Is everybody as tired of winter as I am? Life has been quite hectic since I last wrote. I decided to go back to Pa to attend the North American Direct Farm Marketing conference two weeks ago. This is an organization that is made up of  fellow farmers like us that direct market their products from the farm, anything from cheese, pumpkins, meat to apples. I came back with many great ideas to hopefully better serve our farm business & our customers.  I was only planning on being gone a week but much to my surprise PA was hit with 2 snow storms that totaled 50 inches of snow so my trip was extended a few days longer. I don’t think I will complain about Iowa weather ever again. While I was gone Jason & the kids did a great job of holding down the fort. 
      Last week Jason exhibited & sold 2 purebred Limousin bulls at the Iowa Beef Expo in Des Moines. He truly thrives on seeing his home raised calves grow & mature into breeding stock that another farmer wants to purchase & trusts using as a sire for their herd. Kaitlyn also showed her heifer " Wiggles" at the expo this past Sunday. "Wiggles" is the calf from her cow "Trixie", they are two of her best friends.
       The boys are having severe cabin fever. They have had way to many snow days. During this long winter they have managed to almost burn the house down, flush Jasons new tooth brush down the tiolet & set up there own Olympic gymnasium in our house. Spring has just got to arrive & soon!
       I did feel a little breath of spring today when I faxed in our pumpkin & sweet corn seed order. I cant wait to play in the dirt.
      This Sat. Feb. 27 we are doing our Des Moines winter meat drop off. Contact us if you would like more info.
   Until next time stay warm & Think Spring!, Amy

We have found so many of our customers are interested in how we farm. I am going to try to keep a monthly blog of whats going on here on our farm & with our family. I am not a writer & grammar was never a strong point of mine. Please bear with me!
     I am writing this from our office and looking out at 40mph winds blowing snow everywhere. Jason just went out the lane with the tractor & an old  silage wagon he recently bought & refurbished. He is quite proud of this latest accomplishment. Before this feeding silage was quite time consuming & this should help speed feeding chores up. The cows enjoy this treat when the pastures are frozen solid & covered with snow. Our first cows are getting ready to calve. I really hope they hold off a few more days till the winds calm down.
     The kids were left out of school early today due to the weather. Kaitlyn & Kacey are outside in the barn brushing one of her show heifers she named "Wiggles". Konrad on the other hand is a fair weather farmer & decided staying inside with mom was more appealing.
     We did a winter meat drop off to the Des-Moines area this week & had wonderful response. It amazes me that we have such wonderful customers who would give up a little of their Sat. am to come out in the rain & cold to purchase our products. If any of you are reading this THANK YOU! You help keep our dreams alive.
     Well I hope I can keep this blog current. I welcome any feedback. Till next time, stay warm & safe!

Amy