Each fall, when the temperatures hoover around O degrees for the first time, I mutter to myself that I need to figure out how to grow a beard. Last week our temperatures hit the zero degree level on the morning that we shipped cattle to Tyson.
My foreman and I put on a bunch of layers of clothes, and I got out my fake beard for the first time since February.
Winter in Nebraska takes some getting used to. While figuring out the role of a hood on a sweatshirt came instantaneously to me, learning how to layer correctly to work safely outside in the cold took a little bit longer. I have a few toes with frostbite damage to remind me of the learning curve…
To this day, I vastly prefer the summer and fall months to December and January, but farm chores continue in the winter-time despite the drop in temperature. This time of year, Mother Nature offers challenges instead of resources so we have to provide care when the cattle need us — every single day.
My favorite blonde cowgirl wisely trades her boots for basketball shoes for the winter. She made the transition this year to high school basketball and brings the same winning attitude to her team as she brings to the feed yard crew.
Her hard work and focus earn her success and she proudly represents the Lady Haymakers this season on three levels: 9th and 10th grade, Junior Varsity, and the Varsity. She’s playing in games four nights a week and packing her FAITH along the journey.
- F ortitude
- A ttitude
- I ntegrity
- T rust
- H umility
I love to watch her love basketball almost as much as I love to see her awesome work ethic make a positive difference.
When I think of all of the great things that being a farmer has brought to my life, raising my kids on the farm tops the list. Megan runs a scoop shovel with the best of them. She became a member of the farm crew at an early age, and learned the art of teamwork working cattle and dealing with weather challenges at the feed yard.
She understands that no necessary action is unimportant — no matter how physically demanding or mentally menial.
The girl has grit.
Last summer, I watched Megan practice basketball in our farm shop — Shooting more than 10,000 baskets during the hours outside of working at the feed yard and training for swim team. Inspired by the awesome set of Lady Haymaker basketball coaches, she combined her farm work ethic with a fledgling love for the game and began building the necessary set of ball handling skills.
I look at my favorite blonde cowgirl and I see my work-a-hol-ic nature combined with a unique zest for life. This combination packs a powerful punch that we fondly refer to as the art of Meganizing.
I recognize that personal need to make a difference that she wears on her face. It gleams in her eyes both on the basketball court and on the farm — even when the rest of her face is covered with a matching cold weather mask while she scoops snow out of feed bunks in a blizzard 😉
Feed Yard Foodie 