Young Farmers

Data, Dirt and the 100-Year Legacy: Inside Rib-Arrow Dairy’s Tech Revolution

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:08:23 GMT

In the heart of Tulare, Calif., where the Central Valley sun can push the mercury past 110°F and the mud of a rainy season can challenge even the sturdiest boots, Tyler Ribeiro is conducting an experiment in mediocrity-free farming.

Ribeiro is the fourth generation of his family to steward a dairy legacy that spans over a century. Since 1994, the family has operated at the current Rib-Arrow Dairy site, but the operation today looks vastly different than the one his grandfather managed. With 1,500 milking cows, 1,000 Holstein-Angus crosses for beef and 800 acres of farmland, Rib-Arrow is a high-octane intersection of traditional animal husbandry and cutting-edge silicon.

Tyler Ribeiro

(Rib-Arrow Dairy)

“I am not one that likes to settle for mediocre,” Ribeiro says, standing in the middle of a barn designed with the precision of a wind tunnel. “We are pushing the systems we have, and we’re learning as we go. I haven’t got paid enough to tell you all the good things and none of the bad — we’re going through it as it is.”

(Rib-Arrow Dairy)

The Cow-Centric Blueprint

Walking through Rib-Arrow, it becomes clear every piece of steel and every line of code is centered on the cow’s perspective. This philosophy starts with the physical geometry of the barn. Ribeiro’s father and grandfather designed the entrance to the milking parlor to be narrow, widening as it opens up.

“It’s like being in a tunnel behind a big rig,” Ribeiro explains. “If you can’t see what’s in front of the truck, you’re hesitant. The way this is set up, as they’re walking in, they can see around the cow in front of them. It helps their load time speed up dramatically.”

Comfort is equally engineered. Along the top of the barn, an array of fans and cooling soakers manage the California heat. But these aren’t just on-off switches. The system uses eye-to-eye sensors. If a cow isn’t in a specific area, the cooling grid shuts off to conserve resources. In a closed-loop nod to sustainability, the water used to soak the cows and clean the lanes is captured from the cisterns used to cool the milk.

(Rib-Arrow Dairy)

Seeing the Unseen: The Locomotion Revolution

Perhaps the most significant bite Rib-Arrow has taken in recent years is the implementation of Nedap SmartSight vision technology. For a hands-on dairyman like Ribeiro, admitting that a camera can see better than a human eye was a hurdle, but the data has been undeniable.

“A lame cow used to be something you could see — she was limping,” Ribeiro says. “But the camera showed us we have problems with feet long before there is a limp. It’s like wearing the same running shoes for a year on concrete. That subclinical pressure on the joints, ankles and knees starts a decline we can’t visually pick up until it’s too late.”

The impact is most visible in first-lactation animals. These bulletproof heifers often hide discomfort, but the vision tech caught the subtle crooked gait that leads to chronic issues. At the start of the program, lameness prevalence in first-lactation cows was 6%. Today, overall and severe lameness rates have been slashed to just 2% — one-third of what they were.

Precision Management in the Cloud

The vision tech doesn’t work in a vacuum. It is paired with Nedap activity monitoring collars and the Cow Locating system. This tech stack allows Ribeiro’s team to not only receive an alert that a cow needs attention but to pinpoint her exact location in the barn. This data flows into NedapNow, a cloud-based platform that provides real-time insights.

Ribeiro has even refined the software’s parameters to match the biological reality of hoof healing.

“We found that a 31-day hold time wasn’t enough for a hoof to grow out and heal. We’ve moved to a 41-day sweet spot. If she’s still flagging after that, we know we need to look deeper.”

This level of precision changes the economic math of the dairy. Ribeiro points to a high-producing cow the system flags frequently.

“The guys ask why we keep bringing her in. I tell them, for a cow like that, I’ll pay $7 a month in maintenance to keep her in the herd and keep her comfortable,” he says. “We’re aiming for old cows — high-producing, healthy veterans.”

(Rib-Arrow Dairy )

Automating the Dirty Work

While the cameras watch the cows, other automated systems handle the grueling maintenance tasks that traditionally lead to labor fatigue. Rib-Arrow has used HoofStrong automated foot baths since 2015. Running five days a week and rotating between Formalin and a proprietary copper/zinc formula (LQA), the system is entirely self-contained and self-cleaning.

“It doses via schedule to keep the potency where it’s supposed to be, and then pressure pumps the manure and product out at the end of milking,” Ribeiro notes. “It keeps my people away from the chemicals and ensures the protocol is executed perfectly every single time.”

Even pest control has gone high-tech. Ribeiro uses a three-pronged approach to flies: baits, parasitic wasps and an automated flash-spray system. The sprayer, triggered by sensors as cows pass through, provides full-body coverage without wasting product or requiring an employee to stand in a cloud of spray.

The Human Element and the Future

Despite the heavy lean into automation, the human element at Rib-Arrow remains remarkably stable. Most of Ribeiro’s outside crew has been with the dairy for over a decade. The technology hasn’t replaced them; it has empowered them.

“The system shines a light on things you’d look at and say, ‘She’s healthy,’” Ribeiro says. “Now, we have to educate ourselves on what the data is actually saying. My guys have tablets in their Kubotas. My breeder has a tablet. We’re all looking at the same real-time truth.”

Ribeiro, a self-described “computer geek and data nerd,” isn’t finished. He’s already planning to install Nedap’s pass-through ID system in the parlor to replace older RFID tech that struggled with “noise.” This will pave the way for Nedap’s SmartFlow milk meters, closing the loop on individual cow performance data.

As Rib-Arrow Dairy moves toward an average lactation of 2.7 and beyond, the goal remains the same as it was 100 years ago: healthy cows and a sustainable business. The difference now is that Tyler Ribeiro has a digital eye in the sky and a mountain of data to ensure the next 100 years are even better than the last.

“I hate it when people show up and say, ‘You’re doing a great job,’” Ribeiro concludes. “Show me where I’m missing. Show me the holes. That’s what this technology does — it shows me where I need to work.”

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Discover the Passionate Young Visionary Leading Holstein Association's Future

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:10:58 GMT

Lindsey Worden’s journey through the dairy industry is one marked by growth, passion, and a relentless pursuit of betterment. At just 40 years old, she was appointed as the chief executive officer of the Holstein Association USA, a position that perfectly highlights her lifelong dedication to dairy farming and purebred genetics.

Worden’s story begins on a family dairy farm in New York, where her early childhood was steeped in the world of agriculture. Her father became very interested in learning more about western style of dairying and so the family made the bold move to New Mexico, which was in a growth mode at the time. This move transitioned them from milking 65 cows in the Northeast to 1,400 cows in the southwest. This transition exposed Worden to diverse farming techniques and further fueled her interest in the dairy industry.

Passion for Youth Development
Her involvement with youth development began at an early age in New Mexico. Worden remembers helping with the classification of their cattle, to which Worden fondly recalls getting to take the day off school to help with that.

“That’s really how I started getting interested in dairy,” she shares. “I love the genetic side of things.”

Heavily involved in 4-H, Worden participated in showing dairy heifers, pigs, and horses. Her family supported her and her brothers by building a barn to house their show heifers, thereby nurturing her budding interest in animal husbandry and community involvement.

“4-H was my sport,” she enthusiastically recalls.

Transition to College and the Dairy Industry
Worden’s desire to continue in the dairy sector influenced her educational pursuits. Through connections, she was introduced to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she was drawn to dual majoring in Dairy Science and Life Science Communications.

During her college summers, Worden undertook roles that further deepened her understanding of the industry. From assisting in her parents’ dairy dispersal that had them selling their New Mexico dairy and their cows that had them going cross country again to dairy in central New York to interning at the University of Wisconsin Extension and the Holstein Foundation, each experience prepared her for a career at the Holstein Association.

“To think back, I was very fortunate to experience the dairy industry in different parts of the country,” Worden shares, noting during college she was able to visit high genetic farms that she only dreamed of visiting.

Leading the Holstein Association USA
Little did Worden know that her last internship in Brattleboro, Vt., would set the stage for her future career that has spanned nearly 18 years with the Holstein Association. In her new role as CEO, she faces the challenge of leading an organization that has significantly impacted the dairy industry. Her approach focuses on encouraging innovation, supporting membership and advancing genetic solutions.

“I first started less than 20 feet away from where I’m at now,” she shares. “I firmly believe everything happens for a reason and as I kind of look at how I’ve migrated through my life, I feel fortunate to have met some wonderful people along the way. Those people believed in me and gave me great opportunities. So, I just feel really lucky. I I love what I do, I love working for membership organization. I’ve got about a real passion for the registered cattle, and I’m excited about the future of the industry.”

While Worden believes her life roadmap can be inspiring to other young dairy kids, she says, two things stuck out on what helped lead to her success.

Advice to Young Dairy Enthusiasts
Worden acknowledges her success stemmed from her willingness to embrace challenges and take risks. She encourages young dairy enthusiasts to step outside their comfort zones and seize opportunities, even if they feel unqualified. Her own move to Wisconsin, though daunting, led her down a path that shaped her life’s trajectory.

“Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. It was a big deal for me to move to Wisconsin from New Mexico, a totally different culture. I didn’t know anybody. This was really before cell phones were something that teenagers just had. My parents drove me up there and dropped me off, and I had a calling card. There was a phone on the wall of the house, and I didn’t know a soul. And, if I hadn’t taken that internship and did something very uncomfortable, my life would be a totally different trajectory,” she shares, encouraging others to attend activities, go to conferences and put themselves in situations where they meet new people.

“Also, say yes to opportunities,” she says. “Even if you don’t feel like you’re ready, or you don’t think you’re qualified, and you’re scared. I say, do it.”

Impact of Mentorship
Acknowledging the impact of her mentor, John Meyer, Holstein Association’s previous CEO of more than two decades, Worden emphasizes the importance of compassion and people-centric leadership. She aims to incorporate these values into her role, recognizing that the industry is as much about people as it is about cows.

“John’s been a tremendous mentor for my entire career,” she notes, sharing that she has learned a great deal from him. “John always cared about people, whether it’s our employees or our members. He is so personable. He took time to learn people’s names and learn their stories. And when he talked to people, you could see that he truly cared.”

Future of the Dairy Industry
Under Worden’s leadership, the Holstein Association continues to embrace genomics and genetic advancements, propelling the breed forward. In the past two decades, Holstein cows have seen remarkable improvements in milk production and quality, thanks to dedicated dairy farmers focusing on economically vital traits.

Worden points out that over the last two decades Holstein cows have produced 12% more milk, 25% more fat and 19% more protein.

“This is incredible,” she says, noting that farm management comes into play, but so does genetic improvements. “The focus that dairy farmers have placed on trying to breed better cattle, using the best bulls that they can and really focusing on those economically important traits is incredible.”

Embrace Change and Seizing Opportunities
Looking ahead, Holstein Association is committed to sustainability and feed efficiency, exploring new traits like residual feed intake. Worden notes that dairy producers are eager to employ these tools, underscoring their adaptability and forward-thinking nature.

“It’s great to just always have that sounding board of directors that says, ‘this is our reality,’” she says, noting the conversation in the board room is linked back to what’s going to move the needle for those that milk cows every single day of the year.

Worden may have only had one employer since college, but her passion and dedication for dairy could easily fill a barn. Her leadership at the Holstein Association USA is paving the way for innovative practices that will benefit dairy farmers and the industry for years to come. Through her inspiring story, Worden illustrates that with readiness to embrace change and seize opportunities, great achievements are possible.

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An 11-Year Old's Idea Sparked An Idea That's Grown Into an Annual Toy Drive Giving Out 13,000 Toys Each Year

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:02:29 GMT

The season of giving for Reed Marcum doesn’t just happen during Christmas. For this 19-year, the season of giving is year-round.

“I came up with the idea back in 2016 when I realized that I wanted to help put another toy under someone’s tree that year,” says Marcum, who’s now a Pittsburg County, Oklahoma 4-H Ambassador.

At just 11 years-old, this 4-H member had an idea: Collect toys and give them out to children in his local community.

“He came home one day, he talked to me and his stepfather, and he said, ‘Mom, I want to help some kiddos in my class for Christmas,” remembers Angie Miller, Reed’s mother. “I said, ‘OK, what can we do?’ I told him he could do a little work, and he was like, ‘No, I want to give out toys.”

Reed Marcum at 11-Years-Old

(Angie Miller)

Started Out As a Small Idea
That first year, Reed’s small idea turned into a huge success, giving out around 5,000 toys at his stepfather’s law office. Little did this family know that was just the start of something grand.

“It was something we didn’t expect to do, especially have that much success and community reaction. They really loved it. We did not expect that,” Reed says.

J Michael Miller Toy Drive
What’s called the J Michael Miller Toy Drive has grown each year, even during COVID.

“What happened was COVID hit, and we had told Reed that it just can’t happen that year. And he said, ‘It can happen, Mom,’” Angie says.

And it did. With the help of the community, Reed moved the toy drive to Ragan’s Auto, a decision that helped this drive grow even more.

“He spoke with Mr. Ragan, and he told Reed we can do this. They moved all their cars out by noon that day. We moved in around 1:00, and we would set up all night long, and then we open the doors, they would start driving through,” Angie says.

The annual J. Michael Miller Toy Drive gave out 13,000 toys this year.

(SUNUP)

Within a couple years, they even outgrew that space. Last year, Reed moved his toy drive again, this time, to the McAlester Expo Center.

“We are orchestrating with the local Expo Center here in McAlester for people to come, and it’s just an amazing venue for what we’re doing here. And it’s an amazing process that we have to set up and do,” Reed says.

Biggest Toy Giveaway Yet
On Dec. 7,2024, Reed had his biggest giveaway yet.

“We collected a ton, but we were able to give out around 13,000 this year, that day,” Reed says.

What started as one small idea has brought generosity through toys that touched 13,000 lives this year alone.

“It’s a year-long process,” Angie says. “The entire year we’re looking for toys, collecting them and getting donations from people. But when the day gets near and close, it really starts to ramp up.”

Cars line up 3 to 4 miles long for the annual toy drive.

(Bryan Fuller)

Recipients Come From Surrounding States
Since 2016, this toy drive has given away more than 64,000 toys, an annual event that people wait in line for hours to receive. And as the event grows each year, lines of cars that now stretch three to four miles long, all with kids eager to receive toys that year.

“I was working the line this year, and we did see license plates from Texas and Arkansas. That’s normal,” says Greg Owen, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma 4-H educator. “I would ask the people in the line, ‘What was the experience like?’ And this year, I heard the comment ‘It was literally perfect.’”

Vital Volunteers
But for Reed, this wouldn’t be possible without volunteers, all 100 of them.

“They can help us move the toys from point A to point B when we’re holding them or in help, give the toys, help, walk the line, be dressed up in costumes to help entertain the kids, give out small items that go through the lines. The kids aren’t just sitting there bored,” Reed says.

Loss Turned Into Love
Reed’s toy drive has become a beloved experience attracting thousands of people from miles away. But this kid who has brought so much joy to others has also seen heartache along the way.

“He had the most difficult year of his life his junior year,” Angie says. “We were moving to Ragan’s that year, and on July 28, he lost his grandmother that he was extremely close to.”

Reed’s brother, Sergeant Miles Tarron

(SUNUP)

Not even four months later, Reed suffered another devastating loss, just weeks away from his toy drive in 2021.

“We were notified by soldiers that Reed’s brother had passed in the military,” Angie says. “I talked with Reed and I told him I didn’t think we can do the toy giveaway. And he said, ‘Mom, brother would want us to do the toy giveaway, so we’re going to do the toy giveaway.’”

And he did, with an entire community rallying around Reed as a way to give back to one of their own who had done so much.

“They helped us get it over to Ragan’s. We got it all set up. And then they just helped us all the way through it,” Angie says. “After that, Reed had already created the Hudson Strong Foundation for a little boy that had cancer. And they provided some help with the costs of the storage buildings. Then after his brother passed, Reed created the Sergeant Miles Tarron Foundation, and that supports his toy giveaway, his backpack giveaway and his silent auction. His brother always had a hand in supporting him and sending money. So, now the Sergeant Miles Tarron Foundation and the Hudson Strong Foundation support those storage buildings.”

Reed has nine storage buildings, all bursting with donated toys each year. But this success is also because of one lady Reed deeply admired: his 4-H leader, Miss Donna Curry.

“After he lost his brother, June 28, 2022, he lost Miss Donna Curry, who was like a second mother to him, who got him into 4-H, and she supported this project thoroughly,” Angie says.

Today, Reed doesn’t just give away toys. Miss Donna had another idea two years before she died: to give out pajamas, socks and undergarments to those in need.

“We named it Miss Donna’s Closet. And when they drive through the toy giveaway, they get the pajamas, they get socks, they get undergarments all through the toy line. They get snacks. And so when we lost Miss Donna, Reed promised at that point that he would carry her tradition on.”

Reed is Now Inspiring Others
Reed’s heart of service is always on display, and it’s now inspiring others.

“It’s literally the goal that we try to set for our 4-H members. We hope that they’ll develop a level of mastery in their project work, and for Reed, his project has been civic engagement,” Greg says. “And when they get to that point, we’ll hope we hope that they’ll utilize that to teach and impact others to follow in their footsteps, which is exactly what Reed has done.”

“That’s the best thing with 4-H; they always want you to strive to be the best version of yourself. And that’s something this project really does every year,” Reed says. “It’s not just staying the same or leveling out each year. It’s getting bigger and better than the last.”

True Gift of Giving
Reed’s one idea in 2016 continues to spread joy year-round, as it showcases the true gift of giving.

“Little 11-year-old Reed could never see such a thing happening, especially when I was so young and couldn’t even talk to a group of ten people, let alone do something like this. I never thought it would reach this,” Reed says.

“I always share this. That came from the idea of an 11-year-old child. That shows the impact of the 4-H program. That shows the impact of a student that wants to give, that wants to make a difference and wants to make a positive impact on their community,” Greg says.

Reed Accepts Donations Year-Round
In order to make the annual toy drive possible, Reed accepts donations year-round. If you’d like to contribute to the annual toy drive or Reed’s other service projects, you can donate here .

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Why Students Should Apply for the 2025 Summer Veterinary Internship Program Now

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 22:08:35 GMT

The Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine (ISU CVM) is seeking veterinary student applicants for summer 2025 swine, bovine and poultry internship positions.

Will Fombelle, DVM, is a veteran of several internships spread across his undergraduate studies in animal sciences and also into his veterinary school education. During the summer of 2012, he completed the Swine Veterinary Internship Program (SVIP).

“While in school, I took on the attitude of completing as many internships as I possibly could in order to not only narrow down my career choice but also my future employer. By participating in these programs, I was able to mold my interests into the fields of swine medicine and production which greatly accelerated my vision of where I chose to start my career in veterinary medicine at Carthage Veterinary Service,” he said in a previous PorkBusiness.com article .

Participants in the SVIP collaborate with a mentoring veterinarian or team of veterinarians at a production system or practice. Students are immersed in modern swine production and health daily and take the lead on designing and executing a field trial with guidance from mentors, ISU CVM said on its website . Students also take part in diagnostic test sampling and implement the principles and methods of swine diagnostic collection, testing and interpretation.

“Even if your university has classes well into the summer, you have a study abroad trip planned, a wedding or another reason you might not be able to commit to the entire 12 weeks, go ahead and apply,” ISU CVM encouraged. “Just note your availability in the section where it asks about conflicts. We can’t guarantee we can accommodate all schedules but if a student is selected we will try our hardest to be flexible and make it work.”

Applications are due Dec. 1, 2024 (late applications are accepted but higher priority will be given to those received by Dec. 1).

Apply here.

“These summer internships are the first exposure for students to the real world, and we should do our best to make each student’s experience a positive one,” Fombelle wrote.

Learn more here.

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9 Rules Parents Throw Out the Window During Fair Week

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 21:14:03 GMT

This story originally appeared in August 2023. It recently placed third in the Ag Communicators Network’s Contest for humorous writing and it received an honorable mention in miscellaneous writing in the Livestock Publication’s Council’s Contest.

We try to be good parents by setting boundaries for our kids. When it’s all said and done, we hope we raise decent humans who are kind, make good choices and respect others.

But let’s be real.

During fair week, that all goes out the window. We are parenting to survive. There are no blue ribbons for “Mom of the Week” or “Dad of the Day,” so do what you gotta do to get through the hot calves, grumpy barrows, whiny goats, bored lambs and tired kids.

To protect the innocence of all parents involved, here’s an anonymous list of good parenting rules that go out the window during fair week:

(Farm Journal)

1. Eat healthy meals and snacks.

Fair week requires fuel – and fuel that’s “sealed” from shavings and dust. Oh sure, there are probably many pre-packaged nutritious snacks out there. But kids don’t like them. They are the snacks that live on for years in the snack tub and get overlooked for Cool Ranch Doritos, Fruit Snacks and Oreos. The reality is – even if you don’t buy those unhealthy snacks for your kids – they find them. There is power in numbers and these kids know how to come together when it comes to food and find the weakest links.

(Farm Journal)

2. Don’t talk to strangers.

Although we typically may not encourage our kids to strike up conversations with strangers, when they are in the livestock barn with their animals, they are encouraged (and praised) for engaging with fairgoers in an attempt to help them learn more about livestock and agriculture in general. “We encourage kids to ‘agvocate,’” one mom says. “So much for ‘don’t talk to strangers.’”

3. Take a bath before bedtime.

After a long day at the fair, there is perhaps nothing more important than getting a good bath before bedtime. But when your kids are little, one mom adamantly believes swimming in the hotel pool counts as bathing. You’ve only got so much time and energy, pool “baths” are lifesavers and help build friendships along the way with buddies at the pool.

(Farm Journal)

4. Don’t drink caffeine.

A lot of stock show kids are also athletes who avoid caffeine throughout the year...except for fair week. During fair week, some parents do crazy things like let their 9-year-old try her first Mountain Dew at 10 p.m. after the show ends because they know they aren’t going to be able to get her to bed for hours yet. May as well make those last hours of the day more fun for all!

5. Tell your parents where you are at all times.

Many parents agree they give their kids more freedom at the fair because they are surrounded by “their people.” Stock show parents look out for each other’s kids. It’s truly a family, one mom points out, and sometimes you end up getting more than your fair share of “children” at your pens. This is a good thing, so soak it all in while you can and be glad they chose to hang out near your family.

(Farm Journal)

6. Get 8 hours of sleep.

The stock show life isn’t about getting a lot of sleep. It’s about doing everything you can to make your animal’s life better. That means early mornings and late nights, with little time for sleep in between. Parents, let that guilt ride when your kids don’t get a lot of sleep because they will recover at some point. In the meantime, equip yourself with extra patience.

(Farm Journal)

7. Abide by screen time limits.

Your oldest child is getting ready to go into the ring and your youngest starts to complain that he is bored. As much as we know we shouldn’t do it, it’s acceptable during fair week to extend the screen time and hand them your phone. A quiet kid means a parent who gets to watch their sibling show. Sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.

(Farm Journal)

8. Don’t accept bribes.

Bribing may be used from time to time to get little ones to behave during fair week. Although not normal practice, bribes of dipping dots or golf cart rides help parents who may be close to losing their mind survive a crazy show week. One mom who admits to the occasional bribe says, “The more kids and animals we have, the more desperate we get at times!”

9. Don’t miss curfew.

For the older kids, many stock show parents admit they modify curfew a bit during the fair because it’s often the only time they get to see some of their friends. However, one mom says, “We want our son to have fun spending time with his friends that he only sees at the fair after working hard all day long, but it’s a fine balance as we want to make sure he gets enough sleep so he can work all day and function again the next day.”

Despite what you think of this list of parenting rules that go out the window during fair week, I truly believe stock show parents are some of the best around. Part of being a good parent is knowing when to flex and when to stand firm. Stock show kids have a pretty intense schedule filled with commitments and responsibilities. Fair week is a great opportunity to loosen the strings a little, focus on building friendships and letting things like hygiene and nutrition go...for just a few days.

Photos submitted by Ellen Homann, Blake and Wravenna Bloomberg, Sarah Horner, Shelia Grobosky, Doug Hankes and Jennifer Shike.

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No, He’s Not a Buffalo: Why We Can’t Avoid Their Questions Anymore

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 18:59:59 GMT

This story originally ran in September 2023. It recently was awarded second place commentary in the Livestock Publications Council’s Contest.

“Is this a buffalo?” asked a young 20-ish fairgoer as he stood before the Grand Champion Market Steer in the Hall of Champions at the Illinois State Fair.

He looked at me – dead serious – awaiting my response.

To my credit, I didn’t laugh. I quickly and calmly answered, “No, this is a steer. But he certainly has fluffy hair, doesn’t he?”

As the fairgoer wandered off to their next adventure, I stood there in a bit of shock. A buffalo? Is our society so removed from production agriculture that they don’t know the difference between bison and cattle?

Maybe.

This is just one of many questions that we answered while our family was in the Hall of Champions at the Illinois State Fair last month. My son was fortunate to exhibit the grand champion market barrow. The grand champions are housed in the Hall of Champions for an additional eight days after the animal wins the show. During this time, the Hall is open to the public.

Each year, the exhibitors are reminded they may have to answer questions that seem rather obvious to kids who show livestock and are raised on a farm. They are encouraged to carefully answer fairgoers’ questions because of the important window these kids are to production agriculture.

Now please understand I’m not trying to make fun or joke about this. These are real questions from real people who have a real impact on how we raise livestock.

I will be the first to admit if I was standing in the Baseball Hall of Fame, I am sure I could come up with some ridiculous questions of my own. But my lack of knowledge about baseball isn’t going to hurt anyone’s lives. I can’t say the same thing about the general public’s lack of knowledge about livestock production today.

And if you are looking to argue these animals in the Hall of Champions don’t represent real-world production agriculture, that’s fine. But those animals and more importantly, those kids, represent an incredible opportunity for us to stand behind.

How would you answer some of these questions we fielded?
• Is this market barrow going to have babies?
• Do your sheep have broken legs? Is that why they are wearing leg wraps?
• Is this steer pregnant?
• Will you be able to keep semen from your barrow to raise another one like him?
• Where do you buy the “outfits” for your goat and does he wear a different “outfit” every day?

But the biggest question I got, time and time again, was this one: What happens to these animals after the fair?

If I’m being fully transparent, I later found out we were encouraged to answer ‘it’s up to the buyer’s discretion,’ which is true. But I didn’t answer that way (I must have been distracted when they discussed that suggestion in our meeting). Instead, I had many hard, but good, conversations with fairgoers of all ages about why our kids raise market animals and the important role these animals play in providing food – good, nutritious protein – for people of all ages.

I spent about 30 minutes with one family with two older parents and two daughters – I’m guessing in their 20s and 30s. The older daughter had never touched a steer before, so I took her over to pet one of the steers. She was beyond elated. Then she asked me the question. And darn it, I knew it was coming and tried to divert her, but I couldn’t.

As I carefully answered her question to the best of my ability, I noticed her eyes welling up with tears and before I knew it, mine were a little misty, too.

“It’s hard,” I said. “And it really doesn’t get easier. Our kids are out in the barn from sunrise to sunset with their animals. The older our kids get, the more time they spend out there because they love it so much. But they understand the important purpose of their market animals – and we provide them with a good life. They receive top veterinary care, nutritious feed and a high-quality environment.”

“How do your kids do it?” she asked.

“They love animals, and they love providing care for their animals. They consider it an important responsibility,” I said. “But they also have had to learn that these production animals don’t live forever. We focus on providing them with the best life possible while they are here – like all farmers do.”

She smiled back at me and thanked me for answering her questions. I thanked her for asking them.

I understand why I wasn’t supposed to just say, “They go to the packing plant.” I realize I could have found myself in a predicament with some people. But I couldn’t just stand there and avoid the hard questions they were asking. We need their questions. We need people to feel comfortable enough to come straight to us. We need them to trust us to tell it to them straight.

Did I explain everything perfectly? Probably not. But I felt responsible to try and hopefully, I helped them see one example of how much farmers care about the animals they raise to feed the world every day.

I am proud to say all the champion animals were donated to the University of Illinois Meats Lab to be harvested and the meat then donated to food banks across the state. That’s a life full of purpose – a life that matters. I’m proud our kids get to play a small role in feeding the world. I hope they can continue to grow in their knowledge of livestock production and build on their empathy skills to be able to convey what they do with those far removed from production agriculture.

It wasn’t lost on me as I listened to kids and parents answer questions in the Hall of Champions that we need to embrace and support youth in livestock programs across the country. Let’s arm them with knowledge and help them know how to answer those tough questions so they can be prepared for the “buffalo” ones we never saw coming.

Read More from Jennifer Shike:

9 Rules Parents Throw Out the Window During Fair Week

There’s Just Something About Stock Show Friends

The Company You Keep Matters

The Stock Show “Prize” We Need to Talk More About

Unpopular County Fair Opinion

A Blue-Ribbon Approach to Security

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 18:06:19 GMT

As summer still lingers and we move into fall, fair and expo season will be in full swing across the country. I am lucky enough to call the North Carolina State Fair my “hometown fair” and look forward to it coming around every October! It’s a great time to appreciate our community, and of course, the agricultural efforts that support it all.

Unfortunately, activist groups continue to seek out large gatherings as opportunities to garner attention for their messages against animal agriculture, and fairs and expos are no exception. We advise any upcoming events to have a plan in place and be prepared for protests or disruptions from local groups or potentially even larger ones like Direct Action Everywhere or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

If we’re using animals for any purpose – whether for entertainment, food or anything else – animal rights activists do not support it or believe it can be done humanely and responsibly. Targeting deeply rooted agricultural traditions, activists believe that 4-H and FFA along with fairs and livestock auctions “are teaching young people to exchange their compassion for money.” This can seem rather backwards to us that are familiar with these programs that teach kids responsibility and care for their livestock and poultry. However, it is important to keep in mind the true intent of animal rights activists – which is the end of animal agriculture entirely and does not include upholding positive animal welfare standards.

If you are involved with a livestock project, either as an exhibitor, parent, or event organizer, here are some steps to take to mitigate the impact of activist groups this fair season.

Avoid the urge to engage. As members of the ag community, I know how passionate we all are about these programs and how strongly we want to defend them when we see them being attacked. However, every time we engage with activist content in-person or online – even if we are expressing our disagreement – we are helping it get more attention. Let the activists remain in their echo chamber and resist the impulse to comment or share. You will not change their minds and your energy is much more wisely invested in sharing positive stories about your experiences and what you’ve learned from being involved in animal agriculture.
Understand their real intentions. Some activist groups are trying to encourage youth to give up their project animals in order to spare them from being sold in auctions. It’s important to understand that considering doing this will give them credibility and more content they can try to use against 4-H, FFA and fairs. Make sure you are having conversations with kids throughout the process of raising project animals about their important role in ensuring food security and our important responsibility to raise them ethically.
Be prepared for online attacks. Posting anything on social media about showing livestock or animals being used for food might bring out the trolls - either on your personal page, your club/chapter’s page or your fair’s page. Have a comment policy already in place and be empowered to delete inappropriate comments and ban harassers.

The Alliance has many additional resources on understanding and preparing for activism on our website: www.animalagalliance.org . If you are dealing with a situation involving activists and could use our assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@animalagalliance.org. We’re wishing you a safe, educational and fun fair season, full of blue ribbons!

Read More:
No, He’s Not a Buffalo: Why We Can’t Avoid Their Questions Anymore

How Social Media Sensation NY Farm Girls Defied Odds to Expose the Truth About Farming

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 20:28:05 GMT

The NY Farm Girls have become a social media sensation. With nearly 645,000 followers on TikTok , along with more than 171,000 followers on Instagram and Facebook , the NY Farm Girls are taking all of social media by storm.

“Social media can reach millions of people by the touch of a button,” says Claudia Leubner. “It’s been really cool we’re able to reach this many eyes in the world to try to share dairy farmers are not evil people.”

NY Farm Girls consists of three sisters: Evelyn and Claudia Leubner, who are both in their early 20s, and their sister Jojo Leubner, who’s still in high school. In addition to the social media piece of the business, the girls are seeing significant growth on YouTube with 87,000 subscribers. Their goal is to simply share life on the farm.

“We are a fourth-generation dairy farm. It’s a partnership between my dad, his sister, his brother and our two cousins, and we’re over 100 years old now, says Evelyn.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by nyfarmgirls©️ (@nyfarmgirls)

With a mix of dairy cattle, row crops, hay and an agritourism pumpkin farm, life on this New York farm is in constant motion. The busy schedule creates long hours of work, but it’s also allowed each of the girls to uncover their niche.

“I’ve always loved working with animals,” says Evelyn. “I actually went to SUNY Cobleskill for animal science, because of my love for animals, and I honestly thought I would never come back to the farm.”

While Evelyn didn’t plan on returning home, she lived in Georgia after college. That’s until she realized home is exactly where she wanted to be.

“I’m pretty much doing her checks, vaccinations help with the preg checks on Mondays,” says Evelyn. “Pretty much everything cows and some calves stuff, I’m your girl.”

Being born into the Leubner family means you’re also born into life on the farm. Each of the girls started on calf feeding duty since elementary school. From an early age, those farm chores also gave them a taste for what they did and did not want to do.

“After I fed calves for that long, I realized it’s not really something that I was too passionate about,” says Claudia.

Instead, Claudia found a better fit on the row crop side of the family business. After attending the University of Nebraska, Claudia came back with an even deeper love for grains.

‘I’m helping with planting season harvest season, everything in between. It’s been really fun to start to learn about our crop operation” she adds.

And Jojo? Well, as a high schooler, she still works on the farm part-time.

“She goes to school during the day, comes home and does chores every night,” says Evelyn. “She doesn’t really know what she wants to do yet, with her future, but she doesn’t have to yet.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by nyfarmgirls©️ (@nyfarmgirls)

While the sisters work together on the farm, it’s their collaboration on social media that’s helping plant new seeds of opportunity for their business.

“When you come up to upstate New York, you’re going to see a lot of lakes and hills,” says Evelyn. “All of our fields are full of rocks, but it’s just really beautiful up here. We’re definitely a lot more than New York City.”

Do you want to read more stories of inspiration? Find the entire list of “Grit with Grace” stories that showcase the heart of rural America.

The three sisters are working daily to showcase New York agriculture, with a focus on dairy. Each of the girls will be the first to tell you that they couldn’t do it alone, and social media has actually drawn them even closer.

“Having this relationship together and doing things like this, and we’ve always just become much bigger, stronger bonds together,” says Claudia.

“And we’re really good at holding each other accountable. Like if Claudia is slacking on something or I’m slacking on something, we let each other know and we don’t get offended anymore,” says Evelyn, with a smile.

“Not anymore,” Claudia jokes back.

The bond the NY Farm Girls trio has built came despite the harsh reality of social media.

“Sometimes it’s not even the extremists. It’s also other farmers or people you know in real life that are the ones that are sending negative comments to you,” Claudia says. “You kind of just have to brush it off, because we have an end goal in mind,”

“You kind of have to learn to ignore it,” adds Evelyn. “In the beginning when we started, we really took the comments to heart and impacted our mental health and kind of almost made us not want to do social media anymore.”

Even as they battled the comments and negativity that comes with social media, the sisters refused to quit, as their motivation was seeing constant social media posts plagued with misinformation.

“It’s a huge passion of ours to teach consumers about agriculture, because they’re the ones buying our products; we want them to trust us,” says Claudia.

“All those touchy subjects people don’t really want to talk about, we dive into all of that,” Evelyn adds.

Reaching the “Moveable Middle”

With a variety of skills and personalities, the girls no longer focus reaching those who are anti-dairy. Instead, they target what they call the “moveable middle.”

“We know these people don’t know where their food is coming from. They think it’s coming from the grocery store,” says Claudia. “So we want to be able to target them and share exactly where their milk is coming from that they’re buying.”

What they’re doing is working.

“I just did a post the other day on Facebook about how there’s no antibiotics in milk, ever. And it reached almost 500,000 people because of how many people shared that post,” says Evelyn.

Her post was part of an ongoing effort during the entire month of June, which is also known as June Dairy Month. To play off the dairy theme, the girls decided to do a series of videos busting dairy myths.

“When you hop online and you see the negative connotations with artificial insemination or antibiotics, you’re obviously going to believe that because at the surface level, it might seem bad to you. But once you go to the source and see how it’s actually done, you can feel a lot better about where your food is coming,” says Claudia.

While the NY Farm Girls brand has grown since they started on social media, the motivation hasn’t wavered.

“We just want to reach as many people as we can and teach them about agriculture,” says Evelyn. “It just really comes down to that.”

Meet NY Farm Girls’ Dad

Each one of the NY Farm Girls is very visible on social media, but a less familiar face on the farm is one that has been a constant stream of support behind the scenes.

“My dad is a great teacher and very patient. You need a lot of patience with me,” jokes Claudia. “He’s always been very supportive of what we want to do on the farm, in our business and everything.”

Maybe the reason their dad has been such a great teacher over the years is because farming is what Tim Leubner knew he was meant to do.

“I never left. I just loved it ever since I was a little kid,” says Tim. “I couldn’t wait to get out of school and go farm.”

While Tim was hesitant when the girls first launched into social media, his tone has evolved over the years. He has seen the power of social media, and the benefits of showing real life on the farm. But in the beginning, that hesitation was rooted in concern. As for a father, his biggest worry is always the safety of his three girls.

In years past, they were getting threats constantly [on social media],” says Tim. “It was like that for about a year or so, and there people were really going after them. That was kind of scary.”

From animal activists to other social media users, the threats have calmed down and the situation has improved.

Tim’s concerns have also subsided and now his addiction to the farm could be turning into a new addiction for social media.

“I constantly am making little videos here and there, and then I’ll send it to Claudia or Evelyn, and they’ll make a video. We’ll come up with different ideas that might work, and I have mostly good ideas,” Tim shares, with a smile.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by nyfarmgirls©️ (@nyfarmgirls)

How NY Farm Girls Brand Continues to Grow

NY Farm Girls is a business that continues to grow. The girls even launched their own clothing line recently, adding another chapter to the story of the brand.

As Tim watched the NY Farm Girls business grow, he’s proud of the fact his daughters are strong and independent. The girls’ drive and determination didn’t happen by chance, they’re traits that are a product of how Evelyn, Claudia and Jojo were raised.

“Don’t ever tell like a kid they can’t do something,” says Tim. “Always tell them it’s possible and just give them confidence and let them go.”

In their 20s and late teens, the determination and confidence is paying off as the NY Farm Girls continue to gain followers and fans. The side business is also helping these fourth-generation farmers secure a future for their dairy farm.

“We had no idea it would take off like this,” says Evelyn. “We started it just to share pictures of cows and calves and maybe teach a little bit about farming. And it took us a while to grow.”

“We obviously didn’t think that it was going to get this big,” adds Claudia. “We are so thankful we’re able to reach the amount of people we do, because at the end of the day, it’s not really about your follower count or how many likes you get. It’s that you are getting that information out there.”

Closing in on 1 million followers and fans across all sites is no easy feat, it’s the product of hard work that’s required constant grit and grace.

Carving Out Convenience: Young Cattle Producer Serves Up Success With Vending Machine of Meat

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 20:25:13 GMT

Walk into the Green Grass Cattle Company & Mercantile in Weston, Mo., and you’re immediately greeted with a slice of nostalgia. From a recently acquired feed store, to a storefront featuring beef, home goods and apparel, it’s a family-run business with solid rural roots.

“I’m the fifth generation in my family to take this on,” says Tim Haer, when asked how long his family has been farming.

He may be a fifth-generation farmer, but he’s now part of what’s become first-generation beef business.

“Green Grass Cattle Company started two years ago,” says Haer.

When we caught up with Haer, he took us out to one of his family’s pastures.

(Farm Journal)

After the flood of 1993, the family sold their farm and cattle. Tim’s mom and dad then landed jobs off the farm, but still within agriculture. The family had some cattle, but after his dad retired, he was ready for a new family venture.

“He kind of approached us and said, ‘Hey, you guys want to make a run at this full time?’ And after that, we started adding back to the herd and increasing our numbers,” says Haer.

Intentional Decisions and Growth

It’s growth that hasn’t always happened by chance. While Haer says some of the relationships and business partnerships have been a fortunate find, the Haers are also intentional in everything they do.

“When we first started out, we were just selling sides of beef. We didn’t have a retail store. We had a small online presence. But we didn’t have an e-commerce site or anything,” he says.

But when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, just like many protein producers, the Haer saw demand for freezer beef catch fire, and that’s when the Haers knew it was time to dish out something new.

“We looked at that as an opportunity to start processing cattle at a USDA [inspected] facility, and then selling individual cuts of beef as well,” he says.

Serving Up a Story

And they did, opening up a storefront in Weston in September 2021. The family knew opening a new door would also serve as a way for the family to connect with consumers and share the story behind their beef.

“I think it’s really important to do that,” says Megan Haer-Schmidt, Tim’s younger sister, but also manager of New Deal Ag Solutions, the family’s newest business. “I think consumers care about it, too. The types of questions that we will get are often very detailed, and you can tell that people, you know, want to know that the food that they’re eating was raised by a local family, or that it was cared for.”

High-Quality Beef Starts with High-Quality Bulls

Differentiating their business has become Green Grass Cattle Company’s specialty, and Haer says it all starts with high-quality bulls. The family carefully selected the bulls for certain traits.

“We weren’t concerned about a lot of the other things that traditional producers are looking for. What we were looking for, were bulls that had high EPD (expected progeny differences) scores and ribeye size and marbling,” Haer explains.

The other trait the Haers wanted, were finding bulls that were extremely docile, and they seemed to hit the jackpot when they found black angus bulls from Connealy Angus in Whitman, Neb.

“We found great value in buying those, and it’s turned out to be a pretty successful venture for us,” says Haer.

A Wild Idea That Turned Wildly Successful

The deliberate decisions made at Green Grass Cattle Company are also ones that can be a bit different, especially when it comes to some of Tim’s off-the-wall ideas.

“Last year, I had a buddy of mine that moved to Germany and I was talking to him one evening, and he goes, ‘Man, you’re not going to believe this, but I get my bratwurst out of a vending machine that’s two blocks away from me.’”

With that, he had an idea: create their own vending machine full of meat.

“I researched the different machines that were available to see how I could make it work to sell not just brats, but ground beef and even steaks,” says Haer. “And I finally found a machine that I thought would work and accommodate our needs.”

(Farm Journal)

Haer didn’t just do some heavy research on the right set-up to service customers, but also the right location.

“Keith Bradley, co-owner of Made in KC , really believed in our idea. He’s really supported us through this whole venture,” says Haer. “And they’ve got a lot of runway. I think they have close to 15 stores in Kansas City.”

That idea, is a reality today, located inside Front Range Coffeehouse, which is one of Bradley’s businesses in the middle of Kansas City, and 40 miles from the Haer family’s farm.

“It’s just kind of taken off, and it’s been wildly successful,” says Haer.

Digesting the Data

With the vending machine being located 40 miles from the farm, Haer knew he needed a vending machine that was highly automated. And what the Haers landed on is a machine that allows Tim to constantly collect the data.

“In working with the distributor that sells the machines, we were able to find a card reader that actually provides a lot of telematics in real-time,” says Her.

Out of all the aggregated data, Haer says the most telling point may be how people will buy steak at any hour of the day. When the vending machine first launched, it was located outside the store, and Haer says people would buy steaks all times of the day and night, including 11 p.m.

“I didn’t know if the machine was going to be successful to start with. When people were buying, buying steaks that late at night, it just kind of validated all the assumptions that I had,” says Haer.

Loyal Customers, One Steak at a Time

The reviews of Green Grass Cattle Company tell the story best. They’ve carved out convenience, while attracting a loyal customer base across the Kansas City area.

“When we first opened up the doors to the store, we were answering questions we just kind of took for granted as knowledge that we had our whole lives,” he says. “We’re not just trying to provide locally raised beef to consumers, we also have an obligation now to educate them and make more of a connection with where our food comes from.”

Whether it’s buying a steak from this vending machine, or visiting the family’s store and mercantile, the Haers have not only carved out convenience, but also a niche.

Around the Ring: What’s the Best Piece of Advice You’ve Heard Lately?

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 21:25:35 GMT

One may argue teenagers have a lot of learning left to do, but I could also argue they may be wiser than they get credit for. After all, they are in a period of life where they hear a lot of advice from well-meaning parents, family members and friends. This is the first in a two-part Q&A series from my time spent with some of the exhibitors who showed the top-placing livestock in the Illinois State Fair junior show.

So, what is the best piece of advice they’ve heard lately?

(Farm Journal)

“Surround yourself with good people to learn from and take their suggestions to get better.”
– Maddox Reedy, 11-year-old son of Kyle and Sarah Reedy of Tuscola, Ill. Reedy exhibited the Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Market Steer

“Keep working at it even when you’re having a really hard day. It will pay off in the end, and all of the hard days will become worth it.”
– Taylor Rhoads, 18-year-old daughter of Matt and Jennifer Rhoads of Genoa, Ill. Rhoads exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Barrow Overall

(Farm Journal)

“Never give up – keep working hard. Sometimes that means giving up time with friends to put in the hours in the barn. But it’s worth it.”
– Nolan Hoge, 15-year-old son of Mark and Katie Hoge of Good Hope, Ill. Hoge exhibited the Grand Champion Market Goat Overall

“Never miss an opportunity. When you get the chance to attend new shows and work with more experienced livestock people, do it!”
– Harper Hess, 14-year-old son of Marcus and Shanna Hess of Bushnell, Ill. Hess exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat Overall

(Farm Journal)

“The time you put into your animals directly reflects in the show ring. The hours spent at home that no one sees do not go unnoticed at the show.”
-Hunter Shike, 15-year-old son of Dan and Jennifer Shike of Sadorus, Ill. Shike exhibited the Grand Champion Market Barrow Overall

“If you get frustrated at your animal, just walk away for a minute and come back. If you get frustrated, it makes your animal frustrated. Your time will be better spent taking a break.”
– Logan Campbell, 9-year-old son of Scott and Lisa Campbell of Little York, Ill. Campbell exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Market Barrow

(Farm Journal)

“I would tell all exhibitors, and especially the young ones, that you won’t always win. But if you keep your head down and work to your full potential, it will always pay off in the long run.”
– Kashen Ellerbrock, 16-year-old son of Jeff and Kelly Ellerbrock of Atkinson, Ill. Ellerbrock exhibited the Grand Champion Market Steer Overall

(Farm Journal)

“Always be willing to listen and learn from those offering advice. Never think that you have all the information already learned.”
– Lilian Unger, 16-year-old daughter of Shawn and Nora Unger of Chebanse, Ill. Unger exhibited the Grand Champion Market Lamb Overall

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9 Rules Parents Throw Out the Window During Fair Week

There’s Just Something About Stock Show Friends

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The Stock Show “Prize” We Need to Talk More About

Unpopular County Fair Opinion

Ring of Glory: Pennsylvania Teen Chases Dairy Dreams After Surviving House Fire

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 21:48:03 GMT

It takes a lot of days in the barn to be ready for the ring at places such as the 2022 All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pa.

(Farm Journal)

For Reese Burdette and her family, each precious step along the way is quite literally a miracle.

“Showing and going to shows are some of my favorite memories,” Reese says.

The Burdette family lives and farms just outside of Mercersburg, Pa., at a dairy that’s just the right size to keep two teenagers busy.

“Reese will water and I’ll feed grain and then she’ll get milk and I’ll feed milk and then she’ll do bottles,” explains sister Brinkley Burdette. “We’ll usually get done fast, and then we walk our show calves.”

It is a step-by-step process their parents, Justin and Claire, are only too happy to watch.

“Oftentimes, it can bring tears to your eyes, when you look back to where we were,” Claire says. “I just know how hard it has been and still how hard it is for Reese.”

“She has some grit and determination,” echoes Justin. “She likes to prove to people that that she’s capable of doing it.”

What Reese is doing in the showring is nothing special in her eyes.

“I mean, it’s difficult but everybody has difficulties in the ring,” she says.

The challenges for Reese started Memorial Day weekend in 2014 during a visit to her grandparents’ house.

“It was a Sunday evening and what we now know is an electrical fire started in the room Reese was in,” Claire recalls.

Her mother quickly rushed into the room among the flames to pull Reese to safety while Claire’s stepdad went after sister Brinkley.

“I do remember getting out, sitting on the porch and waiting,” Reese remembers.

(Farm Journal)

Badly burned, Reese was flown to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland.

“I was in a lot of pain, I was scared, and they were telling me all these different things I didn’t know,” Reese says.

Justin and Claire arrived at this hospital as quickly as they could.

“First, they told us we’d be there one to two weeks and then it turned to one to two months,” Claire says. “We thought: How are we going to do this? How are we going to continue to farm both of us being away? Then it turned into 662 days.”

Reese was in the hospital for 662 days of recovery, of setbacks and unknowns.

“Through this journey Reese has had five cardiac arrests and she lost her leg in the hospital in that first couple of weeks due to blood flow issues,” Claire says.

Reese’s lungs needed rest, so doctors used an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine to pump blood outside of her body, remove carbon dioxide and send oxygen-filled blood back. However, there were complications and Reese’s parents were forced to make a call about amputation.

“Our surgeon looked us right in the face and said if it was my child, I’d do it,” Justin says. “You now have to be willing to have bad days to make good days.”

The good days were often overshadowed by the difficult ones. From the amputation, to learning to stand and eventually walk again, the days were long. Reese’s parents recognized she needed a goal.

That’s when a favorite dairy cow Pantene -- named after the haircare products -- came back into the picture.

“She was actually the first calf I showed at our county fair,” Reese says.

That’s why Pantene has a little extra hold on Reese’s heart. After weeks in the hospital her friend from home was the right incentive to keep stepping forward.

“One of her doctors was an off-the-wall thinker,” Justin says. “He said, ‘Well, bring Pantene down here.’”

(Farm Journal)

So, through the streets of Baltimore they went with a trailer, right to the main entrance of John Hopkins. Reese remembers that day clearly.

“She came to visit me in the hospital when I first learned to stand up,” Reese says. “That really made me want to get home.”

“It was definitely a moment,” Claire says. “It also gave the nurses and doctors who were fighting along with us perspective on where Reese came from and what she loved.”

Just about two months shy of two years, Reese came home to a hero’s welcome.

“There were a lot of people and one of the first things we did was come down here to the barn to see Pantene,” remembers Reese.

For Claire, the return home reunited her family of four.

“I felt like it was okay to laugh again,” she says. “It was OK to go out to dinner again. It was OK to go to the movies because we weren’t slighting her in any way. We were all included as one.”

A family and a farm were together again, and they were ready to restart the life they’d put on pause.

“We know she has something in store for her and she’s meant to be here,” Claire says. “We don’t know how her story is going to unfold, but it will.”

Reese returned to the showring. The first year she needed a wheelchair to back her up. This year she will be stepping through the sawdust on her own.

“I was actually just telling my friend that most of my favorite memories have been made at the Harrisburg show,” Reese says.

Now she’s setting her sights on Madison and World Dairy Expo, if she can get her parents on board.

“I’m working on it,” Reese laughs.

Along with showing, she’s taken up dance and recently joined FFA. Those extracurriculars happen between follow-up trips to the hospital.

(Farm Journal)

“She had a tracheotomy in 2014 and that was taken out this last year,” Claire says. “The progress she’s made from that has been amazing.”

She also had a leg revision in 2022, which has helped improve her mobility and reduce pain when walking.

“It’s easier for her to feed hay and stuff,” Brinkley says. “It’s easier for her to water, although I still have to hook up the water for her sometimes.”

It’s all helping Reese find a future without limits.

“She has visions of going to college and I’ve given her a three-hour radius,” Claire says.

“Our reality for Reese is that Reese is normal,” Justin says. “She needs to get the childhood she missed back.”

These steps along life’s path, may seem so small for most but for Reese they’re the road back to a future nearly lost. Her future now is stacked high with possibilities.

“You can get so caught up in the little things and at the end of the day, the little things don’t matter,” Claire says. “It’s the big picture and as long as you have your health and your family that’s all that matters.”

Last month at the Harrisburg All-American show, Reese stood fifth in showmanship out of 140 kids.

Enjoy Other Grit with Grace Stories:

The Power of Love and Faith: How a Journey to Help Foster Kids Heal On the Farm Led One to Their Forever Home

Couple Takes Off On Trip From Nebraska To Alaska In A 1977 IH Tractor To Raise Money For Kids

How Social Media Sensation NY Farm Girls Defied Odds to Expose the Truth About Farming

The Strength of a Mom: How One Young Woman Battled Cancer Through COVID-19 Pandemic

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 21:34:01 GMT

A serene setting on this Missouri farm is where Kristen Clenney is living her dream.

“I was about 8 years old, and I declared, ‘Dad, I want to be a vet,’” she remembers.

Her dad, Tom Wright, says Kristen was even younger than that when he knew animals were her calling.

“Oh, it was probably when she was 3,” he says. “She always helped me in the turkeys. She was the one daughter who the animals didn’t bother her. She always liked the animals.”

Now a veterinarian in the neighboring town of Eldon, Mo., her career desires have been steadfast.

“I never changed my course at all; everything I did throughout high school and college directed me towards my goal of becoming a vet,” she adds.

A graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, she thought a large animal practice was her calling. But that changed when Kristen and her husband John had a chance to move back to her family’s farm.

“And as we move back home, we had just started our family. We had a son, and definitely my role on the farm changed, as well as my career, where I was a smaller animal veterinarian and having more controlled hours worked a lot better for our family,” she says.

(Farm Journal)

Family first, Kristen is now a mom who just went through the fight of her life.

“In January 2020, I randomly felt a lump in my neck that I knew was something odd,” says Kristen. “As soon as I felt it, I knew it wasn’t right.”

The next few weeks, were a whirlwind of doctor’s appointments, biopsies and ultrasounds.

“Unfortunately I found out that I did have thyroid cancer.”

Coping with the news, Kristen underwent surgery within five days.

“We were under the impression my tumor was small, they caught it early. I’d have one surgery, and that would be the end of it,” she says.

But it wasn’t so simple.

“We got the bad news that although my tumor was small, it was rather mighty so to speak, and it had spread. And I would be needing a second surgery as well as radiation therapy.”

(Farm Journal)

The radiation crippled her ability to be around anyone, or anything, including her husband, son and animals. And she said that battle is when she almost hit a breaking point.

“Initially, they said they were going to take your whole thyroid, and I was on board for that,” she says. “But then the doctor changed his mind and said, ‘We’re going to do half your thyroid, they’ve come out with new recommendations.’ I said, ‘I don’t feel comfortable with this,’ because what I originally felt was a lymph node. So I knew it had spread. I just knew it had.”

The one surgery turned into two. Radiation to try to get it all happened at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To hear that news, it kind of knocked the wind out of my sails,” she says. “And I thought, ‘Why didn’t I fight harder?’”

“I think she’s always seen animals heal, and that was one of Kristen’s problems,” says Kristen’s dad. “She understood the medical part of it. Animals and humans aren’t a lot different. She knew what was happening.”

The medical battle came with a mountain of obstacles, as Kristen—the one who’s usually doing the healing—couldn’t do the healing herself.

(Farm Journal)

“That was the first time John broke down through it all, because he knew he was losing his job due to the pandemic and he felt he was letting me down. Our whole world just felt like it was crashing around us,” she says.

At a time when the country was shutting down, Kristen was shutting down too.

“There were days I wanted to give up,” says Kristen.

The battle to keep fighting was one that took place both mentally and physically.

“I found out I was reacting really badly to my medication and my kidneys were shutting down, and that’s why I felt so terrible,” says Kristen.

She was too weak to even do simple things on the farm, at the vet clinic and at home.

“I read something midway through my journey when I really struggling. It said, ‘It takes the same energy to be strong or to be miserable. It’s your choice.’ After reading that, I made a conscious decision that every day I was going to choose to be strong. Because I needed to be strong, not only for myself, but for my husband, for my son for my family.”

(Farm Journal)

She’s a wife and mom and now a cancer survivor.

“I feel very fortunate. Not everybody gets to see that after their journey,” she says.

And it was a yearlong journey that took grit and grace.

“I know that through the love of my family and my faith, I can get through anything,” she says. “And really, it is not giving up. it was a complete mindset.”

A scar on her neck that could symbolize pain is now something Kristen wears with pride.

“When I look at that scar, I remember all I’ve overcome,” she says. “I remember to be grateful for each day because life changes immediately sometimes and to just continue to be strong no matter what life throws at you. Just keep going.”

The Power of Love and Faith: How a Journey to Help Foster Kids Heal On the Farm Led One to Their Forever Home

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 21:30:45 GMT

Tyler and Amanda Radke’s story started in college.

“We met on the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Meat Judging team , judging ribeyes, so it only makes sense we kind of took ownership of that side of the beef industry, too,” says Amanda Radke, a mom and a fifth generation rancher from Mitchell, South Dakota.

Bonding over beef and cattle from the start, it’s only fitting that the cattle business is still their calling today.

“We sell bulls private treaty to area ranchers,” says Tyler Radke, of Nolz Limousin and Radke Cattle Company . “We sell about 35 to 40 limousine bulls, and we have a fall female sale, as well, with select show heifers and a couple of steers. We sell those private treaty, as well, to people that come and look and local families as well.

The Radkes also own and operate Radke Cattle Company. Life on the ranch is busy, but Amanda stays busy even off the ranch. Not only do they run a direct-to-consumer beef business, but Amanda is a motivational speaker , children’s book author and a boutique owner.

Listen as Radke shares her story with AgriTalk’s Chip Flory:

Struggles with Infertility

Growing businesses seems to come naturally for the Radkes, but where they struggled was trying to start a family.

“When we first got married, we actually went through a really hard time of infertility and not being able to start a family,” says Amanda. “I really struggled with just feeling like a failure.”

Struggling through the emotions of trying to have a child, the Radkes are now blessed with three.

“Scarlett was born June 3, 2014, Thorne was born June 4, 2016 and Croix was born May 22, 2018,” she says. “So, we had three kids born two years apart, exactly, and life was pretty busy.”

Tyler’s Calling

Tyler and Amanda’s hearts were opened to the idea of adoption as they initially waded through the uncertainty of whether they would be able to have children of their own. One day, after their third child was born, Tyler felt a calling.

“Apparently, I didn’t think we had enough going on,” says Tyler. “I honestly don’t know what I saw that made me think of it.”

“He just said, ‘We need to do foster care.’ And my reaction was very negative, because we were maxed out,” Amanda recalls.

Amanda was on the road constantly giving speeches and doing other travel for her job, all while juggling life with three kids and the family’s growing businesses.

“And so I instantly said, ‘No, you’re crazy. I’m drowning right now,’” remembers Amanda.

A Change of Heart

That day, Amanda headed to the airport for a work trip, and on the plane, her heart was changed.

“But again, God had a different plan, because I got on a plane, and the movie on the plane that day was ‘ Instant Family ’, which is a movie about foster care. And so I’m sitting on the plane bawling like a baby.”

She left on the work trip thinking Tyler’s idea was crazy, but that moment instantly changed her mind.

“He’s the steady, even keeled member of our relationship. I mean, he keeps the family going, and I have crazy, wild ideas that go take us off on other journeys and adventures,” Amanda says with a smile. “So for him to have that thought, I truly don’t think it even would have happened had it not been for god giving him that nudge to say, ‘Get this ball rolling.’”

So, that’s exactly what Tyler and Amanda did.

“We call the office and we just want information on how do we get involved and they said, ‘You’re in luck, the Mitchell training started last week, you guys can jump in,’” says Amanda.

The Start of their Journey to Foster

That happened in April, and by August, Amanda was sitting in a coffee shop with a friend when an unexpected call came.

“It was the state, and they had two kids and they needed them emergency placement for that weekend, “ she says. “And I said, ‘I don’t even have our license.’ And they said, ‘Yes, we just threw it in the mail.’”

(Farm Journal)

When Tyler and Amanda told their friends and families their wild idea and decision to foster, they admit not everyone was as receptive to the idea, especially her parents.

“They were scared,” says Amanda. “They were worried about our own kids and the effect that have on them. And just they knew we were a young couple, working full-time jobs, trying to build this farm, we’re trying to be in the seed stock business. We were very maxed out as far as time goes. So, I think in their minds, they’re like, ‘You don’t have time to do this.’”

She says the conversations that followed weren’t easy, as their strong system of support questioned the decision they had just made.

“At one point, I told my dad, ‘Take it up with Jesus, because this isn’t even us. We don’t even know what we’re doing either. So, we can’t even really fully explain it.’ But all it took was that meeting those first two kids, and they got it,” says Amanda.

She says in the last two years with the pandemic, they’ve welcomed a dozen children into their home to foster.

“I just truly believe that there can be a lot of healing done on the farm,” says Amanda.

From healing to growth, she’s even witnessed growth with their three children.

“They became like little agvocates, because they’re teaching these kids about the farm,” says Amanda. “And we just kind of step back and let them do their thing. So, they’re giving them the tour, and they’re teaching them how to pick grass and feed calves through the fence.”

Another Call–This Time, About a 7-Month-Old Baby

Fostering has been far from easy for the family, but as the Radkes can attest, life often reveals other plans. That was the case in 2020. As the world shut down and so did Amanda’s work travel, she was questioning what was next.

“And a week later, we got a call for a seven-month-old baby. And I was like, ‘Oh, now I see why my schedule is cleared, because we have a whole different adventure to go on,” she remembers.

That baby became part of the family during that time.

(Farm Journal)

“We had that baby all of 2020 and got to do all of her milestones with her and love on her,” says Amanda. “And on her first birthday, we found out she was leaving. My heart broke into a million pieces because that was my baby.”

The Radkes knew they’d only have her temporarily, but they were attached and the entire family was crushed.

(Farm Journal)

The Final Call for a Forever Home

Tyler and Amanda had to hold it together for their three children. So, that’s what they did, and life continued to go on, just as it did before. But a few weeks later, another call came.

“And that’s where Alex came in,” says Tyler. “He had been in some foster homes before, coming and going, and now he was available for adoption. Wherever he went was basically going to be his next home.”

They sent Amanda a picture of Alex. He had blond hair and blue eyes, just like their other three kids.

“And I about fell over because I said, ‘He looks like our son.’ And she said, ‘Yeah, I know. That’s why I called you.’ And I said, ‘Okay, I need to talk to Tyler.’”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amanda Radke | Author, Speaker, Rancher (@amandaradke)

At that time, it was a very harsh calving season. Tyler was also busy with cattle shows and sales, so their businesses were extremely busy. The decision to adopt wasn’t taken lightly.

“We’d learned from the dozen kids that the dynamics changed significantly, if it’s a-seven-month-old, or we’ve had an 11-year-old, and it changes the family dynamic,” says Amanda.

The risks. The what ifs. The unknowns. The entire family had already experienced it with a dozen children, but temporarily. Yet, they agreed to meet Alex, and ultimately, become his forever home.

“Four days later, he had packed up his bags and moved to our house for good,” says Amanda.

Alex’s Adoption Day

Adoption day came October 5, 2021. The wild adventure and continuous chaos at the farm is where Alex seems to fit right in.

“Within that first year, he knew all the equipment in the field, he could rattle it off and had tons of farm knowledge. It was just crazy how he soaked it up like a sponge,” she says.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amanda Radke | Author, Speaker, Rancher (@amandaradke)

Alex is a four-year old who has braved more in his little life than many will have to do in their entire lifetime.

“We always called him our superhero cowboy because when he came, he loved superheroes, but one night, very early on, I tucked him into bed, and he said, ‘Mama, can I be a cowboy?” And I said, ‘Cowboy? You already are buddy,’ and not because he lives on a farm now and we have cows, but because of how brave he is to change homes and to trust us,” says Amanda.

The trust has grown not only with Tyler and Amanda, but also their other three children. Scarlett, their oldest, stepped into the role of mama bear to not just Alex, but to all the kids the family has fostered the past few years.

“I taught them to be safe on the farm, not to go under the tractor. Don’t go into the pen, especially if there’s a crabby mama,” says Scarlett.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amanda Radke | Author, Speaker, Rancher (@amandaradke)

And as they only girl, Scarlett can hold her own, especially when the boys become rowdy.

“I tell them I’m going to wrangle them up with my pink rope,” she says with a big smile.

Creating a Farm Sanctuary to Help Kids Heal

From fostering to now adoption, the Radke’s heart of service and selflessness have helped create a farm sanctuary that has helped children heal.

“Their lives have been pretty tumultuous, really,” says Tyler.

“I think giving them that space has helped,” adds Amanda.

“Well, depending on what you’re doing for that day, but for the most part, space,” adds Tyler as he smiles.

Tyler says he may never know what sparked his crazy idea to foster that day a few years back, but he just knew how lucky his kids were to grow up on a farm.

“I just wanted to share that with other kids that maybe had tougher luck than ours did, because they deserve the same,” Tyler says.

Fostering Because the Kids Are Worth Fighting For

Amanda says they’ve seen firsthand how the need for more foster parents across the U.S. is tremendous.

“There are more than 400,000 kids in the U.S. foster system today that are waiting for a forever mom and dad. And then there’s even more of them that are going to be temporarily in foster care before they can be reunified [with their family],” she says. “And so if there’s even a calling remotely on your heart to step into this really hard space, don’t ignore it, because the kids are worth fighting for.”

The Radkes have three goals: provide peace with a place to heal, experience a family full of love and introduce them to a household strong in faith. A recipe that’s filled with grit and grace.

“We always tell people, there’s always room for one more at the dinner table,” she says. “It’s been hard, but at the same time, we’ve been able to just roll with the punches and take on a little bit extra. When you think you’re maxed out, there’s always a little extra space to help someone.”

Amanda says even if you don’t want to start the process to become a foster parent , there are other ways you can support foster families who are in need of supplies and other donations as they continue their foster journey.

Grit with Grace

You can watch more touching and inspiring stories from across rural America in Grit with Grace.

How a Jersey Cow Helped Make the Perfect Proposal

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 21:52:13 GMT

It’s that time of year when high school dance proposals happen. Unlike generations before when a proposal simply consisted of asking your date to the dance, now there is a lot of hype about when and how you ask.

It all started with making a big deal of how a high school student would ask their prom date to the dance. And, it has spilled over to other, less-formal dances, too, like Sadie Hawken’s winter formal dance. And, even if you are officially dating someone, a big proposal is now expected.

Generally, it means doing a posterboard with a cute saying. Maybe some balloons and a picture, of course, that obviously goes on social media. The Instagram-worthy photo is what the hype is all about. Students brainstorm ideas on what makes sense. If the date is a football player, generally something about football will be played up on the posterboard and how the girl asks the guy to the dance.

The idea of a Sadie Hawken’s dance is that the girls ask their desired date to the dance, as opposed to the men inviting their dates. While in the 1950s this may have been a big deal, now girls asking their crush to the dance is now considered, NBD (no big deal). Although there is no formal rule as to who can or cannot ask to a dance.

Earlier this year, my 16-year-old daughter, Cassie, searched Pinterest and talked with her friends about how she was going to ask her boyfriend, Jake, to the winter formal Sadie Hawken’s dance. A posterboard was obviously going to be needed for this proposal, but what Cassie was planning required more than a trip to the Dollar Store. It required a visit to our dairy barn.

One of our prized Jersey cows, 8-year-old, Ariel, helped out with the proposal. Cassie got some pink paint and wrote out “SADIES?” on the cow’s side. She also made a posterboard that stated:

I thought I should “moove” along and ask…

(Farm Journal)

When Jake came to the farm and went inside our commodity shed, Cassie was standing next to Ariel, holding the poster and instantly Jake’s smile stretched wide. He immediately said yes, and my mom role was to take the pictures, capturing it all. Afterward, they took Ariel back to the barn and twosome went to work on our family farm, helping feed heifers.

(Farm Journal)

Those that know Cassie, know she is all farm girl, meaning they know Cassie’s love for dairy could fill a barn and her work ethic is unmatched. They also know that she feels more comfortable sporting jeans and boots than a dress and heals. So, when it comes to a perfect proposal, Cassie nailed this one, as it was simply moo-velous.

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How a Jersey Cow Helped Make the Perfect Proposal