Two Corn Mazes

In an effort to promote agriculture and farming, Utah Farm Bureau invited state and local political leaders to some corn mazes for dinner, fun and a good 'ole farm experience. We got to tag along with Sterling. Lucky us!!!

Gibson Green Acre Dairy in Weber.

This group of hooligans took names and gave out tickets to the special legislative guests. Even when it started to rain, they stayed put and did their job. 

The rain finally stopped and we all found time to warm up around the fire pits, go down the giant slide and walk through the corn and hay maze.

Farmer Ron also took us on a tour of his dairy. He showed us the corn they grow and the cows they feed and explained how his operation works. It was a great opportunity to learn where our food and fiber comes from and also have fun on the farm. 

The next week we went to Glen Ray's corn maze on Rex Larson's farm. 

We went through the corn maze in the pitch black and 'some' of us scared a few 'others' of us. Which resulted in screaming and laughing and falling on the ground in laughter and horror. :)

We had a great time being together and joking and playing on the hay bales!

Parker would toss a half-empty water bottle as high as he could and then the kids took turns kicking or catching the bottle.

Cherry Pickin' Gal

Sydney spent several weeks this summer in Santaquin helping with the cherry harvest on the Rowley farm. She drove a tractor taking cherries from the trees to the warehouse.

This was a big decision for her. She had to choose between two jobs and decided to take the harvest experience over more hours and pay somewhere else. I was really proud of her. 

So she decided to harvest but didn't have a place to stay. And we didn't want her to drive back and forth because of the early hours she'd be working. (4:00am) And we didn't have an extra car. We prayed and had faith that something would work out and she'd find someone to stay with. Sterling contacted everyone he could think of and nothing opened up. Then the week before the harvest started, Farmer Rowley offered her a room in his house. It was a huge blessing and answer to our prayers. So we dropped her off on Sunday nights and picked her up sometime Saturday afternoon for several weeks. 

And it was a GREAT experience!

She also made friends with Claire Rowley and another girl, Sara, who had just returned from her mission and was helping with the harvest as well. They spent a lot of time at the lake.

At the end of the harvest, the Rowley's held a pizza party and games for all their workers and invited our family as well. It was so much fun. 

In an essay for a college application, Sydney said this:

I didn't plan on mowing over a cherry tree with a tractor on my first day at the farm. I realized it wasn't as bad as I thought when I saw my seven-year-old instructor laughing at me. It was a dead tree that needed to come down anyway. Learning to drive a tractor was harder than I thought. 

This past summer I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to work on Cherry Hill Farms in Santaquin, Utah harvesting cherries. This opportunity was something I was not familiar with but thrilled to do! Because of my interest in learning new things, I decided that even though this job required long, hard days, it would be worth it. I learned many new skills including how to drive a tractor, how to operate different farm machinery, how to problem solve in crucial situations and that hard work is worth the pain. I had to live away from my family and immersed in an environment that was out of my comfort zone but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

It was exciting to know that my little job on the tractor played a small part in the fruit production industry in Utah. The knowledge and life experience that I got was immeasurable. When harvesting season was finished, I went back home to my family ready to start a new school year. The work ethic I gained in harvesting cherries continues to benefit me in my school work. 

Bradshaw slice of Heaven

Ever since the Bradshaw's moved from our cul-de-sac slice of heaven, we have missed them. Especially Camille missing Shelby. So when we can, we like to drive up to Idaho and visit them on their new little slice of heaven.

During this drive, we passed a section of the landscape that had been burned by fire. 

The Bradshaw's opened their home to us and it was like no time had passed. Tracey is a fantastic host and we had a lot of fun working on the farm with their new dog and getting the pigs ready for the fair. 

We also went on a hike with the cub scout group. The views were beautiful.

We also kayaked down the Snake River. Tracey rounded up enough kayaks for everyone to have their own. It was amazing. Super fun and a little bit peaceful, floating down the river. 

We also went swimming at the local pool. 

One morning I went for a run. The views were amazing.

Visiting with Tracey is good for my soul. We talked about our kids, church, family, siblings, parents, mental health, technology, affirmations, self-care, work, volunteering, just to name a few topics. She is like a ground wire for me and medicine for my frantic mind. I love this woman. 

Farmer Hogan's Ranch

For many years, we have been visiting Farmer Hogan's ranch. Last year we switched from being observers to actually helping out with the branding. 

The first thing my kids noticed this year was the cute doggie running around the ranch. 

We all took our positions in helping the calves along.

Camille sprayed for bugs and critters.

Rachel and Bryce worked the gates.

Parker helped move the calves along into the holding area.

Sydney did the paperwork, keeping track of tag numbers and immunization.

Parker at work.

Branding

The ginormous steer was a little sick and needed an antibiotic. I am always impressed with the interest and care ranchers have for their animals. They know them individually, their health history, their habits and behavior. They care about them. 

This is a huge animal. When its head gets swinging, it's like a wrecking ball.

When all the work was finished, we had a big pizza lunch in their nice, new, very large, barn. then it was the long road home. 

Other Hogan farm visits:
2009
2011
2012
2015
2017