It Defines Who We Are

Last week I was asked the question of: What's a Steer? Aren't all cows the same? 

My response, a gawking look, and the need for total explanation! I realize not everyone is a farm kid, and that learning the ins and outs of the agriculture industry is something that most people don't even come near to mastering! I figured that this would be a post about definitions to give each of you a bit of insight on agriculture! Whether your a city slicker or a country kicker, you better strap on your boots cause this here lesson is gonna give you more knowledge than you bargained for. 

Here's a laugh for your day:)

Definitions: 

Cattle Industry 

Cow: The mature FEMALE of a bovine animal 

Bull: Mature MALE of the a bovine animal 

Heifer: A young FEMALE cow over one year old that has not yet produced a calf 

Steer: MALE bovine that is castrated before sexual maturity (Cannot be the sire of a calf) 

Heifer Calf: FEMALE baby calf under one year of age 

Bull Calf: MALE baby calf, under one year of age 

Dairy vs. Beef Cattle: 

Dairy- Dairy cows are bred to produce large quantities of milk, from which dairy products are made. Dairy cattle are often bred for their prominent udder, not muscle capacity. Cows raised for dairy rarely live their 20 year life span, as the average cow is removed from the dairy herd around age four and marketed for beef. Dairy farmers usually begin breeding heifers around 13 months of age. Dairy cow's gestation period is approximately 9 months. Once the newborn calf is on average, three days old, it is removed from its mother and bottle fed milk, this is so that the cow can continue to be milked each day for the profit of the farm. The heifer calves produced are often kept on the farm as replacement milk cows. Bull calves born are either sold at the market as a form of beef or used as breeding bulls later on. 

Beef- Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production, known as beef. A cow produces a calf after each 9 month gestation period, and this calf is either used in the breeding herd, or sold for beef. There are two separate types of beef cattle farming, commercial and purebred . The commercial cattle industry is when cattle are crossed between various breeds. The purebred cattle industry is when cattle are one specific breed only. Beef cattle can be used not only as a source of beef, but for glue, leather, soap, and certain types of medicine. 

Feeder Cattle-  Beef and some dairy cattle that are a few months to a number of years old that are not needed or used in the herd's breeding stock, and therefore are raised and fed in feedlots. These cattle are fed separately from the main breeding heard to fattened for the meat shop. Most feeder cattle you see are steers between 6 and 24 months of age that are fed a forage/grain diet until they are ready to be slaughtered.

The Farming Industry- Farms are important to the world as a we get nearly all the food we eat from them. As the technologies throughout the agriculture industry have expanded, farmers have began to use science to make crops grow faster and produce a higher yield. In order to feed the livestock on the farm, farmers need foods such as Alfalfa, Clover, Hay and Grasses which can all be grown in the field, and grass, on the pasture. Farm livestock are grown so that they make more milk or produce more meat, and old machinery has become new, time and energy-saving machines. Successful farmers need to know about the land, crops, animals, selling the products, managing money, and loaning money when advances are needed for the farm. 

Livestock on a Farm- Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Pigs/Hogs, Horses, Sheep, Goats, Poultry, Buffalo, Alpaca, Elk, Deer, etc

Crops on a Farm- Corn, Wheat, Sugar Beets, Nuts, Flowers, Potatoes, Soy Beans, Pineapples, Cotton, Rye, Oats, Barley etc. 

Harvesting Season- 

For each different type of crop, the time of the year in which the produce is ready to be gathered or taken off the field varies. Different types of machines are needed for each type of crop, and a variety of different procedures and methods are used for each! Since each of these methods would take me forever to discuss with all of you, I decided to pick two that are done on our farm, giving you a bit of insight into my life in late August and early September each year! 

Oats- 

• Oats are grown throughout Canada, but the major growing areas are in the western Prairie region.
• Oats are planted in spring, from May to June, and harvested from August to October.
• Most oats are harvested for grain, although in Alberta and British Columbia, around 40 percent of the planted oat area is cut "green," and fed, mainly to cattle, as green chop, hay, or silage.
• On a global scale, Canada is a major oat producer.  Fluctuations in Canadian production due to weather can have a significant impact on the world oat supply.
• In May the Oat seed is planted into the soil by an air seeder, throughout the course of its growth, the seed is sprayed with a chemical to kill the weeds and enhance growth rate
• Swathing is done a week prior to harvesting the oats, to let the grains dry and ripen 
• A combine is used to take Oats off of the field, and then the yield is stored in a grain bin 

Barley- 

• Barley is planted in spring, from May to June, and harvested from August to October.
• Most barley is harvested for grain, although in Alberta and British Columbia, around 15 percent of planted barley area is cut "green, and fed, mainly to cattle as green chop, hay, or silage.
• On a global scale, Canada is a major barley producer.  Fluctuations in Canadian production due to weather can have a significant effect on  world barley supply.
• There are two broad categories of barley varieties:  two-row and six-row.  Both varieties are used by the malting and livestock feed industries.
• The steps of taking barley off of a field are the exact same as harvesting oats!

Machinery Used in the Production of Oats & Barley-

Air Seeder-An air seeder is an agricultural implement also called a planter or seeder and it is used to plant usually a seed crop in a large field. 

Swather 

Swather- A machine that cuts down the standing crop and lays it in a straight row to allow easy access for the combine to pick up later. 

Combine-A machine that harvests grain crops, it removes the grains from the straws of crops. The waste straw left behind on the field is the remaining dried stems and leaves of the crop, which is either chopped and spread on the field or baled for feed and bedding for livestock.

Chemical Uses- 

Importance of using Chemical Pesticide & Herbicide

Pesticide- Pesticides can save farmer's money by preventing crop losses to insects and other pets 

Herbicide- A herbicide, commonly known as a weedkiller, is a type of pesticide used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the intended plant healthy and living

That pretty much covers the questions that I have been asked about life on the farm! Stay tuned for the upcoming edition of: What's Silage! As well as many more informative agricultural posts:) Have a great weekend everyone! Please remember if you have any questions, to please ask! 

-Jess

Rain Is A Good Thing

Splashing in puddles. Bringing out the dreaded umbrella. Flicking on the windshield wipers in the vehicle. 

             Best of all, rain helps the crops grow! 

If you happened to be outside in central Alberta at all today, you would most likely notice that it is raining. We all have our own perspectives of the rain, my families, that rain is a good thing! Living on a farm that is involved with grain production, rain is always a blessing! Not only does rain help the crops grow, it also makes the soil very moist, decreasing the amount of dust within the fields. Yesterday, my grandma and mom asked me to help them plant the family garden, I felt obliged to say yes. So there I was in the late afternoon yesterday, planting small seeds of carrots, beans, peas, and corn. Our garden is a lot larger than most peoples, my grandma really enjoys the idea of planting every type of vegetable possible, but in her old age, needs my help to plant and produce one. The soil was a bit course, and you could tell that a good rain was needed.




The down poor started in the late evening yesterday, our prayers were answered. The rain is going to help the produce in the garden grow, as well as the crops in the field. In the eyes of a crop farmer, if you don't have rain, you don't have anything.
Plants and animals both need rain as well! Plants need energy that the rain gives them in order to perform photosynthesis. This makes the plants reproduce and grow. Certain animals within our ecosystem eat plants as a source of food, and if there was no rain, there would be no plants, and therefore, no animals.We need to take action and certain steps to ensure that we will always have a supply of rain, by reusing our rain water! 

Have you ever heard the saying, small actions result in big change? This saying is in fact true, there are multiple things that we can change in our everyday routines to improve and change our world for the better. One of these actions is conserving and reusing our water supply.

Rain Barrel Connected to Eavestrough

From Eaves to Leaves is the idea of which consists of placing large rain barrels under the eaves trough in each yard. When it rains, all of the rain collected into the rain barrel can then be reused as a source of water and irrigation for lawns, gardens, flower beds, and planters. The rain barrels don’t only have to be placed under the eaves trough of various buildings; they can also be installed in a variety of places around the yard to collect rain water. 

Rain can also be used for so many other projects around the yard. Everyone benefits from the supply of rain that we are blessed with, so don't waste it. Two years ago, farmers in Alberta went through a drought season, meaning that there was hardly any rain, and a very small yield was taken off of each field. Low amounts of income from each field were the result of the drought, and many farmers struggled. This is why it's important to reuse the rain water, either by installing eaves troughs and rain barrels in yards, or using the rain as a form of irrigation. Rain is a good thing! 

Here's a short video on the importance of collecting rain water. This video was taken in July 2010, and covers tips and ideas of collecting rain water. Enjoy:)

-Jess

Canadian Foodgrains Bank

Imagine a world without hunger. 

I'm sure we have all imagined this many times, and the task seems so large for any single person to accomplish. It takes the help and partnership of entire communities and nations to provide those that have next to nothing, with a nourishing meal that many of us take for granted. When people within a nation come together and support a certain cause, great things end up as the result. Earlier today I was having a discussion with my dad about what agriculture in Alberta can and has done to support the less fortunate and those in need of food, not only in Alberta, but all around the world. He informed me of an organization that he volunteered for called the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. 

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of Canadian churches and church-based agencies working to end hunger in developing countries by:

• increasing and deepening the involvement of Canadians in efforts to end hunger
• supporting partnerships and activities to reduce hunger on an immediate and sustainable basis
• influencing changes in public policies necessary to end hunger

The organization uses the aspect of agriculture to gain food donations from communities across Canada. When my dad volunteered, he helped combine acres of grain just outside of Lacombe. It's an amazing thing to see that agriculture and the desire to help the less fortunate has the ability to bring people together.                                              

COMMUNITY GROWING PROJECTS 

Community growing projects are a unique way for people to contribute grain and other agricultural commodities to help people who are hungry around the world. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank asks for donations through the growing project of certain crops including wheat, corn, barley, soybeans,peas, canola, sweet corn, silage and pumpkins.Projects range from 1/4 acre to several hundred acres. A typical project involves a group of people working together to farm a common plot of land. After the harvest, the production is donated through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to their church members for overseas food and agricultural development projects.

I find this organization so intriguing because it allows agriculture related communities to donate their time and effort that will have such a huge positive result! Please check out the website posted below to the site for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, its an awesome site and has numerous other ways in which you can get involved or donate towards such a great cause. 

http://www.foodgrainsbank.ca/mission.aspx    

Agriculturally involved people helping agriculturally in need people across the world! 

-Jess 

Where Litter Lies, Beauty Dies

Hey everyone, 

Sorry for being gone for so long, but the month of May is an incredibly busy one. The post for today doesn't have an immense amount to do with agriculture, but it does tie in with the cleanliness of our environment, which evidentially  links back to the world of ag! 

The four R's: 

Reduce 

Reuse

Recycle 

Recover 

I'm sure that we all know the definitions of these words, and have been lectured over the topic near to 1000 times! But can you honestly say that you know why these four words are important? Are they truly the answer to beauty and cleanliness within our environment, or are they just something that people lean towards to make them and their litter seem more presentable and accepted by society? 

I personally believe that the four R's or recycling have the ability to shape our community, and allow natures beauty to shine through without the thick layer of garbage and waste getting in the way. My intention for this post is to help YOU, and yes I mean all of you, understand the importance of throwing your empty pop can into the green recycle bins available near most garbage bins, instead of carelessly lobbing it into the trash. 

So here we go, first off, Reduce! 

-Reduction is the first step.  When you purchase items at the store think about all the packaging used in each product.  A cereal box has a box and an inner bag. Buying in bulk allows more space to be filled within that bag and therefore less trash to be consumed.

-Then comes Reuse.Each item made can be reused as another item.  For instance, a milk jug can be used to store drinking water or even, after cutting off the top, it can be used as a planter.  Each time you can reuse an item, you minimize the amount of trash going into landfills and allow less energy to be used to produce more goods, therefore resulting in a positive effect for our world! 

-Next off, Recycle! Items that have been reused can also be recycled.Objects that can be recycled depends on the market and the recycling programs within your area.  Usually, however plastic soda bottles and milk jugs, green and clear glass, cardboard, newspaper, and aluminum cans are recycled.  There are some places that recycle magazines, tin cans, and a myriad of other things.  Even your nearest grocery store is trying to take an action in saving our environment by allowing plastic and paper bags to be dropped off as recycling at their stores.

-Last, but not least, Recover. Buy recycled items.  Without a consumer demand for recycled items, there is too much supply left in stockyards.  The more recycled items that are purchased by consumers, the lower the prices will go.  Buying recycled items is the most important part of the cycle.  Without people to produce such items, companies do not have enough money to keep recycling factories open.

Highway Cleanup Crew

The importance of these four R's may be as clear as mud to you, you may be confused and unaware of what exactly the conditions of the environment has to do with you. This is why we need to get the knowledge of the importance of recycling out. If we better the conditions of our environment, ecosystems will gain strength and become healthier, and pollution will not be tormenting the very existence of our world. We all can take part in small actions that will better the environment, so why not start by putting your soda can in the recycle bin, or taking your own bags to the grocery store with you! 

4-H Club Highway Cleanup 2011

A small way that I have gotten involved with bettering our environment is by participating in Highway cleanup. For those of you who are unaware of what highway cleanup, it is when an organization or group cleanup the ditches along highways by picking up the garbage that motorists leave behind. 






The garbage within the ditches acts as a pollutant to our Earth because it is not bio degradable. As a 4-H club, we attend the event of cleaning the ditches every year, so for the past 8 years, I've been out picking up garbage that other people choose to leave behind. One of the most rewarding things about highway cleanup, is the drive back home afterwards. Often, you cant even tell that the ditches have grass in them due to the large build up of litter, but after a highway cleanup crew goes through, the beauty is uncovered and there for everyone to enjoy. Where litter lies, beauty dies. Please remember to reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover, it will allow for all of the beauty within out world to be brought back to life! 


-Jess 

She's been in 4-H since she was 9 years old...

As promised, here is my report on the 2011 Ponoka District 4-H Beef Show and Sale! The weekend of the show was May 1-3 so please bare with me as I try and remember the details!

For those of you who are unsure of what 4-H is, I hope this blog will give you a bit of insight as to how beneficial and fantastic the organization is! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask:) Here is a link to a short video to help you understand the history and meaning behind 4-H 

Well, to start off the show and sale... On the Sunday before the show, I got home late from U18 Club Volleyball Provincials, which were held in Calgary. I showed up at the arena for our clubs set up, but unfortunately missed most of it, due to my teams late games! This year, my 4-H club chose not to buy numerous decorations, this was because we wanted to stay GREEN! By saving the economy, everyone benefits! I am an incredibly strong believer in this, so you will all most likely be hearing my rants about the four R's in my future posts. But for now... 

Trigger not minding the boot cast!

The judge determining the capacity
of Trigger's muscling 

Sugar & Spice 

Monday morning I was awoken at 5:30 a.m. Since I had been away all weekend, I did not have time to go to school for the morning hours because I needed to wash and prep all 5 of my cattle. This year I raised a steer named Trigger, heifer named Tommi, and a cow/calf pair known as Sugar and Spice. I also raised the charity steer for the district, bringing my herd up to a total of 5! The amount of time that it takes to wash a cow, is often unbearable. Since I show Charolais cattle, which are white, it involves a lot more washing then most.

Trigger being groomed!

Any speck of dirt can be seen on them! Weigh-in was VJV auction market at noon on Monday, so I had to work my wash pants off in order to be in Ponoka by then. Trigger weighed in with a shrunk rate of 1407 lbs. The day followed with moving the cattle into the arena ( which was our show and sale location) and fitting the females for the female show which was held at 5:30 p.m. that day. With sweat on my brow, I completed all of my tasks before I was to be in the show ring. My heifer placed third in her split, and my cow/calf pair got reserve club champion cow/calf pair. To say the least, I was proud. The district then had to judge market steers as a competition, Waldo, the charity steer, was placed at the top of the class :) After judging, I fed all of the calves, fixed their beds, and moved Waldo out to the wash racks. He was a dirt filled mess, and was in dire need of a bath.

Even Grandma got in on the 4-H action!

Trigger & Jess

When 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning rolled around, I was exhausted. Already a full day of showing cattle under my belt, and I had to once again, go hard for the entire day ahead! Showmanship and grooming started at 9:30 a.m. with the West Ponoka Seniors to be in the ring first. Since Trigger is pure white, I was not surprised to find him completely dirty on this morning. After giving him a bath, blow drying off his hair with a cattle blower, and grooming and primping, he was ready.








Trigger acted great in the ring, and we won club and Interclub champion showmanship and reserve club champion grooming. Then came the conformation class. Trigger was somewhat tired by this point but he walked on. He got awarded club grand champion steer for West Ponoka 4-H beef club and Interclub Grand Champion steer. This means that me and Trigger were the first to sell in the sale.Almita purchased my steer for $2.70/ pound. I was proud of my little guy and was sad to see him go! 

Interclub Grand Champion Steer

The Ponoka District 4-H show was to say the least, a huge success. The average of the prices was just under $2.00/pound. Thank you to all of the buyers and sponsors of the show and sale, without you, our achievement day would not be possible! I am looking forward to my 9th and final year as a member of the West Ponoka 4-H beef club next year, and am so thankful to everyone that has supported me up until this stage in my life. 

Thanks for reading :) 

-Jess 

I'll Be Gone... All Weekend Long

Have a great weekend everyone! My Volleyball team is off to Nationals in BC this weekend! We leave tonight:) Very excited! Please feel free to ask any questions you have, I'll be sure to answer them immediately once I am home! 

Stay tuned for Mondays edition of: Where Litter Lies, Beauty Dies. 

Have an excellent weekend:)

-Jess

82 Years in the Making

Our family farm is something that means the world to me! My grandfather and his family moved onto the farm when he was age one! He is now the young age of 82 years old and is still going strong! My grandpa is my inspiration, his dedication to the family farm is incredible, and he is by far the most skilled tractor driver I know. Our farm, a mixed cattle and grain operation, has been running for 82 years, and is still going strong.In 2002, our farm won the Farm Family of the year award, sponsored by Northland's farmfair and exhibition. We were recognized for our past in the agriculture industry, and it was a true honor to my Grandpa to be recognized for all of his past years as a dedicated farmer!
Note: If your not able to determine which one I am, I am the one with the denim vest on, standing to the left (your left) of the sign!  

Receiving the Farm Family of the Year Award,. 2002

My grandpa, with no thoughts of retiring, has been designated the job of feeding the cows each morning to prevent as little injury as possible. From broken hands, ruined hips, and busted noses, there is always plenty of injuries and accidents to talk about. 

Cattle being fed, January 2011

Safety on the farm is something that most people don't take as seriously as needed. I realize after owning the farm for the past 60 years, my Grandpa considers himself a pro farmer (meaning that he is able to overcome any injury that is thrown his way.) But this is not the case, proper safety equipment is needed on any farm. Accidents resulting in injury, can strike when least expected. Our family had our own personal scare on October 30, 2002. We got a phone call from my grandmother, my grandpa had driven my dad into the Ponoka Hospital, and from there, he had been flown by STARS air ambulance to the Royal Alexander hospital in Edmonton. Luckily his injury was NOT life threatening and he was fixed back up with hundreds of staples and stitches on the left side of his head. 




Now for the story behind the accident! 


My dad and grandpa had been posting pounds on the home quarter, my grandpa driving the tractor which had the post pounder attached to the back. My dad was holding post in place, so that it could be properly pounded into the ground, and he slipped on the ice. His coat sleeve caught the lever in which would bring the cement block down, unfortunately, it came down directly on his head. My grandpa noticed the head shot, jumped out of the tractor, and drove my dad to our house. Since my dad was wearing a toque, neither of them new quite exactly how bad the accident had been, until the toque was removed, and remnants from my dads head were left in it. The Edmonton hospital was short in beds, so all zonked out and stitched up, my dad was sent home on the same night as his accident. My mom had driven up to the hospital to be with him, so my Oma and Opa came to spend the night with us. The next morning was Halloween, and of course, my dad was able to fit the part of Frankenstein very well! Thankfully all is well, but the lesson behind the story is.... Wear a safety hat when dealing with dangerous farm equipment.  



For those of you who don't know what a post pounder is, it is a tool used for driving fence posts and other types of posts into the ground.


Our farm would not be successful without the help of the right safety precautions. Important safety tips include: 

• Keep hay bales away from power lines, to avoid electrical fires 
• Always have first aid kits and fire extinguishers handy in every vehicle and building on the farm
• Know the behavior of the animal you’re working with to anticipate their actions 
• Fencing and corrals are in good condition and replace broken or damaged sections immediately to avoid danger
• Make sure your farm workshop is organized
• Take every possible step to reduce the risk of fire at your fuel storage area. Position tanks at least 30 meters from any buildings. Clean up minor spills and keep the fuel storage area free of tall vegetation and debris
• Wear appropriate safety gear when working on the farm 

Please remember that safety is a super important key factor of running any farm smoothly. For the safety of you and for the safety of others, gear up! 

Grandpa, Grandma, and Jess 

Thanks for checking in:) Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the story of the Ponoka District 4-H Beef Show and Sale 2011! 




-Jess 

Keep My Countrified Soul

I go back...

Sisters!
Notice the overalls:)

To the day that I was born. This day marked the start of my life as a country kid, a farmers daughter, and an agriculturally involved youth. My country soul is derived from deep down in the heart of our farm, every aspect involved with agriculture, is accompanied by a life long lesson. From the first calf born in spring, to the baby kittens, growing crops, and harvested income in the fall. Having the opportunity and ability to live with an agricultural background has taught me patience, faith, thankfulness, encouragement, leadership, and passion. 

Green Pasture 

PATIENCE- The first sign of green will give any farmer hope and patience. Often things don't work out the way they are planned. Examples of this often include the devastation of a drought, the thought that your 4-H calf will not reach their finished weight on show day, or your most valued cow does not calve until the middle of April. Each of these examples have the ability to keep anyone with a passion for agriculture, on their toes. Patience, this lesson is one in which my father has done a great job of teaching to me. Nearing the last two months before the 4-H show and sale, I often get antsy and discouraged about whether my calf will be finished by the show. With just a little bit of encouragement from my father, I gain the knowledge of patience and understanding.  

FAITH- Living with faith will last in the blackest storm. My faith for the Lord is what keeps me going each and everyday. I know that any issue that I have, he is there for me. The faith that my father and grandfather have for the Lord, is a reminder to me that even though there are struggles in life, we can overcome them with a little bit of effort, and a whole lot of faith. 

THANKFULNESS- You can never be to thankful or great full of what you have. People half way across the world may have little to nothing. A rain during a severe drought, a helping hand when faced with a difficult task, or simply someone to talk to when times are tough. From the small things to the big things. Having the opportunity to live on the farm is something that I myself, am very thankful for. I could never imagine living in a town or city. Without the wide open fields and sight of cows within every range of sight, I would not be the person that I am today. 

ENCOURAGEMENT- When your down, get right back up again. Being involved with agriculture, I have experienced many forms of discouragement. However, if your not changing the mood of the situation to a positive one, then how is anyone else? Look at the glass half full, rather then half empty, and remember that there is always sunshine after a storm :)

LEADERSHIP- Be a leader, choose your own identity. I believe that leadership is one of the most important qualities within a person. If you have the ability to make yourself stand out from a group, and lead people through a struggle, then you have a super power. No, not a super power like Superman, I would hope no human could spin a web and shoot it from their finger! I mean a super power that is valued within our world. There have been numerous great leaders throughout history! Who's stopping you from being the next?

Grandpa & Cattle Dog Lady 

PASSION- If you have passion, you have everything. It seems like in order for me to get motivated to do something, I have to have even the slightest bit of interest towards the topic. If any of you have ever wrote a 4-H speech you will completely understand what I mean. If you choose to write your speech on baseball, but you have no interest in the topic whatsoever, then chances are, the speech will be dull and boring, and lets face it, you'll probably have a crowd full of snoring people! However, if the topic is on hockey, and you have an incredible love for the game, then chances are, your speech will be fiery and full of life! My passion for agriculture is visible in every aspect of my life. I tend to incorporate the importance of agriculture into everything I do, whether it be meeting new people, an interview for a job, or an answer on a social test. 

New born Baby Calf 

 I'm sure that when I was brought home to the family farm for the very first time, everyone was excited to meet me! Not soon after my arrival, came the arrival of yet another one-hundred and fifty some babies! No, not all human babies, but by far, just as adorable. The first baby calf, born in early March, meant the sign of new life on our farm. From here on, every spring, shortly after my birthday, we would be greeted by many little red, white, and tan babies. If you have never experienced the sight of new born calves running around the pasture, then you my friend, are missing out!  

Jess, Uncle Mark, Sam
Enjoying the Outdoors on the Farm!

Our family farm is something that means so much to me, I could not imagine life without it! For the past years of my life, I have been raised as a farm kid. A bit of dirt on your knees and stains on your shirt is nothing to be ashamed of, for what truly matters is what's on the inside. This is absolutely true! Be who you are, and forget the rest! My intention of this post was to remind everyone to be who they wanna be. Put your heart and soul into everything you do, and you will be left with a positive result! My agricultural background has shaped my identity and personality, and I'm proud of it! The importance of this post is to remind people to be who they want to be, not who they are told to be, and to remind everyone that what's on the inside is what truly counts!

- Jess 

There's a first time for everything

Sisters, 4-H Show and Sale 2011

In life, there is a first time for everything. The first time you talk, the first time you walk, and the first time you learn. My first time being introduced to the agriculture industry, well actually my first time being introduced to 4-H Alberta, was one in which I will never forget. I was the age of 6, and my sister, Samantha, at the age of 9. It was her first year as a member of the West Ponoka 4-H Beef club, and she had a calm and loving steer. I remember those cold mornings in which I would travel to the pen with her to feed, simply imagining the day in which I myself, would have a steer of my own. That day came, a short 3 years later, my steer, a white Charolais crossbred named Frosty. He was one of my best friends, he never judged, always listened, and allowed me to brush him as much as I pleased. As the 4-H season rolled along, Frosty became increasingly fat and lazy. As the show and sale day approached I had mixed emotions, I was excited to see how Frosty would place, but I was dreading the day that he would have to leave me. The sale day of April, 2002, marked my first time for losing a close friend. Unfortunately, this first time, was an unhappy one. However, the many shed tears and longing for my friend Frosty, didn't keep me from the rewarding 8 years of 4-H that were to come. Through out my years of 4-H, I have come to understand the benefits and positive experiences that it has to offer. Those 8 years ago in which I put a halter around my calves head for the first time, seems like a mere memory now. Its hard to believe that that specific first time, has had the ability to shape me into the person that I am today, an active, and agriculturally involved youth.