News from the Farm – Yearning to Graze

It’s been a very hectic month of August so far.  We were able to get away for three days to the Ozarks as a family and had a blast.  We rented a condo with a full kitchen and a 24 foot pontoon boat that the kids tubed behind.  It was just like having a house right on the lake.  Well, at least until we got a call that we had cows out and had to cut the trip a day short!  Boy I’ve never heard kids squawking so loudly.  Anyway we got home, got caught up, and turned around later that week and spent three days at the Iowa State Fair where my sister and brother in law, and his brother and sister in-law, show sheep.  They have quite the operation and sell breeding stock all over the US.

As usual our time at the fair was great.  Someday we’re going to write a book about what it means to be an Iowan and one of the chapters is going to be entirely dedicated to the State Fair.  I know of no other place on this earth where one can have such wholesome family fun, learn about life, and experience nothing but happy people all in one place.  I snapped a couple of pictures while we were there, one from the Skyglider that we had to ride 4000 times! Really, 4000 times. Truly, nothing compares!

If trying to slip a little family time into the schedule wasn’t enough, we just concluded our grazing field day with world renowned grazing expert Jim Gerrish. It was a joint event we sponsored with Practical Farmers of Iowa, and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.  Jim Gerrish is a former University of Missouri Extension educator who left Missouri for the high mountains of Idaho to run a grazing and consulting business.  In the world of grazing he’s a stud!  Check out his business at www.americangrazinglands.com

What’s all the hype about grazing mean for you folks and the food you purchase from us?  It means we are taking the next step in protecting the environment in a way that no other human impact can.  Jim is doing some consulting work with us to turn our home farm into 100% grass which will eventually allow us to graze year round.  Having permanent grass on nearly every acre of our home place will allow us to improve water quality in our state, improve air quality as we use less fuel and drive fewer miles, improve the wildlife habitat, and improve our own personal quality of life.

The bottom line is the food you purchase from us to feed your families continues to get better.  Not only does it taste great, but the simple act of producing it is actually helping us to improve the environment, not to mention the social impacts we all experience doing business locally.

We all hear a lot of misinformation in the public domain, whether that’s from our neighbors, family, friends, or the media. A very wise man told me once to believe only about half of what you see and none of what you read.  While I don’t think he was exactly right, I do think he was pretty close.  The only way to be certain of what you’re eating is to get out and see for yourself.  We want to help you with that.  Please take the time to give us a call.