Breakfast On The Farm 2025

Happy June Dairy Month; ours started off sweeter than a cup of Culver's custard because our family dairy hosted Brown County's Breakfast on the Farm on June 1st. Check out the news coverage {here} and {here}.

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My Earth Day Dad

It's Earth Day, so I'm celebrating nature.

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Today's Special Delivery

Today I'm grateful for my husband's thoughtfulness at snapping this shot of the moment when our mail carrier, Angela, arrived with Birdie & Mipps.

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When you're quiet

Happy new year; today I'm reflecting on compassion and connection.

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Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Today I'm feeling grateful for this recent aerial shot of our family's dairy farm; click {here} to read all about it. {Photo credit: Land O Lakes}

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Relaxing and Ruminating

Happy August; today I'm excited because it's time to go

back to school this week, and I got my clock display done.

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Red, White & Blue Ribbons

Happy Fourth of July. 

How will you celebrate freedom today?

We're off to what's considered the longest-running 

consecutive Independence Day Celebration in Texas.

Joshua will be marching in the morning parade 

with the FHS Mighty Mustang Band!

Today I've got a different 4 on my mind. 

4-H.

Look at what my Uncle Roger gave me 

when we went home for the reunion.

It's his 4-H Record Book from 1960.

Were you ever in 4-H? 

Do you know the Pledge?

Look at that last line of the pledge ...  the words "and my world"  
were actually added to the pledge a few years into my time with the Club. 
{I remember that being a difficult adjustment for us.} 

Head, Heart, Hands, Health. 

It nicely parallels yesterday's guest post over at Minds In Bloom. 

And notice our Club Motto: To Make The Best Better.

And look what it takes to be an Achievement member.
Here's something I never considered before;
4-H was a Character Club.

Anyway, it's one of my favorite memories, belonging to 4-H.

We attended monthly meetings and had fun outings like shoebox socials, softball tournaments, rollerskating parties. And we signed up to take classes so that we could learn new skills and make cool stuff for the County Fair. In town. That was the cool part. We got to go to in to town. I loved every one of my 4-H leaders who taught me to train cattle and horses, sew clothing, bake cookies and bread, and take pictures, all for exhibition at the Fair.

Once the Fair had come and gone, we had to got to write our reflections in our Record Book. Here's what Uncle Roger's looks like:

I especially loved that he expressed his gratitude in the last paragraph. This agricultural training was preparing him to do some amazing things years later down character road, including becoming a Professor of Agricultural Sciences at Cornell University and then Department Chair at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He even served on the Board for Heifer International at one point. And his professional journey started when he was a kid in Wayside, Wisconsin. On our family farm. And in 4-H.

My dad and grandpa both signed this book at one point, as an accountability check, I suppose, and I love seeing their handwriting.

What a lot of work that Record Book was, 
writing it all down, start to finish.

From learning about calf care,
{and not missing a class} 

to selecting a calf,
{which one you choose can make all the difference} 

and actually caring for it,
{which included proper nutrition}
to signing up to show it,
{must meet those deadlines!}

then training it to lead,
{which doesn't happen without trust} 

and fitting it for the show,
{just look at that animal's beautiful tail!}

to ultimately leading it around the ring
{why did we have to wear white show pants?}

so that judges could rank us in order, best to worse.
The best calf/caretaker combo in each class won
a blue ribbon {and a little cash}!

The book was a record of the process, the journey.

I wish I still had my Record Books.

It'd be especially interesting to read what I wrote about

the calf, aptly named Goofy, who, in the middle of the show,
 laid down.

Right there, in the ring. 

During a Showmanship competition.
In front of everyone.
While I was leading her.
The other kids didn't know what to do.
Neither did I!

I remember thinking we were doomed,

and trying so SO hard to react nonchalantly, 

begging Goofy to please please get up {NOW!}, 

so you can imagine my surprise 

when the Judge pulled us in to the center 

and eventually placed us in first.

Competing in Showmanship Class was a very big deal.
Winning it was the ice cream on the cake.

Turns out, the judge liked how I handled the challenge

when my four-legged bovine friend decided she'd had enough

and didn't want to walk around that silly circle anymore.
Midwest Breeders took our picture afterward.
I can tell by my stance that I was still a nervous wreck.
But isn't Goofy looking big and proud, large and in charge?

That's my favorite County Fair memory,
and not just because we came out on top.
It's what we learned that made it a blue-ribbon day.

Yesterday was another blue-ribbon day for me
because some blogging buddies are planning to use 
What's Under Your Cape? for their July book study.
They want to learn more about character development
and share their reflections and enrichment ideas
to help this year's class of superheroes soar. 
Here's a mark-your-calendars promo page;
more to come as the event approaches.

Here's to a red, white, and blue-ribbon day
that sends you soaring.

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Surprise!

Hello from Wayside, WI, where the balmy temps have the southerners 

doing a Tigger Dance and savoring our time in the great outdoors.

So I was making small talk with my Uncle Bill as we stood in line for dinner last night, day two of our three-day reunion. Having heard he'd be leading our Sunday worship service, I asked him what the topic of his sermon was going to be. His answer? Surprise.  Slightly frustrated by his need for secrecy {because what's the big deal really?} I said, "Fine, I'll wait until tomorrow to find out then."

This morning as he greeted us with a handshake, I told him slyly that I was ready to be surprised! He just chuckled to himself, probably imagining my surprise when I opened my bulletin to see that the title of his sermon was just that: Surprise!

So today's question is: What surprises you?

Do you prefer to give surprises ... or get them?

Or both? Or neither?

After our morning reflections, we took a cemetery walk.

The surprise about that for me was how quickly tears came.

Listening to the bagpipe playing Amazing Grace.

Looking at the small tombs of children who died too soon,

in infancy,

in childhood,

as teenagers,

as young adults.

I could hardly breathe at the thought of burying

one child, much less the four siblings whose tombs we saw.

And the tombs of soldiers who served to secure our 

freedom and hope.

And the tombs of our grandparents ... and their parents.

And then seeing my Aunt Norma's grave again,

like it was for the first time.

And pondering how perfect its stone's inscription for her is:

Feed My Lambs.

She spent 50 years of her life feeding little lambs.

Her lambs.

Her heavenly Father's lambs.

If you've never been on a cemetery walk, I highly recommend it.

You just might be surprised at how good it feels

to honor those who have gone before us

and who made us the people we are today, 

those whose lasting legacies we are left behind to live.

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Coffee & Connectivity

So life on the farm can have its challenges, like not very good WiFi connection. So I'm in a Starbucks enjoying some coffee and connectivity, and it has me thinking about life, before the internet. Was it a simpler time? How did we connect with one another? 
I've been spending a lot of time this week in reunion in real life instead of online.

I've made a lot of new friends, including my sister's cat Gus.

Understandably, it took Gus a while to warm up to me. We've never met, so why would he trust me? But, because Gus is an up cat, and I would be sleeping in the loft, I figured it'd only be a matter of time until we were fast friends.  Turns out I was right. He followed me up and I saw a softer, gentler side of this finicky feline. It was kind of a yes moment. We were up, together.  He started out on top of the covers with me and, before I fell fast asleep, he was snuggled in underneath. Life is like that. It usually just takes time and trust. 

So today's question is: Who are your up people? 
And how do you connect with them?

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PPBF: Josias, Hold the Book

Today I'm excited to share a book that connects with me all the way back to my roots on the farm. Prepare to fall in love with Josias. He's one responsible kid! 


Title: Josias, Hold the Book
Author: Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren
Illustrator: Nicole Tadgell
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
Date: 2006 (reprint edition January 1, 2011)
Suitable for: grades 1-4
Themes: Haitian culture, responsibility, poverty
Realistic Fiction
Brief synopsis: A young Haitian gardener, Josias can't help but notice that his family's beans aren't growing like they used to. Though his friends invite him every day to "hold the book" - an expression that means attend school to learn - Josias repeatedly declines because he's working diligently on the family farm to find a solution to their issue with the beans. Is it possible that if Josias agrees to "hold the book" he'd be able to research other options and save his bean crop?

Opening pages:  Josias frowned at the bare rows of dirt between the sweet potatoes and peas in his family's tiny garden. "The beans have grown well here every year. Why not this one?" He wiped the sweat from his brow as the Haitian sun climbed higher in the sky.

Resources:  

Read a Kirkus review {here}.

Why I like this book and how I would use it:  

First-grade teacher Margaret Limmer first introduced me to this book a few years ago during their farm unit. She said that it reminded her of me since I, too, grew up working on a farm. She also said it was an excellent book to teach problem solving and responsibility. After reading it, however, my first question had to do with fairness: Was it fair that Josias had to work and wasn't able to "hold the book" like his friend Chrislove? That led to my next inquiry: Is education a right or a privilege? These would be interesting writing prompts or discussion points before reading Josias' story aloud to your class. 

While reading aloud, ask students to keep track of the ways in which Josias attempts to help his beans grow. What, if anything, would they have done differently to solve that problem?

Might the books that his friends are reading at school hold the solution to this problem? Is not being able to hold the book holding Josias back? A teacher helps by explaining about crop rotation, and Josias learns a valuable lesson that could even help modernize his family. An author's note at the end of the book gives her readers an insider's look into the plight of the Haitian farmer and the schooling issues that rural children face in that third-world nation. 

Have students compare and contract their life with Josias' way of living. What, if anything, is the same? And what do they note is different? This might also lead to a study of the people, customs, and traditions in Haiti and could even springboard a service project. What is one of the needs that we could help fill there? After the earthquake there, we collected gently-used shoes and sent them through Soles 4 Souls, an organization designed to wear out poverty. Seize this opportunity to find out what they understand about poverty. Are Josias and his family rich or poor? How do they know?

Follow up the story with a writing lesson. What would your students say in a letter to Josias? Tell him about your country and ask him about his. What are your responsibilities as a student? As a family member? As a friend? What are his? 

Want a science experiment? Plant some beans and try watering them with different liquids: water, milk, coffee, lemonade, cola. What do your student predict might happen? Write a hypothesis, then plant those seeds. Help students keep data; measure and document. Track growth and other reactions to the treatment and care. Let students discuss their observations and outcomes.

Check out this book and the other gems on our PPBF list.

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Caring Classroom Family Guest Post

Did you know that yesterday was Cow Appreciation Day?

At Chick-fil-A anyway.

I promise I am not making that up.

These two cows enjoy life on our family farm. When we took the tractor tour of the new barns, we were told by our tour guide that it's all about

the comfort of the cows. 

They are continuously fed so that they can graze effortlessly whenever they want. They're bedded in sand, so it's like sleeping on the beach, and they're kept in a climate-controlled environment 

so that they're always ... comfortable.

 Our dairy's goal is that each cow produce 100 lbs. of milk per day.
Turns out that happy cows produce more milk.

The secret to success is comfy cows; who knew?

If you haven't seen this clip from some Iowa farmers, watch it now 
for proof positive that it's not just the cows who are happy.

So, would it follow that comfy kids are more content?

Uh, let me think ... YES!
 

I'm honored that Laura Candler over at Corkboard Connections 
 invited me to talk about just that.

Click {here} to see how you can increase connectivity

with the members of your

caring classroom family. 
Click the graphic if you want to receive Laura's amazing newsletter. For free!

Thanks, Laura, for this cute creation!

Oh, and I think it's udderly possible that contented kids 
achieve greater school success, don't you?  
When you get moooooved back in, try some of those family-friendly ideas and let me know what happens
in your character building.

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Blogiversary & Breakfast

My two years at the Corner pale in comparison to my family's 150 years on the farm, but our milestones merged on Sunday when we celebrated both! Words cannot adequately describe the AmAzInG Breakfast On The Farm event held on my family's dairy in Wayside, Wisconsin. Early estimates were that we fed about 6600 people, including the volunteers.

Here now, the pictures that are worth more than a thousand words:

The calm before the breakfast storm.

My brother Mark climbed the neighbor's silo for an aerial view.

Check out this EGG-cellent concoction!

What's a WI breakfast without cheese curds in bulk?

Feeding the five thousand (plus!) takes many serving lines . . .

and a LOT of frosted cinnamon rolls!

My favorite part?  
Three hours on the serving line next to my sister!

And the very hungry people kept on coming.

How many sausage links did we go through?

Deep-fried cheese curds?  For breakfast??

And still more breakfast-goers ready for their grub.

What's left of the cupola from the old timber barn.

Five generations of history.

And Wisconsin's 66th Alice in Dairyland is our niece Kristin!

A tractor tram tour through the new 600-foot barn.

Coming through!

Out with the old, in with the new . . . 
these bunkers have replaced the silos.

So many nice little touches around the place.

Can we take this little jersey calf with us, mom?

We're milking 1750 cows three times a day now!

This is what horse power meant back in the day!

The original lawn mower ...

and some bunny special . . . 

and a Holstein pig? Oh my!

And the sun sets over the farm on a very special day.

Here's to another year of blogging and
another 150 years in the dairying industry.

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