Holy Cow!!! where did June go?

This morning I got to the office and turned on my computer only to notice up at the corner the date plainly read Monday, June 28. For a second there, I actually thought that my Mac was wrong. Of course, it was right, and now I was distracted by the memories this month has brought.

On the lovely first day of June, I was driving in a car back to Nebraska from Chicago. The flight from London to Chicago had been great, but the 5 hour layover, cancelled flight back to Omaha, and a 4 hour wait to retrieve our bags, had soured everyones mood. Needless to say I spent the rest of the afternoon sleeping.

A canoe trip down the Niobrara river with my fun-loving cousins was the highlight of the first weekend in June. As the only girl cousin on that side of the family, I get my far share of teasing, but also enjoy the status of "favorite niece" among the aunts, so I can't complain much.

June provided me the opportunity to actually dig into my internship. I am working in the marketing department at Central Valley Ag, an Eastern Nebraska Co-op, check out their website here . I get to write articles and copy for mailings, do some online data capture, (and write my blog). I feel really grown up, I have my own desk, and work from 9 to 5. It's like playing pretend, except it's reality.

Of course June was also the month for beef activities. An early morning flight to Washington DC was not appreciated, however promoting beef in a neat "I 'heart' beef" shirt was a blast. It was hot, but it was a fun chance to answer consumer questions. One particular one stands out in my mind, a young man asked, "Is raising beef bad, and by bad I mean all corporate and stuff." I answered with a chuckle, and told him my small family operation was could never be described as corporate, and went on to share that 97% of all ranches and farms are family owned. With a smile and a high-five we parted ways, but I'm hoping my words will remain with him.

Doing a brief radio spot at the Food and Wine Festival in Washington D.C.

On Father's Day I celebrated with my dad by attending a cattle show. At the Nebraska Jr. Angus Show, I enjoyed showing cattle, and sharing time with beef enthusiasts, both the young and old, who also happen to be good friends.

Lastly I squeezed in some time with friends. We held a giant nerf war, (aka, 19 year olds running around in camo and face paint, shooting each other with bright yellow foam darts, and "dying" in very dramatic ways).

The Youtube video that inspired us!

My friends also touched my heart by throwing me a birthday party on June 26th. Although, my birthday isn't till July 6th, it was the closest day we would all be together. They made me a cake, and even decorated the cabin where we celebrated. It was the best birthday ever!

June flew by faster than a jet-plane, but the scary thing is July will be even busier. Stay posted for news of my birthday, the 2010 National Jr. Angus Show, and Midsummer NCBA meeting.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie

Jack of all trades!

Let's travel back in time about 10 years. I was 10 years old, enjoying a much simpler life. It was summer, softball season had just ended and I had been working on my calves to get ready for county fair. It was a warm summer evening not too much different from last night that my parents presented a choice to my brothers and I. It was: softball/baseball or showing cattle. My parents had decided the hectic summer ball schedule just didn't work with a beef project, so each of us had to decide. I'll bet you can guess what I chose. Yes, each one of us decided that we would rather show calves thanplay with a bat and ball. Each of us has admitted that part of our reasoning at that time was the belief that our parents would have been a little disappointed had we made the other choice, but now I am so glad my parents made me choose, and I 100% believe I made the right decision.

(That's Me with my last softball team, I'm in the front 2nd from the right)

I'm not saying that softball and baseball are bad sports, or that both can't be done. I had a high school friend who was very successful at both. My parents wanted their children to learn a valuable lesson. You can't do everything! Both options were good, and my parents were completely supportive of us in both, but we couldn't provide a commitment to both activities. So we had to choose, and I am still applying that lesson today.

(2 years ago showing at the National Jr. Angus Show, an opportunity we definitely wouldn't have had time for if I had still played summer ball)

There are so many great opportunities out there for young people, and it's great to see so many kids involved in different things. I think, however, this causes a problem. With so many opportunities, choices must be made, and people aren't choosing. I see folks rushing from one event to another, and missing the opportunities to grow and connect in one area. By urging us to focus on a few specific activities, my parents helped each of their children find a different passion. My older brother is the strongest showman, livestock judge, and cattleman among us. I have a passion for speaking and communicating. My younger brother is a great basketball player, and a hardworking "do-er." I have had to say no, to great opportunities throughout my life, but I have no regrets. Making one decision set me up to make many more, helping me to avoid: "Jack of all trades, master of none."

'till the cows come home,

Ellie

Fill in the Blank

"______ is the most important industry in the world." How would you fill in that blank? Perhaps it is the fashion industry, after all they provide beautiful clothing on pretty models, or the entertainment industry, they contribute movies, television, music, and enough celebrity drama to keep us amused for hours. It must be the computer/technology industry, after all, every day they are finding new ways to make our lives faster, smarter, and simpler. (This blog wouldn't be possible without that industry.) So who wins the Oscar, Pulitzer, or Nobel Peace Prize among industries.........AGRICULTURE!

That's right, kid in muddy boots, the dad in a sweat stained hat, the mom with worn leather gloves, and the grandpa in over-alls beat the well-dressed, famous, and geniuses. It seems shocking, but it's true. The life that I and so many others love to live, also feeds, clothes, and fuels the world. Each bolt of cloth (or some part of it) can be traced back to a field. Even though it doesn't seem like it, every celebrity needs to eat to perform on screen, on stage, or start a scandal. And the minds that create the computers are fueled by food raised on a farm. The world needs agriculture, just as agriculture needs the world. It's a cycle, for my family farm to continue to grow, we need consumers to eat, and in order to eat, consumers need the food we provide. It's a great relationship!

So next time you hear the phrase "factory farm" or any other anti-agriculture words, remind the individual speaking that without those farms and ranches, you would be naked and hungary!

'till the cows come home

Ellie

(happily clothed and full!)

Confessions

I have to admit something, well two things to be exact. So that it can no longer be used as blackmail, I am admitting to the world that I do not like roast beef. The only exception to that is the thinly sliced cold cut roast beef that you eat on sandwiches. I am not a fan of the sunday pot roast that my mother loves to make.

With that off my chest, I will get to the actual point of this blog, I am a bad cook. Well, maybe not a bad cook, but I'm definitely not a good cook. I like baking, but when it comes to making meals, I am a nervous wreck. I stress over what I'm grilling, broiling, or frying, and usually end with a less than satisfactory product. In fact, my family has taken to calling the things (beyond hamburger helper) that I try to cook "wanna-be's." My "wanna-be hamburgers" more closely resembled very charred versions of their cousins, meatballs.

I usually simply avoid the kitchen and let my mother prepare the greatest meals. (I have no chance of ever living up to her, and that's not just a daughter's prejudice, but cold hard fact.) Next year, however, forces me to step up to the plate, or more appropriately the stove. I am living in apartment-style housing with 3 other girls, and we are making all our own meals. I refuse to let them carry the load and cook for me, while I mooch off their skills. It is time I faced the kitchen.

This past weekend, though, I was heartened by the gift of some tools of the trade to help me on my adventure. As a gift for helping with the Nebraska Beef Ambassador contest, I gained what I am certain will become my bible for the coming year. The Healthy Beef Cook Book may be my salvation. I know how to follow a recipe, and this book has a variety of recipes, including ones I'm sure that will be simple enough for me, the culinary challenged.

Armed with a spatula, tasty and nutritious beef (probably stolen from the freezer at home), and The Healthy Beef Cook Book, I will begin a quest to create tasty meals that don't come from a box!

'till the cows come home

Ellie

Agriculture, passion no matter where you call home!

I recently returned from a two week trip to the UK. I figured this was a safe place to start studying abroad. After all, we share the same language, and have many of the same customs. I was also glad for this trip because it directly involved my field of interest, agriculture communications. Yes, this trip was going to be fun and relaxing, and navigating British culture and agriculture shouldn't be too hard!

Well, I was wrong. Believe it or not, even though we speak the same language, London is quite the melting pot of people, and each has a different accent. I can't tell you how many times I asked, "what did you say?" to a waiter or cashier. Speaking wasn't the only challenge. Any time you take this Nebraska Cowgirl out of the country, and put her in a city, she will become lost. After a few days, I mastered London's underground system, but still struggled to find my

way above ground. Many times, what should have been a ten minute trip, turned into a 20 minute journey (yes, I'm from Nebraska, we measure distance in the amount of time it takes to get to the destination.) Even cultural differences in customer service, and small town friendliness threw me for a loop. To read all the stories from the trip click here

The common ground I found on the Isle was agriculture. As we met with folks from different ag entities, I heard the same passion and excitement in their voices. They too struggle with educating their citizens about agriculture. One difference is the voice of dissenters. While here in the US we struggle against the voices that claim we are a heartless money-hungary industry, In the UK, they are trying to share that agriculture is a legitimate industry, not just hobby farmers. Other topics like organic, and local foods are relevant no matter what side of the Atlantic you're on.

It was an eye-opening journey. I learned to appreciate a warm shower and my cell phone (neither worked in the UK). The history of their country, and their agriculture is also unique and interesting. Advocating in England would be an exciting challenge, and it helped to inspire me to continue working to spread the word. Although I'm going to miss London, it's good to be back home among my cows and fields, which beat any palace or castle!

(Myself and fellow UNL students in front of Hampton Courts Palace)

'till the cows come home,

Ellie