A New Look

Throughout life, you encounter many changes, and those changes can shape you into a new, better person if you choose to be proactive about change and make that change into what you want it to be. The time has come for many changes in my life, but the two I want to focus on right now are graduating from college, and moving for the first time. 

One week from today I will be receiving my Bachelor's Degree from The Ohio State University. That is a huge accomplishment for me and although it took five years to get, I have cherished every minute of it. I am proud to say that I made the most of it and while I will miss it, I am glad to put it behind me.

Two weeks from today I will be moving to Des Moines, Iowa to begin my first job. I will be working as a project manager for the Prasino Group. I have struggled quite a bit in my mind with this change. On one hand, I am extremely excited to see what the business world has in store for me, and I am confident that I will be a good fit for the job. However, on the other hand, in two weeks, I will become the person that I have spent years advocating for. In two weeks I find myself heading towards one generation removed from the family farm. It's a strange feeling, knowing that I won't be able to make the short drive home when I need time away from the city, I won't be able to see my family regularly, and I won't be involved in the daily operations of the farm. 

I quickly have realized that while I may be removed, the farm and rural lifestyle will not leave my life and they will always be present to help me through situations. I am thankful for everything that I have learned throughout the years that have brought me to this point, and I am excited to head out to Iowa and see what I can be a part of out there. 

You may have noticed my blog has gone through a transformation (which isn't complete yet), but I felt that the title Reflections of a Country Boy don't really fit the grown up(ish) version of who I am. My blog will soon be used for sharing stories of my career and my personal experiences, which have changed from college life to learning how to be a real adult. I hope that you will continue to follow along with me on this journey, and please leave your comments and suggestions as to how I can make my blog better, or what you may like to read on it. I hope you share it with others and it can help you begin to have conversations about agriculture with someone you know. 

So as I face some big challenges and changes over the next few weeks/months, I hope that I can remain calm and know that all will be ok. Change is inevitable, personal character is molded and developed out of how you react to change. I hope to build a strong mold for my character both personally and professionally in the future. Thanks for reading, I hope to write again soon.

Request From A Friend: 10 Questions

I know I promised to have the follow-up discussion to my "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" post this time around, but it's gonna have to wait until the next one. Recently I was tipped off that a friend of mine won an award and wanted to pass it on to some of her blogger buddies, but she needed us to answer some questions first. So here it is Janice, my best attempt to provide some "Love for Bacon" to the "Love of Beef"!

1. Describe your Agriculture Operation.

I grew up on a 650 sow farrow to finish pig operation in southwest Ohio. Recently we have converted our unit to a wean to finish operation that can provide nearly 25,000 market pigs annually.We work closely with the folks at Fair Oaks Farms Pig Adventure, which is where we buy our weaned piglets from. We also raise corn and soybeans to offset some of our feed costs. 

As a college student, I don't have a full time role on the farm besides asking my dad for constant updates about this, that and everything in between. But I help when I can and we continue to move the farm forward for the future.

We believe in transparency and consistency on our farm. Which is why my dad and I provide such unique aspects to the blogging world through our blogs. Because we come from different generations and educations, we look at the same issues a little differently, but provide for a more diverse impact from our advocacy efforts.

2. What Agriculture Operation would you never do and why?

Produce! I'm not much of a green thumb, and I don't understand the way a garden (of any size operation) works. I'm not one for humid air of greenhouses, and I'm not sure there is any way to sustainably be a produce farmer in Ohio without it. 

3. When was the last time you vacationed (agriculture events do not count)?

As many others farming families, vacation rarely happens, and when it does, it involves agriculture events! When I was young, we would vacation at the county fair while we were showing our livestock, but that is an ag event. Now that I'm older, dad and I often travel together, most recently last June to Washington D.C. for the Animal Ag Alliance Stakeholder's Summit, which is also an ag event. 

But to my family, agriculture is our pursuit of happiness, and we know that sometimes family time is sacrificed in order keep improving. But I personally feel that traveling with my dad provides enough of a vacation for us. No matter what the event we are going to is, we enjoy the company and have made some good memories on those trips. 

4. What is your least favorite food?

Clams and sushi! I'm not one for the texture…that's all I have to say about that.

5. If you could make a t-shirt today - what would it say?

"When the going gets tough, turn to God" - Faith is a farmers best friend. Both in religion and in practice. Having faith in what you can't see is the only way to wake up in the morning and know that all your work will pay off. And only God and reward you for your loyalty, both to Him through faith and to your passion for the land and livestock.

6. What is the last thing you pinned on pinterest?

I'll probably catch some wrath from my college buddies for this, but I DO have a Pinterest. I use it mostly to show my girlfriend what I'd like to eat someday in the near future, but also because I enjoy the humor section quite a bit. Lately I've been looking forward to graduating college and beginning my post-education career somewhere. Which means I won't be living at the Alpha Gamma Rho House anymore, which is going to be a bit of a culture change for me. So I'd say the last thing I pinned was some sort of barn siding table that I'd like to make someday when I have a house of my own. 

7. What are you cooking for supper?

Well, funny story…mom got me a nice cookbook for Christmas (I guess she plans on me graduating) and The Pioneer Woman cookbook may just give me an idea to try sometime (but probably not tonight). There is a few tasty looking recipes for the Super Bowl, so maybe I'l try one of them.

8. Who are you following in Basketball right now?

I'm not a huge fan of basketball, but I do go to The Ohio State University, which means B1G basketball is a part of my daily routine to check. Lately the Buckeye boys have been on a bit of a slide, but I have faith for a turn around in February, especially on the home court. #GOBUCKS

9. When was the last time you ate beef?

This weekend. I don't remember what day, but I'm sure it was in there. I, like many others, take for granted the food I eat and don't often think about exactly what the ingredients are.

10. What is your most motivational Bible verse?

Psalm 34:8 says, "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." As I said before, it takes faith to know that the work of a farmer will be rewarded by the Maker. To taste and see that the Lord is good, to me, means that I must always put faith in Him and try my hardest (although I will always fall short) of His glory, when I take refuge in the Creator, things become easier.

Well Janice, Hopefully this provides you with some sort of inspiration to keep writing. I mean, For the Love of Beef, you gotta keep it going!