The Eighth Day

Many of you have probably seen the Superbowl that Dodge did by now.  But I wanted to share the words that went with it and a small tribute to some of the farmers I know.

And on the 8th day God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker!". So, God made a farmer!

God said I need somebody to get up before dawn and milk cows and work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board. So, God made a farmer!
I need somebody with strong arms. Strong enough to rustle a calf, yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry and have to wait for lunch until his wife is done feeding and visiting with the ladies and telling them to be sure to come back real soon...and mean it. So, God made a farmer!
God said "I need somebody that can shape an ax handle, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire make a harness out of hay wire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And...who, at planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty hour week by Tuesday noon. Then, pain'n from "tractor back", put in another seventy two hours. So, God made a farmer!
God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop on mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor's place. So, God made a farmer!
God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees, heave bails and yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink combed pullets...and who will stop his mower for an hour to mend the broken leg of a meadow lark. So, God made a farmer!
It had to be somebody who'd plow deep and straight...and not cut corners. Somebody to seed and weed, feed and breed...and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk. Somebody to replenish the self feeder and then finish a hard days work with a five mile drive to church. Somebody who'd bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who'd laugh and then sigh...and then respond with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life "doing what dad does". So, God made a farmer!

 

Thank you Paul Harvey and to everyone around the world who every day lives this life. 

 We am so blessed to be one of those people, together with my husband and daughters and their partners.  Our daughters are the fourth generation and we can only hope that there are many more in our family.

                            

 

Farmers Day

Foar more great pictures like this go to www.bellaspur.com

Happy Farmers Day.  Back when we were kids this meant that we had a day off of school and often it would also be the local 4H Achievement day.  Now it is hardly recognised.  No parades, no special recognition to the one sector that makes sure that we have food to put on our tables each day.  Canadians should be thankful for the relatively inexpensive , high quality food that they have access to.

Average share of household spending on major items

1969

Food - 18.7 per cent
Shelter - 15.2 per cent
Clothing - 8.1 per cent
Transportation - 13.1 per cent
Personal taxes - 13.5 per cent

2009

Food - 10.2 per cent
Shelter - 19.8 per cent
Clothing - 4 per cent
Transportation - 13.7 per cent
Personal taxes - 20.2 per cent
Source: Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada figures show that, in 1969, food ate up 18.7 per cent of spending in the average household. By 2009, that number had fallen to 10.2 per cent.
That 18.7 per cent level in 1969 put food at the top of the household spending list, ahead of shelter, personal taxes, clothing and transportation. Fast forward four decades — a period of time that also saw an increase in Canadians' average incomes — and the percentage of household spending devoted to food has fallen to near the bottom of that.

Although 10% of your household income is a lot of money, don`t think for a minute that all of that is going to the farmer. According to the Canadian Wheat Board, a loaf of bread that might cost $2 or $3 in the grocery store generates about 13 cents for the wheat grower.

In 1933, Americans spent 21.9 percent of their income on their food at home. Today, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, they spend just 5.7 percent on food eaten at home.
 
Compared that to the rest of the world: The United Kingdom 8.6 percent, Canada 9.2 percent, Australia 10.7 percent, Germany 11.4 percent, Hong Kong 12.2 percent, France 13.5 percent, Japan 14.2 percent, Israel 17.7 percent, South Africa 19.8 percent, Chile 23.3 percent, Mexico 24.0 percent, Brazil 24.7 percent, Russia 28.0 percent, China 32.9 percent, India 35.4 percent, Philippines 36.7 percent, Egypt 38.1 percent, Morocco 40.4 percent, Indonesia 43.0 percent, Kenya 44.9 percent, and Pakistan 45.5 percent.

So today if you know someone that produces food, why not take them for lunch or at least say THANK YOU.  For those of you that are the producers, take a moment to reflect on the impact that you have on families, locally and around the world. 

Tonight they may be eating beef that was raised from your genetics , along with potatoes and vegetable that were grown by your neighbors. 

Diamond in the Rough

A diamond is usually recognised as the symbol for a 75th Anniversary.  2012 marks the year of the Diamond Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth.  Today May 26 also marks the 75th birthday for my dad - Chuck Groeneveld.  We think he is a diamond in the rough.

Now he may not look quite as young as he did a few years back, but with all the of the things that he is active in, most probably would not think of him as being 75.  Last week he started his summer project of attending over 20 parades though out Alberta with the Alberta Beef float.  In between the parades he will also take the Alberta Simmental Booth and the Alberta Beef booth to many functions including the 100th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede.  Dad has been a volunteer at the Calgary Stampede for over 40 years.
His interests over the years haven't changed much.  These are the things that he loves:

• Family
• Beef
• Kids
• Cats and dogs
• Talking about beef, his grand kids and his cats and dogs
• Volunteering
• Alberta Beef Producers
• Calgary Stampede
• and thinking up his next project.

He certainly is one of a kind.  A true diamond in the rough. Growing older is a privilege, growing up is optional.  We hope that he keeps being Chuck, Uncle Chuck, that Beef guy or how ever you know him and we hope he never grows up.  Happy 75th Birthday Dad and wishing you many, many more.

It's Better to Give than Receive.... the rest of the story

Like many families I am the gift buyer.  Shopping, unless it is for a new heifer or bull, it one of Rob's least favorite things to do.  So when it is time for baby, wedding,  or Christmas gifts I usually take care of it.  Not that I mind, I like to shop and I think my girls learned that from me. 

Once the girls became adults Rob thought that the gift giving could stop.  But I like to spoil them and so they still usually get things for holidays.  With Crystal living so far away we miss out on things like going for lunch or having a girls day.  Stacy and I do get to do this once in a while.  So I thought I would send her a treat for Valentines Day.  This was her gift.

Thanks to the staff at Delish Bakery and Coffee Shop for making these custom cookies. I really wanted them to say I Heart Simmi's but thought that might not go over well at the AAA ( American Angus Association).  So here is the rest of the story..... for the record there were some questions on the AAA Facebook page as to whether they were CAB (Certified Angus Beef). 

They really are SimmBeef! 

 I am glad that everyone enjoyed them.  If you want your own BEEF cookies here are a couple of places to purcharse a cookie cutter.   For a cow or for a steer. 

It really was better to give this gift.  Glad everyone enjoyed them.



It Must Be Love

Happy Hearts Day.  From what I have observed and read from some of the other farm / ranch women, most Ag boys are not hopeless romantics.  Asking them to put on a suit and tie and taking you out for a fine dining experience (more than one fork on the table), showering you with roses and candy is a little bit out of their element.  But they do have their own special way of showing you how much they care.

I remember growing up how my dad would bring my mom Crocuses when they first appeared in the spring.  They are still one of my favorite flowers......maybe after a winter like we have had I just want to see any sign of spring.

Rob's not really big on flowers either but there are signs that we both really must care about each other.

How many wife's would go for this if it wasn't love:

• Baby calves on their new kitchen floor
• Turning the garage into a calving barn (the first winter we owned our place and had no barn)
• Walking across the freshly washed kitchen floor to get medicine out of the fridge.
• Transferring the reno / holiday budget to the new bull / tractor budget.

How many husbands would go for this it it wasn't love:

• Spaghetti or Mac n Cheese more than once in a week during calving season
• The lovely sight of you with no makeup and toque hair
• Baking consisting of a bag of Oreo cookies
• The piles of laundry that decorate our bedroom

In any relationship its the little things that make a difference.  I do love flowers, but the small things matter the most.  Enjoy your Valentines Day and I hope that everyone has someone special in their life to think about today. 

If you are dining out order a great steak or prime rib and show how much you love BEEF!