tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59831160556727891872024-03-18T22:01:17.340-07:00A View From The ToppAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-46845521171803875832015-03-04T19:04:00.002-08:002015-03-04T19:04:52.658-08:00Sustainability - A Global Buzzword...Part 3This is the final post in the three-part series on sustainability. I hope you have enjoyed learning about agriculture and sustainability in Ireland as much as I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts with you. To conclude this series I want to leave you with my main takeaways from my travels in Ireland.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Sustainability is a global buzzword, especially in the agriculture industry.</li>
<li>Ireland and the U.S. have very different approaches to dealing with sustainability in agriculture.</li>
<li>The agriculture industry, on a global scale, believes it is crucial to demonstrate their sustainability; however, countries have different ways of doing this.</li>
<li>Farmers around the world work hard every day to be more sustainable than they have been before. </li>
<li>Farmers care deeply for the land and animals in their care and are proud to produce food for families around the world.</li>
<li>Farmers and agriculturalists are working to be more transparent with consumers about their production practices.</li>
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Although this concludes this mini-series on sustainability, below you will find more pictures from my adventures in Ireland.<br />
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Until next time,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jessie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></a></div>
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While we were in Ireland, we traveled across a large portion of the country. We stayed in the cities of Cork, Galway, and Dublin. Driving from place to place was one of the best parts of the trip - it was so neat to see the lush, green countrysides and the various sheep and cattle grazing in the stone-fenced pastures. In addition to touring cultural sites such as Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, and Cliffs of Moher, we had the opportunity to tour two universities, two farms, the Department of Agriculture, Irish Examiner, and the Farmers Journal. At several of the stops I had the opportunity to visit with the hosts to ask about their views of sustainability and sustainability initiatives in Ireland. Below, I share the views of some of the incredible individuals that I had the opportunity to meet.<br />
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Billy Nicholson- We traveled to Billy Nicholson's beef operation near Crosshaven on Monday, November 24. This farm will be 100 years old in 2015 and Neil, Billy's son, will be the four generation to manage the farm. Nicholson has a 182 hectare property with 94 hectares in grass, 40 hectares in tillage and fodder beets; with a 100-cow herd of Charolais and Simmental. All the calving on the Nicholson farm occurs in the spring. Male cattle are typically finished as young bulls and they do not keep heifer calves as replacements. The Nicholson farm is part of the Beef Quality Assurance Scheme and has been since the program was introduced. Nicholson said joining the program was an easy decision because of the price incentives they receive as part of participating in the program.<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">"Sustainable farming is being able to make a comfortable living, while still being able to re-invest in buildings and farm infrastructure," - Billy Nicholson, third generation Irish farmer</span><br />
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On Monday we also toured Teagasc at Moorepark. Teagasc is the semi-state authority in Ireland responsible for research and development, training and advisory services in the agri-food sector. Moorepark is one of the leading dairy research centers in the world and specializes in pasture based systems of milk production. Next year the EU is eliminating milk quotas and Ireland is working to double milk production by 2020. This is putting pressure on Teagasc to provide more intensive services to its clients. The growing global population was the primary driver in the decision to eliminate milk quotas. Ireland's goal is to be one of the top 5 dairy exporters in the world (currently they rank 28th).<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">"Sustainability from an economic/financial perspective is about a farmer's ability to make a profit and environmentally it's about protecting the environment..socially it would probably be important to consider work-life balance," Tom O'Dwyer, Teagasc dairy specialist.</span><br />
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On Wednesday, November 26 we visited the Department of Agriculture Press Office and met with Ultan Waldron, press and information officer for the department. The mission of the department is to lead the sustainable development of a competitive, consumer agri-food sector and to contribute to the rural economy and society. Waldron was so helpful in explaining the sustainability initiatives in Ireland and even followed up after our meeting with additional information.<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">"Being sustainable is about producing more with what you have; inputs and outputs," - Ultan Waldron, Ireland Department of Agriculture press and information officer.</span><br />
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I greatly enjoyed my time visiting with these individuals and so appreciate their willingness to share their thoughts on agricultural sustainability. Although their definitions varied, they each stressed the importance of sustainability in the agriculture industry on a global level. Based on the research I have been doing for my thesis, I knew that the literature suggests that sustainability is an increasingly important topic. However, I really enjoyed hearing it directly from these agriculturalists and learning about their individuals views on the topic.<br />
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Next time I will conclude this mini-series, I hope you will come back to check it out. I plan to share my main takeaways from the trip, as well as compare and contrast agriculture in Ireland and the U.S.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-48782775215791704852014-12-29T12:55:00.000-08:002014-12-29T12:55:24.493-08:00Sustainability - A Global BuzzwordToday I'm launching the first of three posts about agriculture in Ireland, specifically agricultural sustainability in Ireland. Those of you who know me know that I'm extremely passionate about sustainability, especially in the agriculture industry. For those of you that didn't know, let me explain.<br />
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In January 2013 I had the amazing opportunity to attend a Bayer CropScience Sustainability in Agriculture Executive Course on behalf of the Red River Farm Network. This course brought together agricultural stakeholders from across the country to talk about sustainability in agriculture. This course both challenged and excited me and, at the time, I didn't realize the profound impact the course would have on my life. To learn more about that course check out the <span style="color: #4c1130;"><a href="http://aviewfromthetopp.blogspot.com/2013/03/sustainability-agricultures-buzz-word.html">blog post</a> </span>I wrote.<br />
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This course sparked my interested in the concept of sustainability and how farmers are sharing their sustainability stories with consumers. I am passionate about every aspect of sustainability: how it is defined, how it is measured, how consumers view the sustainability of agriculture, how businesses practice sustainability, and so much more. My passion for this topic led me to basing my thesis on sustainability along the agricultural supply chain. In addition, I am working on a project with some colleagues aimed at understanding how consumers and agriculturalists perceive sustainability at the farm-level.<br />
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Last spring I signed up for a short-term study abroad in Ireland. As part of the course I was instructed to identify a topic of interest that I wanted to investigate while in Ireland. Any guesses on what topic I selected? Of course, it was sustainability! I couldn't wait to learn about agricultural sustainability in Ireland. After a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to Ireland and learn about agriculture and agricultural communications, I wanted to share what I learned. I learned so much that I'm breaking it into a three-part series. This first post is focused on the key takeaways about agricultural sustainability in Ireland.<br />
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<li>The word sustainability has certainly become a buzzword in the U.S. and it has also become a popular term in Ireland in recent years.</li>
<li>Just like in the U.S. there is no universal definition of sustainability. While many of the people I visited with had similar definitions, each definition was unique.</li>
<li>Sustainability is affecting the lives of consumers. It's what they want to hear about and what they want farmers to practice.</li>
<li>The concept of sustainability is changing the way farmers farm. A majority of Irish farmers are involved in some sort of program to help them demonstrate their environmental sustainability.</li>
<li>Ireland has sustainability programs for every area of ag/food production.</li>
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In my next post, I will be introducing you to some of the farmers and agriculturalists I visited with while in Ireland and sharing their views of sustainability. I hope you come back to check it out!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6RujRvmjFtRCss5DEKfoXOlG6IrAtEsIO5AcxNYHrO6WSoQQ9_xrNaaZLtxVj0a6XPfb99EUP3cDDpKBbraTsC2nZOxf5dC22Bd2xOOUiexvFPNIe2EMnPSgfYuH-2idRJedHw6bQzo/s1600/10806308_10154892105035271_3179976935407722910_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6RujRvmjFtRCss5DEKfoXOlG6IrAtEsIO5AcxNYHrO6WSoQQ9_xrNaaZLtxVj0a6XPfb99EUP3cDDpKBbraTsC2nZOxf5dC22Bd2xOOUiexvFPNIe2EMnPSgfYuH-2idRJedHw6bQzo/s1600/10806308_10154892105035271_3179976935407722910_n.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></div>
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Until next time,</div>
<br />
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-64962329904265034922014-12-06T18:31:00.000-08:002014-12-06T18:31:33.919-08:00Never Forget Your Roots<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s hard to believe in two
weeks I will have completed my third semester of graduate school – seems like
just yesterday I packed up my belongings and moved to Kansas. I guess it’s true
what they say, time flies when you’re having fun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With graduation peering
around the corner, a growing number of people have started asking me what I will
do after I graduate. The truth is I still don’t have a solid answer to that
question. I’m learning not to place limits on what I can do or where life can
take me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Over the last several years I
have had the amazing opportunity to travel and experience life in a variety of
places including Milwaukee, Nicaragua, Manhattan, Brazil and, most recently,
Ireland. While life has taken me to these places for a variety of reasons and
for different lengths of time, I always take a piece of home with me wherever I
go. The lessons I learned growing up have helped prepare me for a future that has
no limits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thinking about the future can
be nerve-wracking and brings with it all sorts of uncertainties, but I know
that wherever life takes me my roots will always be planted firmly on the
beautiful North Dakota farm where I was raised. No amount of miles can take
those lessons away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If I could offer one piece of
advice to you it would be this- dream as big as you want but never forget your
roots. The lessons you’ve learned along the way will give you a strong
foundation to be successful wherever your dreams take you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">“There’s no forgetting my
humble beginnings; where I’m going, God only knows” – <i>Small Town Soul </i>by Gwen Sebastian<br /></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />P.S. Next week I’m launching
a three-part blog series called Sustainability – A Global Buzzword to highlight
my recent trip to Ireland. Be sure to check it out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until next time,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-26444580019220825192014-05-03T15:57:00.000-07:002014-05-03T15:57:15.697-07:00It's About the JourneyToday I was prepared to be productive and finalize the second chapter of my thesis. Unfortunately, after eight hours of reading books and numerous articles all I have to show for my efforts is two lousy paragraphs and a messy desk.<br />
<br />
As I was packing things up, discouraged and frustrated, I was reminded of this quote:<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow. -Mary Anne Radmacher</span></h3>
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Life is full of days where things don't go as planned, but that shouldn't get in the way of you accomplishing your goals. Don't let a setback deter you from chasing your dreams. Life is about the journey just as much as it is about the destination, and I can assure you the journey will be filled with potholes, traffic jams, dead-ends, and detours along the way. But all of the experiences build character, and I promise the destination will be worth every curve ball thrown your way.<br />
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If you've experienced a frustrating day, week, month, or year, don't give up. Take heart knowing that tomorrow is a chance to try again. Don't lose sight of the destination, but remember to appreciate the lessons learned along the way.<br />
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Despite feeling defeated and frustrated, I can assure you that I will be back to work on chapter two again tomorrow.<br />
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-17147016310909467132014-02-26T19:09:00.000-08:002014-02-26T19:39:51.769-08:00Living Life IntentionallyIt seems like I'm asked about my plans after graduate school on a fairly regular basis. And to be honest, I don't know the answer to that question. There are so many things that I want to do that I can't pinpoint one specific thing.<br />
<br />
People say your 20s are supposed to be the time of your life - time for you to figure out who you are, what you want to be when you "grow up" and a chance for you to establish your own beliefs. I'm only 23 so I don't know a lot about being a 20-something, but here's what I do know. While my 20s may be a chance for me to figure out who I want to be and what I want to do with my life, I refuse to let these years pass by without carefully considering the decisions I make. I want to live my 20s <span style="color: #a64d79;">intentionally</span>, with clear goals of what I hope to learn in the next seven years. I want to take advantage of these "golden" years, knowing that the choices I make will have a powerful impact on determining who I am and what I will contribute to this world.<br />
<br />
Are you a 20-something who is trying to figure out what to do with your life? That's great! I encourage you to consider what you are passionate about, what motivates you and what you want to be remembered for. I challenge you to be <span style="color: #a64d79;">intentional</span> with the choices you make, the organizations you're involved in, internships and jobs you apply for, and even the people you spend time with. The choices we make during this time will have a profound impact on our future - personally and professionally. Don't let these years pass you by without letting them mold you into the person you are meant to be.<br />
<br />
So while I don't know what I want to do after I graduate yet, I can assure you that I've set some goals for things I want to accomplish and learn before I turn 30. I am also planning to make more<span style="color: #a64d79;"> intentional</span> decisions regarding my future. I hope you'll join me on my journey and make your 20s some of the best years of your life!<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #741b47;">"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." -Henry David Thoreau</span></h3>
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Until next time,<br />
<center style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-88242128321162088852014-01-24T13:05:00.000-08:002014-01-24T13:05:33.754-08:002013- A Year Filled with Change<br />
Let me begin by apologizing for neglecting my blog. I hope when you read this post you understand why I haven't written a post for a long time. My goal for 2014 is to blog at least once a month (I'm hoping it's more than that though!)<br />
<br />
Change is the word that I would use to describe 2013. Let me tell you why:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b><span style="color: #a64d79;">K-State Graduate Student</span></b>- Last spring I began to consider furthering my education with an online master's program. However, as I began to look more deeply in to graduate programs and visit with various faculty members, I realized that completing my degree on-campus would provide me with a greater learning opportunity. I received my letter of acceptance in the mail, but took a couple of weeks to think and pray about my decision. Going back to school would mean leaving the farm, my family and friends, and I would have to leave a job that I really enjoyed. I decided to take a giant leap of faith and moved to Manhattan, Kansas on August 18th. I just started my second semester towards a master's degree in agricultural communications at Kansas State University!<br /><br />For someone who rushed to complete my bachelor's degree in three years, most people are shocked that I went back to school. But in all honesty, I'm enjoying my time back in the classroom. I am being pushed and challenged more than ever before, and I'm loving it! The faculty and other graduate students in the program make it a great place to be. Living 12 hours from the farm has been extremely difficult, but I am thankful for supportive friends and family who continually encourage and support me.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBhRGMTfhbuTLt7tj5uNAC1LcXYCE3U4GYduXWTsgc2GVVbLxqf0KIWc1rRutmEuJFLttHn76p1IuSUOm2AVbvFJvutzOV0LZ8mtDoDrBmcfiaStUc5rwlDh5p9ryz2EaI243db3vQM4/s1600/JessieGradSchool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBhRGMTfhbuTLt7tj5uNAC1LcXYCE3U4GYduXWTsgc2GVVbLxqf0KIWc1rRutmEuJFLttHn76p1IuSUOm2AVbvFJvutzOV0LZ8mtDoDrBmcfiaStUc5rwlDh5p9ryz2EaI243db3vQM4/s1600/JessieGradSchool.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special thanks to Scott Stebner for taking this photo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Said Goodbye to RRFN</b></span>- One of the major drawbacks to deciding to go to school in Kansas was having to leave a job that I enjoyed and say goodbye to the incredible Red River Farm Network team. I started interning for RRFN during the summer of 2010, and I will forever be grateful to Don and Mike for agreeing to take a chance and hire me. During my time as an intern and full-time employee I had the incredible opportunity to "Report Agriculture's Business" on a daily business. I am thankful for the support of Mike, Don, Randy, Jay and Karen as I made this difficult decision. The lessons I learned during my time at RRFN are ones I will never forget.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9jwgjgd6dsFN4oSQq59RQwHcMGCywjOlar42AZXaeW-9LQ6oFo9ILWIASglOznZQnJKhtaZ9Toi3UQfRKz0U53oVSDPieRlJ1_Nbh4ajL8eHU35j4gwWoNHtp_k1c-n44CKX7kXq08M/s1600/DSC_0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9jwgjgd6dsFN4oSQq59RQwHcMGCywjOlar42AZXaeW-9LQ6oFo9ILWIASglOznZQnJKhtaZ9Toi3UQfRKz0U53oVSDPieRlJ1_Nbh4ajL8eHU35j4gwWoNHtp_k1c-n44CKX7kXq08M/s1600/DSC_0261.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First year at Big Iron with RRFN.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #a64d79;">Promoted to Aunt</span></b>- Perhaps the most exciting change this past year happened on November 26, when I became an aunt for the first time! The Topp team grew to 7 when Jackson arrived, and we couldn't be happier. I am so excited to teach Jackson as he grows, and I can already envision him out in the field and in the calving barn with his dad, grandpa and uncle. Being 12 hours away is even more difficult now that he is here, but I am so thankful for frequent picture updates and FaceTime. I spent every spare second with Jackson when I was home for Christmas break, and I can hardly wait to spend the entire summer with him. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4Az69_zIY65qfrCAYKm-2-_AKXO2aOH6xHZlOGVOb9XrFqoK2j0To-9bUb0jr3IajLNX-Vv2ZhCgFTPXx8PUkK3KVANAny9dH2_JGKVzL-Helar3qtgw5Rkidbr3ipGFqLXNjhASBdw/s1600/2013-12-26+18.58.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4Az69_zIY65qfrCAYKm-2-_AKXO2aOH6xHZlOGVOb9XrFqoK2j0To-9bUb0jr3IajLNX-Vv2ZhCgFTPXx8PUkK3KVANAny9dH2_JGKVzL-Helar3qtgw5Rkidbr3ipGFqLXNjhASBdw/s1600/2013-12-26+18.58.04.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So blessed to be Jackson's aunt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
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As you can see, the last few months have been busy and I've been trying to adjust to life as a college student again. January is often a time to reflect on the previous year and look forward to a new year filled with opportunities. Change can be a scary thing, but I speak from firsthand experience when I say it's worth it! In 2014 I encourage you to take chances, try something new, travel somewhere you have never been- I promise you won't regret it!</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #4c1130;">Making a big life CHANGE is pretty scary. But, know what's even scarier? Regret.</span></b></h3>
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Until next time,</div>
<br />
<center style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-37247047701947215972013-04-03T13:07:00.000-07:002013-04-03T13:07:23.584-07:00Attack Your FearsFears -- we all have them. When we were younger it was fear of the dark or of the monsters our older siblings told us were hiding under the bed. As we mature we become unafraid of the dark and can go to sleep without checking for those monsters under the bed. While those fears may subside, as we mature, we develop new fears. Scared to be alone or scared to fail, scared to audition for the local talent show or scared to apply for the perfect job.<br />
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Regardless of the magnitude of our fears, the truth is they hold us back. But why do we let them? And what keeps us from overcoming them?<br />
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Here's a little secret- I'm scared of failure. I'm sure it's no surprise that, for this perfectionist, one of my fears is failure. But if I let my fear of failure get in the way of pursuing my dreams, what good is that? What will life be like in 10 or 20 years if I don't push my fear aside and pursue my greatest desires? I know that I don't want to wake up one morning realizing that my life is only mediocre, realizing that my life could have been extraordinary if I could have overcome my fear of failure.<br />
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What about you? What dreams have you pushed to the side, because your fears have got in the way? Do you, like me, find yourself wondering 'what if'?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What if you applied for your dream job? </li>
<li>What if you went back to school? </li>
<li>What if you went on your dream vacation or started your own business? </li>
<li>What if you stopped wondering and faced your fear head on?</li>
</ul>
<br />
Whatever your fear, I challenge you to face it. Or, as someone recently challenged me,<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> attack your fear.</span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #741b47;">We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face. -Eleanor Roosevelt</span></h3>
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Attack your fear and stop asking what if. Don't let your fears keep you from living the life you imagined.<br />
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Until next week,<br />
<center style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-78066296787037791572013-03-18T12:57:00.000-07:002013-03-18T12:57:46.969-07:00Don't Forget the Big PictureMeeting season is coming to a close and for the first time in over two months I will spend the entire week in the office! I'll be honest, meeting season was a little overwhelming at times, but there's no question I loved the opportunity I had to visit with individuals about what's going on in agriculture. I kept hearing the same message over and over again...this is an exciting time to be in the agriculture industry, and I couldn't agree more!<br />
<br />
I had the chance to visit with a rancher in South Dakota who shared some of the struggles he experienced with last years drought and heard about changes his operation has undergone as a result. Despite the challenges, he is optimistic that it's a great time to be in the livestock industry.<br />
<br />
I visited with several North Dakota farmers who expressed their excitement about the coming year. Despite the challenges they faced with dry conditions last year, every farmer I visited with was optimistic about the future of the agriculture industry. Whether it's the technological advancements that are on the horizon or the immense opportunities for young people to pursue careers in agriculture, our farmers and ranchers are passionate about this industry.<br />
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I was privileged to meet a renowned speaker and futurist, who's excitement and passion for the future of agriculture are contagious. There's no question that it is a great time to be a farmer but this individual is certain that things for the agriculture industry will get even better!<br />
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I had the opportunity to visit with a agvocate who reminded me of the importance of sharing agriculture's story. Her passion for our industry and willingness to tell her story to others is truly inspiring me to look at ways that I can become a better agvocate.<br />
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There are some days when I forget the big picture. I get a little rundown and forget that being a part of agriculture is about more than a single person. As individuals in agriculture we all play a vital role in producing the food and resources our growing world needs and sharing agriculture's story.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrWWTF2r8GQrXyNLvN-qOO7dWxtG24Ft0d00iPS1Ex1SDHcc1rvR4UuQPk2amV_W73YDRKTvunmpqCJplmouSXFALPLP77Jz3mO_yN01YDYxtfBXXuRC_uDuzSbNyhPnzIOq5rlTUE9k/s1600/life+moves+fast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrWWTF2r8GQrXyNLvN-qOO7dWxtG24Ft0d00iPS1Ex1SDHcc1rvR4UuQPk2amV_W73YDRKTvunmpqCJplmouSXFALPLP77Jz3mO_yN01YDYxtfBXXuRC_uDuzSbNyhPnzIOq5rlTUE9k/s320/life+moves+fast.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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So yes life has been a little hectic, but I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet individuals who are passionate about this industry. Life is busy and the future of the ag industry is bright...what more could a girl ask for?!<br />
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<b>P.S.</b> Tomorrow is <span style="color: #741b47;"><b>National Agriculture Day</b></span>. A day dedicated to recognizing the hard working men and women in the agriculture industry and a day that presents us with a great opportunity to visit with others about the contributions America's farmers and ranchers make around the world. I challenge you to thank a farmer or rancher AND find a way to tell agriculture's story to someone who might not know where their food comes from.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rBKr-LCfUQ2uQl_2_3G0X7BfFV5gvh4IJkh9wcypexZbPZxWadk2rwIkXONRkVhRr2TBwUMcqgQX2d7FVzDStj8TzwsuqRAnnnQfEtPJFoJZzAIc118HT9bETBXtSOv-OgWvBqe2ys0/s1600/babynme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rBKr-LCfUQ2uQl_2_3G0X7BfFV5gvh4IJkh9wcypexZbPZxWadk2rwIkXONRkVhRr2TBwUMcqgQX2d7FVzDStj8TzwsuqRAnnnQfEtPJFoJZzAIc118HT9bETBXtSOv-OgWvBqe2ys0/s320/babynme.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy National Ag Day!!</td></tr>
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Until next week,<br />
<center style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-81669926509374313372013-03-01T12:08:00.000-08:002013-03-01T12:08:18.243-08:00Sustainability- Agriculture's Buzz WordSustainability. A word that we are certainly hearing a lot more about. But what is sustainability? I think we can all agree that sustainability in agriculture is important, the challenge lies in determining a definition for this buzz word and taking a proactive approach at showing consumers that farmers and ranchers have always practiced sustainability.<br />
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I was privileged to attend the Bayer CropScience Sustainability in Agriculture Executive Course last month, and I came away from that course both <span style="color: #a64d79;">excited and challenged</span>. Growing up involved in agriculture I have had the opportunity to see sustainability in action from a very young age. Farmers and ranchers have always practiced sustainability; they work with the land and livestock and do their best to provide safe, delicious and affordable food to consumers while conserving the land and resources. And they do all of this despite many criticisms and increasing regulations. With the population expected to grow to 9 billion by 2050, there's no question that farmers are more sustainable today than they have ever been.<br />
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I want to share some of my key takeaways from the Sustainability course. It is my hope that these challenge you and get you thinking about sustainability and how we spread agriculture's sustainability message.<br />
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<ul>
<li>There isn't a clear definition for sustainability. We, as an industry, need to <span style="color: #a64d79;">define</span> sustainability before someone else does. If we don't take a proactive approach to sustainability, someone else will inaccurately define this critical term.</li>
<li>Growers don't necessarily want to use insecticides, pesticides, etc., because it's an added input cost. They only use these crop protection products when necessary. Consumers need to understand that producers don't overload on crop protection...it's expensive.</li>
<li>Don't put "sustainability" in a box. It's a <span style="color: #a64d79;">strategy</span>, a lifestyle really. We have to understand that sustainability has changed. What were considered sustainable practices for my grandfather's generation might not be the same as the practices my dad and brothers use on our operation today. We have to constantly be thinking of the future and how we can continue to conserve the land and resources.</li>
<li>Sustainability is a <span style="color: #a64d79;">moving target</span>. It has changed over generations and continues to change at a rapid pace. Again, we need to be thinking about future generations.</li>
<li>Sustainability is <span style="color: #a64d79;">the ability to endure</span>. If farmers and ranchers weren't sustainable we would not have the cheapest food source in the entire world. Sustainability is the peace of mind that when we go to the grocery store there will be food to feed our families with.</li>
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Although there's not a set definition for sustainability, I think we can all agree that sustainability is doing our best to produce the safest food possible using practices that will ensure the land is available for generations to come. Obviously agriculture has to be sustainable. If farmers and ranchers don't take care of the land, they don't have a job and their families won't have food to eat or clothes to wear. While we know that our industry is sustainable, we cannot assume consumers know that. We need to be <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">flamboyantly</span></span> transparent. We need to show consumers that we are acting in the best interest of our land and livestock, as well as, in the best interest of consumers and future generations.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #4c1130;">"When people say you have a problem, throw open the door and show them you don't." -Temple Grandin </span></b></h3>
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<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-58754843875493603402013-02-19T07:45:00.000-08:002013-02-19T07:45:27.645-08:00The Most Wonderful Time of the Year<br />
I've had the best of intentions to sit down and write a blog post, but work has been busy and I've been on the road...a lot! On top of that, calving season is underway. Next to harvest, calving season is my favorite time of year. So far there are over 90 calves running around and a whole lot more will join them before too long.<br />
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I'm looking forward to start blogging on a more regular basis. Here's a sneak peak of what you can expect<br />
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<ul>
<li>Takeaways from the Bayer CropScience Sustainability Course</li>
<li>God Made a Farmer</li>
<li>Turn Around!</li>
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Here's just one of many pictures I took out in the calving barn this weekend...a glimpse at why I love life as a farm girl!</div>
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<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-60686685983309162672013-01-28T06:50:00.000-08:002013-01-28T06:50:02.760-08:00A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day...Sort ofThe last 24 hours have been interesting, to say the least. Cancelled flights, delayed flights and flights that leave minutes before you arrive at the gate (breathless after running across the entire airport) were common occurrences yesterday.<br />
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It's funny because no matter how well you have something planned, you have no control over the weather and no say as to when a plane will take off. So after spending too many hours in the airport yesterday and spending a short night in Minneapolis, I'm at the airport to try my luck again today.<br />
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I'll admit, yesterday there were a few times when I got frustrated...then I remembered that I'm not in control. That reminder helped me to smile when I discovered I'd missed my flight by mere minutes and that I'd have to wait until today to arrive at my meeting.<br />
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So often we let one bad situation ruin our entire day, but why? Yesterday was a prime example that smiling in the midst of not-so-ideal situations helps to make the hours pass more quickly.<br />
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Yesterday was plagued with several unideal situations. Despite that, I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with my best friend and I'm getting a blog post done. See, good things do come from bad days! I hope that when life throws a curveball your way, you endure it with a smile on your face and the knowledge that you aren't in control.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_MdwUINmJcvDbcUDwQuRTgV7JVDpR7Asj9vp5toG139Gc2Igy4CmBT07K9NkPD0BfVhj0NwI_cS8ojMBflZhV40H0xe7DSSK-vVWEFt6WQTg35cg0dmBbnE7BI6ONWjJA1uc1BzQq1k/s1600/every+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_MdwUINmJcvDbcUDwQuRTgV7JVDpR7Asj9vp5toG139Gc2Igy4CmBT07K9NkPD0BfVhj0NwI_cS8ojMBflZhV40H0xe7DSSK-vVWEFt6WQTg35cg0dmBbnE7BI6ONWjJA1uc1BzQq1k/s320/every+day.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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P.S. I'm headed to North Carolina to attend a Bayer CropScience sustainability conference. I can't wait to share some of the things I learn when I return!</div>
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Until next week,</div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-86882064184537738682013-01-16T10:20:00.002-08:002013-01-16T10:20:38.705-08:00Thankful for the Occasional BreakthroughPapers spread across the table, country music playing on the radio and my pen frantically jotting down my thoughts...today I felt like a college student who let that paper deadline creep up on me, which I assure you I never actually let happen in college!<br />
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With the deadline for the next issue of the North Dakota Soybean Grower magazine a mere two days away, I don't even open my calendar anymore for fear that my giant 'to-do' list will grow each time I look at it. It seems that the closer the deadline is, the worse my writer's block gets...but today I finally had a breakthrough. I got through an entire article this morning, am going to put the finishing touches on a second article and I will even get my weekly post done before noon, well it's pretty close anyway!<br />
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Writing for the magazine is my favorite part of what I do and it amazes me how a few words can completely change the tone of a story. I'm also amazed at how, even when I'm writing about the incredible agriculture industry, I still encounter writer's block! I'm thankful for the opportunity to highlight our industry, even when it gets stressful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEKtuvkNYgmGr329FTkPYmiNndRRt3sDKcdaAOX8nj44_YlqrNqhXuWoky_aTCAYaMLjBGfZKPDeqwrt2s2p4ilaxhQVaCq1aDQxihnjkVvBfkGre4l55qYIjKSCMdxoG8cvtffhXybY/s1600/college+days.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEKtuvkNYgmGr329FTkPYmiNndRRt3sDKcdaAOX8nj44_YlqrNqhXuWoky_aTCAYaMLjBGfZKPDeqwrt2s2p4ilaxhQVaCq1aDQxihnjkVvBfkGre4l55qYIjKSCMdxoG8cvtffhXybY/s320/college+days.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A scene that is so reminiscent of my days as college student. </td></tr>
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I hope that your week is going great! If it's anything like mine, I'm sure that it has had its fair share of challenges but hopefully you've had a of breakthrough or two.<br />
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Until next week,<br />
<center style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-72116402122599214032013-01-11T08:06:00.000-08:002013-01-11T08:06:40.174-08:00Gotta go long, Gotta go hard, Gotta go fast<br />
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I first hit the slopes of Big Sky at the age of five. Since then, many family vacations have occurred on the side of a mountain. Since first hitting the slopes, I have become a much more proficient skier (no lie, ask anyone!) and can keep up with my dad. Many long car rides, hours on ski lifts and nights spent playing games are some of my favorite memories from my childhood. </center>
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Last week I had an opportunity to spend four amazing days on the slopes with my family and our family friends. The times we spend together are moments I truly treasure. Since my first time on skis to now, I have spent a lot of time on my butt (less now that I'm older!), taken many trips up the ski lift, and certainly left my mark on the slopes...it's safe to say I've learned a few lessons.</center>
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<b>Lessons Learned on the Slopes</b></center>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>5 second rule:</b> </span>One of the very first things you learn when skiing with our crew is that the longer you spend on the ground the more likely it is that you will encounter snow fog. What is snow fog? Basically it's when everyone skiing in your group that's behind you when you fall will ski as fast as they can until they get three feet from where you lay, then they stop...abruptly thus spraying you with snow. Regardless of age or gender, you better learn to get up pretty fast when you fall because otherwise you are sure to get sprayed. Word of advice, if you think you might fall let everyone else ski in front of you!</center>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>7 hour car rides are the best:</b></span> Whenever my family goes skiing we always go with the Gussiaas family. The Topp-Gush ski trips are the source of some of my fondest memories. The long car rides with my two best friends have generated stories that we still talk about to this day. I often think our dad's wished we would've had dvd players in the suburbans when we were younger so they didn't have to listen to us play our favorite game 'What would you rather be?'</center>
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<b><span style="color: purple;">Gotta go long, gotta go hard, gotta go fast:</span></b> This is the mantra of the Topp-Gush ski trips. When you only get a few days on the slopes you cherish every moment. It's our anthem, a constant reminder to cherish every second we have on the slopes, every moment we have together. Growing up on the slopes with my family and closest friends is something I am so thankful for. I am glad that my parents allowed the boys and I the opportunity to spend a few days on the mountain every year. I think this a motto we can apply to our everyday life. Life is short, we never know how much time we are given, so we need to cherish every second of it. Set the bar high. Don't stop until you've carved up the entire mountain, or reached your dream!</center>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSF4poEwn8dYqVxn59jyexMHsR8lStYx2bEWQp060BeptDdvrUKZVKMHYwJmyxuhMp5pTvWxy4brHai55dsuOYhtHXAjXbDcHxn-ZSGRY-2Ljucn_EPxHu7rCvwTMugJSDyoITiGf0jo/s1600/skibumms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSF4poEwn8dYqVxn59jyexMHsR8lStYx2bEWQp060BeptDdvrUKZVKMHYwJmyxuhMp5pTvWxy4brHai55dsuOYhtHXAjXbDcHxn-ZSGRY-2Ljucn_EPxHu7rCvwTMugJSDyoITiGf0jo/s320/skibumms.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">The good lookin' Gush-Topp gang...minus Amanda.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFjRdJvqmBaeIgrxqAP69JosltfW15ph4WtbPlQMboAXmtbjnoPO7WhlW4aSWLmmUDH-TEyNyeTlpRrikq4YN-wNDmIXonevp4G1qX4inujla_6ZMrbCvlrfQpDTWHbxwlJLvK6sxcsY/s1600/skifox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFjRdJvqmBaeIgrxqAP69JosltfW15ph4WtbPlQMboAXmtbjnoPO7WhlW4aSWLmmUDH-TEyNyeTlpRrikq4YN-wNDmIXonevp4G1qX4inujla_6ZMrbCvlrfQpDTWHbxwlJLvK6sxcsY/s320/skifox.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Becca, myself and Jessica when we were much younger!</span><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGwmEY-gU2zaVLhtlkDlVeydMb7soREUh7mKGHA2euBJcEo7j-UyXE2Yyoshfd4_VvAetFxNgAbNpUDmS0UiRPcYz0gSnkbAHaOS-dXW1vwmeJ3iltUrQ2IZqheFuf1sxAMPuuVhl1Sk/s1600/friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGwmEY-gU2zaVLhtlkDlVeydMb7soREUh7mKGHA2euBJcEo7j-UyXE2Yyoshfd4_VvAetFxNgAbNpUDmS0UiRPcYz0gSnkbAHaOS-dXW1vwmeJ3iltUrQ2IZqheFuf1sxAMPuuVhl1Sk/s320/friends.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Jessica, Becca and myself. So blessed to have these two as friends!</span></td></tr>
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I had a blast hitting the slopes last week, and I can't wait until the next Topp-Gush adventure! </center>
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Until next week,</center>
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<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-120964520392110482012-12-31T13:53:00.000-08:002012-12-31T13:53:42.147-08:00Year in ReviewWith 2012 drawing to a close, I have been doing some thinking about the past year and the challenges and opportunities I faced. 2012 was a year full of lessons learned, so I thought I would share my top three.<br />
<br />
<b>Top Three Lessons from 2012</b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Take chances.</b> When I set off for my three month adventure in Milwaukee, I thought I was crazy that there was no way I could do it. But I did. As I look back, I am so glad that I took the chance to try something new. I had the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, meet great people and I grew a lot as an individual. What seemed like an impossible feat, taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to.</li>
<li><b>It's okay to compromise.</b> Stubborn is a word that is frequently used to describe me. No, it's not my best attribute but I'm working on it. This year presented me with numerous opportunities to learn the importance of compromise. As the boy frequently tells me, "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you might get what you need." So often we think that we have to get everything we want, exactly when we want. My question to you, to myself, is why can't we learn to work together to come to a common solution? Why does a solution to a problem have to be all or nothing?</li>
<li><b>Love life. </b>Life is too short not to enjoy. No matter what the circumstance, I have learned things could always be worse. </li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI12tPU2dzFWogT3eDE7ay7ioxnLug-CNhoFVakCjT_-UfYYWKBeSuyisgKv7rdbtuoaH9pwdJ5HaOqywF_VnGMJIx0N5ya8nByjMlACmBf_t34zchooH8ryXI29e1oG7Ly28xzqLac88/s1600/005nme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI12tPU2dzFWogT3eDE7ay7ioxnLug-CNhoFVakCjT_-UfYYWKBeSuyisgKv7rdbtuoaH9pwdJ5HaOqywF_VnGMJIx0N5ya8nByjMlACmBf_t34zchooH8ryXI29e1oG7Ly28xzqLac88/s320/005nme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm thankful for the lessons I learned in 2012, and I am looking forward to the many lessons that 2013 has in store. I hope that 2012 was a great year for you and yours!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Until next year,</div>
<div>
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-37575856253397450952012-12-20T13:43:00.000-08:002012-12-20T13:43:08.394-08:00A Team, An Industry Worth Fighting ForFriday was a big day. Yes it was my birthday, but more importantly the Bison beat Georgia Southern in the semi-final game...next stop, Frisco!! It was so fun to spend my birthday cheering for the Bison with thousands of other dedicated fans. I don't think anyone who walked out of the FargoDome had much of a voice left, but no one cared. We got to watch an incredible football game and will get to watch the Bison fight for another FCS Championship!<br />
<br />
The unique thing about Bison fans, perhaps sports fans in general, is their dedication to their team...good times and bad. True fans stick with their team through the tough times: injured player, a season plagued by more losses than wins; no matter what true fans remain dedicated to their team. Yes, it would be easier to cheer for a more successful team and, let's be honest, you probably wouldn't get harassed as much if you would quit wearing that jersey in public, but those aren't characteristics of a die-hard fan.<br />
<br />
I think the same goes for the individuals in the agriculture industry. Besides sports fans, our industry is made up of the most dedicated people I know. Individuals who will get up several times during the night in the middle of winter to check on cows and calves during calving season. Individuals who will seed around the clock to make sure their crop gets in the ground. Individuals who will combine through the night to get the crop off before the rain. Individuals who wake up at 4 o'clock in the morning to drive their kids to town so they can ride the bus to a 4-H or FFA judging contest. These are just a few of countless examples of the dedicated individuals who are part of our great industry.<br />
<br />
Just like sports fans, the individuals in our industry are there through the good times and bad. When it hasn't rained in weeks, when prices aren't the best, when the tractor breaks down, when hail destroys an entire field...they don't give up. They may get discouraged, but they never quit fighting. They understand that life is full of challenges, and sometimes it can feel like an uphill climb, but they know that their industry is something worth fighting for. No matter what the circumstances, people in agriculture don't give up.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfC2O1yL6RaYwKDzmPa0xqM7mKp3_71P_TuAdrEV9_E57HqU5o-pPhnN8-F3DhLBBp_WqCV1HVRw9qQzJoFcu5YSk7r158VFL2ktTH-TBRx1gFFXqMJk4_40ZZYfVtX4Sraj89cobt4c/s1600/bison+football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfC2O1yL6RaYwKDzmPa0xqM7mKp3_71P_TuAdrEV9_E57HqU5o-pPhnN8-F3DhLBBp_WqCV1HVRw9qQzJoFcu5YSk7r158VFL2ktTH-TBRx1gFFXqMJk4_40ZZYfVtX4Sraj89cobt4c/s320/bison+football.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All I wanted for my birthday was a Bison victory...my wish came true!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm proud to be a Bison fan and there's no question I'm proud to be a part of the agriculture industry! Win or lose, I hope you will remain a true Bison fan. And despite the challenges you may have faced this year, remember...agriculture is an industry worth fighting for!<br />
<br />
Until next week,<br />
<center style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-22551173020441447682012-12-12T10:16:00.000-08:002012-12-12T10:16:15.342-08:00Change is a Good ThingDid you read the title of this blog...'Change is a Good Thing' the fact that I am saying that is shocking, and I have a feeling that those of you who know me are laughing to yourself. So I'll be honest, I'm not always a believer that change is a good thing, but I hope you and I can agree that the new name and design of my blog are good changes!<br />
<br />
Ever since I started blogging as an intern I have wanted to blog on a more user friendly platform that allows me to interact with my readers and makes it easier for you to follow my blog posts. Since I am now full-time with RRFN, I decided it was time to accomplish my goal and ta-da you have <b>A View from the Topp</b>.<br />
<br />
I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to follow my blog via email and as always, I love to hear from you, so feel free to comment on a post or send me an email.<br />
<br />
So maybe we can all agree that change is a good thing...<b>sometimes</b>!<br />
<br />
Until next week,<br />
<center style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-28417226732307331402012-12-06T08:33:00.000-08:002012-12-06T08:36:34.760-08:00Adventures in the Windy CityLast week I was in Chicago for the Top Producer Executive Women in Agriculture Conference. It was a great opportunity to network with women from across the country who are passionate about this industry, and I look forward to sharing some thoughts from the conference in future posts.<br />
<br />
I attended the conference with my mom and sister in-law and we decided to stay an extra day after the conference to explore the Windy City. Amanda and I had been in Chicago earlier this summer when she and Justin visited me in Milwaukee, so we had a chance to do some exploring, but we were excited to check more things off our list.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRtjTEHjt3Is0lOj8_wKBCMfRoqQ70WGumX_M6GmH6vVWcMY9Q2a8_3axy1OWmP3QS6gHnsa0M-uZSIVZYZ3Qc3s4gQCAw_2EDgAusTcBj5l7-8I1e_mvULDg1Kk9ZRlsl1kDaIJupxI/s1600/chicago+fam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRtjTEHjt3Is0lOj8_wKBCMfRoqQ70WGumX_M6GmH6vVWcMY9Q2a8_3axy1OWmP3QS6gHnsa0M-uZSIVZYZ3Qc3s4gQCAw_2EDgAusTcBj5l7-8I1e_mvULDg1Kk9ZRlsl1kDaIJupxI/s200/chicago+fam.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring the Windy City with two of my favorite ladies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you are ever in the Chicago area, here are a few of my recommendations.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Navy Pier</b> - I had a chance to explore Navy Pier this summer and had a blast. There are tons of boat tours, rides, theaters, food vendors, etc. The view of the city from atop the Ferris Wheel is incredible.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizocz4K8OBiSkvsS5OKOYqIA3PStdAVwnTTEJvpefKbj4i8Nfj9ad5-fszrhxJ-oG77fzppT_gRRAbkIos409UFTmsZA7iq9Ryn9cCPenC-WxFTQAArLqye7R4eCQFJZOIs8XYDVvpcdI/s1600/navy+pier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizocz4K8OBiSkvsS5OKOYqIA3PStdAVwnTTEJvpefKbj4i8Nfj9ad5-fszrhxJ-oG77fzppT_gRRAbkIos409UFTmsZA7iq9Ryn9cCPenC-WxFTQAArLqye7R4eCQFJZOIs8XYDVvpcdI/s200/navy+pier.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Navy Pier Ferris Wheel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>2. Pizza</b> - You can't go to Chicago without having a slice of some authentic Chicago style pizza. There are a ton of pizza places to choose from, but I would definitely recommend Giordano's. They are famous for their stuffed pizza. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTrHxqjdiJJHdOPQIkJwBHzJxLURaBUCerOcaLtyeIADwU1o-ReeV_GLgWxKDFrdvvd-gf4w1FF979ZtF62IDzcjp23nNVJZBt022KZuThy_HuPypdFWnt5pv18i2QATdS9th6HhOFpA/s1600/giordano%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTrHxqjdiJJHdOPQIkJwBHzJxLURaBUCerOcaLtyeIADwU1o-ReeV_GLgWxKDFrdvvd-gf4w1FF979ZtF62IDzcjp23nNVJZBt022KZuThy_HuPypdFWnt5pv18i2QATdS9th6HhOFpA/s200/giordano%2527s.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giordano's serves the best pizza I've ever had!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>3. Millennium Park</b> - We didn't get to spend a lot of time here, since we were trying to cram as much as we could into a short amount of time, but I would definitely recommend going here. Even if it's just for a few minutes.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiZ6v73XBpwf-15P_-WOXDQNI0joy7M7HCbNYKS20tgN27a7pX3DR2m8XcHvsefPpMdGZb6S6EAW-XUcQMWMSZv7yx2ofwfk_mHAtUh53JGSvdcAQTTgbAjWdrBC3rKNQIUf0geTsXDM/s1600/bean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiZ6v73XBpwf-15P_-WOXDQNI0joy7M7HCbNYKS20tgN27a7pX3DR2m8XcHvsefPpMdGZb6S6EAW-XUcQMWMSZv7yx2ofwfk_mHAtUh53JGSvdcAQTTgbAjWdrBC3rKNQIUf0geTsXDM/s200/bean.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'bean' in Millennium Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>4. Garrett's Popcorn</b> - Everyone we talked to said that you can't leave Chicago until you stop at Garrett's Popcorn. I now understand why! They have several different types of popcorn to choose from, but their most popular is the Chicago Mix (what a clever name), which consists of carmel corn and cheese flavored popcorn getting mixed together. It sounds weird at first, but I assure you it is delicious. I wish we would've bought more to bring home.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Magnificent Mile</b> - I'm not a big shopper, but going into the various shops along the Magnificent Mile was a lot of fun. Even though we didn't buy anything, it was fun to give my dad a hard time!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65XFtPJ8OoZC8DRAljnxEGsUM6CCnVFPYTRfsvgdzIkJYb6bOEvGxyOQ6ohmrgXysTk73RhWnvwpQ90gb2TpdGZ3oZn-JDsgjV9Sl8k1Ds98nZRNABls-iyVflo623_ngrrVsDrYmwwM/s1600/text.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65XFtPJ8OoZC8DRAljnxEGsUM6CCnVFPYTRfsvgdzIkJYb6bOEvGxyOQ6ohmrgXysTk73RhWnvwpQ90gb2TpdGZ3oZn-JDsgjV9Sl8k1Ds98nZRNABls-iyVflo623_ngrrVsDrYmwwM/s200/text.PNG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Magnificent Mile is definitely more fun with dad's credit card =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>6. Sprinkles Cupcakes</b> - If you've ever watched the show Cupcake Wars on the FoodNetwork, then you've probably heard of this shop, which is owned by one of the shows judges. Anyways, we decided we had to go try some cupcakes. They were delicious and of course had sprinkles! The coolest thing about the shop was the cupcake ATM, where you get to determine every aspect of your cupcake.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUD42rmcM9SwEPIzl63y9ubahu2gpP7PmdfwVR3nOoyYhxjfiak4Lux3pVkzO08a9bTiXL6JYOAxe6-6dhpWH4dmOUvP5Y_hPAY8UrGsrtKJenCT-GTTZhyYWaJayyWPaKqoKZ_DEEWnU/s1600/sprinkles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUD42rmcM9SwEPIzl63y9ubahu2gpP7PmdfwVR3nOoyYhxjfiak4Lux3pVkzO08a9bTiXL6JYOAxe6-6dhpWH4dmOUvP5Y_hPAY8UrGsrtKJenCT-GTTZhyYWaJayyWPaKqoKZ_DEEWnU/s200/sprinkles.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stop at Sprinkles to satisfy your sweet tooth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are many other great attractions in Chicago, and I hope that I can go back and continue to see what other things the city has to offer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoOF83rykTLzmcrTywIFwKmYW9ZjiUf51Rz4dNPV7QbboD7nT6H47M40Pu7xmisR_uQ4dXCIozh9fmJzEtYhS9LXDQ3RooppREtXpZoxBfxy4Esgz2q5jkqOF8QiJ8vqIXH8QhObC0dI/s1600/friends.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoOF83rykTLzmcrTywIFwKmYW9ZjiUf51Rz4dNPV7QbboD7nT6H47M40Pu7xmisR_uQ4dXCIozh9fmJzEtYhS9LXDQ3RooppREtXpZoxBfxy4Esgz2q5jkqOF8QiJ8vqIXH8QhObC0dI/s200/friends.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So blessed that my friend Sarah came<br />
from Milwaukee to spend the day with us</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>P.S.</b> You've probably realized that the blog is different than it has been in the past. Next week I will highlight the exciting features of the new blog format, which will allow you to follow my blog and receive email notifications when I add a new post...<b>stay tuned!</b><br />
<br />
Until next week,<br />
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</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-61128909849525654202012-11-21T13:03:00.000-08:002012-12-05T13:04:07.989-08:00A Season of ThankfulnessTurkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and pumpkin pie. Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving, a long standing tradition of gathering with friends and family to reflect on all the blessings we have. We each have so much to be thankful for, but sometimes I feel like the true reason for this holiday gets lost in a clutter of black Friday ads. It's amazing to me that right after we get done reflecting on the many blessings we have, we will spend the entire next day shopping. I'm not against black Friday or getting a good deal, but I hope that we all take time to realize just how blessed we are.<br />
<br />
In my family we have a long standing tradition where, before we eat our Thanksgiving meal, we go around the table and say what we are thankful for. Here's just a few of the many things that I am thankful for this year.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Family and friends.</b> That probably seems like a cliche answer, but it's true. I am so thankful to have an amazing family that supports me and gives me advice when I need it. They are my biggest fans and, sometimes, my toughest critics. I am so blessed that they stand with me along the way, always pushing me to strive for my goals. I am also thankful for friends who I can always count on, whether I need to talk about some frustrations or just need a good laugh they are always there for me. Even though I don't get to see them as often as I would like, I am so thankful for each and every one of them.</li>
<li><b>Red River Farm Network.</b> I am truly blessed to work for the greatest group of individuals I know. I am truly amazed at what I continue to learn. Each day is full of challenges and successes, and I am thankful for the amazing opportunity I have been given.</li>
<li><b>Agriculture.</b> As I sit down at the dinner table tomorrow, there is no question that I am thankful for the food on the table and for the individuals who work hard to provide it. This industry is full of some of the most passionate individuals I know, and I am thankful for the farmers and ranchers who work hard to provide for their own families and feed the world.</li>
<li><b>Freedom.</b> I am thankful for the men and women who have dedicated their livest to ensuring that our great nation remains free. It is no question that without the sacrifices of these individuals and their families we would not be able to enjoy many of the freedoms we do.</li>
</ol>
As you prepare to spend time with family and friends, take time to reflect on what you are thankful for.<br />
<br />
Happy Thanksgiving!!<br />
<center>
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-25061860461438391572012-11-14T12:51:00.000-08:002012-12-05T13:06:22.007-08:00Don't Let Fear Get In The WayOn May 21, I embarked on the scariest journey I have taken so far...living <b>720 miles</b> from home for <b>12 weeks</b>. For some that might not seem all that scary, but as I was saying goodbye to family and friends, trying but miserably failing to hold back my tears, I kept thinking "you're crazy."<br />
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You see, until May 21 I'd never been away from home longer than two or three weeks at a time. So the thought of living in a place where I didn't know a single person for the entire summer was a little frightening.<br />
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The first week was probably the hardest, rush hour traffic and agency 'life' were just two big adjustments. Thankfully I met some great people at work and at a church I found. Random visits from my parents, the boy and Justin and Amanda also helped those <b>84 days</b> fly by...not that I was counting or anything!<br />
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Looking back now, I am so thankful that I stepped out of my comfort zone and spent the summer in Milwaukee. The lessons I learned at Bader Rutter will continue to help as I gain experience in the 'real' world. And the friendships I made while I was there are also something I deeply treasure.<br />
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I guess you could say I'm glad I didn't let my fears get in the way. I can't imagine my summer being any different, and I know I grew a lot as an individual. I feel like I accomplished something really meaningful and I will never have to ask myself the dreaded 'what if' question. I am confident that when other 'scary' things come my way, I am fully prepared to face them head on. I faced my fear, now it's your turn!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-84532139316895057172012-10-31T12:44:00.000-07:002012-12-05T12:44:41.194-08:00The Worst Mistake Is To Not Make AnyOne month. Tomorrow I have been with Red River Farm Network full-time for an entire month. Where does the time go?<br />
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I'll be honest, the first two weeks were a little overwhelming. I was trying to get into a routine, set up my office and a long list of other tasks. Things have settled down and still no routine...it's safe to say farm broadcasters don't really have a routine, because each day is different from the next! But that's what makes my job so exciting, I get to come to work and talk about various individuals about the numerous issues facing our industry!<br />
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It's also safe to say that I've made my share of mistakes over the last month. My recorder dies in the middle of an interview, the guys didn't receive the email with my stories for a broadcast and the subject line of FarmNetNews simply read Re...just to name a few. Being the perfectionist that I am these mistakes are frustrating. As much as I want to avoid making mistakes, no matter how hard I try I am going to mess up from time to time. But making mistakes is part of life, it's how we learn.<br />
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As a child we learn that you will get burned by touching the red burner on the stove, as a teenager we learn that breaking curfew will cause you to lose privileges and as a college student we learn that we have to be responsible for getting to class on our own and turning our assignments in on time. These are just a few of the countless lessons we learn during our lifetime. Sometimes we learn them the hard way and sometimes we learn from the mistakes of others. As a young woman who is entering the work force, I know that there are many lessons I have yet to learn.<br />
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Thomas Edison once said "If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward..." What an interesting way to look at a situation. Embrace our mistakes? Now that's a new concept! But what a freeing one. If I lean into the mistakes I make and look at them as a step forward, instead of beating myself up for it, I might take more away from the experience. Since making mistakes is inevitable why not look at each of them as a step forward rather than a step back?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-70280448341542879492012-10-24T12:36:00.000-07:002012-12-05T12:36:27.845-08:00It's Election Time...Let Your Voice Be HeardDebates. Television Commercials. Facebook Statuses. Radio Advertisements. Yes, there's no question that it's an election year. Are you prepared to cast your vote in 13 days? Since you are constantly bombarded with advertisements telling you how to vote, or in some cases, how not to vote I promise that this post will not include my personal opinion on any candidates or ballot initiatives. I will however be encouraging you to take part in the democratic process.<br />
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With all the advertisements it is so easy to hear what someone says and accept it as fact, but let's be honest...not everything we hear on the television or read on the internet is true! This brings me to my first point, <b>get informed</b>. There is a lot of information being thrown at you, especially now that the election is less than two weeks away. Take time to learn about the candidates, don't make your decision based solely off of a campaign advertisement. Do your own research and learn everything you can about the individuals vying for an office. </center>
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When it comes to the issues do the same thing. <b>Dig deeper</b> than what the measure actually says. Take time to look at who is backing the ballot initiative and think about the measure would mean long-term. This year, in North Dakota, we have two ballot initiatives that directly affect agriculture. I think it is always imperative to vote, but when the issues directly affect my industry there's no question my voice will be heard. And I will make sure that everyone I know does their part to protect our industry as well.</center>
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Once you learn all you can about the candidates and the issues, you are ready to <b>cast your vote</b>. Make sure you take time on November 6 to cast your vote and if you are unable to vote on that day get an absentee ballot. I promise the process is painless and if you've done your research it won't take you long to fill out your ballot and send it back. As Americans it is truly a blessing that we have the right to vote. Think about it. We have an opportunity to make a difference in our country. I often hear people say they don't vote because they don't think their vote makes a difference. The problem is it isn't one vote. Numerous individuals, you and old, feel the same way so they don't vote. So one vote becomes two and two becomes hundreds, even thousands. All of their votes combined could make a difference. So don't forget to encourage your family, friends and neighbors to cast their vote. And remind them , one vote makes a difference.</center>
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Like I said before, this post isn't focused on me telling you where I stand on the issues or who I think the right choice for our state or country is. I just want to encourage you to take a part in the democratic process. There are important decisions to be made, so get informed and cast your vote. I have made my decisions for election 2012. <b>Have you?</b></center>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited to cast my vote in election 2012!</td></tr>
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<img alt="Jessie" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-86494787421274305142012-10-17T11:26:00.000-07:002012-12-05T11:28:43.786-08:00Now What?Barley, check. Wheat, check. Dry beans, check. Corn, check. Harvest 2012 is done...in record time. Seems strange to be done combining so early, but I can assure you it is a great feeling! The last few weeks were crazy. Not only did I start my new job, but we were also busy trying to combine soybeans and corn. The days were long and tiring, but we are thankful for a safe harvest season.<br />
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Harvest is done, so now what? Well let me assure you there will be no shortage of things going on at T-T Ranch. In fact here are some of the things at the top of a never ending list:<br />
-Grain to haul<br />
-Fertilizer to apply<br />
-Calves to wean<br />
-Machinery to service<br /><br />
And I can assure you that this list goes on and on. I'm sure you can relate. Whether you are a farmer,<br />
stay at home mom, rancher, seed salesman, communications director, whatever your title is you know<br />
that there are always things to do. But what a great feeling it is when you can finally check something off<br />
the list. No we don't ever get to the end of said list, but each job we check off is one less thing we have<br />
to save for tomorrow.<br />
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These last few weeks have been very crazy, but I am so thankful to know that we can check harvest<br />
2012 off our lengthy list of things to do. But who am I kidding, I can't wait for harvest 2013 to begin!<br />
Well, I guess I better get back to my own never-ending list of things to do.<br />
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Until next week,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="Jessie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-63513246677910660552012-10-10T12:23:00.000-07:002012-12-05T12:24:12.430-08:00I'm Back =)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hopefully the news that I'm back with Red River Farm Network excites you, I know I'm excited! So much has happened since my last post, so I think it would be appropriate if I updated you on some of the highlights.<br />
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<b>1. 86th Little "I" Queen</b> - You may be wondering what Little "I" is and why being the queen is such a big deal, let me explain. The Little International, better known as Little "I", is a longstanding tradition on the campus of NDSU. Saddle and Sirloin was started to develop an interest in animal husbandry on campus, and our biggest event of the year is the Little International. Individuals can show pigs, sheep, cattle, dairy and horses in a showmanship competition. They spend a little over a month working with their animals, so that they look good and behave well in the arena. Little "I" is similar to what you would see at any county or state fair. You can also cure a ham and give a speech as part of this event. We also put on a livestock judging contest for 4-H and FFA members and select an individual who has made an impact on agriculture in North Dakota and honor them as Agriculturist of the Year. It is a busy weekend that takes an entire year to plan. I was elected the 86th Little "I" Queen, which means that I was in charge of lining up media interviews, decorating Shepperd arena, organizing a coloring contest at the mall and lots of other fun activities. It was a great experience and a great way to round out my time at NDSU.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had the privilege of serving with Little "I" princesses Sarah Schaaf and Katie Dressler</td></tr>
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<b>2. College Graduate</b> - Speaking of NDSU, I am now an alumni...just saying that makes me feel old! I accomplished my goal of graduating in three years. To top it off I even graduated as a cum laude! My time at NDSU flew by so fast and even though I don't miss the all nighters spent studying for tests or having five papers due the same week, I miss my friends. One of the highlights of my college career was being involved in different organizations and meeting people I never knew before college. Given my job description, it's safe to say that I will likely run in to some of these individuals in the future, so it was fun getting to know them while at college. I've been back to Fargo a couple of times since graduation, but I am looking forward to many more trips to spend time with friends...in fact I'll be back this weekend cheering on the Bison football team!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents are glad all of their children have FINALLY graduated from college!</td></tr>
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<b>3. Bader Rutter & Associates Intern</b> - If I graduated in May and it's October, you may be wondering what I have been up to. I had the opportunity to spend the summer in Milwaukee, where I interned for Bader Rutter & Associates, a public relations agency. I worked on the Dow AgroSciences and Mycogen Seeds accounts and had the opportunity to write news releases, newsletter articles, help plan some events, learn about social media monitoring and lots more! My colleagues were great and very willing to teach me new things and show me ways to improve my writing. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to intern for such a great organization. But my summer wasn't just about work. I got to see a lot of Milwaukee, met some great friends, went to several Brewer's games and went to Chicago for the first time. Living in Milwaukee was a great experience but there is no question that I am a farm girl! By the time my internship was over I couldn't wait to trade my office chair in for a tractor seat, my high heels for a pair of cowboy boots and my dress clothes for jeans and a t-shirt. When I got home I immediately started making up for lost time. There were calves to be halter broke for our sale, dry bean samples to grade, trucks to dump at the elevator and lots of combining to be done! Needless to say there wasn't much down time.<br />
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<b>4. Big Kid</b> - People have been joking that I'm a big kid now, and I guess they are right. I started full-time with RRFN a week ago and I'm so excited for this opportunity. They are letting me work from Grace City, so I can still help on the farm after work and on weekends (I think my dad likes that!). Jason has graciously allowed me to have my office in his house and the view isn't too bad. Today I can watch the guys combining corn across the road. My daily commute is also shorter, my previous drive time to Grand Forks was about four hours round-trip Driving to my office now takes less than 10 minutes, I'm not quite sure what to do with all that extra time! Just kidding, my job and my dad are having no problem finding things for me to do! It is such a privilege to work for such a great company, and I look forward to keeping you up to date on the latest happenings. You will also be able to read my writing in the pages of the Northarvest Bean Grower and North Dakota Soybean Grower magazine. And you can expect weekly blog posts, yes I said weekly!<br />
I think that just about covers everything. I look forward to seeing you at a tradeshow or a meeting. As always, feel free to contact me: jessie@rrfn.com</div>
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Until next week,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jessie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtcr-bWk2jz-KelfkiGdr1yVKRPbqPSM5FiRV8SN5Kzwe8371OYev5DX-kd8utT3JPXmu21C0oBpRB6l4Mm4heuXICok0q0pE1qb_THwpwmVvdDtwtkJjEPy13JvTH5YlbTow8gi5Hmo/s1600/sign.png" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5983116055672789187.post-71446256904389826942011-09-14T20:07:00.000-07:002012-11-30T20:08:05.029-08:00Hello Productivity...Nice to Meet You<span style="background-color: white; color: #5d5751; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When I was little my mom used to say “Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do.” I always hated when she would say that and prayed that eventually that saying would not be true. For those of you who don’t know me, let me fill you in on a little secret: I am very strong willed, or at least used to be. It’s not my best quality, but I hope that now that I am older that quality doesn’t appear quite as often. However, tonight that quality has most definitely surfaced…I am doing anything and everything but writing this paper.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #5d5751; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #5d5751; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I have a paper to write for my applied agricultural law class and to be honest I DON’T WANT TO! I spent a long but amazing day at Big Iron and would love nothing more than to read a book or watch some TV…but I can’t. This paper is due on Thursday and I am not ready for that deadline. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #5d5751; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #5d5751; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It is interesting to me how even though there are things in life that we don’t want to do, we do them anyways. As a parent I'm sure you don’t always want to wake up at 6:30 in the morning to get your kids on the bus, as an employee I'm sure you don’t enjoy staying at the office until 10 working on a report…but you do it anyways. Why? Because it’s a part of life. As much as I hate to admit it, my mom was right…sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to. The good news: it won’t kill me to write this paper and the sooner I start the sooner I will be done. Goodbye procrastination…hello productivity!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07002305779156912577noreply@blogger.com0