Getting the Good

     Okay people, I am so very sorry it has been a while since I have put a new post up. Life has hit me square in the face. I am currently taking an online course that has required me to stay shackled to a desk. When I wasn't working on that I have been helping my parents with the odds and ends things like spraying weeds or pruning rose bushes. But here I am now.
       And to my pleasant surprise I have over 994 pageviews! Thank you so much to all of my readers, even if it is just my mom checking the blog three times a day. Just kidding, y'all are great.
      Well to start off today's epic post, I want to wish you guys a Happy National Dairy Month. Being someone who is very involved in the dairy industry and loves everything about it, I love to tell anyone who will listen about it. Milk production is one of Idaho's top commodities and the state ranks number 3 in milk production in pounds. That is a big deal.
      Although the month is in celebration of the industry and its prosperity, but also in celebration of those farmers who have been able to survive the hard times and have kept the industry alive. My grandpa, a member of the United Dairymen of Idaho, has always been a dairy farmer. I can tell you first hand, I have seen his heartbreak as milk prices have plummeted and there is no money to make payments and the bank is threatening to shut down the operation and sell it all bit by bit. I have watches as he sat in meeting after meeting with different investors and banks to try and receive the loans and financing that he needs to continue on for just a while longer. The not knowing of whethere the family dairy would stay in the family for one more day was excruciating to all those involved, but especially for my grandfather, who has put his heart, mind, and soul.
      Now, it isn't just my grandfather who has had to think about how much feed is left or what milk price futures look like. It is all of the dairy farmers in Idaho and all over the country. So on behalf of myself, Thank you to all those dairy farmers. I know I wouldn't be able to live without my milk or icecream. Thank you to all those who work so hard, so that I can Get the Good.
      So for all those who may not know me, I am quite the cheesy person (haha see what I did there). I love lame jokes, especially the ones with a nerdy undertone. So in celebration of National Dairy Month, I hope I can provide you with a little laughter with my top dairy jokes!
      Enjoy!

Why I do quite agree with you Ron Swanson.

This one is totally my favorite

Story. Of. My. Life.

      And what would be National Dairy Month without a few pictures of my favorite bovine friends.

During the summer, my uncle allows his Organic herd to go to his little ranch a few miles from the dairy farm. Everyday they happily walk to their access to green grass. And when it is time for milking time we saddle up the ponies and take the cow dogs to get the reluctant cows back in time for milking. My cousin Thomas, on his pony Marchessa, usually goes down and gets them by himself. But that day my boyfriend, Keith (on Jordan), and myself (on my white pony Baby Spam) helped him out. 

Selfies with bottle babies never disappoint.

So I preg check and run the dairy records as a job. I go to my aunt and uncle's dairy and help them out once a month. On this day we had a lot of cows to get done and instead of my aunt helping me pull 2 cc's of injection out, she kept snapping pictures. 

Quinn and I preg checking

So these two babies are twins from my aunt's prize show cow. This particular cow is also the daughter of my aunt's first and most award wining show cow. These genetics have been on their diary for generations and are continuing on. Usually I have my little helper and favorite cousin, Andrew (5) to help me feed babies. But on this particular night he decided to climb on top of hutches to "make sure you have enough light." 

Obviously we want the milk in the big tank, but this is what we call the "Can". It is where we put the Colostrum (new momma milk that has to be fed to their baby) or sick cow milk that is fed to the calves. Because milk checks are based on quality and we don't want our consumers to drink milk not right for humans, this is a good way to not only make sure the calves are fed the milk they need and ensure the quality of our milk. 

The last time I worked, these hoodlums were causing havoc. Having five babies born in two days caused quite the backup in the calf hutch situation. And to make matters worse, they are big enough to recognize a bottle and that they want it and they will mow over and maul any person or thing that walks into the calf barn. The only way to make sure that I didn't end up with bruises was to feed one calf with one hand, use the other as a pacifier for another calf, and attempt to body block the third. Again, Jennifer (aunt) was so helpful. She refused to go into the barn for fear of being attacked. So she took pictures herself. 

      So people, I hope that you make the most of the rest of this great month and remember that there is someone out there who has to make the good, so you can get the good. No matter how picky you are about your dairy products (like I am) or if you are just a lover off all things milk products, that is something everyone can appreciate.

Happy National Dairy Month!
Peace, Love, and FFA!

McKenzie
"Cheese-Whiz"
"Dairy-Queen"
"Cheese-Snob"
"Ice Cream- Fanatic"
"Lover of cows with black and white spots"
"Dairy girl, through and through"