Lifelong Lessons From...Cows!!

Grandma: "This article made me think of you"

I couldn't have said it better myself, Grandma. I was going to share an article from PR Daily about things to know when you start your career, until Grandma found this in The Land titled "Everything I need to know, I learned from watching cattle." The paragraphs below are ideas and excerpts from the article. I take no credit for them but wanted to share. 

"Come into the world with a bang"

If you've ever helped a calf be born, you know what it is to do that job while the mother is standing up!  Her calf comes plopping to the ground, shakes his/her head, looks around and starts the adventure of life. Step into your world, make yourself known to those around you and leave your mark on the world.

"Stand on your feet as soon as you can, and look around."

It's amazing to see animals born. They come into the world much like we do, and are standing on their own four feet within minutes of their birth, wondering at the new world around them. Stand up in this world as soon as you can, carry your share of the load, and always be aware of what's around you. You never know where that cow path is going to lead you.

"Beller until someone gives you what you need."

You always know when something's up with the cows. Remember that the squeaky wheel gets the grease--while tempering that with the notion that sometimes the squeaky wheel gets removed, also.

"Chew on things awhile first."

Cows have 4 stomaches. They chew and swallow and regurgitate it. We call this chewing their cud. They do this 8 hours a day for about 30,000 chews/day!!

"Use your tail to swat the annoying things away."

We need to learn to rid ourselves of those people and things that bring us down. Swat them away and move on!

"Stay with the herd."

Cows know it--we should too. There is strength in numbers. If you've ever tried to move cows you know that you need to keep them together. When one strays, you lose them all. They stick together no matter what. Not like the move "Mean Girls."

"Adapt to your environment."

As long as your essentials are taken care of, the cows are relaxed and grateful. Even though it takes a lot of work on our part to make sure that happens daily, the cows are happy with water, food and a place to lay down. Take a lesson from their humble attitude. Home is whatever and wherever you make it.

"Keep your backside to the wind."

When the world turns colder, cows know to stand together and against the wind. When your world turns cold, turn your back to it so it doesn't blow out the flame from your spirit; keep on walking, and stick with those whom you know will be there with you always!

Visit The Land to read this and other great articles. This particle article is written by Karen Schwaller, Table Talk. 

Just Another Day in Paradise

Finally! We have all of our crops in...well we still need to cut hay, but corn is in and soybeans are in!

Talk about a huge relief. 

However, it was no easy feat...

You know how you dislike the rain driving into work? Ya, farmers hate this much of it too. 

Saturday was spent cleaning up our field that is at the end of the Cannon River. If you know where the Welch Ski Village is, our field is at the bottom. Needless to say it has flooded 4 times in the last 2 years. So, Saturday I was down helping Dad pick up the last of the junk that floated into our field. Luckily they had already cleared out the full size trees last week..with a log chain! 

On the bright side, the flood brought so much sand in I could go barefoot. On the downside, sand is really bad to grow crops in and I ended up getting something in my foot (I think I might soon have to visit the doc, duck tape didn't fix this one, and I did try!)

While we were picking up tree branches (these are not stick size hunks of wood!)..my cousin was tilling and smoothing out the clean areas. As you can see...it didn't go very well to begin with. He learned pretty quick to stay away from the edges...Luckily after ONLY about 4 attempts of backing up and pulling, shortening the chain and repeating, we got him out! 

We finished picking up branches and sandals and picnic tables...ya floods do a lot of damage..he finished digging, then our other neighbor came and planted soybeans. And ya know what? It rained that night and hasn't quit since! We got it all done just in time. 

My favorite part of the whole day (besides walking around barefoot like I was 5) neighbors kept stopping by to ask for favors and see how it was coming. They would help us pick up a few things and then be on their way after a short visit. That's what I love about growing up in this lifestyle. We were on a mission that day to get all of it done. Working as fast and hard as we could. Efficiency was our middle name. But, that didn't stop us from enjoying the time spent together and catching up on our neighbor's lives, asking how their elderly parents are or whatever else it may be. Just another reminder to enjoy every moment in life, and you will never work a day in your life.