An Open Letter to my First Show Heifer

Thank you. Thank you for being the start to something I'm eternally grateful for. Thank you for being the first. Thank you for always being there as the one I could say, "that's my first show heifer." Thank you for teaching me how to avoid getting kicked or butted, since you were the first to do that too. You were the one that gave me calves to show and keep as replacement heifers. You were the start to my herd.

You were the first beef animal I received a trophy for at the county fair. You were way bigger than me, and that scared me, but you gave me the confidence I needed. You were also the first cow I pregnancy checked (and at nine years old, I didn't know what I was feeling for, but since it was you; it was okay). When you had your first calf, I was so nervous for everything to go right. I was so excited that I could see you calve though. When you finally had a heifer (after two bulls), I was elated that I'd finally be able to keep one of your calves.

It's been 12 years, six of which you were on the show string, and 11 calves. You've given me two feeder steers to show, two show heifers, and four replacement heifers. You're starting to "not be quite the cow" that you have been. Your udder is going downhill, you're teeth aren't that great, and you're not quite as sassy as you were. They tell me it's time for you to "take your last ride on the big truck." Dad told me when you were still a calf that he hoped I'd be in college when you had to be sold. I'm in college, so I guess it must be time. It must be time for me to lead you on the trailer for the last time.

Thank you, Princess, thank you for being the first.

The Struggle of Being a College Farm Kid in the Spring

Spring. Besides summer, it has to be my favorite season of the year. The days are longer, the grass is greener, and the birds start chirping again. Calving and lambing is over, and the babies start bouncing around and having a grand time under the sun. During high school, I LOVED coming home from school to see the babies bouncing around and getting to see them continually developing. I was also able to go outside more and maybe, just maybe, the mud might even be drying up!

Now, as I'm nearing the end of my sophomore year of college, I'm find myself aching to be home and working on the farm, seeing all of the babies, and starting to work more with this years show string. I was able to get my show pigs over spring break, but I haven't been able to really get to know them let alone take them outside. So I've compiled a list of the struggles of the farm kid, in college, during the spring.

• Your parents keep telling you how your favorite cow's calf is looking like the next great one...And won't send you a picture! 

• They turn the cows out on pasture without you. Which seemingly before, they couldn't do it without you! 

• They tell you how much your show animals are growing...but they still won't send you a picture! 

• The warm weather keeps reminding you about what you could be doing outside, yet you're stuck in class (that is probably about farming, making you want to be outside even more!) 

• You just learned to AI and your dad plans to synch the cows during the week when you can't be there and get your practice in

•  The weeks between you and being home for the summer drag on, and on, and on 

• Your favorite part of spring is seeing everything "green-up" and all you're seeing "green-up" is the little bits of green grass that gets trampled by students on campus 

• Sure, you can go to the school's farm and see all the new babies, but it just isn't the same 

This is just a few of the things that I hate about being at college during springtime. A good thing about not being home every week, is that when you go home the drastic changes in the new calf crop or lamb crop is more evident. The awesome thing is, only a few weeks between spring starting and being home for the summer!

 Be sure to comment with some of your favorite things about spring on the farm!