Runny Noses: Not Just for Humans

It is that time of year again, where the seasons are changing and it seems that everyone is getting a cold. And as it turns out, cows seem to get colds around this time of the year too.

I am one of the Fall cold victims myself and today at work, this beautiful little girl had a runny nose too. Just like I will do for myself, we'll keep an eye on her to make sure that it does not turn into anything more serious. Now if it does, the vet will be called to diagnose her and together we will set a plan of action for her to get back to being healthy and happy. Now if it does get more serious, this is where I would be very happy that vets are able to give antibiotics, just like doctors are. If I were to get a sinus infection, I would definitely want antibiotics, just like this little lady would be if she got an infection. Hopefully, however, both of our immune systems take over and we will be back to being healthy very soon!

So I "Lost" a Local...

A year ago all I knew about Miss America was the name. I had no idea what all went on behind the seasons. Then one random day in February, I decided to sign up for Miss SDSU/Miss Brookings pageant, not even knowing at the time that it was affiliated with Miss America or even Miss South Dakota. By some stroke of God, I won and went on to compete at Miss South Dakota.

Two weekends ago, I competed for Miss State Fair. Only my second local. I was so nervous. I had won my first title by pure beginners luck and I was afraid to lose a local. But I did. I "lost." I won the interview and a very honorable award (the Kind Heart Award), but I was not given a title, nor was I even a runner up. It hit me like a hurricane. I had no idea what I had done wrong. Then I looked at the video that my boyfriend had recorded to send to my family because they weren't able to make it. Simply by losing, I was able to see myself for what the judges saw. I was able to truly look at my flaws and see how much progress I have made from the beginning, but also how far I still have to go. And who knows, I may lose again, and again, and again. And each time will be a learning experience for me, keeping me grounded. Who would have thought that it would take "losing" for me to see my true self and for once, I am grateful to not have walked away a "winner." I am excited for whatever may lie ahead and for more learning and growing experiences.

Why I stay in Sigma Alpha!

So I could write about all of the crazy serious reasons that I wanted to join that I told the Sigma Alpha, Omega Chapter in the spring of 2013. About how I wanted to gain professionalism and connections within agriculture. Or I could write about how I really just joined because as a eager freshman I joined anything that would look good on a resume and an upperclassmen told me to.

But instead, I am going to write about why I stay in Sigma Alpha. Yes, I have gained a whole new insight into the professional world and yes, it does look good on a resume, but none of that is important when I am stressed out and busy, and still have to go to a meeting every Tuesday night.

My wonderful little, Hailee.

I go because every Tuesday night, I get the privilege of walking into a room full of bright intelligent women who all love agriculture just as much as I do. I get to hammer out details of a plan with different minds and view points, learning to compromise. I get to spend time with my amazing "little" sister, who most certainly brightens my day and reminds me so much of my biological little sister. I may have never met Hailee had it not been for Sigma. I get to sit and worry about the test I have the next day with my fellow sisters, or I get a reality check when one of them looses a close friend and my problems don't really seem that hard anymore. The structural pieces of Sigma Alpha are important, but what is more important are the women that stand next to me each meeting as we open with our objective and close with a prayer. We may not all be best friends, but we all are their for the betterment of each other, our sorority as a whole and agriculture. I am very proud to be a member of Sigma Alpha!

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The Difference Between Learning for a Test and Learning for Knowledge

I took my first Advanced Placement course when I was a junior in High School, the whole time I heard "this will be on the test." The second half of my high school career was learning for the sake of preparing for a test. All I had to do was take in a bunch of information until the beginning of May and then it could all be forgotten at the completion of "the test." Unfortunately, due to this mindset, I looked at college this way as well, only seeming to take in what I thought would be on a test. And I feel as though my classmates are doing the same thing, but then I spent a summer learning for the sake of gaining the knowledge and it opened my mind to a whole new world.

This past summer I had an internship with Cargill Animal Nutrition, as a dairy focused consultant intern. I worked with so many great minds in dairy nutrition that were bound and determined to help me grow as an individual and as a student. Over the summer, I spent so many days learning the ins and outs of the science behind dairy cattle nutrition. There was no test to prepare for, no homework to turn in. The only goal was to learn and understand more of what my future might hold.

Some beautiful cows from this summer indulging in their delicious TMR/breakfast.

As I start my senior year of college, I find myself reading and listening to lectures more closely, and asking questions because I'm curious, not because it is going to be on a test. I now want to go to class because I want more knowledge, not because I want the letter A on my transcript. College is not simply a stepping stone to great things, it is our present, our right now. From now on, I'm going to live in the present and soak up every ounce of that $15,000 a year education.