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Wrangler Wednesday: Farmers love to learn...even on vacation

So this past weekend the #farmer, #farmboys & I took a mini vacation,

thanks to our milk cooperative.

View from our hotel room

We attended our 1st Summer Break...in Amish Country.

Now some of you may think we spent the 4 days eating ourselves silly,

touring Amish Farms, and visiting the world's largest Coo-Coo Clock.

However that's not exactly how it worked out.

Lunch with my handsome hubs

We did eat.

And the crazy farmboys

The farmer's favorite part of our trip was the toll booths (WV) and the tunnels (VA) along I-77.

We did get to explore some very scenic parts of Ohio

Amish Countryside

Visit a popular town park...which puts our playground to shame

Carousal at Tuscora Park

The Farmer & Farm Boys at Tuscora Park

Celebrate National Ice Cream Day

Enjoy some great family time together

Meet lots of new folks (yes, all dairy farmers)

Farm kids enjoying the pool

But the purpose wasn't solely for fun, but also education.

1 of the 4 small groups at Andreas Dairy Farm

You see this is organized by our milk cooperative to allow young farmers (18-40)

to visit other dairies and learn how they operate.

Some had niche markets such as making maple syrup

What are those dairies doing differently?

How are they keeping cows cool?

Farmer & Farm Baby checking out the cows at a farm

How do they handle fresh cows (cows who just had a calf)?

What are they feeding their cows?

Barn Quilt at Steam Valley Farms, Steel Family

And the whole family gets to attend...which is great since it's hard to get away from the farm,

especially as a whole family.

Farmboy enjoying a snack break at Steam Valley Farms

We also were able to spend time with other folks just like us,

who work hard each day to supply others with safe, wholesome milk for their families and ours.

Who value their cattle and their land...

You see on this tour

there were 120+ people...

I didn't see one factory farmer.

I saw moms,

dads,

and kids

who all make up family farms

from Georgia to Pennsylvania.

Each farmer was attending so they could learn more,

get new ideas,

and fellowship with fellow farmers.

the Farm Baby only lasted half a day on the tours

Unfortunately the Farm Baby & I missed out on everything after lunch.

He was in desperate need of a nap...

which turned into a sleep fest.

He slept 13+ hours between Monday afternoon & Tuesday morning!!

When the Farmer & Farm Boy arrived back from the evening activities

I took the boy back to the pool.

Where many farm families sat around watching the kids play

while they chatted about everything from cow comfort to #momlife.

You see farmers make up a very small portion of the U.S. population (less than 2%),

so when we get a chance to visit with others like us...

we tend to play catch up because

you most likely won't see them again for another 6 months to a year!

Overall we had a great trip.

The Farm boys did great on the trip,

but were super excited to be back home

and out of the car.

The farmer had some much needed time to relax.

He was headed to the farm within 30 minutes of getting home.

As the farm wife & mom,

I still have a mountain of laundry to catch up on,

have to return to our normal routine today.

But wouldn't trade a minute of it.

Until we meet again...

Caci

Wrangler Wednesday

I can't believe it's already July!

And honestly it's quickly approaching the middle of July.

That means that lots of our friends who grow produce have many yummy things in their roadside stand.

Over the holiday weekend I grabbed some peaches, tomatoes, corn, squash and cantaloupe

from one of our favorite family farms....Cotton Hills Farm

(If you are a regular to the blog you've probably seen me mention them before.)

I put up most of the corn, squash and tomatoes this weekend.

Well I put up what didn't make it's way into our tummies I should say ;)

This Farm Boy really impressed me this past week. He has taken to writing in his journal often. I can't always tell you what he's writing but he's putting his thoughts on paper!

He also did a great job of helping to shuck corn. He was very meticulous on his silking duties,

which slowed us down but that's ok.

His favorite part though was fresh corn on the cob. As you can tell Farm Boy #2

was quite pleased as well!

Speaking of FB2...he's a mess!

He loves to entertain everyone...see here why we have dubbed him...

"PACI MONSTER"

we never leave home without at least 2 sometimes 3 or more!

Those peaches you saw earlier were made into peach cobbler for the boys

with a side of home made ice cream

And to cool off on the farm...we fill the old sandbox

with ice cold well water

and splash around

The farmer cut the hay field next to our house this week,

which means no more "over my head" field

and Farm Boy is excited to be able to run through it without fear of getting lost.

Here's the field while they were baling.

And we are finally getting a few things out of our own

tiny raised bed garden.

Farm Boy #2 is happy to help pick each evening,

while the original Farm Boy tends to his hens.

I'm just glad I don't have to deal with the chickens!

Until we meet again,

Caci

Wrangler Wednesday

I hope everyone is having a great week.

I am still recouping from last week's VBS.

I love how our small church comes together to share the Gospel with children from our community.

I love that our volunteers are AWESOME and always willing to go the extra mile.

And as worn out as I am...I am already excited about VBS 2015!!

With summer travel, VBS, and such the boys and I haven't been around the farm as much in the last week.

But that doesn't stop my farm loving boy from getting in some quality time with his pullets.

These pullets are a 4-H project that I personally have a love/hate relationship with :)

I love that ONE DAY (EVENTUALLY) we will have fresh eggs,

but I hate the pecking, the beady eyes, and all other bird characteristics.

I was so excited that our new smocked outfits arrived last week in time for church.

I love the James set both boys got. Wyatt did a great job showing his off while Waylon snoozed.

Thanks Stitches of Faith for a beautiful set of smocked outfits with cotton on it!!

This is how we roll on Sunday after nap time.

Chillin' w/ our horseshoe glass in big bro's carseat

all the while Momma empties the car of 47,834 items!

And then there is this kid who cries when you put him in shorts,

(cause cowboys don't wear shorts)

who would prefer to be at the farm with his daddy,

who couldn't wait to get out of the car and help Marty

move calves this morning.

Until we meet again.... God bless you & keep you,

Caci

Wrangler Wednesday...5K, VBS, Farm Life & 2 Worn Out Boys

Life has been busy around the farm.

There are cows to milk,

show lambs to work with,

hay to bale,

and work to be done.

The boys have been working their lambs every chance they get...which lately hasn't been often.

Even the baby can walk one of the lambs.

Wyatt's taken up with this calf...he claims he's the calf's favorite person.

These 2 have decided our small garden is their kitchen.

And the baby is loving feed time...mainly because he steals some feed

But apparently that is exhausting.

Last Saturday the local Young Farmers & Ranchers group hosted the 1st Annual Sara Ann Comer

#Run4Agriculture! We had great participation and were overwhelmed with the support of our wonderful community!!

Right at 200 folks registered to participate.

We were very happy to do something for this wonderful family whom we all love very much!

As a mom I was super proud of this kid! He had been back and forth since the beginning on if he was running or not. He decided yes and finished in 43 minutes and some change. He said he wasn't running for Ag but for Sara Ann...to me that's perfectly OK.