This one's for the girls!

Traditionally agriculture seems to be a man's world, but if you look closely, you will see that strong, intelligent, amazing women who work just as hard to feed the world. I know so many great ladies in the Agriculture sector who run the ranch or business, and my family is no exception. Although I can't lift as much as my brothers, we work as a team to get the work done. This is an important lesson I learned from a woman who lead by example.

My mom is the key influencer when it came to Angus cattle in our family. It was her father who had the ranch and herd of black cattle that started it all. As the youngest, mom had an extra reason to work just as hard as her older siblings. She loved the ranch life, and passed that passion onto her siblings. That strength didn't just stay on the farm though, she carried it with her to college. My mom decided to become an Ag lender even though it was a predominately male field. She worked hard and I'm proud of all she has accomplished.

The coolest part of all is that Mom's story isn't unique. Her passion and strength is the same thread that has weaved its way through the tales of cowgirls for generations. These gals have inspired me, and I can't wait and see what we will accomplish in the future.

PS: The clip above is from an recent episode of I Am Angus, watch the whole episode.

'till the cows come home,
Ellie

Terrified

Yup, too scary for this kid.

As my roommates sit watching the Halloween classic, "Hocus Pocus" I shocked them all my sharing that I had never seen the movie. Well, I had seen the first ten minutes in 3rd grade at a friend's party, but decided it was too scary for me and spent the rest of the movie hiding anywhere away from the TV. Yeah, I'm a scardy cat.

I've always been afraid of quite a few things, from spiders to heights to dark trees and my brothers jumping out at me. It stems from the overactive imagination of my childhood. The same mind that helped me create endless adventures a Laura Ingalls Wilder or Jo March, also pictured scary murderers or terrifying monsters in the dark around our farm. To this day, I can't sleep after a scary movie unless I watch something funny first.

The best way to calm my fears was to actively take part in eliminating the cause of them, whether squishing a bug or shining a flashlight into every dark corner. As I've grown older some of my fears have changed. While I am still wary of heights and my siblings, I'm now worried and fear some aspects of the future.

If I'm honest my biggest fear is change for the worse. That the world of the future won't hold the same opportunities for future generations that I am able to enjoy now. The solution to this problem is the same as my childhood fears, do something about it! I choose to speak out about the issues that matter most, whether its politics, society, or agriculture, the best way to eliminate my fear is to take an active role. Staying involved means I can make certain the future is bright, and my fears don't become reality.

'till the cows come home,
Ellie

A single starfish

Many people have heard the starfish story. For those that haven't please read it before continuing. Now I feel the same warm fuzzies that everyone else does when reading the tale of one young person saving starfish lives, but applying the principle is a challenge.

You see, I live in the generation that has both the passion and the arrogance to believe it can change the world. We want to see sweeping change in politics, religion, our work force, and so many other areas. Having grown up hearing success stories of individuals who made those types of drastic changes, we wholeheartedly believe we can do the same.

I have seen the same idea among young advocates for agriculture. We want to tell our stories and make everyone join our cause and share our passion for feeding the world. However, we do not live in history books. Those who have made the great changes of the world had no idea of their influence. They were simply going about their business and tossing the starfish that came into their lives.

Today I shared coffee with a friend who did not grow up on a farm. After joking about hipsters and Whole Foods, the discussion turned to my feelings about HSUS. As I told my story with passion on my face, she explained that she understood, she may not tell all her friends how great ag is, but she did listen. I love blogging and Facebook as much as the next millennial, but engaging in a friendly conversation held greater meaning than any post or comment.

No matter what your passion is, sharing it is about conversation, not persuasion. Arguments get society nowhere, while open and honest conversation builds relationships. I may never reach hundreds of people with my blog, but I will and can have one face-to-face talk that makes all the difference.

'till the cows come home,
Ellie

Living the Dream

The American Angus Association in Saint Joseph, Mo.

At age 6 I had one dream: to be a country music "singer." I even wrote and illustrated a story about how everyone told one girl that she couldn't become a country superstar and she proved them wrong. As I got older, I realized that my book would remain fiction, but that didn't mean I had to let go of every dream.

This summer I fulfilled another long-time dream. I was an intern at the American Angus Association in the Public Relations/Communications department. Getting to work for the Association was the familiar dream, but I had no idea how challenging and fun it would be to work with the PR team. They let me be a part of everything: from new ad ideas to television shoots, writing press releases and snapping thousands of pictures. I learned so much, but two very important things stand out to me.

First, I'm in the right field for me. Before this experience I was uncertain and nervous about what a job in ag communications would be like. I had a bit of fear that I wouldn't like working in an office or writing. After spending the summer writing 36 releases and having a blast in the office in Saint Joseph, I now feel more confident about what the future will bring.

Second, jump in and do everything. I was pretty familiar with Angus having grown up in the NJAA and raising my own Angus herd. I decided early on to be a "yes girl". Whatever needed done, whatever experience was presented, I would say yes. As a result, I not only got to know my co-workers better, but also got to travel to Tennessee and be a helpful part of the National Junior Angus Show.

There are so many stories I could tell here, from t-boning a coworker on a go-kart track to shopping for an TV interview table in a furniture store, and the 2 hours I spent waiting at a FedEx/Kinkos. The entire summer was an excellent experience and I thank the Association and the PR team for letting me live a dream. I'll keep holding out for a Nashville record deal. 

'till the cows come home,
Ellie

Photoception and Blogception (A blog about blogging)

A photo of me taking a photo (photoception) during my sweet internship

It's been more than a month since I last blogged.  My only excuse: I have a super awesome, amazing, fun, exciting, challenging, (insert more positive adjectives) internship that keeps me busy.  However, during this hiatus I have been pondering the facts of life, and one of those facts is my motivation behind blogging.

I started blogging in 2010 because I wanted to share my passion for agriculture.  That message still comes through loud and clear (I hope).  At my heart, I'm a farm girl who wants to let everybody know how great it is to be involved in the industry that feeds the world.  Specifically, I've blogged about the cattle I raise and the issues I think are important to the industry.

Then I developed an ulterior motive. Blogging is a great way for me to practice more writing.  My blog is informal, but it shows that I have the dedication to keep a project going and that I seriously enjoy writing. I started including it on my resume and referencing it in my interviews.

Finally I love telling stories.  This blog provides a platform for me to do that.  It's not a diary or a journal, but rather a way for me to share ideas and thoughts without forcing them on my wonderful friends all the time.  So I blog, not to gain more followers and friends, but to tell stories. Some of them agriculture related, some of them not. So if you are looking for a way to write, tell stories, and have a little fun start a blog.  Don't worry about the number of people who read it, instead focus on simply sharing your voice.

(here's an awesome link I saw today and absolutely agree with)

'till the cows come home,
Ellie

LOUD NOISES, I Don't Know What We are Yelling About!

I have a reputation for being loud.  It's the result of a deadly combination: bad hearing and a passionate personality.  Since those elementary school years, I have been told to use my inside voice, a skill I still have yet to master.  Like every other person on the planet, I want to be heard.

One of the perks of my job is the chance to research and read articles about the beef industry for the weekly TV show we produce.  While reading about everything from the hay season to the cattle market, I came across a variety of articles that had some very interesting responses in the comment section.  I love reading the comments because it is a place of raw discussion.  As I read, there were so many comments that condemned the beef industry.  Phrases like evil, heartless, corporate greed, and poison were used to describe the people who work hard to raise cattle.  More upsetting though, were the responses from the people who farm and ranch.  Their phrases like ungrateful idiot, mindless hippie, and selfish disgusting human being broke my heart.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE agriculture, raising cattle, and the people that make up this great community, but we are hurting ourselves by attacking those who question us or disagree with us.  Fighting fire with fire will only get us burned.  We as a community need to stop pointing fingers and demanding "boycotts" and start listening.  It's hard, I know to have someone attack not only your business, but your way of life, but it's time to turn the other cheek.

So how to hold your temper? When commenting on a blog or other site, I try to keep my "argument" portion down to one or two sentences.  This keeps me from getting myself more riled, and saying things I regret.  Secondly, I always post my name.  This holds me accountable for what I say knowing that someone who Googles me could see that comment.  Finally, I always finish by offering the opportunity to contact me with any questions via my blog or Twitter.

Keep your passion alive, but add to it.  Make listening an important part of spreading the word about agriculture.  We aren't a perfect industry, so we need to be held accountable for our mistakes and problems. We are largely good people who mean well.  Let's become the industry with a reputation for standing above petty fighting, and cultivating honest meaningful discussion.

'till the cows come home,
Ellie

Eye in the sky

The EPA has some 'splaining to do!

If you're not involved in agriculture you probably have no idea what the letters EPA stand for.  If you do happen to know the Environmental Protection Agency by it's full name, then you probably don't understand this blog post.  I must be some kind of crazy person if I don't believe the environment needs protecting.

We need to take care of our planet, after all it's the only one we can live on (for now), and I don't even mind that a government entity keeps an eye on the organizations whose business affects the environment.  I do have a problem with their methods.

Last week all of Nebraska's congressmen sent a letter to the director of the EPA demanding answers.  The problem: The EPA has been doing fly-over inspections of feedlots in Nebraska.  This has resulted in privacy concerns, and overall uneasiness among beef producers, and I don't blame them.

The EPA has been doing these fly-overs without authority.  There is no rule that allows this invasion of privacy. The number of head a cattle producer has is the equivalent of dollars in the bank.  So imagine my non-ag friends, that Uncle Sam is peeking into your bank account without your permission, or even the authority to do so.  Hopefully you can understand why I'm more than a little peeved.

Finally, you can't evaluate all the activities of a place from the air.  The EPA definitely has some explaining to do.  They are part of a government that is only as strong as the people they govern, so they have to answer to those people for their actions.  Without accountability, we no longer have a democracy.

'till the cows come home,
Ellie

You Only Live Once

Esconia, a cutie from the orphanage

One girl's reaction to sour warheads 

recitations in church

playing UNO, they knew the English colors before I knew the Creole ones

Class goes from 7:30 to Noon 

A black cow in Haiti, I don't think he would make CAB :)

Abdus, a fun guy who was a little shy at first

At the beach, it wasn't all work and no play

The village that was home to the orphanage

Before I get thrown under the bus for using one of pop culture's new meaningless phrases, I believe it truly applies here.  The week after finals were finished, I hopped on a plane with 12 fellow college students, 2 church leaders and 1 dentist.  Our flight was bound for Haiti (well not really Haiti, more like Houston then Miami, then Haiti).  It was fun, amazing, eye-opening experience, and because this is a blog, not a novel, I thought I'd share 5 things I learned.

1. When God says "go" you go. I had been rolling the idea of Haiti around in my mind for a few months, but wasn't quite sure I wanted to go.  After all, I'd rather go have fun over Christmas break in Australia on a study abroad trip, I didn't have my summer plans nailed down yet, and my mother wasn't too keen on the idea. It just seemed easier to stay home, but I couldn't simply dismiss this trip. I began to consider what I know about God, so I started praying.  Because I am often stubborn and blind, I prayed, "Lord make your will about this trip so obvious that I can't miss it." The week after I started praying, I saw a friend of mine who was going on the trip three times.  Now this may not seem amazing, but until that week, I saw Andrew maybe once a semester or so.  He couldn't stop telling me that I had to go on this trip.  Well, you don't say no to Andrew, and definitely not to God, so to Haiti I went.

2. The Lord provides.  I'm not a big small child person.  Don't get me wrong, I think they are really cute, and wonderful, but I'm not always comfortable around them.  When we pulled into the orphanage and hopped out of the back of the pick-up, I became a kid person.  Every school child was gathered waiting to greet us.  After about 5 sets of hands reached out to take mine, my heart melted. It's still a pile of mush when I think about those kids.

3. Worrying really is unnecessary.  Haitians live simply.  Their life is about daily doing what God asks of them today.  They trust God fore everything, they never truly know when the next aid is coming, but that's OK.  They keep caring for the kids.  Scary things happened right outside the orphanage in the week, namely, a riot and a shooting, but honestly I wasn't concerned.  God could handle it.  If he can handle all that, then he certainly has control in my life

4. Teamwork is more about attitude than anything else.  The kids at the orphanage truly worked together.  From the oldest to the youngest.  At least once a day about eight kindergartners would carry a bench down the hill into their classroom.  They did everything together, and sure there were disagreements, but it was the result of truly being together.  No matter what the project, the good of the whole was always more important than one person's needs.  That isn't always my attitude.  I see a team as a means to an end, not a way to care for people.

5. Praying is not about "give me that".  We committed a week to kids, took suitcases full of donations, and one of the only English phrases they knew was "give me that."  They would point to watches, sunglasses, and anything else and ask for it.  It wasn't that these kids were selfish or ungrateful, they just couldn't see the big picture of why we Americans were there.  Which my friend and fellow traveler Sarah pointed out as a metaphor for how we pray.  I ask God for a laundry list of wants, while completely missing the big picture of his plan.

So that's my story.  God only gives us one life, and how we spend it is up to us.  I chose to take a leap of faith and serve, and God blessed me greatly through it.  I recommend everyone take a leap!

'till the cows come home,
Ellie

Cows (the kind without spots)

Ever have an experience that just seems to fit?  It's not perfect, but it's exciting, dynamic, and so completely "you."  I'm living one of those right now.  I'm currently the public relations and communications intern at the American Angus Association, and three days in, it just feels right.  

Angus cows have always been a part of my life.  From checking cows in the pasture with dad, tasting the salt and mineral, to National Junior Angus Shows, and the ever-present Angus Journal.  Angus is a part of my history, and right now, a very active part of my summer.  

Making the most of every moment, is the advice graduation speeches are made of, but it's the truth, and my plan.  Meeting people, working hard, and learning are a part not only of this internship, but part of life.  It's the way to live.  After all, those annoying cheesy people are right You do Only Live Once.

P.S. Next week I'll have my Haiti pictures to share.
P.P.S. You can read my first writing for the American Angus Association here.

Define shower...

This is my friend Bailey, she went on last year's trip!

It's hard to believe that in one week I'll be at the House of Hope ministry in Haiti.  This orphanage will be home for me and 14 other Nebraskans for a whole week.  This winter I felt called by God to serve him somehow before I went into my senior year of college, and this opportunity was the perfect fit.

While there we will be doing a little bit of everything.  The word of the trip will be flexible and that's exactly what the group plans to do.  There will be days of manual labor: building, painting, and gardening, and there will be days of social labor: worshiping, encouraging, and playing.  Beyond that, we will follow where God directs our group.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, so my big prayer for the trip is patience and graciousness.  I'm praying that God keep my heart open to see the big things and not be distracted by the lack of electricity or showers.  The farm girl lifestyle has prepared me to get down and dirty and work hard, but God will need to silence my complaining, and keep me focused on serving.  He alone will keep me joyful as I clean up with a bucket and rag at the end of the day.

If you're reading this please join me in prayer.  Pray for my attitude and those of my fellow travelers.  Ask God to keep us focused on his tasks not our own.  That we would remain patient and considerate of one another is important not only for the group, but for our ability to work effectively for the Kingdom. Thanks in advance for your prayers.

So, there probably won't be blog posts for the next two weeks, but please keep me in your prayers and I promise to do a post full of photos and stories when I get back from this great adventure.

'till the cows come home,
Ellie

Told ya so mom!

2012 UNL NAMA Presentation Team

There wasn't a blog post last week because I was at the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) conference. In the three years I have been at college, I have never met as many new people, had as much fun, or learned as much from a conference. At every session, I felt surrounded by people who were doing what I want to do once I graduate. Marketing agriculture and sharing the story of the greatest industry on earth. I collected business cards from so many cool places and am actually excited to graduate!

A year ago, that would not have been my sentiments. I was disappointed that I hadn't gotten an internship, and was feeling insecure about my future. After all, if I couldn't get an internship, how was I supposed to get a job? Thankfully God had a plan, and the summer was great. This weekend after telling my mom about the conference, she reminded me of how I got where I am today.

Telling stories has always been my forte. As the middle child, to get any attention I had to be loud, passionate, and interesting. I didn't realize that could become a career until I was a junior in high school. During the summer, I got the opportunity to write for a National Jr. Angus Association publication called "The Scoop." There, I fell in love with telling agriculture stories, and decided my major would be ag communications. My parents were less than thrilled, encouraging me to pair something more "marketable" with my dream. Read here (on the 2nd Page) about how I changed their minds. Long story short, I enrolled in 2009 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with an agricultural journalism major with and advertising and public relations emphasis.

It is great to be able to prove to my parents that my dream is not only feasible, but in demand! I have had to be creative and take positions outside of my field (like bank teller), but knowing there is a future in my area is exciting. Today agriculture is growing, and I am proud to be a part of this industry. If you're a youngster not sure what the future holds, take a good long look at ag careers. In this business dreams CAN come true!
'till the cows come home,

Ellie


A Bit of News: I will be the Public Relations/Communications Intern for the American Angus Association this summer, and couldn't be more excited!

"The Best Day Ever!"

Lauren is pretty pumped about the baby calf!

Today was a great day.  Husker Food Connection happened today.  It was the culmination of hard work by students from a variety of different clubs in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at UNL.  At the beginning of the semester, we decided it was time that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have its own agvocacy event on campus.  After all the planning and promoting, today we took to the aptly named "city campus" to share agriculture's story with students.

I'll admit I wasn't positive that we would attract much attention.  Although a tractor, mechanical bull, giant plastic milk cow, free food, piglets, and a dairy calf are hard to miss, I wasn't sure my fellow students cared.  I was wrong! We served more than 1000 people before 1 p.m.  My day was spent chatting with many fellow students who were excited about all the activities. One person in particular made my day.

My friend Lauren stopped by after the food was gone, but her eyes lit up as soon as I said the words "baby calf."  She practically dragged me over to the exhibit to get the chance to pet the soft Holstein.  She was ecstatic about the calf, and when I mentioned baby pigs, she said, "This is like the best day ever! Two different kinds of baby farm animals!" As I picked up the piglet for her to marvel at the tiny nose, and the bristly hair, I realized I take my experiences for granted.

From a young age I have had some unique experiences.  Working with baby pigs in my grandpa's farrowing barn, pulling a baby calf and helping it nurse for the first time, riding in a combine, and eating beans right from the field.  I never thought about how exciting and important these opportunities were.  Today Lauren reminded me that the simple things I took for granted really were amazing.

As the day wound down, I realized how great it was to have ag students sharing with fellow students the experiences that are part of their everyday lives.  That's how we truly advocate for agriculture, by sharing with each friend and family member what raising food is all about!

'till the cows come home,
Ellie

Culture, Cattle, and Conversations

"The survival of a farmer depends on the cooperation of others in the community.  But a herdsman is off by himself.  Farmers also don't have to worry that their livelihood will be stolen in the night, because crops can't easily be stolen unless, of course, a thief wants to go to the trouble of harvesting an entire field on his own.  A herdsman does have to worry.  He's under constant threat of ruin through the loss of his animals.  So he has to be aggressive: he has to make it clear, through his words and deeds that he is not weak.  He has to be willing to fight in response to even the slightest challenge to his reputation--ant that's what a 'culture of honor' means. It's a world where a man's reputation is at the center of his livelihood and self-worth." -Malcom Gladwell "Outliers"

When I first read that paragraph it was a light bulb moment.  I thought about all the cattlemen I know, and realized that this culture has shaped much of our traditions.  Yes, many cattlemen are very connected to their communities, but culturally, we are proud of our independence and value our reputations.  

Tonight, I attended a meeting at UNL entitled "Bridging the Gap." There we heard from Anne Burkholder and a lady named Linda.  Linda was an HSUS member and came to discuss her view of animal agriculture.  When she began accusing a fellow student of being "brainwashed by your heritage," I got mad.  Not a little upset, but more like Kramer from Seinfeld angry.  

I'm very proud of who I am, and my heritage is very close to my heart.  This creates a roadblock for me and many other people who want to engage in conversations with consumers.  Instead of hearing their concerns, we hear attacks on the way of life we love, and respond with arguments.  It's a part of who we are, but that doesn't mean we can't change.  

Yelling at Linda would not have made her listen.  Being defensive only frustrates both parties.  Anne offered a great solution.  Listen to understand, not to respond.  Begin every conversation with the genuine desire to not just hear their opinions, but to truly appreciate what they believe.  Sometimes moving forward and sharing the story of agriculture means challenging your culture.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie  

P.S. Linda turned out to be an actress, who was actually our state director for Ag In the Classroom, and man she was good.  She had me completely fooled!

The Best Medicine

I took last week off, because I was in Chicago on spring break. It was just what I needed: a trip filled with friends, adventures, and above all else: laughter. Laughing is my second favorite activity. (It is narrowly beat by talking). Laughter is a miracle cure for life. Stress, anger and even exhaustion can disappear with a chuckle.


The bus ride to the Windy City took about nine hours. We had tickets to a comedy troupe called Second City at 8:30 that night. As we approached our destination, we realized there wouldn't be enough time to stop at the hotel and make the show. Second City kindly accommodated us by offering to stow our luggage until the show was over, but that meant navigating public transportation, in a new city, while lugging suitcases. By the time we arrived, nobody wanted to laugh. As we sat in the audience, I was afraid that this night would turn out to be a bust.

The show was hilarious. The improv was snappy and the jokes current and clever. Laughter caused the travel fatigue to melt away and ten happy Nebraskans made their way to the hotel. The same thing happened today when my class was discussing the charged issue of stereotypes. In the middle of class, the professor decided to show a clip from "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." After the clip, the class was at ease, and the conversation was better for it.

I don't claim to be a funny person, but I always love to laugh. Tickling somebody else’s funny bone ignites my own chuckles, so I take every opportunity to make people laugh. To spark conversation or cheer up a stranger, a funny anecdote is the key ingredient. Before attempting to tackle tough issues in agriculture, or any other discussion with friends or neighbors, have a laugh first. No body can be mad and giggle at the same time. A secret my little brother knows all too well.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie

How to survive a horror film.

Scary movies are awful. I'm not simply saying that because I'm a chicken who is easily scared. My biggest problem with horror films is that most of the characters are idiots. With some critical thinking, most individuals could determine that it's probably a bad idea to go off alone, or to investigate a strange noise unarmed.


This weekend an image popped up on my Yahoo homepage. Like most weird pictures on the web, I assumed it was a gimmick to get people to do more than check their email on the site. I didn't take the time to read the article, but went about my business. Little did I know that agriculture was about to be attacked by the "Pink Slime."

The image of a Play-Doh pink substance coming from a factory pipe made me sick to my stomach. It certainly didn't look appetizing. With some research I discovered the stuff was lean beef trimmings treated with ammonium hydroxide, a chemical that eliminates pathogens like E Coli and Salmonella. By the way, the picture shown with most of the articles wasn't even beef, but chicken (although that's a whole other issue).

It's a classic case of misinformation coming from sources removed from the process and the industry. An ABC news blog was posted on my wall as an argument against the industry. The post contradicted itself calling the substance fat, but then explaining the process as trimmings heated so the fat is separated from the product. Most of the media coverage focused on how gross this stuff seems, and not on the science behind it.

Lean Beef Trimmings are used in school lunches because it can basically be guaranteed safe. Is it pretty? No, it most definitely is not. The bigger issue is the media explosion. Very little science and fact was placed in the various written pieces. Articles on Drovers Cattle Network, and the blog posted by a beef processor were attacked for being "biased sources." The key to this coverage was determining facts and science from opinion and here-say.

Critical thinking is necessary no matter what media you are viewing, whether it's a network news broadcast or an industry article. Using your brain is important when reading articles and trying to survive a horror film.

Big gloves to fill

Coming up this weekend, my family will again be attending a cattle show. This meant the past weekend was spent loading up the trailer with the fan, show box, chute, and side panels. As I was the kid at home, I got the chance to help do all the heavy lifting. As we began the work, I realized, like a newbie, I had forgotten my gloves. My dad, ever the hero, insisted I take his. As I slipped the worn leather onto my fingers, I realized there was no way I was ever going to fill these gloves.


My parents’ generation lived many experiences in agriculture. They have seen technology revolutionize the way we breed and feed cows. Farmers and ranchers worked the tough times like the 1980s and saw the rewards in later decades. These are the folks who have adopted not only the technology of the personal computer, but also embraced social media. In addition to all that, they have fed a growing world.

It makes me nervous. The older I get, the more I appreciate my parents and their peers. I stand in awe of all they have accomplished, and wonder where we go from here. Don't get me wrong, I know that agriculture has many issues on its plate, but I wonder is my generation up for the challenge. Are we willing to work hard, and think outside the box like those before us?

We shut the door on the trailer and I handed the gloves back to dad. After all, I was simply borrowing them. I have my own that fit quite nicely. We as a generation of farmers, ranchers, and allied industry professionals have our own gloves too. As we begin to take leadership roles in the industry we must respect and honor those who have done so much, but we must also forge our own way. Find the place where your hands fit best, and put them to work.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie

Thou shalt not...

I have 10 Facebook commandments that keep me from becoming a stereotype on the increasingly popular social network. It's important not only to keep my friends from hating me, but also to keep my grandmother, and potential employers from being dismayed by what they see on my profile. So here are the contents of my stone tablets.


1. Thou shalt not post more than one status a day (unless it's a need to know event): No one needs to know every thought that's "on your mind" throughout a day. Keep it to one, unless something happens that you need to let mass numbers of people know about. Videos, photos and links are free game.

2. Thou shall tag as you wish to be tagged: When uploading photos only tag photos in which you would be happy to be the subject of said tag. If you still want to tag something embarrassing, adjust the security settings and keep the photo between your close group of friends.

3. Thou shalt not make out with your boyfriend in your profile picture: I haven't had to deal with this one yet, but I have solemnly sworn to never commit it. Yes, I'm sure people are happy that you are in a relationship, but a smiling with arms-around-each-other picture communicates the same message as making out.

4. Honor the groups by keeping them focused: Facebook groups are my favorite. I've got one for spring break, campus clubs I'm in, school projects, and even just one of funny people. Groups always have a purpose. No matter what that purpose is, honor it. Don't get distracted by posting random items (or self promotion) to the group.

5. Thou shalt not swear on my wall: I like to keep my page classy. While I'm not ultra conservative about what I post (after all, I am a college student), I still have a reputation to uphold. I also don't keep my security settings on lock down. I'd like to get a job someday that involves social media, and want to be proud to show off my savvy.

6. Thou shalt not make me gag with your romantic posts: I get it; you love each other. What I don't get is your need to say goodnight, or I love you EVERY DAY. Please do the single ladies (and guys) a favor and send that message via text. Posting once a week or adding something cleverly sweet is completely permissible.

7. Thou shalt not be vague: A passive aggressive status is only allowed if it's funny or specific. An "I hate the world." or "My friends suck." status only makes me think that you are mad at me and adds more stress to my life. If you have a problem there are plenty of people that are just a phone call away. Do your friends a favor, and take advantage of your phone contacts.

8. Thou shalt not friend someone you haven't met in person: I have met each and every one of my Facebook friends at least once. They all aren't my best friends, but they at least seen my living breathing body. I have improved many of these relationships through Facebook, but I would like to meet you before I "friend" you.

9. Thou shalt share funny stories: The reason we are Facebook friends is that I like you. I want to hear about your life, especially the funny things that happen in it. Don't be embarrassed to share the times in your day that would make me laugh.

10. Thou shalt offer common courtesy via the web: Be respectful. Facebook isn't any different from the elementary school playground. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Feel free to cleverly mock, but real hostility will not be tolerated.

So there you have it, the commandments I try to live by.  Like the real ones, I sometimes break them, but do my best to uphold the law.

'till the cows come home,
Ellie

 

"Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve."

It's FFA week, and the blue and gold is near and dear to my heart. It's just one of the many youth organizations I was involved with in the past. Organizations like FFA, 4-H, and the National Jr. Angus Association use the medium of agriculture to teach young people hard work and leadership. While not all the people involved in these organizations go on to careers in ag, all do use the lessons they learned in life.


These organizations wouldn't be able to function without the volunteers. A study by the Beef Check-off revealed that nearly 1/2 of all cattle farmers and ranchers volunteer with youth organizations and more than 1/3 donate their time to other civic organizations. That's great percentages, especially compared with a national average of only 7%.


I know the 50%, they were my 4-H leaders, FFA contest judges, and NJAA advisors. People, who had ranches and businesses to care for, chose to take the time to invest in youth. By helping me and my peers succeed, they showed that they value the future generations. Their encouragement and advice inspired me to work hard and achieve. The best way I can thank them is to pass it on.


We all owe someone our gratitude; after all, nobody makes it on their own. Taking the time and effort to give back isn't hard; it simply involves some sacrifice. A sacrifice somebody made for us, and one we can make for the future.

Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve.

You don't have to have a college degree to serve.

You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve.

You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.  

- Martin Luther King Jr.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie   

I love you, because you're into zombies.

As a single gal, I don't hate Valentine's Day. Instead of dwelling on what I don't have, I simply choose to love the things and people that are in my life right now. I love them (and the chocolate they bring).


1. Jesus Christ-The Lord daily and richly provides everything I need for this body and life. In addition to saving my soul, Christ has blessed me with a happy spirit, and so many other gifts.

2. My Family-My mom never failed to have a card and chocolate for us at breakfast on V-day, now it's a good morning text from both her and daddy, and even one from my awesome older brother too. I have a great family that I love to work, laugh, and live alongside.

3. The Usuals- That group of friends who always have time for a chat, a cup of coffee, and any adventure. I love the rides from the airport, silly bug valentines, and the shenanigans our creative minds initiate. We are never too old to have fun.

4. The Challengers- These friends challenge me to try new things and think outside the box. I've met them at church and in the j-school, and I love how they expand my world and help me grow. Whether it's watching a new show, or taking a trip to Haiti, I'll never regret the adventures with them.

5. The Aggies- East Campus is the home of these friends. They share my love of agriculture and would never mock me for my passion. Bus rides are more pleasant with these folks to share "cattle conversations" with me.

6. The Mentors- Another diverse group. I wouldn't be anywhere without the people that offer constructive criticism and sound advice. From professors, to professionals, to lovely-hearted ladies, they all have taken the time to teach me, and for that I'll forever be indebted to them.

7. The Mentees- I won't kid myself, the younger people in my life teach me more than I could ever teach them. Their lightheartedness reminds me that being old isn't all it's cracked up to be.

8. The Readers/Followers- These are the folks that read my blog or follow me on social media. It's nice to know that somebody out there is reading my words. Sometimes I feel discouraged about my writing, so the support these folks show is priceless.

9. Cattle Enthusiasts- Now that my show days are over, I appreciate these people even more. They shared the show rings, barns, and summer days with me. These folks will be my future colleagues in the cattle world, and I can't wait.

10. The Legacies- I've never met most of the people who have had an impact on my life, but their passion and character has influenced me through the impact they left behind.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie

P.S.The title of this post comes from a silly song that can be found here (it's your reward for reading the whole blog)

 

Water in the bunk

The cows have to eat, so we have to scoop!

As the stubborn independent middle child, I often listen to what my mother says, and then do the opposite. She warned me a week ago, that coming home might be a bad idea, as Nebraska was set to get a winter storm over the weekend. I glanced at the radar, and with all the expertise of one climatology class, decided to head home anyway. Friday afternoon I teased her about "all the snow" (which was none) that I had to drive through on my way home.


Then Saturday came, as I awoke and glanced out the window, my teasing was silenced. We had gotten more than 11 inches of snow. Like so many other ranch families, I donned my long underwear, pants, and coveralls and headed out the door. My dad manned the tractor and began clearing the driveways around the place while my mother and I scooped bunks so the cattle could eat. While scooping each long stretch I remembered a lesson learned not too long ago.

My brothers and I were not big fans of scooping. One time we decided not the clear the snow out of the entire bunk, and instead to simply clear a single section for our show calves. I'm not sure whether my dad never noticed that the bunk wasn't entirely clear, or that he wanted us to learn a lesson. Weeks later when the snow melted, we had a problem on our hands. Instead of clearing the precipitation in its scoop-able form, we now had a huge puddle that nearly covered the entire feeding space. Getting the water out of the bunk took a lot more work and creativity than not scooping earlier saved

A job half-done doesn't always result in immediate consequences. It may never cost money, time, or effort, but the water in the bunk serves me as a real reminder that a job worth doing is worth doing right.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie

You don't look like an ag major

I can't keep quiet in my ethics class, correction, I can't keep quiet anywhere. Every Tuesday and Thursday I shoot my hand up into the air to weigh in on all sorts of issues, from fairness to politics. Today after class the guy sitting next to me said, "You sure know a lot about different stuff, what's your major?" I had him fooled by my supposed knowledge, and shocked him further when I answered with agricultural journalism. His response wasn't surprising, "well you sure don't look like an ag major"


Dressed in a pink dress, zebra scarf, and black cardigan, I couldn't argue with him. I certainly didn't have on the East Campus Uniform of jeans, boots, and t-shirt. It got me to thinking about the people in my life I stereotype. That guy with thick glasses, flannel shirt, and tight jeans is either a lumberjack, or more likely a hipster. The gal in the bright t-shirt, leggings, and ugg boots has to belong to a sorority. I can't complain about stereotypes when I pigeonhole people myself.

I would like to be judged by what I do and say. That's what everybody in the agriculture sector should want. Sometimes, what we do or say can be negative or hurtful when we jump to conclusions about, "the idiots who are vegetarian", "those naive souls who want organic food", and "evil animal rights activists". It's ok to disagree with someone, and want that someone to be educated, but when we in Ag focus on slinging mud instead of educating the public, we lose our credibility.

Anyone who supports the elimination of animal agriculture will never get my support, nor will they earn my hatred. It is a serious matter, but one I plan to combat by telling and re-telling the positive stories like Debbie's and my own rather then throwing dirt. After all, I wouldn't want to get my dress dirty.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie

My Worthless Degree

The tools of my trade! 

Last Thursday an article appeared on the Yahoo! webpage entitled "College Majors That Are Useless." Right at the top of their list was agriculture.  The funny thing is that on most lists about less than desirable majors, journalism takes the top spot.  The most laughable matter though, was the explanation for agriculture's position. The author explained that because farms are consolidating, the need for farm managers was decreasing and would continue to do so, because everybody knows the only thing you can do with and Ag degree is manage a farm.

This isn't the first time I've had to defend my major.  When I was a junior in high school, I began contemplating what I wanted to do after graduation.  For the past two summers, I had worked on a publication at the National Jr. Angus Show entitled "The Scoop."  This was essentially a newspaper for the young people who were involved in showing cattle.  Through that experience, I began to consider agricultural journalism as a major.  When I chatted with my parents about it, they were less than enthused.  I didn't blame them, as realists, they wanted me to get an education that would lead to a viable career.  Their initial thoughts were that agricultural journalism was the college of agriculture's "study of ancient literature" degree.  It was great for passionate folks, but didn't hold much potential in the real world, unless paired with something they deemed more viable.  

That summer I set out to prove them wrong.  "The Scoop" staff met twice daily and at each meeting professionals in some typeof agriculture communications area spoke.  I brought out my notebook at each meeting and asked each guest the same question.  "Is the job field for agricultural journalism students growing?" Each one had a positive response.  While they cautioned that students needed to be flexible, they assured me that more opportunities were opening up as agriculture continued to grow.  Armed with this information, I headed back to my parents and convinced them that agriculture communications was not only my passion, but could be my career as well.

I study advertising/PR combined with agricultural journalism, not because I want to make a lot of money.  I'd venture to guess that's not why most people study anything ag related.  (Though there are stellar opportunities for people in the field).  Instead, I love the culture part of the word.  I love working among the people, and sharing the stories of the industry.  We feed the world, and there is nothing worthless about that.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie

Community is better than Veggies!

The people of Roseto, PA

First, I apologize for 2 serious blog posts in a row; I promise the next will be "lighter." After sitting in class today, I knew community was something I wanted to contemplate further. Media ethics was the name of the class, and the book that sparked discussion was "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell.


In the introduction of the book he tells the tale of a village in Pennsylvania called Roseto. Essentially an Italian town transplanted over the years into the east coast countryside. In the 1950s, some doctors doing research on heart disease studied the residents. They discovered that the citizens of Roseto had no recorded deaths from heart attack...ever. No resident currently had high blood pressure or cholesterol. Their diets weren't particularly healthy considering they had blended traditional Italian with a lard based carb diet. There were no gyms in this rural town, and most of its residents struggled with obesity. Neighboring villages were closer to the national average so their water supply wasn't some healing stream. The only difference between Rosetta and any other town in America was the community. Most of the citizens saw not one or two neighbors every day, but 4 or 5. Every one attended Sunday morning mass, and there were high instances of extended families sharing a home. Essentially the people of Roseto, truly lived together, and so were healthier.

Now I'm not saying that having more friends means you can eat fast food for every meal, and sit on the couch all day. No, I simply marvel at the power of a close knit community. I don't believe we encourage that today in America. The focus is on the advancement of the individual, earn more money, be happier, gain more popularity are the messages. All of those focus on personal achievements and leave the value of building relationships secondary. Community is more than friendships, it's a group of people truly living among each other, sharing goals, achievements, and dreams (wow that just got hippie).

It's no surprise that community isn't rampant. It's hard, because people together means conflict, and conflict is something my generation is taught to avoid at all costs. Thus, it's easier to simply avoid a community than to deal with the icky messy conflicts that being close to people causes. After all, disagreeing with you is easier to do from a distance. This is where America can take a lesson from rural communities.

I see examples of small "Rosetos" in my involvement in agriculture. On a farm you can't avoid community. Many operations involve multiple generations, and the fact is, living in the country means you don't get to escape family conflicts by walking down the street to the mall. The farms attacked for involving large numbers of individuals are actually communities working toward the common goal of raising food. That's why ranches don't have or need gyms.

'till the cows come home,

Ellie

A Quiet Heart

My New Year's Resolution

In the many words that have been used to describe me, quiet is never a part of that list.  In 2012 I plan to change that.  Now I don't plan to abandon my talkative ways, but rather plan to take quiet to a deeper part of me.

For Christmas I received a book by Elisabeth Elliot called Keep A Quiet Heart.  Like her writing always does, she cuts straight to the no-nonsense part of a walk with God.  Her first devotion struck me right to the heart:

          Jesus slept on a pillow in the midst of a raging storm. How could He? The terrified disciples, sure that the next wave would send them straight to the bottom, shook Him awake with rebuke. How could He be so careless of their fate?
          He could because He slept in the calm assurance that His Father was in control. His was a quiet heart. We see Him move serenely through all the events of His life–when He was reviled, He did not revile in return. When He knew that He would suffer many things and be killed in Jerusalem, He never deviated from His course. He had set His face like flint. He sat at supper with one who would deny Him and another who would betray Him, yet He was able to eat with them, willing even to wash their feet. Jesus in the unbroken intimacy of His Father’s love, kept a quiet heart.

This cut straight to one of my deepest struggles.  I'll admit I'm a complainer, and I often spend my time in prayer asking God to change something in my life or make it easier.  I'll worry and fret that I'm not doing enough to make my life the way I want.  So this year I plan (with an enormous amount of help from the Almighty) to make small changes toward a quiet heart.

          God came down and lived in this same world as a man. He showed us how to live in this world, subject to its vicissitudes and necessities, that we might be changed-not into an angel or a storybook princess, not wafted into another world, but changed into saints in this world. The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.
 
So pray for me along this journey, and may God bless you with a quiet heart as well.
'till the cows come home,
Ellie