help! AND…JW has to be back at 1pm!”

I looked out during Rural Route and saw the hay being unloaded and a big smile came across my face….it was getting done….without me. It’s amazing what the smell of money will do for a teenager who’s saving for a truck!

Then Sarah and Jake went out to wash their heifers and to work with them. When I finished my column I walked out to the living room to see an 11 year old colapsed on a couch sobbing while mumbling…”She’s such a dumb heifer…she’s never going to keep her head up….no one cares about me and my heifer….all mom cares about is writing her column….no one understands me but God.” After a little pep talk, she was as good as new with a renewed ambition.

Much to my surprise, Jake didn’t have any troubles with his heifer…I’m not sure why, I guess God just figured I needed a break!

Today will be more washing, leading and yes probably some tears and pep talks. I’ve also got to write a story and try to get to town. This weekend will be a tough one…it always is right before we leave for a show. I wish I could blink my eyes and be driving the truck and trailer headed for MSU and just skip all the drama, breakdowns, disappointments and flare ups that go along with a family who loves to show cows.

It’s another beautiful day on the Knolltop. The sun is shining, the air is cool, so cool in fact, I had to wear a sweatshirt to milk this morning. JW is gone to the neighbors to help with the hay and the rest of us are getting ready for breakfast.

Yesterday I felt like I had to put a rope around my boys to keep them from being taken. JW had committed himself to work for one farmer in the afternoon. That was great because we had a load of hay that needed to go in the barn in the morning. The hay unloading was scheduled right after I got done doing Rural Route. I was just about to go on the radio and in drove another farmer, the one they usually help out. Before he could even get on the porch I shouted out, “You can’t have ’em until they get done unloading that hay, and that won’t be til after 10:30, unless you want to do it right now, in that case, I can’t help! AND…JW has to be back at 1pm!”

I looked out during Rural Route and saw the hay being unloaded and a big smile came across my face….it was getting done….without me. It’s amazing what the smell of money will do for a teenager who’s saving for a truck!

Then Sarah and Jake went out to wash their heifers and to work with them. When I finished my column I walked out to the living room to see an 11 year old colapsed on a couch sobbing while mumbling…”She’s such a dumb heifer…she’s never going to keep her head up….no one cares about me and my heifer….all mom cares about is writing her column….no one understands me but God.” After a little pep talk, she was as good as new with a renewed ambition.

Much to my surprise, Jake didn’t have any troubles with his heifer…I’m not sure why, I guess God just figured I needed a break!

Today will be more washing, leading and yes probably some tears and pep talks. I’ve also got to write a story and try to get to town. This weekend will be a tough one…it always is right before we leave for a show. I wish I could blink my eyes and be driving the truck and trailer headed for MSU and just skip all the drama, breakdowns, disappointments and flare ups that go along with a family who loves to show cows.