It’s no secret that yesterday was Father’s Day. When I think about Father’s Day I think about my dad and the impact that he has had on my life…and the only thing I can say is I am truly blessed.
I have no idea why God has blessed me with a dad who is passionate, hard working, and truly inspiring. Anyone who knows my dad could tell you that the three most important things to him are: faith-family-farming. My dad is my toughest critic and strongest supporter, and I don’t know where I would be without his constant love and support.
I think dads in agriculture are great examples for their children. They teach us the importance of working hard, being honest, pursuing our dreams, and never giving up. The one thing I would say that stands out for men in agriculture is their drive and determination. The forecast can look absolutely awful, markets can hit rock bottom, tractors can break down, and, to be honest, the sky could probably be falling down but they refuse to give up. They are determined that the crop will be planted, cows will be fed, grain will be hauled, hay will be put up…and nothing will stand in their way.
As a young person I am grateful to have grown up in an environment where I was able to learn these valuable lessons. Life is not always going to sunny with no rain in the forecast…sometimes it is going to be cloudy with a 90 percent chance of thunderstorms…but I’ve learned that’s okay. I’ve learned that regardless of the situation, I have the power to create my desired outcome…and I owe this to my dad and the other dads that have influenced my life.
Father’s Day is an excellent reminder to be thankful that we have men in our lives who set excellent examples for us to follow. I have and always will be a daddy’s girl, and I am so grateful that my dad pushes me to go above and beyond, and encourages me to pursue my dreams.
To all the dads out there: Thank you for your persistent dedication to the agricultural industry. Thank you for encouraging your children to pursue their dreams. Thank you for everything you do!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Mom of the Year
We all have those people in our life who are with us through thick and thin, the good times and the bad…and in my case each and every day of my life. I am fortunate to have a lot of people in my life who get me through, but one of the most prevalent is my mom. I can call her whenever I need to, which is typically four times a day, and she is always willing to talk me through my life or just listen as I rant about my day. Anyone who knows her knows that she will go above and beyond to help you out, and no matter how busy or stressed she may be there is always a smile on her face. My mom is my go-to person, editor, and best friend!
Usually I send my mom a copy of my blogs before I post them, so she can tell me if they are post worthy…but not this one! My mom never gets the recognition she deserves and there isn’t enough time to tell her how grateful I am for everything she does. I call her my editor because she literally takes the time to read everything I write before I turn it in or post it. Someday I plan to add her to the payroll…I just don’t know when that will be.
The intent of this blog is #1 to say thanks to my mom for everything she does and #2 to remind everyone of the importance of mothers in agriculture…and just in life.
In my opinion mom’s are the glue that hold the household (or farm) together. Their willingness to help wherever does not go unrecognized. Most of the time they are the first ones up and the last to go to bed; and their days are jammed packed trying to keep everything running smoothly. We could all learn a lot from a farm wife/mother. In my own case I honestly don’t know if I will ever learn everything that my mom could teach me, but it is my sincere hope that one day I can be half the wife/mother that she is.
If you are a mom and you are reading this let me just say THANK YOU! Thank you for your dedication to agriculture, and most importantly your family. There are no words to describe how much you contribute to the advancement of our industry.
To my mom, best friend, and editor- Thank you so much for everything you do. Your love and support mean the world. And the boys and I aren’t joking when we say you win the Mom of the Year Award every day of every year!
I know that Mother’s Day has already passed, but I think that our moms deserve to be thanked more than just one day a year. If you are able, call your mom and say “Thank you!” Without them our industry wouldn’t have a future!
Usually I send my mom a copy of my blogs before I post them, so she can tell me if they are post worthy…but not this one! My mom never gets the recognition she deserves and there isn’t enough time to tell her how grateful I am for everything she does. I call her my editor because she literally takes the time to read everything I write before I turn it in or post it. Someday I plan to add her to the payroll…I just don’t know when that will be.
The intent of this blog is #1 to say thanks to my mom for everything she does and #2 to remind everyone of the importance of mothers in agriculture…and just in life.
In my opinion mom’s are the glue that hold the household (or farm) together. Their willingness to help wherever does not go unrecognized. Most of the time they are the first ones up and the last to go to bed; and their days are jammed packed trying to keep everything running smoothly. We could all learn a lot from a farm wife/mother. In my own case I honestly don’t know if I will ever learn everything that my mom could teach me, but it is my sincere hope that one day I can be half the wife/mother that she is.
If you are a mom and you are reading this let me just say THANK YOU! Thank you for your dedication to agriculture, and most importantly your family. There are no words to describe how much you contribute to the advancement of our industry.
To my mom, best friend, and editor- Thank you so much for everything you do. Your love and support mean the world. And the boys and I aren’t joking when we say you win the Mom of the Year Award every day of every year!
I know that Mother’s Day has already passed, but I think that our moms deserve to be thanked more than just one day a year. If you are able, call your mom and say “Thank you!” Without them our industry wouldn’t have a future!
Monday, June 13, 2011
A Bright Future
In my first week back at Red River Farm Network I have had the privilege of working on a special project for the ND FFA Foundation…and it has been a blast! I have had the opportunity to visit with industry professionals about the importance of encouraging today’s young people to pursue careers in agriculture. The conversations were each unique but there was a common message from all of them: the future of agriculture is bright! They all stressed how much agriculture has expanded and talked with much enthusiasm about their thoughts on where agriculture will go in the future.
As someone who grew up on a farm and was heavily involved with daily operations there was no question in my mind that I would pursue a degree in agriculture. I knew that the opportunities in agriculture were endless and, in my mind, the best part was that I could stay in North Dakota. The unfortunate thing is that many students don’t understand how diverse the Ag industry is. No longer is the industry made up of only farmers, ranchers, and elevator mangers. Today our industry also includes scientists, business people, mechanics, broadcasters, and a plethora of others. The best part is that the industry is rapidly expanding, and as long as there are people to feed there will always be jobs in agriculture!
If we want our industry to survive we have to be proactive in spreading the message of agriculture to young people. Agriculture is the nation’s largest employer with more than 24 million people involved in some aspect of the industry, so take time to talk with students about the various opportunities in the industry. The future of our industry is bright and it is our job to help spread the message!
As someone who grew up on a farm and was heavily involved with daily operations there was no question in my mind that I would pursue a degree in agriculture. I knew that the opportunities in agriculture were endless and, in my mind, the best part was that I could stay in North Dakota. The unfortunate thing is that many students don’t understand how diverse the Ag industry is. No longer is the industry made up of only farmers, ranchers, and elevator mangers. Today our industry also includes scientists, business people, mechanics, broadcasters, and a plethora of others. The best part is that the industry is rapidly expanding, and as long as there are people to feed there will always be jobs in agriculture!
If we want our industry to survive we have to be proactive in spreading the message of agriculture to young people. Agriculture is the nation’s largest employer with more than 24 million people involved in some aspect of the industry, so take time to talk with students about the various opportunities in the industry. The future of our industry is bright and it is our job to help spread the message!
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