Learning to Do, Doing to Learn

Yes, those lines of the FFA motto do come in handy, and they very accurately describe this past week! I had the chance spend the week at home with my family and my best friend, who just happens to be a farmer in north-central Ohio. Given my non-farm background, I always find it an interesting experience when I help him out with farm work, though I use the term "help" relatively lightly. Luckily, my friend has a way of letting me mess up (without scolding me for it) and then helps me figure it out on my own. While I normally want the answers up front and careful instructions, he refuses to give in to my pleading and makes me try it before he'll answer my questions.

Between unloading hay wagons, moving equipment and running parts to whichever field the problem creeped up in; I had the chance to learn. And not just in the "sure, I suppose I learned something" kind of way. No, this was learning through experience. Or rather, learning by screwing it up a few times and then finally getting it (sort of) right. My favorite kind of learning.

I learned....
That wearing gloves while unloading hay is usually a good idea.
That practicing welding for an hour will lead to getting flash burn on your arms, and it hurts.
That I need to wear ear plugs when groundhog hunting or I'll be partially deaf the rest of the day.
That when remodeling an old farmhouse, it's best to get over your fear of spiders. Very quickly.
That driving a big standard truck is really not that bad, unless someone else wants to drive on the same road.
That knowing the current prices of corn, soybeans and fat cattle are essential to carrying on a good conversation with local farmers.

And most of all, every time I'm out on the farm I learn just how much I love and appreciate production agriculture and the industry that clothes, shelters and feeds our world.

God Bless,

Hannah

Making a Methane Biodigester

As we prepare to finish up the quarter with lesson plans and such, I've been spending a lot of time on the internet searching for teaching resources. One I've found that would be awesome to do with students is making a methane biodigester. Just imagine how cool it would be to have a few of these out in the shop!

God Bless,

Hannah



Kids + Veggies = ?

When I was little, I hated vegetables. In fact, I'm pretty sure that at one point or another I hated food all together (my poor mother...). Luckily, I grew out of my pickiness and now insist on having at least one type of veggie per meal.

The reason I take this trip down memory lane is because I found this video under a category titled "kids and vegetables", which happened to come up along with "funny cats". Needless to say, I couldn't resist. (On either of those titles, to be honest.) Thus, I present to you "Crazy Over Vegetables - Cool Tunes for Kids":

God Bless,

Hannah

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food

Maybe it's just because I'm hungry, but it food is on my brain today. And even more than that, the fact that people don't know where their food comes from. The other day, I ran into an obnoxious lady in the grocery store who was telling her son that he shouldn't eat eggs because they are dead baby chickens. Now, just imagine what will happen when that young man grows up and carries on his life with the notion that eggs are dead chicks! It's amazing what people will, and won't, believe about their food. You would think that something that is so vital in our lives is something that we'd actually want to learn about.

Apparently I'm not the only one who sees the problem. The United States Department of Agriculture has an initiative called "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" that is a perfect example of a proactive approach to this problem. Such a great way to promote agricultural awareness! Check it out below.

God Bless,

Hannah

Farmin' in the Hood

Check out this amazing story!

God Bless,

Hannah

Rain Rain Go Away...

With farmers across the country looking to get into the fields and put seeds in the ground, the weather has been less than cooperative. While we here in Ohio are definitely feeling the pain of the rain, others in the south and midwest have been even less fortunate. It serves as a harsh reminder that we must count our blessings, regardless of how awful the outlook seems to be. We must always be thinking of those out there whos struggles are greater than our own. With the massive flooding plaguing the agricultural industry, our thoughts and prayers are needed now more than ever. One of my favorite farmers prayers is written by J.M. Kenyon:

 

A Farmer's Prayer

Make sunrise early and the sunset wait;
make summer early and the winter late!
Allow the crops to sprout and thrive
and give me hope to man the drive.

Please let the raindrops fall at night
and keep the ground firm in daylight.
Make all my callouses a bit more tough
when times are hard and life gets rough.

Please, bless the plow that parts the furrow
and earth in which our hopes shall burrow.
Supply enough of sweat and blood
to drive on when bad luck should flood.

Dear Lord, I ask you bless the seeds
and spare them from the choke of weeds.
Help them arise from in the ground
and bear enough to go around.

But most of all...

Please keep my spirit in your palm
my will intact, my body strong,
my family close, my faith untaxed,
my heartbeats tight, my laughs relaxed!

God Bless,

Hannah

Sheep 101

Growing up I loved raising and showing market lambs. Although I can't say I always loved getting up early to feed, walking them every day or cleaning pens every night; I loved the idea of taking a lamb and turning it into a healthy meal for a consumer. I cared for my animals intently and went to great lengths to ensure their comfort, security and health. For my family and I, raising lambs was a "learn through experience" enterprise. For instance, the first time we tried shearing on our own was less than a beautiful sight; however, we learned and kept at it until we were able to shear for shows with ease.

Showing one of my lambs at the Ashland County Fair

While our methods worked just fine, these days there are a lot of resources out there for sheep beginners. One I found that has a ton of resources is http://www.sheep101.info/201/index.html. It has details about hoof trimming, washing, lambing and even uses for wool. Point being, with so many great resources out there for just about anything, those of us in agriculture can not only encourage others to try agricultural enterprises, but we can give them the resources to do so.

With these resources, we can encourage others to educate themselves and agriculturalists. What a cool way to advocate for our industry!

God Bless,

Hannah