Lessons learned!

I have a pair of wonderful people as parents, and they taught me a lot of important things from brushing my teeth to tying my shoes, forgiveness and treating others how you want to be treated. They taught my brothers and me these things through every day parenting, their example, and on the farm.

On our small operation, I learned valuable life lessons. I learned how to effectively communicate when yelling directions across the lot (fewer words=more likely to get the message). I learned hard work and responsibility in caring for the daily needs including feed and water for my calves. I learned how to wake up early to rinse heifers and put them in the barn; a lesson I'm not fond of applying in college. I learned to be proud of what I had done, not because of an award, but because I had done my best. Finally, I learned honesty is always the best policy. I had to " 'fess up" when I had let the wrong cows out, forgotten to fill the water tank, or started the fight with my younger brother that caused a trip to the emergency room. Openly admitting what I had done, or was doing, was not easy, but I learned the importance of integrity.

The above is an ad for humane watch, an organization that is digging through all the information and gathering the facts about the Humane Society of the United States. They are looking at the integrity of an organization with a huge budget and an emotional agenda. Humane watch is doing a great job, after all, an organization with that kind of influence should be held to the same standards of honesty I learned on the farm. Thanks for what your doing Humane Watch!

'till the cows come home

Ellie