Gotta go long, Gotta go hard, Gotta go fast

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. 
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.
Lessons Learned on the Slopes
5 second rule: 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!
7 hour car rides are the best: 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?'
Gotta go long, gotta go hard, gotta go fast: 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!

The good lookin' Gush-Topp gang...minus Amanda.

Becca, myself and Jessica when we were much younger!

Jessica, Becca and myself. So blessed to have these two as friends!

I had a blast hitting the slopes last week, and I can't wait until the next Topp-Gush adventure! 
Until next week,

Year in Review

With 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.

Top Three Lessons from 2012

1. Take chances. 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.
2. It's okay to compromise. 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?
3. Love life. Life is too short not to enjoy. No matter what the circumstance, I have learned things could always be worse. 

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!

Until next year,

A Team, An Industry Worth Fighting For

Friday 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!

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.

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.

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.

All I wanted for my birthday was a Bison victory...my wish came true!!

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!

Until next week,

Change is a Good Thing

Did 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!

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 A View from the Topp.

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.

So maybe we can all agree that change is a good thing...sometimes!

Until next week,

Adventures in the Windy City

Last 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.

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.

Exploring the Windy City with two of my favorite ladies

If you are ever in the Chicago area, here are a few of my recommendations.

1. Navy Pier - 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.

Navy Pier Ferris Wheel

2. Pizza - 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. 

Giordano's serves the best pizza I've ever had!

3. Millennium Park - 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.

The 'bean' in Millennium Park

4. Garrett's Popcorn - 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.

5. Magnificent Mile - 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!

The Magnificent Mile is definitely more fun with dad's credit card =)

6. Sprinkles Cupcakes - 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.

Stop at Sprinkles to satisfy your sweet tooth

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.

So blessed that my friend Sarah came
from Milwaukee to spend the day with us

P.S. 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...stay tuned!

Until next week,

A Season of Thankfulness

Turkey, 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.

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.

1. Family and friends. 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.
2. Red River Farm Network. 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.
3. Agriculture. 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.
4. Freedom. 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.

As you prepare to spend time with family and friends, take time to reflect on what you are thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Don't Let Fear Get In The Way

On May 21, I embarked on the scariest journey I have taken so far...living 720 miles from home for 12 weeks. 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."

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.

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 84 days fly by...not that I was counting or anything!

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.

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!

Until next week,