Can you believe that 2014 has begun?! 

I love new beginnings!  Its so wonderful to start with a clean slate.  I make mistakes (no one is surprised there) and although a new start doesn’t mean that past mistakes are gone, it does mean that you have the opportunity to rise above them.

Traditionally at the start of the new year we make resolutions.  I’m big on that.  Its like the ultimate year to-do list!  And unlike most of my mom to-do lists, these kind of things can’t be undone, well some at least… 

But this year I’m going for something a little different.  I heard a quote recently that we are faced with the challenge to become.  Become what, you may ask.

That is the beauty of it- you get to decide!  So maybe this year I will focus a little more on what I want to become rather than just accomplishing new things.  Life gives new avenues of adventure in the must unlikely places, places we may never have dreamt of.  And while we may have a great list of things we hope to learn or habits to make, it might not accommodate the new road we are travelling.

Now, what is it I want to become?  I’m not really sure…  I guess I’m still trying to discover what that is but I can tell you it has to do with enjoying life on the ranch more and sharing it with more people. 

I do know that I want to share it new ways with new people.

Any ideas? 

Bring it on, 2014! 

It is Christmas Eve today and all of the holiday celebrations are building to make a special Christmas morning.  The Rancher’s Sidekick is really gearing up for Santa to come and The Rancher Princess is totally into the wrapping paper, so regardless of how prepared I am it is here.

We have enjoyed the lights and the glitz and all of the fun that comes with the season, but tonight we are going to change our focus.  Tonight we want to take a few moments to talk about the significance of that day so long ago.  A small baby was born, whose life completely changed the world.

In October I posted about my spontaneous participation in the district Farm Bureau discussion meet.  This last week was the state discussion meet in Sun Valley so The Rancher and I took off a few days to play with other Young Farmer & Ranchers.

The closer we drove to Sun Valley the more exciting this got for me.  I’m passionate about ranching.  I’m passionate about having a family ranch.  I’m really passionate about sharing our family ranching story.  Ya, you know that already… Any way, this discussion meet was right up my ally- an opportunity to talk about issues we face in our agriculture community. 

The meet went really well, in fact I had several of the judges and folks from the audience tell me how well I did or that they liked my style.  After the high I was on last year I am already to do it again!

These are the questions we discussed.  I would love to hear if you have any thoughts on them!

1. How should Farm Bureau engage farmer/rancher members, representing all types and kinds of operations (i.e. conventional, organic, large, small and niche markets), to work together to better promote a more positive image of agriculture? 

2. How do we encourage young farmers and ranchers to continue to be involved in Farm Bureau?  How can young producers lead even if they don’t hold elected positions on boards? 

3. What are the best practices for youth working on farms and ranches to ensure their safety and provide them learning opportunities in the area of agriculture production?

4. US agriculture is one of the major industries for the American economy.  What can farmers do to stimulate more economic growth? 

5. How can Young Farmers & Ranchers work with elected and appointed officials to eliminate unnecessary or excessive regulations placed upon agriculture while ensuring that new regulations are justified based on their costs and anticipated benefits?

I think that I have gotten myself way in over my head, but let’s face it… that’s how I roll.  I just jump in and go with my motto “Fake it ’til you make it!” My latest jump is to make a calendar using my Rancher’s Wife photos.

Every year I look for a calendar that is more than a fat advertisement.  I want something worth hanging on my wall.  With so many fun pictures about the ranch I figured I ought to make one myself.  So I did.  And I think it turned out pretty good.  Here are a few pictures and if you want to see more, check this out.  If it fancies you, let me know and I can send one your way.  I don’t know cost yet but I’m going for not very much.

This really is one of my favorite times of year.  I’m not entirely sure why but there is something about the chill in the air, the anticipation of this holiday season and celebrating with friends and family.  It comes after the push of the fall work- weaning, sorting, hauling, selling, vaccinating, preg checking…  (did I miss anything?!).  There is also the farming to do and some fencing and then the winter prep.  But all of this is coming as a result of a good calf crop and a blessed harvest.

Isn’t it wonderful how inspired the first Thanksgiving-ers (I made that up) were to set a day aside to give thanks for their blessings after the harvest season.  Actually that really is how the story goes; the pilgrims had been devastated with sickness and starvation as they reached America.  They may not have made it had a few Native Americans put aside any differences and taught them skills to survive the new land.  It was after their first corn harvest that their leader declared that they all share in a celebration of fasting and thanksgiving.

There have been other distinguishable times in our country’s history that leaders proclaimed it a time of fasting and thanksgiving, primarily after or in the midst of great trials.  In fact it was during the Civil War that President Lincoln officially declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. 

I love looking into the history of this holiday, to see what was intended for this holiday.  It was quite religious, so much so that they fasted rather than feasted.  I hope that I, personally, haven’t strayed from its heritage.  No, I didn’t fast but I hope that my thanksgiving was honorable.  Of course we are able to add our own traditions to help it be more meaningful for each of us, but are we still celebrating and cherishing our blessings as we should? 

So after another great year of blessings, a healthy family, a good harvest, and a home full of love and happiness, I want to give thanks to family, to the legacy we live, and mostly to a loving Father in Heaven.

If you know me you can attest that I really like to have a plan, with whatever I am doing.  I do like a little spontaneity but I like the dance-to-the-radio-in-the-parking-lot kind of spontaneous. 

Last night we had a Young Famer and Rancher meeting where they did their annual district discussion meet.  When we got there the man in charge was looking for more people to participate in the discussion meet that night.  The Rancher and I told him that we would do it, only if he was desperate for people jump in.

After two rounds of questions that we didn’t have any answers for or any examples prepared we were done.  I thought it was something we would just get to chalk up it up to experience.  I was more excited for the door prizes they were passing out than the results.  But then they finally came to it. 

And I got 3rd place!  I was so shocked when they called my name I just turned to The Rancher to make sure it was really me.  The greatest part of all this means that we have a free trip to Sun Valley for the state discussion meet.  It also means I have a lot of work to do… YAHOO!

In November the Idaho Cattle Association has an annual event of meetings and greetings for its members.  The few days there are filled with all types of information to help cowboys and ranchers keep making it year after year.  I recently learned that they also have a photo contest for its members, perfect for me to enter a few shots in. 

Once again I want your help in picking some to enter. 

The categories are: COWBOY CHARACTERS, THE COWBOY EXPERIENCE, COWBOY HUMOR, RANGES & LANDSCAPES, and CATTLE & HORSES.

Please, please comment below the posts of your favorite pictures.  Its folks like you and me that are voting, not an actual judge so I want YOUR opinions. 

Thanks, Friends!