I Hope We All Make It

Last week, while reading my email, I found my latest copy of the Minnesota Milk Producers (MMPA) Newsletter.  MMPA is a group I proudly joined a couple years ago because of their dedication to Minnesota Dairy farmers, specifically in relation to legislation happening in our state that affects the farmers' way of life.  As I was reading this newsletter, I was immediately drawn to an letter in response to Land Stewardship Project (LSP).  A few weeks previous LSP circulated a letter to rural Minnesota citizens, calling them to action against a proposed "factory farm" in Stevens County Minnesota.  I remembered that I had also received that letter and went to the mail pile.  I had actually filed it with all of my junk mail, because while I appreciate the principles that LSP work for I don't appreciate their approach (scare tactics). 
When I opened the envelope and read the contents I was torn between being sick and being angry.  Sick, because I hate the fact that farmers and rural leaders are pitting themselves against other farmers, and angry for the same reasons.  There were examples of facts that were most certainly being exaggerated in addition to emotionally heavy words like "corporate agriculture", "factory farms", "toxic pollution", "environmental nightmare" and many others.  There were also false claims of health and environmental dangers.
If you want to read the scare tactics, you can go to the LSP web site, and if you want to read MMPA's response please see this link.  I think MMPA has a great response to LSP.  As dairy farmers, we're all in this together. We need to focus on educating the public on farming practices from all styles of farming rather than scaring them into believing that a large farm will be the death of their rural economies and environments.
I know first hand the struggles even a small dairy has with environmental regulations.  In our county we were required to notify all land owners within a one mile radius of our farm of any additions to our animal units or manure storage.  We were also required to submit manure management plans each year and expected surprise annual inspections from our county officer.  I'm not going to lie, these regulations were a pain in our butt, however I am glad that we have them in place to keep all farmers honest in their practices....big or small.  I think the key factor all consumers, rural leaders and farmers forget is that we're all in this together.  We share the same resources, we share water, air and soil.  We want and need to farm in a way that is sustainable, but because we share our environment, what we do to our environment will also affect us.  If a large or small dairy pollutes their water, they are also polluting water for their cows, employees and families.  It's not in anyone's best interest to destroy our environment. 
Moreover, the accusation that large dairies will put small dairies out of business is absurd. Having a larger dairy will help to keep local business running, whether that's feed companies, agronomy companies, lumber yards, equipment dealers, banks, hardware stores, trucking companies, manufacturing/processing plants, and so many more.  $1.00 of milk sold from any sized dairy will generate about $3.00 worth of local economic activity!  Smaller dairies also help local communities!  We need farms of all sizes and styles to have a thriving industry.  Why to small dairies sell out?  They can't afford to upgrade, there isn't another generation to take over the farm, the business plan didn't work, there are many reasons, but to point fingers at large dairies is ridiculous.  We need all sizes, we need each other, and at the end of the day, farming is hard enough the way it is.....I hope we all make it! 

An Occupation of Faith

Spring time rains are here!  We’ve been pretty dry here in Southern Minnesota, so much so that they put us in a “Moderate Drought” category.  Last week strong winds were blowing top soil everywhere, but this morning I awoke to the gentle sounds of rain drops hitting my window pane.  Praise be to God!  I know there are lots of happy farmers, because their prayers are being answered.  Weather is something no farmer has control over and they are at complete mercy to it.  Because of this, I believe in order to farm you have to have a deep sense of a higher calling or a higher power.  Farming is an occupation of faith. 

So often farmers place their hope and trust in something bigger than themselves.  Farmers have faith; it is a requirement.  They have faith that there is a plan, that God will provide, that if they do their best on Earth to be care takers of the land, water and animals, that they will be rewarded.  Sometimes though, life doesn’t as planned.  Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate.  Sometimes the cards that farmers get dealt make no sense.  But at the end of the day, farmers are resilient, they know their calling, and they have faith that they will be able to try again; they keep trying again. “Maybe we’ll get it right next time or next season.”

In my heart, I am a farmer, I have faith.  I know my calling in life and I trust in God’s plan.  I am so blessed to have grown up on a farm, to have first-hand knowledge and experience in God’s glory.  I have seen my parents struggle through difficult times in farming history, wondering if we would have money to feed our family or pay the bills, but they never lost faith.  They have been great examples of resilience and the important of dedication and passion.  But when you boil everything that they went through to keep on farming, it came down to having faith, and I have faith in God’s plan for me and my farming future!

Passion & Purpose

Passion. I have a great passion for everything dairy.  Passion was a word that I only started to understand when I was a 16 year old dairy ambassador and even at 32, I still don’t understand passion in its fullest form but I live passionately every day of my life.  The past year has been a challenge that I never saw coming and I definitely didn’t know if I could and how I would handle it (someday when I am strong enough I may blog about it).  The challenge shook me to my core and made me truly reflect on what I am passionate and how I can make sure that I am living that passion every day.  I grew up on a farm, I lived on a farm and in a heartbeat I would trade my best day of work for my worst day of farming.  Even though some days where emotionally heart breaking, physically exhausting and mentally difficult, I will farm again, I have to farm.  Farming is my passion.

I get tears in my eyes thinking about all that love about farming.  I love the joy of growing food, raising animals for food and watching people grow in their jobs, when they truly “get” the importance of feeding the world.  I love watching things grow!   I believe farming is one of few occupations which allows a deep connection to nature and God.  Farmers are constantly at the mercy of Mother Nature and they are persistently praying.  They pray for rain, sun, cows, calves, pigs, sheep, chickens…and most of all they pray for their families.  Most truly passionate farmers are also so selfless that they hardly ever pray for themselves. 

There is so much pride in producing food for the world.  At the grocery store I am so encouraged by the images of families buying dairy products or enjoying a dairy treat.  I am often thanking them for consuming our foods.  Dairy is such a healthy and filling food.  It’s safe, nutritious, and wholesome…and at the end of the day I am more than willing to eat and drink what comes off of my farm.  There is a lot of joy that comes with knowing that.  What I do as a farmer matters to those who consume my products, and in turn those who consume my products matter to me.  A dairyman I know, often said, “I want to be able to produce a product that a single parent household can afford to purchase and is an important part of a healthy diet”, I completely agree. 

I get excited when I meet a farmer that is also excited about farming and I try to encourage farmers who are feeling beaten down by their profession and calling. Farming is not for the weak, it is for the strong, but it is for those who are strong in their passion and dedication for agriculture.  Very few will know the pure joy of delivering a live calf, when it should’ve been dead.  Few will know the beauty of a sunrise in the morning on a day you will be making hay.  Few will know the sense of pride when you have a cow on your dairy who has lived to 12+ years old.  Few will enjoy sharing with someone with no connection to agriculture at all the passion and compassion that we have for what we do every day.  I love everything about dairying and farming.  It might sound completely nuts, but I love even the worst day on the farm, because at least I am still doing what I love, what I am passionate about.  Dairy farming is what brings tears to my eyes and a purpose and passion to my life.  These are my God given skills, and I intend on using them. 

 

Men's Sausage Dinner: Faith, Food, Fellowship, Farming

German deliciousness! Sauerkraut & Sausages!

This past weekend was our annual church Men’s Sausage Dinner.  There is so much about this event that just brings joy to my heart!  First it is an event that highlights our local German heritage which is focused on a delicious meal that few can really enjoy.  Sauerkraut is amazing!  This particular sauerkraut is made with shredded potatoes, mashed potatoes, pork pulled off the bone, and sauerkraut (fermented cabbage for those who are not familiar with it).  This recipe is a “secret” recipe that only the men of the parish know how to make, some of those men being my brother and my father.  Another trademark of this delicious meal are the locally made sausages.  The meat is from animals which are donated to the church from area farmers.  This year my brother and father donated a couple cows and a few other neighboring dairy farmers did the same.  Area hog farmers donate pigs and together, there is enough meat to feed the hundreds that come to eat at church, purchase take-out meals and extra meat and sauerkraut to sell. 

Starting months in advance men from the church organize who is going to donate animals and from which farms.  Once enough animals are found, a crew goes around to each farm and picks up the animals and delivers them to the butcher.  All of the work for this event from the organizing to the washing of dishes is done by the men from church.  It’s a great event that my dad looks forward to each year.  He and my brother enjoy working with other men from church for a good cause, but also working together in male comradery.  I did chores the morning of the dinner so my dad could help. The night after the dinner, he was just buzzing with stories about how fun it was to work with his friends and neighbors.  My brother was working the day before, pulling the meat off of the bones for the sauerkraut.  He was so dedicated he even went into work at 3am to get the pots of sauerkraut cooking!  While this was a men only event, it did my heart good to milk for my dad so he could help the church and have a great time in the process!  I’m already looking forward to it next year!  A celebration of Faith, Food, Fellowship and Farming!

 

Fair Life Gets Two Thumbs Up!

I stopped at the grocery store last night and decided to try out Fairlife Milk!

I'd give it 2 thumbs up! Delicious!

I tried chocolate flavored Fair Life milk tonight. Coca Cola recently unveiled this new product, and when I heard about it I wanted to make sure I got the chance to try it out.  I just about jumped for joy when I saw it at our local grocery store this week!  Coca Cola is getting into the milk industry and as a dairy enthusiast it is very exciting to see a company that was once our competitor dip their feet into the fluid milk market.  Even more exciting is the fact that this innovative product has some serious competitive improvements.  I am a self proclaimed chocolate milk expert.  I have a picky palette when it comes to chocolate milk.  I don't like overly thick chocolate milks, and I hate it when the chocolate flavoring is too over powering in addition to a sugary sweet flavor.  There have been some chocolate milks that I have diluted with white milk (hence why I also bought a white milk just in case I needed to dilute it).  So I am picky. 
So what makes this chocolate milk special?  Well I encourage you to visit the link above to see the specifics but with the technology of ultra-filtration this milk has 50% more protein, 30% more calcium, no lactose, and half the sugar as compared to ordinary chocolate milk.  I honestly expected this milk to be thick and chewy, knowing the added protein and calcium but it was pleasantly light and just sweet enough to still be a treat without the guilt.  I love a tall glass of this milk after a work out at night!  It goes down great because of the flavor.  It's filling because of the higher protein which is also good for muscle health and it is a great way to cool down!  I plan on continuing my purchases of this milk because it fits in nicely with my active lifestyle and my desire to maintain a healthy body weight and muscle tone.  Thank you Fairlife for a great product!!! Two Thumbs Up!