Blog

Ten years, 2,500 stories, thousands of photos, hundreds of blogs — and it’s just the beginning of my career as an agricultural journalist.

As I write this, fatigue built up during the early morning and long days at the county fair still threatens to take over my body and force me to take a long nap.

It is no secret that I have a deep passion for anything related to vocational agriculture, especially when it comes to 4-H and FFA. This year I was lucky to have the opportunity to once again serve as a judge for the Leadership Development Events at the 92nd Indiana FFA State Convention.

As you may be able to tell from the title of my blog, this is another part in my 4-H saga with my kids and the struggles and successes we have been experiencing. This story revolves around my two children who are showing sheep and having to complete the YQCA, which is also known as Youth for the Quality Care of Animals certification.

When someone says they like to travel, it usually means to another country or to states known as travel destinations. When I say I like to travel, it usually means I like to travel throughout Indiana and visit the hidden gems that the state has to offer.

Throughout the past several months, individuals have picked up hobbies to help pass the time during quarantine and adjust to restrictions and regulations that were put into place to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Is it normal to write an entire blog about a waffle grilled cheese sandwich? Probably not. But here I am, daydreaming about Indiana Dairy’s signature grilled cheese sandwich.

This year is a big one for me and my family when it comes to 4-H and county fair season. Not only do I have two kids in 4-H this year, I also have three kids in Mini 4-H.

Summer is just around the corner, and soon kids will be home from school. Whether that means working on 4-H projects, tending to gardens or running in the yard — youth will be spending more time outside.

I grew up in the agriculture industry. To this day, I am grateful for my parents giving me that opportunity.

We moved to a new home in the country, and I love how the home welcomes us. On sunny days the iris buds wave hello. We have a parade of violets and dandelions.

To the moms who stay up late worrying about your children. To the ones working hard, who can barely keep their eyes open because they’re so tired. I see you.

It’s the time of the year when spring is arriving and settling in throughout Indiana and the weather can be bright and sunny one day and snow is on the ground the next day.

I recently covered the Indiana 4-H Foundation’s annual meeting. Hearing others share their 4-H stories took me back. I closed my eyes and it was like I was 12. My heart was racing. I was so excited to pick out my projects for the year. “Maybe I’ll try cake decorating. I wonder if I could learn to sew? I’d love to write a poem.”

Growing up I was always interested in photography and how the process of bringing a photo to life from film took place. However, my career passion belonged to writing.

I know I have written about my kids in the past, but I wanted to share what I believe to be an uplifting story revolving around one of them. My youngest daughter, Reagan, who is about 4 1/2 years old, has a genetic condition called Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy, and because of this, she has some immune system issues.

This is my crash course in chicken rearing. Our farmhouse came with nine chickens, and we’ve fallen in love with them. But we’re learning a lot along the way.

Like several other individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, I picked up a few new skills and interests during the quarantine period. Some of my new hobbies include painting and coloring inspirational pages from adult coloring books to send to family and friends to help lift their spirits.

Years ago there used to be a show on MTV called “The Buried Life,” where four friends traveled around the country marking items off their bucket list of 100 things they wanted to do before they died. Some of them were crazy, such as be on “Oprah,” do a sketch with Will Farrell and help deliver a baby.

It won’t be long. Soon planters will roll across fields, starting the journey that makes or breaks our farmers’ hearts, backs and bank accounts.

To say the COVID-19 pandemic turned everyone’s worlds upside down would be an understatement. Personally, from having my children doing school from home and my youngest not being able to go anywhere for months due to a compromised immune system, my world was a bit topsy-turvy for several months.

After going through a few weeks of snow, snow and more snow, along with freezing temperatures, Mother Nature has finally graced Indiana with some beautiful weather and sunshine. My kids have been taking advantage of the gorgeous weather all week by going outside and playing when they get home from school — after their homework is done, of course.

Spring lambing season is a common thing on our farm since we have been raising sheep on our farm for several years now. Since we don’t have that many ewes, my dad and son, Graham, when he is at his grandparents’ house, helps prepare the barn for birthing season.

I’m always looking for a new television series or a good movie to watch when I have a bit of downtime, which is hardly ever, or once the kids are in bed. Don’t get me wrong, if Purdue basketball or football is on, then I’m definitely watching that, but sadly they don’t play 24/7.

It’s not every day that dreams come true, but one of my biggest dreams is about to be a reality — we bought a farm!

As I’m sure most of you know, I am a person who has to always be on the go, or busy with one project or another, and rarely can sit still. However, sometimes my always on the go and checking one more thing off my list can cause problems.

It’s been a few years since I’ve attended one of my favorite events — the Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry. At first it was because I was at the hospital welcoming my babies into the world. But this year it is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I’ve been around the agriculture industry since the day I was born and I’ve learned so many lessons over the years, many good ones that impacted the life path I took, but also several lessons that were hard to understand.

This week I’ve been blown away by the quality of presentations at the National No-Tillage Conference.

As happy as I was to say adios to 2020 and ring in the new year, I knew that the problems of 2020 haven’t just disappeared with the drop of a ball.

I recently had the honor of talking with an amazing young lady who started a project to remember a friend and longtime supporter of Indiana FFA.