Hi Y'all! I haven't blogged regularly in over a year!  I can't believe that it's been that long! 

Lots of have changed in the last year and I can't wait to share it with you!  

Before I dig into an update, I want to welcome all those who might be new to my blog!  

Thanks for stopping by and learning more about our faith, farm, and family!  

A little background info...my husband and I are 11th generation farmers...I always said 10th but we have learned in the last year that I calculated wrong. We have a family owned and operated dairy in South Carolina.  There are less than 50 other dairies left in our state!  

We farm along with my husband's parents and our 4 farm kids.  

For years I worked full time off the farm however in November I quit my job to stay at home and help on the farm!  Talk about a big adjustment!!  

So far I am loving it!  Now I'm not saying my house is cleaner or that I'm caught up on laundry or that I have started tackling that long list of "things I want to do".  I am saying that I get to spend more time with my family, I am happier and I am doing what I am passionate about.  

My days consist of school drop offs & pick ups, feeding babies (human and bovine varieties), washing dishes, doing laundry, squeezing in time to read my Bible and churn out a few stitches, baking and chasing after little ones.  I wouldn't have it any other way...even though it also means you may find me in the milk parlor more than the house, many times covered in poop & baby vomit and there aren't as many dress up days for the Princess Farmgirl.  

So welcome back!  I can't wait to get back to blogging on a more regular basis...

now tell me what you would like to read about?  

Our faith?

Our farm?

Cloth diapering?

Sewing Tips/Tricks?

Pattern Reviews?

Recipes?

Dairy Farms?

Kids clothes?  

Until next time

I know, I know it's been months!  

What can I say...

school started, 

show season hit, 

fall calving, 

I opened a new Etsy shop,

and life all gets in the way of my blogging.

It doesn't mean I don't want to but other things take priority...

like my faith, family & the farm.  

I thought I would take a few moments to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year...cause let's be honest...I probably won't blog again until 2017!

Enjoy these photos from the last couple of months!

I am loving having my own personal model...she enjoys it too!

I have taken a break from blogging for the last few weeks.  October's 31 day challenge was tough!!  I decide I would start another series of sorts.  Every few days I will post a graphic that shares a little insight on our farm and my farmer.  Hope you enjoy!

With Thanksgiving tomorrow this is the perfect picture.

We don't get holidays and vacations from the farm.  The Farmer has to care for our livestock each and everyday of the year.  

So while you are prepping and enjoying your holiday meal with family and friends be sure to take a moment and thank the farm families who worked hard day in and day out to put that meal on your table.  By the way...they are working Thanksgiving too!

God Bless,

Caci

Welcome to day 5 of our 31 days.

As I read through the farm stories the one thing that jumps out at me is the passion that each family has for agriculture.  They are hardworking, honest folks who are doing their best to put food on their tables and yours.  I am amazed at their dedication to this lifestyle.

For me, I find strength in each story.  You see being a farm wife isn't always sweet tea & porch swings.  Even if you grew up a farm kid, the minute you marry a farmer life changes.  The burdens of farm life are now carried on your shoulders.  This isn't to say I would have it any other way but knowing that other families are out there, facing the same challenges and overcoming each obstacle brings me a sense of comfort and unity with these families.  

Today's family hails from Kansas!

1. Who are you & where are you located?

2. How did your farm begin? 

3. What does your farm produce?

   

4. What is the busiest time of year for your farm?

5. How do younger generations help on the farm?

6. With all there is to do on a farm, are you involved off the farm?

Jeff and I have both been involved off the farm. We have both been on the State Young Farmers and Ranchers committee. Jeff was active on our county Farm Bureau board and we both still help with community activities that they put on. Jeff currently serves on the Equus Beds board and I am currently a room mother for my son's first grade class. 

7. What's your favorite activity to do together as a family on the farm?

8. Why is family important to your farm?

9. What's one thing you want non-farm families to know?

Welcome to day 4 of our 31 days.

Today we are back visiting a dairy family but this time from clear across the country.  Our weather and location may be different but this family shares our passion for agriculture.   I am so excited to learn more about this family and their farm!

1. Who are you & where are you located?

I am Krista Stauffer from Washington State.  

2. How did your farm begin? 
Our farm began in May of 2009.  My husband started it from scratch on a leased farm.

3. What does your farm produce?

We are a dairy farm.  Our farm supplies milk to a local milk plant that bottles it for stores.

   

4. What is the busiest time of year for your farm?
Year round is busy, as we are a dairy farm but June-August when we are putting up feed is the busiest time of year.

5. How do younger generations help on the farm?
Our children are only 7, 4, & 2 so they carry empty buckets, hold bottles but mostly just play :) 

6. With all there is to do on a farm, are you involved off the farm?
We are involved off farm with our local farm bureau and as delegates for our young cooperatives program, I am also writer (work featured on Pink Tractor, Progressive Dairyman, Growing America & local column in the paper), blogger (www.thefarmerswifee.com) as well as co-founder of askthefarmers.com, CommonGround volunteer, Awana volunteer at church, etc.

7. What's your favorite activity to do together as a family on the farm?

Although milking cows with three kids is not the most efficient way to milk cows, I do love to be in the parlor with my husband while the kids play & the girls (cows) are being milked.

8. Why is family important to your farm?
We farm for our family.  We farm to be with our family & we farm for our family's future.  The two are one for us!  

9. What's one thing you want non-farm families to know?

That it doesn't matter the size of the farm, it comes down to the farmer.  We love our girls (cows), they are our world.  Don't ever let the minority cloud your vision of what most farmers truly stand for.

Blog: thefarmerswifee.com

Facebook: facebook.com/StaufferDairy

Twitter: @TheFarmersWifee

Instagram: @The_Farmers_Wifee

Welcome to day 3 of our 31 days.

I love that these families are willing to open up their farms and let us take a glimpse!
Farming/Ranching isn't just a business for each family featured it's a lifestyle.
There are long hard days and nights, but the joy of watching a new calf born, or the first shoots emerge in spring make all of the droughts, fire, flood, and every other weather issue you can think of worth it.

I can't wait for all of you to meet these awesome farm families from across America.  These are the families that are supplying the food on your table and the clothes on your back...not to mention some of them provide products you use to build your house.  

Today's family hails from the Tip of the Thumb!

1. Who are you & where are you located?

Hi!  We are the Szymanski family!  My husband Frank & I have 3 children, Luke (5), Grace (4) and Faith (2 1/2).  We farm along with his parents in Port Austin, MI. 

2. How did your farm begin? 

My husband's grandparents bought our farm in 1942!

3. What does your farm produce?

We farm on around 1200 acres.  We grow corn, wheat, and dry beans.  This year my husband also became a sales agent for Pioneer Seeds.

   

4. What is the busiest time of year for your farm?

That's a toss up between planting and harvest. I think with seed deliveries I would say planting.

5. How do younger generations help on the farm?

6. With all there is to do on a farm, are you involved off the farm?

7. What's your favorite activity to do together as a family on the farm?

We always take time when we can for a family picnic in the field during planting and harvest.  Life is so hectic and the kids start to really miss their dad so we try to get some family time with the kids. 

We also plant a huge pea patch every year for our extended family and getting the ground ready and planted is definitely a favorite family activity. We spend summer nights checking the garden, walking through the corn/soybean plots and weeding the peas. 
We are also blessed to live right on the farm and next door to my husbands parents and grandmother so the kids are always running around the farm(usually looking for candy) and impromptu family time happens organically.

8. Why is family important to your farm?

We farm "for" our family and "with" our family.  We are blessed to be able to farm along side Frank's parents.  Their wisdom and experience are something that you can't learn inside a classroom or book.  There are always challenges when working with strong-minded individuals but at the end of the day being able to be part of the family working together for a common goal is wonderful.
Their business sense and caring is something that we hope to emulate with our own children as they grow into the operation. 

9. What's one thing you want non-farm families to know?
One of the unique perspectives on a farm is that we aren't here just to make money for ourselves to live on. ~Although it is nice to have all the bills paid by the end of the year!
We take care of the land and equipment for our children to take over and make money to live on and pass onto their children too.


 When our kids want to grow up doing what dad and mom do its exciting. Our oldest came home from Kindergarten this week with a drawing of what he wants to be when he grows up "a farmer." It was very heartwarming! Those little people that beg for tractor rides and trips to the elevator; that can tell you the model of every tractor and name pieces of equipment better than some equipment salesman are our present and our future.
However, in an atmosphere like we are farming in now it can also be troublesome.  Will there be land for them to farm? Will it be cost effective? What do we need to do now so that in 10-20 years there is enough income for another family to enter the business? We just hug them and pray at the beginning and end to make the best decisions.