Caroline Hutton 2011 SC Beef  Ambassador addressing the SC Cattlemen's Annual Meeting



Wyatt going to Grandma & PawPaw's...part of our exercise together plan



SC Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers with his haul in the Buggy Race in honor of Food-Checkout week.

Until next time-

Caci

So in the past 3 weeks I have traveled to St. Louis for 2 days, Orlando for 3 days and Clemson, SC for 3 days. Needless to say the laundry at my house is piling up, my kitchen is a mess and my family might feel slightly neglected over the recent trips since my little man only went to Clemson and the hubby has stayed at home on the farm entirely.

My trip to St. Louis was to attend CommonGround Conference with other farm women from around the country. We all have the desire to talk with others about how food is produced. The conference was great to get us motivated and share ideas from other places. While we were there the SC girls had a chance to visit the Budweiser Brewery which was a wonderful treat as well.

After St. Louis I was home for a while working in the garden and feeding show calves. I have spent a lot of time outside! I of course had to do the 8-5 gig in addition to my normal on farm work. I headed to Orlando the 1st of August to attend the Annual Summer Conference for the Beef Industry. I represent Region II as the Consumer Education Chair for ANCW It was great spending time with other Cattlewomen & men from across the country. Met some great ladies and can't wait to meet up with them again at NBAP

After leaving Orlando fully charged I headed to Clemson for a few days to attend the SC Jr. Beef Round-Up. This is kinda our kickoff of show season here in South Carolina. It's always a great weekend filled wtih lots of fun, friends, family, and cattle. During this show we also hold our state's Beef Ambassador Contest. Congratulations to Will Turner and Caitlyn Poole on winning their division. I am sure both of you will represent us well at Nationals in 2012! This year we also held an interest meeting on forming a South Carolina Cattlewomen's. I was suprised when 15 ladies expressed an interest in joining. I am happy to say we have already started recieving membership applications! I can't wait to get everything kicked off! I am sure that these women will do an amazing job helping promote the beef industry!

As I write this I am preparing for the Stock Show U Clinic which will be held tomorrow, August 20th in McConnells, SC. I am excited that we have between 40-50 people heading to our tiny town to learn about fitting and showing cattle! I can't wait to have all these great kids and their families together. Derrick Jones from NC will be our professor. More pics and tips to come!

I hope you all have a great weekend and I apologize for my blogging vacation but hope to be back in the full swing of things next weeK!

My hubby w/ Forcin' Two Drifters July 2010

Emmanuel Bankston congratulates Rachel Nance on winning SC Jr. Beef Ambassador

Rachel waiting to show her spring heifers at the 2010 SC Jr. Beef Round-up

Emmanuel Bankston 2010 SC Beef Ambassador with Agvocates Stacey & Troy Hadrick

2010 National Beef Ambassador Contestants

My hubby and son

2009 Miss York County Livestock

Today has been the coolest day in months.  It was comfy all day long and to be even better its suppose to get into the 50's tonight!  I might stay up all night just to get to wear a sweatshirt...a Georgia one that is because with the start of fall begins the start of the greatest time of year...College football and show season. 

I realize for most of the country that show season is winding down however for us in the Southeast we are just getting started good.  We are gearing up for our county livestock show which is the biggest South Carolina youth only livestock show in the state.  (Our state fair allows youth from other states to exhibit in our junior show.)  We are recounting ribbons, entries, and awards to ensure that we are ready but don't worry we are!  And are setup to have the best show ever! 

I am still finalizing some of the setup details but come Thursday we will be ready for the trailers to begin rolling in.  Stay tune for updates. 

On the farm front we have been busy chopping silage and beginning calving season.  We had 17 cows due in 5 days, needless to say it was a little hectic.  In the mist of all that I began a new job teaching 7th grade science at the local middle school.  I can't say it has gone off without a hitch but it has been good.  We also held the 2nd South Carolina Beef Ambassador contest and awarded the 2011 winners, I am proud to say that William's youngest sister Rachel will be serving as SC Jr. Beef Ambassador for the upcoming year.  We are winding things up with our current ambassador and will be heading to South Dakota at the end of the month to compete in nationals. 

I have taken a break from sewing lately with everything going on.  But I realized that sewing was my release.  I have very stressed lately and finally figured out it was because I haven't been doing anything for myself.  So the sewing will begin again maybe as early as tonight if I can get everything sorted out and cleaned up. 

Speaking of cleaning...I have set a new goal...to declutter and organize my home by December 31, 2010.  In short that means I will be clearing out all the JUNK that clutters our home and finding new ways to corral all those items we plan to keep.  Any suggestions???