June is HAY Month! But enjoy your dairy, too!

Hello friends!

We are so very grateful for the meals, the lending hands, and the help with the kids.  If you are still wondering how you can help, you can always let us know what areas you are skilled in, or you could just offer up words of encouragement. When you see us in the store, throw out a smile and "you're doing great!  Keep up the good work!" When  you drive by the farm, send a text about how nice it is to see the cows on grass (at the stop sign, of course), or how you noticed that we were getting an abundance of hay stored up for winter.

Things are moving along.  Rick and I built this farm over the past 14 years.  Making major operational changes are not going to happen overnight.  While some of them are happening quickly (Praise God!) some of them will not be as apparent until later in the year.  Here is what we've been up to this June:

Hay, hay, and more hay.  We started first cutting May 25th.  With the wet Spring and hot temperatures, the hay has been very abundant.  To date, we have rolled up and wrapped 1427  round bales!  We harvest hay off of about 250 acres.  A normal first cutting, before we took on the new rental farm, would have yielded us between 400-500 bales.  I am working very hard at stopping each night between 8 and 9pm, and we do not work on hay on Sunday.  Yes, first cutting has rolled right into second, but with the lack of rain second isn't ready yet.  We might get a break! This is the most hay we have ever put up in one year.  We finished on June 30th, avoiding the old adage of "patriotic hay."

Ahhh....Red.  This month I  got to take Red to town, twice.  What a blessing to have this one thing that is not work or farm related.  An hour or so by myself to get groceries is appreciated very much!

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Some very good friends of mine had a work day in the house.  They painted my room and created this awesome place of peace and rest.  A room to just myself for that moment when I think I just can't go on anymore.  Thank you so much friends!

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On Father's Day I surprised the kids with a trip to Lake Michigan.  We left early, played until mid afternoon, and meandered on home, arriving late evening.  There are no words to describe how the kids felt on Father's Day.  Only those who have lost their dad at such young ages can relate.  It was so nice to go where nobody knew us or our story.  We got a day to escape the reality of home.  I believe it may be a new tradition.

My day is very full.  Starting from 4am when I am on to milk, or 4:30 when I am not, it is jammed packed with farm and family life, fires to put out, choices to make, phone calls to answer, plans to administer.  In the evening I often take a few minutes and sit outside by myself.  It gives me a chance to take a deep breath and be still.  I happen to see this beautiful sight of a full moon over the cows grazing.  God is great.

For some time now I (and friends) have been looking for a tractor for me.  One that had more horsepower, a cab, a buddy seat, air conditioning...all the things that are important if you are a mom of 5 who farms full time.  I found it!  I had bid on another tractor earlier this year, but it went for more than what I was willing to spend.  This time, although a little risky, it sold for $2,000.00 less than what I was willing to spend, and I bid on the low end, for sure! This tractor has been and will be such a blessing to us.  Our other equipment is very tired.  It came with a set of duals, and we all laughed while we tried to come up with a scenario where I might use them.

How it really goes....

20 pictures later.....

We had a new gateway installed closer to the wrapped bales.  Our neighbors planted our new seeding for us, and also corrected the area where we hauled hay in and out this spring.  With the ruts gone and the new pasture growing, we will use this gateway closer to bales to conserve pasture.  Thanks again friends for tilling and planting the seed, and thanks Neville Supply for coming so far to put the gateway in.



At slightly over 1000 bales, I hit this rock. It is about 1 foot wide, and I could only roll it out of the windrow.  I am so grateful that the mowing has gone so well.  This rock only bent 1 knife on the discbine, without any other damage. Praise God!



For the first time ever, I plugged up the rake.  I didn't even know a person could do this.  The pasture we cut for hay this year was very thick!  Like normal we opted to rake two rows into one.  After this, we just left the rest in single rows.  While I was unplugging the rake, Our custom baler was working on a chain that came off the baler.  I had sent him a text just minutes earlier saying not to worry, things break, and all we can do is our best.  He walked over to help me. We bust out laughing.  Even when things go wrong this is a great place to work.

The mechanic fixed my discbine on the farm (thank you!).  Dad mowed the last 30 acres with it and the new tractor for the first time.  For many years my dad mowed in an old John Deere whose AC and radio didn't work.  Some years he would take the door off to get more air flow in the cab.  It was fun to see him enjoy mowing hay.  I am so thankful to have machinery good enough so he can help now without having to feel bad about the working conditions.

Today we moved the bulls into the cows to start the breeding season.  Here my tried and true trio of help have their pre-bull-moving-meeting, where we make the plan.  We are very strategic, placing people in specific places, and we always have a back up plan in case it doesn't go as we intend.

The bulls are moved up onto the home farm using the main cow lane.  And all the paddocks they decided to go through also, LOL.

We sold two bulls today. They are 2 years and a little grumpier than I prefer.

We put the yearlings into the cows. They were all SUPER excited!  I appreciate the extra prayers today as we moved the bulls. I am very excited about our new breeding plan, which includes all of the bull raising being hired out.  In the years to come they will arrive in late June, and I will sell them in late September.  We will not raise or care for bulls over the winter months.

We were saddened when one of our team members submitted her resignation.  She has worked here for 3 years, and we all enjoyed milking with her and getting to know her.  We wish her the best of luck on the campus of MSU!  Go Green!  I am glad that in the past 5 years, when an employee leaves it is not because of a falling out but rather because of a moving up-a move to a more specific career, a move to college, or a move to care for family at home.

We also want to extend a warm welcome to a new team member, Chris.  We are all excited about the skills he brings to the farm and how well he blends in with the current team.  Thanks for joining us!

While our life is still challenging (for sure, in many ways) it often helps to look back and see how far we have come.  We made it through calving (ok, so there are 4 cows in the barn), 1st cutting, started breeding season, gained a much needed employee to relieve my hours worked, found a mechanic, arranged for bull raising in the future, and have one tractor that is highly dependable.  There are days when it seems like we will never catch or keep up, and I feel like giving up.  But then my friends send me encouraging words in a text, and my former employer, friend and neighbor sends me this:

Loretta Lyons-Why I Farm

Thanks friends.

No Room For Doubt. Or Doubters.

Today....one of the hardest days of my life.  We laid to rest my husband of 14 years, 9 months, and 20 days.  While we remembered his life in January, today we said our final goodbyes.  I don't think the most affluent writers in the world can put into words our feelings.

The last couple of months have been a blur.  We hear people say that every time a tragedy happens, but until you go through it, the truthfulness of that statement is not clearly understood.  The depth or our hurt and the everyday reality of his absence is only understood by those who go through it personally.

With great appreciation I thank those who have continued to support us. Those who have made sure we have enough hay brought up for the cows; those who have hauled manure on a regular basis; those who take their weekly turn at the heifer farm; those who have helped with the kids; the mentors who have brainstormed with me concerning our new direction; those who have my back as I try to navigate and create our new normal.

As we sat around the table, sometime around lunchtime that first day (my perception of time is lacking) I remember saying out loud "If anyone brings their checkbook, they can just leave. We are keeping on."  I knew I had my closest allies and friends in the room at that moment, and we went right into me verbally spilling everything I could remember as far as feeding schedules and what needed to be done.  The neighbors took notes....then it was done.  Thank you again friends.

Since then I have been enlightened to the opinions of many....whether I asked for it or not.  Those closest to me, that know Rick married a farmer, were not surprised. Those that know my resolve and my passion, were not surprised.  As we go along I am enlightened to those that I thought knew me, and those that do not.

I know there is a lot of doubt.  I know what it feels like to talk to people who doubt you.  When Rick and I first married, and started this dream, there were many doubters.  They said "you'll never make it" and "grazing doesn't work".  Take a look folks....

Here's the facts....I am only in my thirties.  I have a lot of life ahead of me to rally and do great things.  My kids are young.  They still have hopes and dreams.  I have farmed literally my whole life. I do have a college education, but more importantly than that, God gave me real life experience with some of the best grazers in the nation.  When I am on top of my game I am driven, passionate, and optimistic about grazing and it's potential.

Here's the difference....I am not on top of my game.  I am heartbroken. I am constantly running on 1/8th of a tank of fuel, needing to refuel with only a couple bucks in my pocket (an analogy).  This is where my team comes in. This is where my employees go the extra mile, where my friends keep track of hay inventory and stacking pad piles. Where my sisters in Christ help me line up babysitters. Where my neighbors install camera systems, and while they're here, go over the status of my grain bins with me.  Right now the order of importance is God, me, (I have to be healthy to care for the..
) kids, and farm. This is where there is no room for doubters.  No room for those who question whether I can really pull this off, whether I can put the right people into place to make this work, whether I know how to make the right calls and choices without the head of our family.

Here's the good news...I don't have to.  God's got this.  For awhile I held back at fully giving over control of this situation to God. I was afraid he was gong to ask me to not farm.  At some point he might, but right now He's not.  God will provide. God will provide the ideas, the people, the strength, the support, the passion...just like He did the first time.  God is working right here, right now.

1 Peter 5:10  May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

There are no words that fully express how grateful I am for the people who continue to help us get back on our feet.  I hope that each and every one of you know that I am humbled to the deepest parts of my soul and I thank you.  I would not be able to get from point A to point B without you.

I have said it before...our lives will never be the same.  Having gone through this tragedy and the months before it has impacted us greatly.  And although there are days we are doubtful ourselves, we will still...

Many Thanks

Our lives are forever changed.  Many thanks to those who have walked along side of us in prayer, in good deeds, and in barn boots.

Isaiah 40:31

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are so richly blessed.

Philippans 1:3

Hello 2016!

Isaiah 43:19

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

This verse was on my Bible app this morning, and I thought it was a nice pick for the first day of the new year.  As we look back on 2015, many people (including us) remember good times along with many challenges.  This verse reminds us that God is always working, always providing.  He might not work when, how or where you want Him too, but He is always at work.  Faith is not about everything turning out okay. Faith is about being okay no matter how things work out.  Nice dose of reality, for sure.

Over the holiday season we had a nice little surprise. The day after Christmas Betty had a lamb. We were surprised that she only had one, but he's pretty cute.  He will be just the right size and age for the surrounding county fairs this summer (hint, hint 4-hers....).  We have two more ewes that are expecting this year.

The end of a calendar year is also a great time to evaluate how you did on the previous year's goals, and set new ones for the upcoming year.  Let it be said, however, that God offers a new start every day that you wake up here on earth. If you have not made your goals yet, there is still time.  Any day can be the first day.  Last year I didn't make many personal goals.  One major goal was to run 500 miles in '15. I'm grateful to report that I stayed healthy enough to log 573.53!

I have been much more intentional about goal planning this year.  It is suggested, for success, that goals be measurable, specific, and written down.  Over the past month I have thought about some areas that I want to focus on in terms of personal development.  One thing I did differently this year is write them down-with spots to fill in the accomplishment and milestones along the way.  I hung the goal sheet right behind my computer, where I can see it everyday.

I am working on educational goals, financial goals, fitness goals, family goals...I tried to cover all the areas.  While my spiritual goals are not on this sheet, I have made it a habit to read a proverb and a psalm per day, and work on an additional book of the Bible.  Spiritual growth is hard to measure. One doesn't really know what God is planning on teaching you, or how He plans to improve upon his creation.

This morning I kicked off 2016 with a 5k!  Today I ran the Resolution 5k, hosted by Our Saviour Lutheran.  While it was very slippery, windy, and cold, I managed a 25:37.  The time isn't anything close to a PR, but I was pleased to just be able to finish without falling!

As you write down your goals for this year, remember this one thing:

Go Get 'Em!

Wishing you the best for 2016...your best effort, your best foot forward, your best work.  Your "best" may not be another's "best"....but it's yours!

The Next Chapter....Page One.

Today was an exciting day for the future of the dairy!

Earlier this year we signed a contract agreeing to rent my parent's farm. They have retired from milking cows, and have sold their herd and the robotic milkers, which means we can now occupy the farm....and today we moved the calves over.  This is pivotal for our operation, allowing us to streamline hay production, herd management, and most importantly keep up with the natural* herd growth.

Currently, all of our young stock is being raised on a rental farm that is adjacent to the home farm. The facilities at the farm have been well loved and well used over the years.  As you can see here, the old hip roof barn offers little space-just enough to use it as a corral to load the cattle onto the trailer.

 

It took two trips but less than 2 hours to move the calves over.  Rick had done some prep work to the old barn yard to have it ready for the calves, including this new post;

 

a bedded pack for the calves to lay on;

and a hay feeder that will hold enough hay for a couple of days.

 



It was exciting to see them get off the trailer and check out their new winter home.

We will also move the bred heifers over, then bring them back home shortly before calving season begins.  During the grazing season we will graze the heifers on half of the acreage, and we will make winter feed (high moisture balage) off the other half.

Renting my parents farm for replacement heifers and hay production frees up our adjacent rental farm at home for the milk cows.  This will allow us to milk up to 150 cows this next year. The lane system and paddocks are already set up, ready to be added onto the rotation.  The past couple of years we have had to sell cows to keep our numbers low enough for the amount of pasture we have available.  One might suggest that we supplement with extra forage, but that would add extra expense and labor, and while it might still be profitable, we are graziers....we stick to our roots.

This also streamlines our hay production.  Currently, we are renting 5 separate farms for hay production.  They are smaller in size and one is 12 miles from the home farm-which is quite the trip when you're hauling bales.  We have chosen to not rent 2 of the farms** and one of them is due to be rotated out of hay production. By giving up three of our current hay farms and renting my parents farm instead, we gain 72 additional acres to graze and make hay from (the other 48 equal the three we gave up) while only increasing our expenses by less than $1,000.00***.  And we're 5 miles closer!

So our heifers have better winter housing, we're not traveling all over the county hauling hay, we can milk more cows at home (exclusively grazing) and the farm is still being operated by the same family.

I'm excited for our kids to have the opportunity to go to "Grandpa's & Grandma's" to do chores.  It was an experience I got when I was a teenager, and I know they will enjoy it when they're old enough.  I'm looking forward to a simplified system of young stock and hay at one farm, and milk cows at the other.

once again....here we go!  History in the making...

*If you recall, we only retain about 30 replacement heifers each spring.  We sell all other heifer calves and all of our bull calves.  Even with this growth control in place, we still end up with plenty of cows to milk. While we are perfectly content with the size that we are, we're looking forward to this modest change in numbers and not having to pick which ones to sell.

**Note to farmers-this was actually our choice-we didn't "lose" the farms or find them unaffordable.  We have looked at the big picture and seen an opportunity to simplify our dairy operation and hay production. So please....no rumors :)

***This number includes the costs of hay that we had to purchase to finish out the winter.  With the new rental farm, along with good growing conditions, we should not have to purchase any additional winter feed.