Transformation Tuesday: Yadier

On Instagram, Tuesdays are Transformation Tuesdays, so I thought I would share my steer Yadier's transformation. At the 2010 fair, Yadi and I weren't super close, we worked well together but it wasn't a strong bond. He was just a little guy then as well, weighing in at just over 300 pounds. Then at the 2011 County Fair, Yadier and I were inseparable. He would not eat anything at the fair until I hand fed him, such a big baby. He weighed in at 1,141 pounds. We had been working together everyday for 6 months. He is still one of my favorite cows I've ever owned. Yadi also placed the best of any of my beef animals. I'd say a very good transformation for this little guy.

My First Little International Experience

One of the first times leading Cheese.

For those who don't know what Little I is, according to sdstate.edu, "Little International is a two-day agricultural exposition planned, organized, and implemented by students at South Dakota State University for the benefit of high school and college students." I got the opportunity to participate in the dairy fitting and showmanship contest. You draw an animal out of a hat and I got a Brown Swiss numbered 392 and that I named her Cheese (so she was Brown "Swiss Cheese.") 

Topping our show apparel with girly colors, me in pink and cheese in purple:)

The first day I worked with Cheese, she flipped herself over four times, ran me through a puddle on my knees, and ran me into a post. Not the first day I was expecting, since I heard that Brown Swiss were stubborn, so I was expecting to pull her around all day, not her pull me around. Within the next two weeks, she slowly and surely improved each day. By the time of the show, we were very close and she would even give me fist bumps with her nose, none the less, a pretty cool cow. We even got 6th in the fitting show, the best topline I have ever done, but she had a little trouble in showmanship, placing us towards the bottom, although we still had fun. Overall I will definitely be doing Little I again next year, it was a great two weeks of school that felt like summer, getting time to spend with cows.

Cheese and I with our 6th Place ribbon.

The best topline I've ever done.

The Strong Mind of a Farmer

"Grandpas Milk Cow," one of my favorite paintings by Robert Duncan.

Today while volunteering at a nursing home, I got to work with an older man who used to be a farmer. This man's mind is not what it used to be, the effect of many years of wear and tear. Helping him made me think of my amazing grandfather and the wonderful values that farmers have. This man would not eat his meal until everyone else had food, and constantly wanted to give his food to others. The strong need to feed the world was still a large priority to this man, he had done it for so long that it had become natural. He was also very worried about what we would do with the food after he was finished, told me that we could "give it to a cat or dog." Not wanting to waste any of it, and use everything that he had. Then he kept saying that he needed to go home before the sun went down because he still had things to get done. Working hard is just second nature to a farmer, getting the most out of every single day.

This man is an inspiration to me, that someday when I am not quite in the right mindset that I am still able to hold on to what life has given me as a kid who grew up on a farm and one who hopes to spend the rest of my life feeding the world.

Lend an Ear: The Secrets to Listening to Cows

Ever wonder what a cow is thinking or how she is feeling? Just take a look at her ears and they will spill most of her secrets. The direction that her ears are facing will tell you what she is paying attention to. If she only has one ear facing you, she's only half listening, but that's better than not paying attention at all. Another thing her ears tell you is how she is feeling. If she has droopy ears, she is most likely sick and not feeling well. A big tip for farmers to see if she has been eating or milking, and then go from there. Ears are a farmers best friend because you can also tell what noises are bothering them and fix it, making her life easier.

Here you can see Barb B is listening to something in front of her.

What it means to be a Princess.

 After spending a year as a Princess, I got to know what it truly means to be one. It doesn't mean always being in a crown or in a beautiful dress, nor does mean special treatment. Being a Princess means having a voice for something you love and care deeply about, a desire to show the world what it means to you, and of course, a positive attitude and the heart of a child. Being a Dairy Princess means that when the chores are done, and cows are fed, you get to change out of those stinky barn clothes and get all dressed up and put on your crown, you get to go show the world everything you did that day in the barn. I am so thankful for this amazing year I have had. Thank you to everyone who helped me discover what it really means to be a Princess.