UDDER-ly Out of My Element.

Today marks a first for me since moving to Goodland. I helped move a cattle herd from one field to another. These cows are not our own but rather, Tim's uncle's herd, and he happened to be looking for a couple of extra helping hands. And apparently that meant me (he was clearly desperate). As one might think there's a lot that goes into moving wayward, non-thinking animals across fields. Our effort today required seven people: two on 4-wheelers, two on horseback and three in pickup trucks (that was me, thank goodness). My job was to bring up the rear and watch for stragglers and possible escape artists. The 4-wheelers cruised along each side of the herd and a little toward the front to direct them. Toward the back with me was Farmer Tim in another pickup doing the same job as me but on the other side. The third pickup was pulling a trailer. It began as an empty vessel, but as we journeyed across the Kansas plains (channel your inner pioneer) the cowboys on horseback would lasso a calf if they were going too slow and they got a cush trip to their new field. Out of the 20 calves that made the journey only three or four made it the entire way on hoof. 

What I found endearing was the whole ordeal of placing the calf in the back of the trailer. And when I say it was an ordeal, I don't mean for the cowboys. It was quite the ordeal for those mommy cows. Talk about separation anxiety. It was as if it was their life's work to keep the cowboys from putting their babies in the trailer and then somehow their mission to get them out. Because once the calves were hoisted in, the moms would bolt back toward the trailer and run alongside it, whining at all of us like we were going to do something about it. Ha! They were wrong.

Why would we go through all this trouble? When you put cows to pasture, you want to fatten them up so they make you lots of money when you send them to the cow hotel slaughter. These cattle had eaten everything in sight, so they needed to graze on to greener pasture. When all was said and done, we had accompanied these ladies (around 110 in total) five or six loooong miles to their new home. At least it's long when you're averaging 2mph. The pics below show the cows making the final steps of their pilgrimage; and me, relieved I didn't get a flat tire driving in all those fields! Phew.

While this isn't my normal routine, I was happy to help and happy to be able to share this experience with you. Eat beef.

Bus Tours Aren't Just for Old People.

I first just have to brag about what you see below. Look, Rach, I DID it. I figured out how to place multiple images into one photo. The possibilities are endless thanks to the FREE internet download site, FotoFlexer.

Lincoln Memorial at night = beautiful

We took a night tour of the monuments. I was a little skeptical at first about taking this bus tour, thinking it had some real potential to be corny. And it kind of was- but when we got back three hours later, I had thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Natural History Museum, home of the Hope Diamond (and some other stuff)

Isn't Farmer Tim cute? Some people may not realize the Smithsonian's humble beginnings are at this castle, which is centrally located at the mall on Jefferson Dr. It now hosts 19 museum locations, a zoo and nine research facilities. That's intense. And the admission price: FREE. 

In conclusion (as I used to say when I'd give book reports in grade school), we had a great time and the trip was so fun. No one got sick, lost or arrested. Hooray. 

Uptown Girl

This city girl crammed lots of city activities and places into her memory before she headed back home.

These places include and are not limited to the following: Starbucks, Legal Seafood, Sweet Water Tavern, Starbucks, Target, The Smithsonian(s), The Holocaust Museum, night tour of the Memorials, The White House, Starbucks, Monticello (yes, that's very far away), Chipotle, Pinkberry, Starbucks...you get the idea. And because I love pictures so much, here is the first onslaught montage of memories.

REALLY, REALLY good crab cakes. MMMMMM.

We fit in, right?!?

Monticello, home of my friend, TJ.

My preferred stance for when I visit back East.

Chinatown (duh?)

You Know You Want to be a Farmer Like Tim.

lobby, n. (pl. lobbies)
2 a group of people seeking to influence politicians or public officials on a particular issue: members of the pro-farming lobby [as modifier] : lobby groups

This process is still quite foreign to me-  a bit grassroots; but I suppose that is what differentiates our democracy and process from others. In fact, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) prides itself on its grassroots approach to doing business. Their mission statement reads: 

AFBF is the unified national voice of agriculture, working through our grassroots organizations to enhance and strengthen the lives of rural Americans and to build strong, prosperous agricultural communities. 

I realize lobbying is a way of life on Capitol Hill, but for anyone this side of the hill it is something to behold. Out of the three office visits we made, we successfully met with two (probably because I'm awesome?). We first sat down to visit with Sen. John Thune's advisor, Lynn Tjeerdsma, in the Dirksen building. We were seated  in their conference/meeting room, around a large rectangle table- much like what you might see in your own place of employment. Unless you're a farmer, and then your office looks a lot like the outdoors. Our visit went well, and that's likely because Thune has many of the same concerns we do for issues facing agriculture. 

For instance, the Department of Labor (DOL) wants to tighten child labor laws as it relates to kids (not) being able to work on their own families' farm. Read HERE for a more detailed explanation from AFBF. All I know is I don't want to grow up in an age where I have to tell my kids they can't operate an electric screwdriver because the government says it's too dangerous. I can't make this stuff up.

We also discussed the ever-elusive 2012 Farm Bill with both Thune's office as well as some of the staff of the House Agriculture Committee. The bill must either be extended or reauthorized by October 1, 2012. We were told the new bill proposal is expected to be ready anywhere between Easter and Memorial Day. Hmmm. 

Chief Economist of the House Ag Committee, Craig Jagger (white beard)

Room where we received most of our briefings from AFBF staff lobbyists

I realize this sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo- and it kind of is. But the bottom line is this: people of the world need to eat, populations are growing, more food will need to be produced to meet those growing demands and we need legislation passed that protects those producers (farmers, like Tim) so safe food can continue to be put on your table. And that process, in a sense, begins with things like a successful Farm Bill. 

Fun Farm Fact: in 2008, farmers produced 262% MORE food with only 2% fewer inputs (labor, seeds, feed, fertilizer, etc.) compared with 1950
*fact courtesy of AFBF

The Faces of DC

The first part of this trip looked a lot like this (wild and crazy).

I anticipate the second half to look more like this (serious).

Farmer Tim and I go lobby on Capitol Hill tomorrow afternoon. We learned this evening, actually, that we have an appointment with the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee tomorrow at 3p. The 2012 Farm Bill, Estate & Capital Gains Taxes, Ag Labor (Youth Employment Regulations), Clean Water and Protecting Animal Ag are the primary points of discussion this trip. We will also be making stops at the offices of South Dakota Senator John Thune and Washington Senator Patty Murray. Why there? Because we're trying to find anyone who will listen.

As for my friends (see above), we're special yet awesome. In our short time together we managed to start a band AND get a photo shoot together for our upcoming album and calendar (see above). Life doesn't get much sweeter. 

Fun Farm Fact: one acre is approximately the size of a football field 

DIA to DCA

4:45am: alarm goes off
4:45:05am: SNOOZE
4:50am: peel self out of bed
4:51am: brush teeth (or not), brush hair, dress, avoid makeup (and mirror)
5:00am: quadruple double check room
5:02am: meet in-laws in lobby
**fast forward**
7:20am: send off Farmer Tim and in-laws at Gate A23
7:21am: saunter over to my own gate at B27
7:40am: people watch...intently (if it were a competitive sport I would win)
**fast forward**
10:55am: board airplane...hopefully, as it's 9:00am while I type this silly post
4:08pm: arrive in DC, hitch a ride from Rachel Scott and her entourage of cuteness (Finn and Braden)

Today starts my 10 days of gallivanting (very seriously) lobbying at Captiol Hill with the Kansas Farm Bureau on behalf of Small Town USA. I'm not sure I really know what it's going to all be about so I'll have to let you know. What I do know is we are lobbying legislation for agricultural-related issues and it's sure to be entertaining- or at least my attempt will be something to see. And actually, we'll only be lobbying for two days, and the rest of my time will be spent playing tourist and hanging out with some of the raddest people I know. 

Now here's to waiting and not getting pooped on by random birds fluttering around DIA.

I love you, man.

Tim has a man crush. I'm going to play 20 questions and you see if you can guess the person with whom I share my husband's affection.

1. I am a dude.

2. I have 2 sons.

3. My wife is an actress.

4. I have a sense of humor.

5. My last name can be (and is often) used as a Vera Bradley pattern.

6. I sing for a living.

7. I have mad guitar skills.

8. I host the CMAs with Carrie Underwood.

9. I have a man crush on Tim Franklin.

10. My name rhymes with "lad".

If you guessed BRAD PAISLEY, then you win!

Brad Paisley in concert, Wichita, January 2012

We saw Brad when we lived in New York and he was FANTASTIC! So naturally, when we heard Brad was coming to Wichita, we were IN. We shared the evening with my family as well as some of our favorite people, Joseph and Amber Thomas.

Some of our favorite people, Joseph and Amber.

Brad, we love you, man. We're also on a first name basis- clearly.