It's Toby Day!

Today Bremer Farms received our prize for winning the Show Your Pride photo contest hosted by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League. Minnesota Viking Toby Gerhart visited our farm. What a great prize!

Our visit began with a meet and greet in our garage. We got to ask Toby questions about life on and off the football field. Did you know he graduated from Stanford with a degree in engineering? Got married in June, 2013? His parents are both teachers? And he has 5 siblings, including triplet sisters, a brother in high school and a brother that plays for the Green Bay Packers? After we learned a bit more about him, it was time for Toby to learn 

about our life on the farm.

Our first stop was getting a look at the 128 cows we milk each day. We informed Toby that our cows are milked twice a day, and we shared  the purpose for each of the buildings on our farm. Toby asked how much a typical cow weighed, and how much milk each cow gives. We also discussed that Sara, Michael and I each have jobs away from the farm, and that our farm is completely run by our family and John's parents...a true family farm! We asked Toby if he would like to be a Bremer Farms employee for the day. "Sure," he said. Time to feed the calves, Toby!

Before the calf feeding began, we presented Toby with an official Bremer Farms vest. I think he liked it!

Sara taught Toby the ins-and-outs of calf feeding. He commented on how fast each calf finished their milk and Sara explained that when they are full grown they will drink about a bathtub of water each day. I bet our calf Gordon never thought he would be fed by an NFL player!

Next it was time for the attending media to ask a few questions. Television, radio, magazines and newspaper folks asked Toby...which Viking would make a good farmer, who wouldn't be a good farmer, what message will you take away from this farm visit? And Toby shared his love for milk by saying he loves chocolate milk to refuel after a workout!

Before leaving the calf barn, Toby fell in love with one of our calves. Thanks to Toby, she is now named Bella!

Finally, we showed Toby the milking barn and explained the milking process. And lastly, it was off to see how and where the cows are fed.

Then it was back to the house for milk and cheese, and autograph signing. Toby said milk is still his first choice for a beverage at meals. Thanks to his parents who taught him the importance of milk in his diet! I asked him if he misses his mom's home-cooking and he said his mom always served tacos on Tuesdays and spaghetti on Thursdays. Sounds like some cheese was being served there!

Toby is not only a fantastic football player, but a fantastic person as well. 

Come back soon, Toby. I'm sure we can find a hungry calf for you to feed!

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Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

Minnesota Viking, Toby Gerhart!

 

 

 

Well, Toby (we are on a first name bases already) is not really coming for dinner, but he is coming for a visit to our farm later this month! How did this happen? Do you remember the Show Your Pride contest we entered? The contest guidelines were to enter a photo that shows our support for Fuel Up To Play 60 and the National Football League. Our prize? A visit from an NFL player! And our family is thrilled to have Toby Gerhart come to visit!

So now we need your help...If you were to meet a National Football League player, what would you ask him?  If you are a farmer, what would you show him on your farm and what part of farming would you take this opportunity to explain? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks! 

 

And Toby, if you are reading this...in case you decide to stay for dinner...what is your favorite food? I'll set an extra place at the table, just in case!

 

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This and That Thursday - 7

A little bit of this and a little bit of that- here's what we've been up to. 

Yes, I get it. It is not Thursday. I know that. And yes, I know that I have not posted twice this week, as I usually do. But please forgive me as I update you on my faith, family, friends and farming.

Love and hugs to my mom

You may remember that my dad passed away in September. What I haven't shared with you is that exactly one month prior to my dad's passing, my mom suffered a stroke. She is a tiger and has been fighting fiercely to recover, but this past month an infection slowed her recovery and she is recovering in the hospital (damn diabetes). Please add her to your prayers as she continues her battle.

We are officially half-way finished with our corn harvest. We have 10,000 bushels of corn harvested, and drying in our storage bin. Two things are holding up our completion of the project- We have had three days of rain this week which does now allow combining to continue, and our supplier ran out of propane. Propane is used to fuel our corn drying facility. Without drying the stored corn, it will rot and not be usable to feed our animals. We are not-so-patiently waiting for a delivery.

This photo did not make the cut.

Speaking of patience...we are waiting to see when and who will be visiting our farm from the Show Your Pride contest. Which Minnesota Viking do you think it will be?

Meet Trudy. She is one of six new calves to join Bremer Farms this week, including a set of adorable, healthy twins from one of our favorite cows, Weezy. What a perfect treat for Halloween!

Learn more about farming and our dairy way of life at Dairy Makes Sense

This And That Thursday - 4

A little bit of this and a little bit of that- here's what we've been up to.

Recently I attended the Minneapolis Public Schools Farm To School BBQ. You can read about it at my post  Farm 2 School. That night I met Kyle Larkin, who races at Elko Speedway. During our visit he told me his race car and racing attire is decked out in cow spots! "Send me a photo," I said. I'm all about sharing my love of dairy, and it appears that Kyle is too!

Sara has been busy preparing the front yard for our trick-or-treaters. When shopping, it seems she can't pass by the Halloween decorations without bringing a few home with her. My favorite is the big jack-o-lantern that sings. Trust me, it looks a lot spookier at night.

Good news! Our silage project is finished. Learn about silage here. Our bunker is completely full, and ready to feed our "girls" so they can continue to produce good-for-you milk. We are now back to baling hay, and combining corn will begin soon. Never a dull moment here!

Have you voted yet? Our Show Your Pride photo needs you. We are hoping to win the grand prize, a visit to our farm by a National Football League player. Please click on Show Your Pride and vote for our Minnesota Vikings photo. Just look for the purple pride. You can't miss it.

Learn more at Dairy Makes Sense