Tribute to a Great Man

This posting is in tribute to a great man - Howard Young - Aug 7, 1929 - May 14, 2010

Farmer’s Creed

I believe a man’s greatest possession is his dignity and that no calling bestows this more abundantly than farming.
I believe hard work and honest sweat are the building blocks of a person’s character.
I believe that farming, despite its hardships and disappointments, is the most honest and honorable way a man can spend his days on this earth.

I believe farming nurtures the close family ties that make life rich in ways money can’t buy.
I believe my children are learning values that will last a lifetime and can be learned in no other way.
I believe farming provides education for life and that no other occupation teaches so much about birth, growth, and maturity in such a variety of ways.

I believe many of the best things in life are indeed free: the splendor of a sunrise, the rapture of wide open spaces, and the exhilarating sight of your land greening each spring.
I believe that true happiness comes from watching your crops ripen in the field, your children grow tall in the sun, your whole family feels the pride that springs from their shared experience.
I believe that by my toil I am giving more to the world than I am taking from it; an honor that does not come to all men.

I believe my life will be measured ultimately by what I have done for my fellow man, and by this standard I fear no judgement.
I believe when a man grows old and sums up his days, he should be able to stand tall and feel pride in the life he’s lived.
I believe in farming because it makes all this possible.

Thank you for teaching us how to be stockman, and passing on your love of agriculture.  Rob, Deanne, Crystal and Stacy.

Whats on your Reading List?

Magazines seem to be the bulk of the reading material at our house, although I do like to take the time to read a trashy novel once in a while.  The selection of reading material varies with the season.  January - March the stack is high with Bull Sale Catalogs.  First you scan them before the sale to possibly find your next heard sire, then you re-read them following the sale to see who made what selections and what brought the high prices.  April - June the stack changes to Farms Sale flyers and land auctions.  Rob is on the hunt to purchase a few pieces of farm equipment now that we have broken up some pasture and need to become "farmers".  We have had offers to use equipment from friends and family, but our little ole tractor can only pull about 12', so I guess we'll keep on looking.  There doesn't seem to be much time for reading during the summer, but that is when the show entry books arrive and we start making plans for the fall.  September - December are the Female Sale Catalogs.  Again you could be at a sale almost every day, if the work at home would get done by it's self.  Now scattered throughout the year are the magazines that we subscribe to. 

The Simmental Country  http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/2757f0ac#/2757f0ac/1

The Angus Journal  http://www.angusjournal.com/

The Western Producer  http://www.producer.com/

The Cattleman Magazine  http://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/

and the latest addition to our stack is Lot One

http://www.liveauctions.tv/

So if you have time for an over night visit this summer, one or more of these magazines will probably be on the night table in the guest room.  If you are not currently subscribing to them you can always check them out online.  I hope that we get some rainy days over the weekend, so I can catch up on my reading.

Buying a BBQ- the priceless part

Last summer I had thought about getting a new BBQ or for our American friends a grill.  The time never seemed to workout so we got by with the one that we had.  This spring when the weather warmed up we were back to BBQ time.  I love my food cooked on a BBQ, as it is usually fast, involves meat and means less dishes to wash.   All positives as far as I am concerned.  I started to look around and then the flyers started coming with all the sales.  There just seemed to be too many choices.  My cousin has one that I really liked (she often invites us for BBQ's.......I mean she calls and says they are wanting to have steak and will I come over to cook and I can eat and bring Rob too.)

So I called to see what brand her's was.  It was instantly crossed off the list as I was not spending $1200 on a BBQ.  Last weekend Stacy and I did some scouting around and I had narrowed it down to 2.  The following day I was back in town to make my purchase.  It cost a lot less than $1200, was on sale and is now on my deck waiting for the rain to stop so I can use it.  Your probably all wondering about the priceless part.  That would be the $25 that I paid to take the assembled model out of their lovely display. 

 $25 is priceless to me and a marrige saver not having to wait or to help my husband try and put it together.  I'll start practicing with it soon and it will be well broke in, just in time for the Annual High Country BBQ following the Drayton Valley Livestock Show on June 12.  All our cattle friends are invited to drop by.  Now I just have to work on a few other outdoor assecories.

Visitor From Down Under

In February we had the opportunity to host Clare Bruggeman from South Australia. Clare is the first recipient of the Matthew George Young Stockman http://www.angusaustralia.com.au/Marketing/Angus_eNews/enews_09-09-30/MatthewGeorge.htm award.

She is spending several months touring farms and ranches across Canada. We were the first farm visit for her. Once Clare returns to Australia she will be asked to give a presentation on the management practices of beef herds in Canada.

It is always interesting to hear how others manage their operations. Although we may live on the other side of the world we often find that many of our challenges are the same. Whether it is drought, market conditions, consumer awareness or the high costs of production. We really enjoyed our week with Clare and are looking forward to visiting her stud when we travel to Australia in September for the World Simmental Congress.

During her week with us she wanted to experience what a Canadian lifestyle was really like. Now that took a bit of thinking.

What really is Canadian?

We decided to start with beverages first. Nothing like a Caesar. The next night was Pumpkin Pie. She is the first Australia visitor that liked this as a dessert not a vegetable.

Crystal requested Pumpkin Pie for her 25th Birthday

Of course there were Canadian Beef steaks. We also had to try Perogies, Pancakes and Maple Syrup along with bacon. I defiantly think this was a better breakfast than her toast and Vegemite. During the week we also took her to a Hutterite colony, a smaller dairy farm, the local auction market, learned about chuckwagon racing and to one of the largest Simmental bull sales in Canada.  We hope that she enjoyed her time with us and look forward to visitng the land down under this fall.

A Perfect Year

2010 has gotten off to an interesting start. Our calving season went very well. The decisions that we make last spring look very promising to start with. The calves stayed healthy and are growing well. Breeding season is almost half over and seems to be keeping us busy. The farmer that we have been purchasing our feed from has decided to make some changes, so that has brought changes for our operation. We have been anticipating the forecasted rain for this week. My silent prayers were for 40 hours of rain, not sure we even got 40 minutes of light drizzle. So this morning when I came across this blog entry http://cdycattle.blogspot.com/2010/04/american-farmer-paul-mobley.html of Crystal's I was reminded of why we do what we do. It's our passion. A rancher / farmer never has a perfect year......but that is what we are always striving for. The picture book of Paul Mobley's  is a good reminder of where we come from and why we do what we do. I'm glad he took the time to help us show the world our side of the story. This is a favorite quote of mine 'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a life.' ...Maya Angelou I am so thankful that Rob, Crystal, Stacy and I have been able to make a life through raising livestock. Now as our children have become adults, we still have a connection.

Calgary Stampede Jr. Show 2006

Drayton Valley Sr. Showman 2005

 Our farm keeps us in daily contact. It is a passion that we all share. Each of us brings a different skill and together we are striving for that perfect year. I hope that each of you come closer than ever to your perfect farming year.

National Volunteer Week

This week is National Volunteer Week.  Now you may be wondering what this has to do with Agriculture, but there are so many activities that take Volunteers to run.  Just think of all the work that is done in your area by Volunteers.  When our girls were showing we were often on the working committee or would just lend a hand on the day of the actual event.  Recently Rob has served as the President of the Alberta Simmental Association and I am helping with our local Agriculture Society's Livestock Show. Volunteering has always been in our family.  Crystal and Stacy were both on the Executive of the Jr. Simmental Board and Stacy served as the National President.  They took part in 4-H through all levels.  There is always a need for a Volunteer, whether it is for an hour at an event or playing a larger role, all Volunteers are appreciated.  Maybe one of these organizations in your area could benfit from a few hours of your time

• Agriculture Society's
• 4-H Clubs
• Livestock Shows
• Ag Service Boards
• Rodeo Clubs
• Beef Producers - Agriculture Advocates
• Breed Associations

If you know a Volunteer in your area, make sure that you thank them this week.  By the efforts they put into their organization they are helping to keep the Agriculture world active.  Here is a poem to salute them.

Ode To A Volunteer

Many will be shocked to find

When the day of judgement nears

That there's a special place in

Heaven set aside for volunteers.

Furnished with big recliners,

Satin couches and footstools

Where there's no committee chair

No group leaders or carpools.

Telephone lists will be outlawed

But a finger snap will bring

Cool drinks and gourmet dinners,

And rare treats fit for a king.

You ask,

Who'll serve the privileged few

And work for all they're worth?

Why, those who reaped benefits

And not once volunteered on earth.

Here are a few of the Agriculture Associations that we have Volunteered

• 
  
  4-H - Local, District, Regional and Provincial Committees
• 
  
  Breton & Drayton Valley Ag Society's
• 
  
  Young Canadian Simmental Program
• 
  
  Alberta Simmental Association
• 
  
  Canadian Simmental Association - Foundation Auction
• 
  
  World Simmental Congress - 2006

Learning Opportunity

This week we get the opportunity to attend the Tiffin Conference at Lethbridge College.  Our daughter Crystal is one of the speakers. 

We are excited to hear all of the speakers but also to have a quick visit with Crystal.  Although we have to take time from our jobs and rearrange our schedules, I know that this day will be more than worthwhile for many reasons.  It seems like the one thing that we don't do enough of in the Agriculture business is learn from one another.  We find a management practice that works well enough and just continue to do the same thing year after year.  If we want the world to think of Agriculture as a business, then we need to start acting like the CEO of the company.  Personal development and life long learning are two key factors of most successful corporations.  I encourage all agriculture producers to schedule one learning opportunity into their farm's business plan.  With todays' technology you can attend conferences or seminars through a web cam connection,  like the one I participated in by the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, physically attending a conference or workshop or through distance learning.  If you have a link to a agriculture learning site, we would love to have you share it with us.  If you would like to see the speakers at the Tiffin Conference, here is the Tiffin Conference Brochure. It's never too late to start learning.