Fellowship

It's no secret that I love people. I enjoy quality conversation, and learning where people come from --- why they act the way they do --- and just getting an inside look into their world. I think by asking a few questions you can learn a lot about a person.

But FIRST, I am a huge sucker for a quality handshake. Don't skirt around, please just grab my hand, look me in the eye, and repeat my name. This makes it easier for me to remember you, and more than likely talk to you again and smile at you when I see you out and about.

After this initial handshake, I'll ask the individual where they're from. People here in Kansas are usually surprised to hear I'm from Indiana and then the conversation carries on from there.

If the hometown option doesn't work, I then usually ask them about their occupation. Coming from a diverse background, I like to think I can talk about anyone about practically anything...

Again, if that doesn't work say something about your surroundings, their outfit, etc. Remember to shy away from yes or no questions and instead focus on "why," "how," or "what" starting words.

These few rules have served me well so far, and I hope they'll work for you too.

peace&love.

Dairy Judging

According to my non-agricultural minded friend Kimbell, judging teams are where there are judges judging your judging ... and in a way she's right.

This school year I will be competing on the Kansas State University Dairy Judging Team. The cows I will be judging will be giving milk, some 20 lbs. a day (OR MORE).

We judge classes of 4 cows or heifers at a time, and then give oral reasons to an official (aka another judge) who then in turn gives us a score out of 50 points. Your original placings of the cows/heifers are judged against an "official placing" and given a score out of 50.

The point is to get you to choose exemplary livestock and then justify your placings with these aforementioned reasons. I'm sorry if this is confusing.

I judged livestock and meats in high school, but never dairy. I decided that I wanted judging to be a part of my K-State experience and dairy just kind of worked with my schedule. So here I am, embarking on the world of dairy cows.

Tomorrow I begin at 5:30am, now I just need to put phrases like "foreudder" "teat placement" and "defined vertebrae" into my vocabulary. Wish me luck!

Here's a link from the University of Georgia, that shows how I will use these terms in a set of oral reasons.

ak-sar-ben.

Alright everyone. Take a little bit, stare at that title and try to decipher what it means.

Okay, I'll admit it took me years (quite literally) to figure it out. Ak-Sar-Ben is NEBRASKA backwards, and also the name of the place I've been working. For a full explanation, keep reading.

I am currently (well, until Saturday) for the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation in Omaha, Neb. the knights are a nonprofit group who's goal is "To leverage collective business leadership to build a more prosperous Heartland."

So basically we butter up the rich business people in Omaha & beg them to give us $$. As you can tell, this is my least fave part of the job.

MY FAVORITE part is planning ARCR, Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Rodeo & Stock Show, aka the world's second largest rodeo under the NFR, and a huge stock show (my specialty) which allows about 1200 junior exhibitors from 9 states (CO, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD & WY) to show quality livestock.

The group also focuses on scholarships & "Quivera" the Coronation Ball business, which I jokingly refer to as "The Real Housewives of Omaha". It's like debutantes and escorts and kings and big dresses.

I love this job, and the people are spectacular! I would definitely recommend coming to the event, Sept. 23 - 26 at the Qwest Center Omaha. Plus, you'd get to see me :)

http://aksarben.org/

http://rivercityrodeo.com/

If you check out the rivercityrodeo website, we have done a complete website redesign this summer and I really think it's fun & exciting to look at.

something to think about.

i think this photo is just gorgeous. it displays the hard work it takes to plant crops that later turn out to be our food. i think that this black dirt is something to be jealous of, especially because it is so fertile and pure. it also displays how much love and care goes into each farm field, as it looks like the farmer is cherishing that one little plant.

what do you think of when you see this picture?

peace&love.