#tellingmyfarmstory

I talk a lot about sharing your story to connect the bridge between consumers and producers ~ one of the best ways to tell the story is through photos !  A picture is worth a thousand words~ We have heard this a million times and we have heard it a million times because it is true!  Who does not love to look at photos ?

I recently got a new camera – I call it my “big girl camera” and I am taking photos of everything.  People, animals, scenery, things !  I even now keep my camera with me as I might miss an amazing shot! ( I know I am turning into a photography nerd)

So what is the point of today's post?  Even if you are not a fabulous writer or its hard for you to express your thoughts or share ideas about what you do, you can take photos and post to social media !  Facebook , Pinterest, Instagram........... You get where I am going !

~~Pictures are truly worth a thousand words ~

~Take a picture ~tell your story ~

~Its that simple ~

snapped a quick photo minutes after baby lambs

 were born on my farm

Why? ~

Recently I read a great article in Farm and Dairy – “Emotion Trumps Science Everytime~ Farmers need to start with Why” by Susan Crowell

I applaud Susan for such a tremendous message!  I too have always been one to think this.  I believe science is a great resource at our fingertips and we need science for facts and figures to support the things we believe in.  However I also think that when we are out AGvocating that the why we do it seems to always hit it out of the ball park.  This inspired me so much that I decided to write about it and I continued to share my thoughts about it on my personal blogs and others sites I blog for.  It keeps coming back to me and I feel the need to now share with all of you.

Why do I do what I do? Why do I ranch? Why do I AGvocate?  Why do I contribute to this magazine? Why do I blog for so many different agriculture outlets? Probably many of the same reasons many of you  do what you do.

For me it is really quite simple~

• I am steeped in the heritage of my family roots
• I love waking up on the weekend and going with my dad to check cows about to calve
• I love taking my niece- Baby Paige- with me on my four wheeler to feed at night
• I love fixing fence and water troughs – well maybe not love but it gives me the opportunity to be out with the cows and that is what I love.
• I love my ag family
• I love the smell of sweet hay
• I love the smell of cows – really I do!
• I love watching my dad each spring prepare to plant his vegetable garden, order his seeds, start them in little trays and then take them out to grow his own little personal crop
• I love seeing my mom prepare her menus each year as she takes food to us during branding time!
• I love the industry I have grown up in and feel it is my obligation as a fellow farmer/rancher to share my story with all who I can engage in conversation.
• I love caring for the animals, taking care of the little ones when maybe they cant get it done on their own
• I love warm baby calves on the floor of my truck on cold nights
• I love baby sheep bleating in a big box on the floor of my living room by the pot belly stove waiting for me to feed them
• I love waking up on a farm when the sun is shining and there is a crisp dew on the ground and I take it all in and appreciate the beauty of it all
• I love going to bull sales with my dad
• I love meeting fellow agriculture enthusiasts from literally around the entire USA
• I love all the cows lined up on the “cow trail” walking to the water trough in a perfect line like they are on a mission
• I love feeding hay on the back of the flatbed as my brother drives and taking time between fields to sit on the hay and admire the beauty of it all
• I love to eat – too much at times – and because of farmers I am able too!
• I love watching my young friends take so much pride in exhibiting at the county fair and me being on the sidelines cheering them on.
• I love cowboy boots – I have all sorts!
• I love car hart jackets and gloves and ball cap kinda days
• I love the heritage of 4-H and FFA and what it all means
• I love my county fair and my fair family that continues on now into adult hood.
• I love my dear farm and ranch friends for helping me become my best self.
• I love it cause it feels good to share my love of all of YOU , my farm and ranch friends.

I love it because I do not know anything else this is who I am, who I have become and who I will continue to be.  I am dedicated to the industry I love and to each of my fellow farmers and ranchers.  For I owe it to them to share my story, I owe it to them to show them it can be done, hopefully empowering them to tell theirs and do the same. 

It’s all quite simple – when someone asks me why you farm/ranch. Why do you do what you do? Why do write about your thoughts and experiences?

My answer – because I LOVE it and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

That’s why! 

I LOVE what I do and for that I am THANKFUL ~ Thankful for all of YOU who have made an impression on who I am , who have taught me , helped me , been my friend!

~~~~~~~~Wishing all of my blog readers a Blessed Thanksgiving Holiday~~~~~~~~

LOVE ~ New Opportunities

This past week I had the opportunity to travel to San Francisco CA to attend the Grand National Livestock Show and Rodeo~ while there I spent some time with the folks of Stockshow Confidential. What ? You have not heard of Stockshow Confidential. Well let me tell you ! Stockshow Confidential is an informative and entertaining look into the stock show circuit in America. Each week the  TV series will take a look at the aspects of showing livestock from finding the right animal to showing it at many of the stock shows across the nation.  Along the way viewers will meet some of the top breeders and judges in the country who will touch on topics such as purchasing , feeding, grooming and showmanship.  Whether a seasoned veteran or a first year showman Stockshow Confidential will reveal the excitement of showing livestock.

And since this is my blog and I get to write about whatever I want, I do want to make a shameless plug for the Breeders Corner of the Stockshow Website ~  Attention Breeders!!! for very competitive rates you can list your ranch information, logo and website on the Breeders page.  And the great thing is if you are interested you can contact ME and I can assist you with all of it .  

Check out the website , go to breeders corner, check out the rates and information and then call me ! And then snoop around and check out all of the great things happening at Stockshow.  

I am very excited for my new opportunity and to showcase so many of YOU !

 And as they say at Stockshow Confidential ~ See you all in the Winners Circle !  

Dress UP = Happy

I love fashionable women ~ no matter what the age!

I watch the TODAY show each day while in my office 

Check it out  here on the Today Show

Today I learned something that I think I have known all along  ~

 Fashion and the way we dress is inside us !

As quoted from the famous fashion icon Iris Apfel ~

"I don't put a lot of effort into my fashionable daily looks. "I don't really think about it. I just feel it... When you dress up, you feel happy."

This is so me !  I don't try to create outfits they just kinda morph into something. Sometimes a hit and maybe sometimes a miss (according to my mom ) But nonetheless I am not afraid to try something that I see in a magazine or in a store window while walking in downtown San Francisco.  Dressing up makes me happy ~ its an expression of what I am feeling that day!

So what is my point today ~ To be YOU ~ What makes you happy?  Dress the part!

Thoughts?

I have had the unique opportunity to venture out and speak to all sorts of groups ~ as I push forward I try hard to improve upon what I do !

So my question to all of you is this ~

When attending a conference what are the things you hope to take away from a keynote address? 

Always working towards improvement and no better folks to ask than those in the audience ~~ Right? Right!

What inspires you ? Gets you going? Makes you think?  Pushes you?

Eager to hear your thoughts!

Ready ~ Set ~ Go!

Making Peace with Me

On July 1^st I took the plunge to start a new business – Couture Cowgirl n Company with my partner Sara ~ it is something I have dreamed about each and every day for a long time. I just never knew if I could do it or who to team up with or if it would work ,was I too old to start something new ,would I have time to dedicate to it and on and on with all the questions that overwhelmed me .

But what I thought was going to be a crazy adventure filled with added stress and wandering into unchartered waters has come as a sense of peace for me !  Really? How in the world did that happen?

Because this is where I was meant to be ! I have found peace with myself , my abilities and what I do.  I have realized the famous quote that is now a mantra for which I am ~ “Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is rather than how you think it should be ~ Wayne Dyer

There are a whole lot of wonderful graphic/communications/public relations firms out there – they have lots of experience ~ they are well known within our industry of agriculture and I respect them so very much! I have learned from them, followed them, met them and have realized that I too would like to be a piece of it all – but just a little piece focusing on the people who are following their dreams of doing things just like me – I want to be able to cheer them on, create their place and walk beside them while learning and growing with them.

Have I already had some bumps in the road? Sure have and that is ok because it makes me learn , makes me better, makes me humble and it makes me put that much more effort into what I need to be doing to get it done.

So almost three months into the new adventure I can say I am in love with it all ~ I enjoy helping folks follow their dreams, I enjoy the connections I am making with my colleagues , many who have become mentors and I have made peace with me – being the best I can be with it all !

Special thanks to those of you who have believed in me already and given me the opportunity to showcase your wonderful selves :) and to Sara for putting her faith in me to get it all done !

So what is the purpose of my blog today ~ to just accept each day God puts in front of you ~ find balance with it all ~ find peace with yourself that you are right where you need to be and learn to accept it all ~ once you have the journey is simply amazing !

Unbridled ~ untamed, unique cowgirl fashion

Its that time again.......

a fashionable find for all my farm girls!

Unbridled in Ada, Oklahoma ~ they are a whole lot of juicy goodness!

My friend Shari told me to “ like” Unbridled on Face book. Friends do this to me all the time because they know how I LOVE western couture ~ but what a treat I was in for when I came across this site.

Dawn White Christian is the epitome of funky fun cowgirl fashion. She got started after numerous folks kept asking where she was getting her unique creations. Unbridled was born!

You can browse all sorts of great clothing, boots, belts, jewelry and gifts right on the Unbridled Face book page – the deal is really simple- if you see something that tickles your fancy then you make a comment and on the photo of the item you like and then they will get back to you with pricing and purchasing options.

I promise you that there is something you are bound to fall in love with and when you start checking back daily at this newfound treasure chest – I will be ok if you blame me! 

The Particulars:

Store Location – 111 West Main, Ada, Oklahoma 74820

Phone – 580-310-9416

About

Trends are made, not followed! Unbridled is a Store that has home decor, clothing and accessories that will get you noticed! Style without limits or restraints, a little bit country, gypsy, hippie and some southern charm!

Description

Brands you will find at Unbridled, 
Double D, Tasha Polizzi, Gypsy Soule, Johnny Was, Ranch Royalty/Sissie n Me, Elusive Cowgirl, Petrol, Stetson, Twisted x, ivy Jane, Anderson bean, vintage, turquoise haven ,Sookie Sookie

General Information

We love to ship!!! See something you like, call us!
New store policy: we will no longer hold merchandise, if you want something you must call to pay for the item OR create a file where we have your information safely stored and when you want something you just say so and we will ship it out. We hope you understand

Find them on Face Book and let the fun begin ! Unbridled