Paying To Pull

Teamwork, it's the name of the game. Each Spring the Middle School in our town collects money to support Hastings Family Service. The kids bring in their own change and ask family and friends to donate, all in the name of helping others. The collection goes to help replenish the food shelf and provide clothing and school supplies to folks in need. This year a total of $10,337 was collected in only five days!

The teamwork doesn't end when the last coin is counted however. The two classes in each grade with the largest collection totals win the honor of competing in a tug-of-war. Each class picks a team name and decorates T-shirts to show their team spirit. 

Even the teachers join in the fun. My daughter Sara cheered on her 8th grade team, "the Braminators" in full cow gear, but "Wald's Warriors" took the victory.

But here comes what I thought was the best part of the event, (besides the huge donation total, of course) the classes that didn't win were just fine with the outcome. It didn't seem to matter who was the victor, what mattered was they were having a great time, and all in the name of a good cause...helping others. Gotta love teamwork!

They Picked Farm Day!

Each day Ms. Garvey's 1st graders work hard to earn points in hopes of  being rewarded with a special theme day. This time the choices were beach day, game day, or farm day. After the votes were tallied, farm day was named the winner! After a morning of farm themed lessons and projects, I arrived to give my dairy presentation. 

 

Good listeners while I show photos and video of our farm.

You can learn about my school presentations by visiting my blog post Back to School.

The kiddos learned there are many kinds of dairy foods and that we should each have three servings every day.

Here are some of my favorite questions I was asked. I have included links to previous posts, if you would like to learn more. How often do you change the animals bedding? This is done every day so they stay clean and healthy. (Time to Change the Sheets) What other animals are on your farm? We have lots of cows and lots of cats! (I'm Not Kitten Around) If a cow drinks a bathtub of water each day, do you collect rainwater for them to drink? Our cows drink rainwater, well water and recycled water. (Every Day Is Earth Day) After I explained the difference between bulls and cows, and that only cows can give milk, my next question was...How do you get bull calves? Just like people, mommy's have girl babies or boy babies. And lastly, Where did Flat Aggie go?
I sent our little visitor from California to a farm in Arkansas. (Flat Aggie From California)

After a treat of ice cream sundaes and dairy goodie bags to take home, it was time for me to leave. I love sharing a little of what happens in My Barnyard!

A gift as I was leaving. That's me in the middle.

 

A Crazy Coincidence

Today is National Quiche Lorraine Day. Today is also my mom's birthday, and here is where the crazy coincidence comes in...my mom's name is Lorraine! I know, crazy, right? The origin of Quiche Lorraine is in the rural Lorraine Region of France, which is where my Great Grandmother was born. Oh my gosh, the coincidences just keep coming! In honor of my mom's birthday (and National Quiche Lorraine Day) I thought I would share my Quiche Lorraine recipe. This recipe is from My recipes.com. I love that this delicious egg dish is filled with the dairy goodness of whipping cream and Swiss cheese. 

 

Quiche Lorraine

Ingredients

• 1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
• 8 bacon slices, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese, divided
• 6 large eggs 
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preparation

1. Fit pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate according to package directions; fold edges under, and crimp.
2. Bake at 400° for 7 minutes; remove from oven.
3. Cook bacon pieces in a large skillet until crisp; drain on paper towels, and crumble. Sprinkle bacon, green onions, and 1 cup cheese into prepared crust.
4. Whisk together eggs and next 4 ingredients; pour mixture into crust, and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese and nutmeg.
5. Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes or until set. Let stand 10 minutes.

 

Happy birthday, mom! Love you!

Who's Number 60?

Christine Reitsma, 59th Princess Kay of the Milky Way 2012-2013

This year the Princess Kay of the Milky Way title marks its 60th anniversary. Dozens of dairy princesses from across Minnesota are gathered at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, May 17-19 to participate in workshops and judging.  At the weekend’s conclusion, the Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalists will be announced. 

Dairy princesses are young women who are from dairy farm families or are involved in the dairy industry through their employment or that of their parents.  They make appearances in classrooms, at parades and community events, and county fairs.  Princess Kay finalists have their likeness carved in butter during the Minnesota State Fair and make public appearances during the Fair’s 12-day run.

Princess Kay candidates are judged on a written application, a short speech, a professional interview and a simulated media interview. The 12 finalists are named May 19.  Live updates of the finalist announcements will be posted to Princess Kay’s Facebook page during the luncheon. On Twitter, updates can be obtained by following the hashtag #MNPrincessKay.

Princess Kay is then crowned the night before the Minnesota State Fair opens and serves as the dairy industry’s goodwill ambassador for a year, helping people understand the dedication of dairy farmers to wholesome and nutritious food, and the way milk is produced. Dairy farmers sponsor the dairy princess program through Midwest Dairy Association.

We at Bremer Farms are proud to support this program and anxiously look forward to the announcement of the finalists, and the crowning of our 60th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. 

For Those Who Serve

 

Armed Forces Day is a day to honor the men and women who serve in the United States' military.

Join me in a virtual milk toast to those who serve. "For all you do and for the sacrifices you and your family make, I say thank-you!"

Shared Celebrations

I'm sure you have heard the saying, "the more the merrier." That seems to be the theme for this weekend. Let me explain. 

Saturday morning, Farmer John, daughter Sara and I headed south to Winona, Minnesota for Sara's graduation ceremony where she received her Master's degree in Literacy Education. John and I are so proud of her for striving to be the best English teacher she can be. Her 8th graders are lucky to have her!

Thanks God, for such an amazing daughter!

Saturday evening spaghetti, french bread, and fresh baked cookies, complete with cute chicken-patterned plates and napkins were delivered to my mom (and dad) for Mother's Day. What mom doesn't want a night off from cooking?

Thanks God, for such a great mom!

Oh yeah, did I mention it's my birthday too? Three celebrations in one day? Why not!

Thanks God, for my 29th...39th... Thanks God for another happy birthday!

Sunday brings another birthday as we celebrate the one year anniversary of the birth of My Barnyard View. My blog is growing from infant to toddler. I'm such a proud mama! Your comments, encouragement and questions is what keeps this adventure moving along. 

Thanks God, for my wonderful blog readers!

Since the theme of this weekend is "the more the merrier" I hope you will help me celebrate with a piece of Dairyman's Very Chocolate Cake. And a glass of milk, of course!

Now I've gotta run. We are celebrating Mother's Day with John's mom and grandma. Whew! All this partying can be exhausting. But I wouldn't change a thing.

Hey! Where's The Hay?

Unlike many farms, we do not have any pasture land, so all our animal feed has to be grown and harvested. The cattle on our farm rely on hay (alfalfa) as part of their daily diet. Alfalfa provides them with protein and vitamins for a healthy balanced diet necessary to produce milk. After touring our fields in preparation for the start of Spring planting, we discovered that our alfalfa fields were hit hard this past winter. What does this mean? To better explain, perhaps it's time for a little "haymaking 101" class.

This field should be all green. The bare spots are the result of winterkill.

Alfalfa is planted and typically can be harvested for 3-5 years before it needs to be replanted. Because of our recent harsh winter, about one half of our hay fields suffered winterkill. A common cause of winterkill is heavy snow-fall, and fluctuating, subzero winter temperatures. Ice forms as the snow melts and then refreezes. This ice generally penetrates into the soil surface and completely encases the upper part of the alfalfa root and the crown which does not allow the plant to "breath." This can kill the plants very quickly. 

So why not just re-plant the bare areas in the alfalfa field? Alfalfa plants produce toxins which reduce the germination and the growth of new alfalfa plants. This can occur when alfalfa is reseeded into an old alfalfa field rather than being rotated, or when alfalfa is seeded into an existing alfalfa field to thicken it. 

Alfalfa seed is about $150 per 50 pound bag. We have purchased 22 bags so far.

We have chosen to add barley and protein-rich peas to our new alfalfa fields. The barley and peas will be ready for harvest in early June, thus helping to replenish our feed supply which is dwindling fast. The newly planted alfalfa will not be ready until September allowing us only one cutting of this new hay planting. Typically we can cut three or four crops from a mature hay field.

 

As Farmer John prepares for another day of alfalfa planting, he is thinking ahead to when he can begin corn planting. But HAY, it's all in a Farmers day!

Thank A Teacher

My favorite thing to do as a child was to play school.  I spent hours setting up my classroom, making cardboard box "desks" for my dolls, hand-writing worksheets, making a check-out system for my library books. Yep, I couldn't get enough of school. It seemed only natural then, when considering my future career after high school, that elementary teacher was the first thought to pop into my head. That thought was quickly pushed out however, by a school counselor that said I had to think practically and the prospect of everyone getting a teaching job was unlikely at that time. 

So after college, a career as an interior designer, and ten years as a happy stay-at-home mom, I began my next career. No, I'm not a licensed teacher, but I am an educator. I'm finishing my fifteenth year as a Title 1 Instructional Assistant at a local elementary school, teaching kiddos that need a little extra help with reading and math. This being Teacher Appreciation Day, it seemed like the perfect time to share with you, a recent event that was held at our school.

Students and parents were treated to an evening of art and reading.

The gym became "Camp Read-A-Lot" with stars above, campfires, and tents filled with reading by lantern light while stretched out on camp chairs or sleeping bags.

The halls became an art gallery, while the cafeteria was filled with creation stations for making bookmarks and adding to a mural.

At the end of their night under the stars, each student went home with a book to keep and a snack bag of treats that said "Read S'more."

I appreciate the creativity and extra effort that teachers put in to make our school so exciting and fun for the students. Every day I witness teachers making each child a priority. For everything they do and for what they help our kiddos achieve each day (and night), I say "ThankYou!" 

Don't forget to thank a teacher!

I'm Not Kitten Around!

My name is Porter, one of the amazingly sweet cats from Bremer Farms. I asked Farmer Janet if I could tell the story of life on our farm, through the eyes of a feline. She said that would be great. She could use the time to CATch up on a few household chores.

We cats at Bremer Farms are treated so well, just like the other animals at Bremer Farms. We are all fed well and kept comfortable, no matter what the weather, or how busy Farmer John and the Farm family is. I searched through my CATalogue of photos so that my friends can help tell our story.

Hi! I'm Lucy, one of the mom cats. The Bremer's do such a great job keeping us cat or cow mommy's comfortable when we are about to give birth. We mom's get a dry, comfortable place to give birth. We are carefully watched before, during and after birthing to make sure everything goes well. Why, just the other day I saw Veterinarian Diane here on the farm helping deliver a calf that needed special care.

Hi from Haffa-Moustache, Mouser, and Itty-Bitty-Kitty. We are some of the Bremer Farm babies. We want you to know that the baby calves each get to live in clean, dry individual pens. They have ample space to move freely about. Living in individual pens lets the Farm family keep an eye on each of them to make sure they are healthy and cleaning their plates at meal time.

It's me, Nosey! Some of my cat cousins think I'm a pest. They say I'm always underfoot when the Farmer is caring for the CATtle. But I know I'm not a pest. Farmer John and Grandpa Roy always take time from their busy day to check on me and give me a little rub behind the ear. I think that's one of the reasons I like living here. The Bremer's love animals and love farming.

Thanks for letting us share the farm story from a feline's point-of-view. The kitty gang and I have to get busy.  Farming is serious business. 

I wonder if Farmer Janet is caught up on her household chores, or did she give-in to a CAT-nap?

To learn about the dairy products we are proud to produce, 

visit Dairy Makes Sense