To My Fellow Women in Agriculture: Be Better, Ladies

It's time to have a serious talk about girl power. Don't worry, I won't be discussing abortion, birth control, gay marriage or any similar topics. This is about being a woman in a male-dominated industry: agriculture. I am not the only woman talking about this topic and I better not be the last. Every woman in agriculture should be talking about this. I read a post by Kate at Uptown Farms yesterday which led me to attempt to organize my thoughts on the topic of being a woman in agriculture. To be honest, I'm mad that I even have to address this because it's 2015 for cripes sake!

I have been involved in agriculture my entire life. As a child, I was raised to be seen and not heard, which is something I have struggled to break since entering the professional world. As I headed off to college and later, the real world, I realized that if you are seen and not heard, you are not part of the discussion and you are often not seen as valuable. This is especially true for women. Ladies, how many times have you had a great idea you were afraid to share because it might be deemed "stupid" only to hear another colleague suggest the same thing and have it be met with adoring cheers and applause? There goes another missed opportunity. Or, how many times have you been snarked on by other women in your office/class/community because you are successful, outgoing, doing a "man's" job, a stay-at-home mom or any other ridiculous reason for resentment and animosity? While one of the aforementioned actions can be blamed on ourselves (Speak up! Lean in!), the other is what I am ticked off about today. Stop with the snark, ladies.

It's time to stop talking about how men hold women back in the workplace and start focusing on how women tear each other down. This conversation stems from a thread I was reading in a private Facebook group where a farmer's wife/farmer/farm wife was upset and had taken to her peers to vent. She was frustrated because a young female seed representative with a "bouncy ponytail" rode in the combine with the farmer husband for 45 minutes or so talking about seed, yields, harvest etc. This woman was upset that the seed rep didn't check with her before having a meeting with her husband and generally, the passenger seat of the combine is reserved for the wife.

Had I not known better, I would have thought I was living in the 50s due to the blatant criticism thrown on the seed rep who was just doing her job. Would this wife be criticizing a male seed rep for getting in the combine for a few trips around the field? No. Not at all. Would the wife be frustrated that a male seed rep hadn't first checked with her before meeting her husband. Absolutely not. One person even commented that she hadn't had a date night with her husband in forever yet a female seed rep gets 45 minutes with the farmer. Did I miss something? Did the seed rep break your date session? Were you riding in the combine and your husband kicked you out in favor of the seed rep? No. That is not the case. What happened is a pure and simple case of jealousy that turned into a stream of scornful statements towards a woman doing her job in a man's industry. I certainly hope the ponytail bedecked seed rep isn't a member of that group on Facebook so that she can't see all the nasty things women were saying about her. I was absolutely sickened by some of the comments.

Would those women want that harsh criticism thrown on their daughters, nieces, sisters, mothers or granddaughters for doing her job? Doubtful. Social media makes it easy to sit behind a screen, from the safety of our home and criticize the crap out of each other and say things we wouldn't say to anyone's face. Well, come to my house and I'll tell you the same things I'm writing:

Grow the hell up, folks.

 

 Women in agriculture have a right to be involved in conversations that affect our ranches, farms and livelihood. It's been a decades-long struggle for women to climb out of the kitchen and into the workplace, to get those top leadership spots and to become seen as industry leaders, while also juggling family roles and responsibilities. We had to earn our power and fight for equality with men in feed companies, trade organizations, the sale barn, the pasture - I mean, we weren't even allowed to be members of FFA until 1969. How many ag leaders were overlooked in that 41 year span because they were women?! Are we really going to turn on each other while doing the jobs and filling the roles we have fought so hard to earn?

I am a woman in the male-dominated beef industry. I wear boots and a blazer when I speak at conventions and to groups, I have one-on-one meetings with men all the time and I can carry on a conversation about corn harvest, fat cattle prices and policy regulations affecting the beef business. Then I turn right around and am the traditional wife that cooks, cleans and plays an equal role on our own ranch. It is possible to do both and be respected by women and men for the variety of roles that we play. My husband doesn't question the business trips I take, and I don't question his. Because we trust each other. Plain and simple. My recommendation to the original jealous farmer's wife would be to talk to your husband, not the internet. My recommendation to the seed rep is to keep rocking that ponytail, get in the combine and earn that promotion.

 

It stops now. Stop putting down other women because of your own insecurities. If you're feeling jealous, insecure, uncomfortable etc. ask for help. Talk to a friend. Talk to your partner. Don't blame your feelings on another woman. You don't know what path she walked to get to where she is and you don't know her story. Like my friend Janice says, be a builder and not a destroyer.

An interesting thing about women: we have the ability to say some really empowering things but also say some very hurtful things. Both the kindest and nastiest things that have ever been said to me came from a woman. Have I criticized women? Yes. I recognize and own this. Clearly I am criticizing several right now in this post for their antiquated viewpoints and sexist comments. However, I can work at being better every day. I can choose to continue complimenting, encouraging, inspiring and invigorating my fellow women in ag. I can choose to engage in positive conversations rather than tear each other down. I can CHOOSE to be a better person. So can you.

Be better, ladies.

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

This post has featured a multitude of strong women who I am proud to have as friends and family!

I'm Pretty Good At This, But I Pretty Much Hate It

I'm not one for selfies - I'd rather be in group photos so here are my lovely kicks.

I ran long distances in middle and high school and I was pretty good at it.

Let's not confuse the above statement for "I love running" because that is inaccurate.

Being good at something doesn't necessarily mean you love it, which is why after I graduated high school I stopped running long distances for an entire decade.

Fast-forward to 2014 and a lifestyle that no longer had me riding two horses a day, practicing for basketball/volleyball/track/cheerleading/roping, walking all over campus or working 20 hours a week doing manual labor at a nursery (that's a tree nursery, not a kid one) and Buzzard was looking kind of frumpy. Picture that - a frumpy Buzzard.

I have some really smart, beautiful and talented friends who run and one of them, Kylee, unintentionally motivated me to run a half marathon. I don't think that was her intent but, if so, bravo to her because it got me off the couch, out of my office and onto the [gravel] roads of Kansas. I signed up for my first half marathon, the Glass City Half Marathon in Toledo on April 27, 2014, and the next step was to find a training program. I'm a big fan of Hal Higdon's programs - he'll whip you into shape and you won't even realize how hard you're working because it's gradual and planned. There's even an app for that!

Out into the wild I went, pounding the gravel in my Nike Free 5.0 runners.* I ran four times a week and finished well under my goal time of 2:11:00 (10 min/mile). After that emotional high of, "Holy crap I ran a half marathon" I signed up for another and ran the Sioux Falls Half Marathon with my close pal Becca and we both finished under 2:00 (new PR!). I started training for my third race that was to take place two days after Christmas but then I was an idiot and went skiing two weeks before the race. I played softball for 12 years and have bad knees - skiing is not such a great idea for me. My idiocy forced me not to run that race but since I am adamantly opposed to buying larger pants, I have recently started training for another race.

So I told you all of that nonsense to tell you this: I don't like running. What I do like is how I look when I'm in shape (bikini season is coming). Additionally, and probably most importantly, is my extreme love for food and equally as strong lack of moderation. I like ice cream. And donuts. And cookies. And Cheetos (crunchy, of course). And a whole lot of unhealthy fried things. Basically, I love carbs.

In short, I run to look good and eat whatever the hell I want. So if you see me chowing down on a chicken fried steak covered in gravy, it's probably because I ran 7+ miles that day and dammit, I earned it. Also, if I'm being honest, I'm very competitive and running allows me to set a goal and then exceed it. That gives me a "competitor's high."

Over the next ten weeks, I'll be posting my training schedule and, more than likely, food patterns for my next race in April, the Garmin Half Marathon in KC. I'm running it with my good friend Kelly and she too will be blogging about her training. Even though we are training for the same race, the posts will be different because we are different people with different food interests and goals.

The whole point of this post is that people run for different reasons -- their heart health, their body image, to eat what they want, to clear their head, to listen to their favorite tunes for hours on end, etc. Regardless of why people do it, the point is that we are all running the same race but for different reasons. And that's something to be celebrated.

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

*Don't run long distances in Nikes. My chiropractor calls them sandals, so that should be your indication of how supportive Nikes are when running more than 10 miles on a regular basis. I was at the point where I could barely walk but for some reason, I kept running. Use your head, people. Invest in good running shoes. The cost of the shoes will be offset by the money you'll save from NOT going to the chiropractor twice a week.

Real Resolutions for 2015

That's right, ladies

I rarely make New Year's Resolutions - mostly because there is a strong propensity to go really hard at something for two weeks and then drop off, thereby failing at something in the first month of the year. I prefer to make goals that require steps and progress and have concrete accomplishments, hence my 101 in 1001 list (which I'm making quite a bit of progress on, actually).

But I came across this article on Huffington Post this morning and thought it would be a nice read for Friday and since my brain is still not quite functioning from being on vacation (I was in Belize for a week and it was beautiful), this is an easy but thoughtful post to fill your weekend reading.

The article discusses not making the normal resolutions of "lose weight" or "fall in love" which are all fine resolutions but we should always be striving for self-improvement; not just at the beginning of the year because it's customary.

Which is why I have tangible resolutions for 2015 - I have gone through my 101 in 1001 list and picked out a few specific goals that are steps to leading a better overall quality of life - I've also added some goals that aren't on my 101 list but contribute to the overarching theme.

Approaching my health as a whole, not just my physical health
   - This includes working out 3x/week to stay fit but also realizing when I need a break to recuperate
   - Sticking to my "read one book per month" goal. Reading keeps me sane, relaxes me, sharpens my intellect and gives me great ideas of my own for writing.
   - Don't eat dessert every day. Drink less than five sodas per week. Know when to say "no."

Improving the FroBuzz marriage*
   - Say "I love you" every day. Mean it.
   - Praying with my husband
   - Slow down. Talk about one non-work related topic every day.
*This does not mean I have a bad marriage; it means I want to keep strengthening it every day)

Get 'er done*
   - Write three book chapters in 2015
   - Join a civic club in Manhattan
   - Pay off credit card
   - Take piano lessons
*Yes, I went there.

So? What do you think? Would love your thoughts, ideas and input.

I think 2015 will be the best year yet - don't you?!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Turning Over a New Leaf -- 101 in 1001 Update

Hey there - ho there! I am trying to do a better job of periodic updates on my 101 in 1001 list so I'm doing just that today.

You'll recall this list started on January 30, 2014 so I'm about 6.5 months into this current challenge and I'm already very pleased with the goals I've reached; not necessarily because there have been so many of them but because there have been some major lifestyle changes!

Without further ado, here are 12 of the 15 goals I have completed thus far:

Workout 3x/week for 3 months

Workout 3x/week for 6 months

Give up soda for a month

Try 5 new foods (reindeer, elk, red snapper, edamame, okra) - the first three were good, the fourth was ok and the last one sucked.

Make homemade bread without a bread maker - it was SO GOOD!

Go whitewater rafting

Go rock climbing, hiking etc - Did a whole heap of this while in Alaska (which was the trip of a lifetime, btw) 

Hiking up a mountain to climb a glacier - such a cool experience!

Get a RT/mention from someone famous on Twitter- Peta doesn't count

Do you see that BOB FREAKIN' SEGER mentioned me?!

 

Meet 5 social media friends IRL - Troy and Stacy Hadrick, Chuck Jolley, Janeal Yancey, Danielle (Beard) Hayden, Daniel Hayden, Stacy Bettinghouse

Check off some more concerts on my old soul music bucket list

Speak on behalf of agriculture 3x (1 - Women Managing the Farm Conference; 2 - Sigma Alpha at KSU; 3 - Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow at KSU)

Prepare one new recipe per week for 8 weeks (chicken stir-fry, beer drenched pork chops, crockpot potato soup, lasagna soup, new flank steak marinade, stuffed burgers, fruit pizza, fiesta goulash)

• Most of those eight recipes are available on the recipe page - my favorite of those listed is a tie between the lasagna soup and the flank steak marinade (which both include beef)!

That was some DELISH flank steak!

You'll notice that a lot of those goals are about living a more active, healthy lifestyle and trying new things, building relationships and growing as a person. Think I'm kidding? Look at some of these goals that I have started but not yet finished:

• Run 10 short distance races -- 5 and 10Ks (1 - Manhattan St Patrick's Day 10K; 2 - Color Run 5/31/14; 3 - The Amazing Grace 5K 7/5/14;
• Run 3 - half marathons (yes, you read that correctly) (1 - Glass City Half Marathon 4/27/14;
• Read the Bible from front to back (Old and New Testament) - Sharita showed me this great guide
• Triple the amount of $$ in my 401(k)
• Have zero credit card debt
• Cut my student loan debt in 1/2
• Make a 'Recipes' section on the blog and post 50 recipes
• Blog at least once per week for an entire year
• Fill a journal
• Read one book per month - revise and update book list to reflect what I've read
• Add 10 more books to our library (an actual printed copy) (1 - Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die by Willie Nelson; 2 - Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer; 3 - Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin; 4 - Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin;

Yes, I am apparently a "runner" again, although I really don't like calling myself that. I haven't used that phrase to describe myself since I graduated high school and stopped running cross country and track. But man, do I like being able to fit into jeans from my junior college years! I've also really enjoyed getting back into reading, something I haven't been able to do "for fun" for about six years.

I'd like to do another update in three months or so, but if I haven't accomplished more than a handful of goals by then, I may push it back. I really love lists and goals - this challenge keeps me accountable and gets me to try new things, step outside my comfort zone and do some exciting things!

So how are your lists coming? Have you achieved some of your goals? Weigh in below!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

The Next 101 in 1001

So, earlier this week we examined my inability to do simple math calculations like figuring out the end date for 1001 days. Today, I start the next chapter and get to work on my next 101 in 101. This list will be permanently hosted by the 101 in 1001 tab but I wanted to share it here first. Give it a read - what do you think?

Start date: January 30, 2014
End date: October 26, 2016

Healthy Living
Complete 30-day shred
Workout 3x/week for 3 months
Workout 3x/week for 6 months
Run 10 - 5Ks

Ten more 10Ks - no problem, right?

Run 3 - half marathons (yes, you read that correctly)
Go to the damn dentist
Get Lasik surgery
Give up soda for a month

Spiritual Growth/Paying it Forward and Marriage (because, clearly, these go hand-in-hand)
Tithe 10% of every paycheck for 6 months
Read the Bible from front to back (Old and New Testament) - Sharita showed me this great guide
Attend church regularly for a year (2x per month is regular for us since we're gone so much)
Pray out loud
Pray for strangers
Give until it hurts
Give a homeless person all the cash in my pocket (*note to self: start carrying cash)
Pay for next person's meal
Donate hair to Locks of Love
Read a marriage strengthening book with the Ninja
Finish our engagement, wedding and honeymoon scrapbook
Volunteer in my community 5 times
Donate to the foodbank

Learning New Skills and Trying New Things
Learn the basic of fitting a steer
Learn to change the oil in my truck
Take piano lessons
Teach myself one nice hair up-do for weddings and special occasions
Try 5 new foods
Take an online history course

Nurturing Relationships
Visit 5 [more] friends who don't live in Kansas
Engage in 3 father/daughter activities
Plan 3 mother/daughter things
Attend 5 more of little sister's events
Go out on 10 girl's nights
Go to a concert with little brother
Plan a tailgate
Host a dinner party
Write 20 thank you notes (handwritten)
Friendship photoshoot - rock the dress, KSU pride
Send Christmas cards at least one year

Domestication and DYI
Try one new recipe per week for 8 weeks
Complete two separate full-day sessions of cooking to fill the freezer
Make a perfect omelet (not a scromlet)
Make homemade bread without a bread maker
Learn basic sewing machine skills
Make a set of curtains using the sewing machine
Make some decorative pillows
Refurbish a dresser (or two)
Learn to make Grandma Buzzard's divinity candy, chicken n' noodles and other select recipes
Make and freeze/store my own salsa and red sauce
Plant a garden every year (if location permits)
Create a really cool DYI/craft project from scratch
Make/create 3 Christmas/birthday gifts
Make a cheesecake and an angel food cake from scratch

Financial Improvement
Save 10% of every paycheck for 6 months
Triple the amount of $$ in my 401(k)
Have zero credit card debt
Cut my student loan debt in 1/2
Take the Dave Ramsey finance course with the Ninja
Create a family budget and stick to it - evaluate and adjust after 3 months
Once every six months (for entirety of the 1001 days), complete a no-shopping month

Organized and Decorated Home
Frame and hang B.S. and M.S. degrees (as soon as my M.S. diploma arrives...)
The next time we move, organize and purge unneeded items
Organize and clean office so that it's functional for two people
Buy and hang wedding photos and select Kansas photography for the walls
Hang either a photo collage or cross collage on one of the walls

Adventures
Go whitewater rafting
Go rock climbing, hiking etc
Travel internationally
Go camping
Visit 5 states I've never been to before
Take a yearly family vacation
Meet someone famous
Go to an amusement park
Go pheasant hunting

Motivatated Thinking, Career and Writing/Blogging/Social Media
Write six chapters for my book
Have an article or blog post picked up by Huffington Post or similar outlet
Get a RT from someone famous - Peta doesn't count (been there, done that)
Make a 'Recipes' section on the blog and post 50 recipes
Blog at least once per week for an entire year
Fill a journal

Thanks for the nifty journal, Target. Oh, and of course what's a journal without a purple K-State pen?

Meet 5 social media friends IRL
Get 1,000 likes on Buzzard's Beat Facebook page
Speak on behalf of agriculture 3x
Get Twitter verified

I want that little checkmark

Stuff Just For Me
Read one book per month - revise and update book list to reflect what I've read
Add 10 more books to our library (an actual printed copy)
Buy myself a designer handbag
Create a coffee-table book out of my travel photos
Go to another K-State football bowl game
Check off some more concerts on my old soul music bucket list
Attend the KSU basketball game when they retire Jacob Pullen's jersey
Write myself a letter to open in 5 years
Go vegetarian for two weeks - blog about the exhaustion
Buy a barrel saddle
Finish Friday on the barrels - exhibition and enter at a rodeo

Friday, the soon-to-be barrel horse

Start another young horse on barrels
Get inked
Buy a new [to me] Chevy
Eat mind-blowing steak at 3 premier steakhouses
Beat the Ninja at Scrabble 3 times (this will be a miracle)
Go to an away KSU or Chiefs football game, or away KSU b-ball game or away KSU baseball game
Make a new list when this one expires

 

Do we have any common goals? Am I crazy?

 

Until next time,

~ Buzzard ~

The End of 101 in 1001

I usually am very organized and pride myself on having a fantastic memory, which is why I was really surprised when I checked my 101 in 1001 list and realized that I had run out of time. Crap. This is like a replay of this day.

So anyway, here are my 101 goals in 1001 - I've highlighted in purple the ones that were completed in time and the ones in green were in progress. There are comments on some that were in progress for your entertainment.

Start date: April 11, 2011
End date: January 6, 2014 (although I fudged it to the end of January so it's more like 1022 days)

Healthy Living
1. Run/workout 3x a week for 1 month
2. Run/workout 3x a week for 2 months
3. Run/workout 3x a week for 3 months
4. Run 5- 5K’s for Beef or Breast Cancer - I ran three and am already registered for the fourth.
5. Go to bed before midnight every weeknight for two weeks
6. Drink 64 oz of water every day for one month

Marriage
7. Have a date night with Hyatt each week for two months
8. Scrapbook our engagement, wedding and honeymoon
9. Celebrate one of life's little achievements once/month for 12 months
10. Complete name change on social media sites, social security card, financial accounts, passport, driver's license etc – this SUCKED: read moreabout that process here.
11. Celebrate our 1 and 2 year wedding anniversaries in a unique way
12. Watch 5 movies that Hyatt loves that don't interest me - (Apocalypse Now, Papillon, X-Men, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Anchorman 2)
13. Have Hyatt write a letter to me to open in 5 years
14. Write a letter to Hyatt to open in 5 years
15. Make a list of 101 reasons I love Hyatt
16. Pick out two dogs for the FroBuzz home upon returning from Australia

Aren't they adorable? By now I'm sure you've seen lots of media about Rooster the rodeo dog and Cricket, shy but feisty border collie. (@brandibuzzard on Instagram)

Goals That Might Pain Me To Complete
17. Do a vegetarian challenge for one week
18. Watch Food Inc. - infuriating

19. Watch An Inconvenient Truth

20. Eat a salad - a vegetable one: this too, sucked. Here’s a picture to prove it

21. Wear heels every day for 1 week
22. Replaced with the last goal in "Keeping in Touch" - 102. Have mother/daughter weekend @ lake
23. Don’t chew on fingernails for 1 whole month - May -- July 2011
24. Refrain from purchasing any item of clothing, accessory or footwear for 1 month
25. Eat 5 exotic/uncommon foods  - (Thai seafood 4/12/2011, Tofu Steak 5/2011, Kangaroo 6/2011, Crocodile 7/2011, Octopus 7/2011)

Keeping in Touch
26. Coordinate a tailgate for one of the following teams: KSU, KC Royals, Ohio State Buckeyes or the KC Chiefs - ended up doing this for KSU homecoming in 2012 and also in 2012 for KC Royals game.

Some great gals at a great game - that lady on the bottom right is getting married this weekend. Wahoo!

27. Call /visit my grandparents once/month for 12 months
28. Organize and go on a mother/daughter day with Diana & Madie
29. Attend 6 of Kristy’s sporting events/school events/4-H stuff - (Bourbon Co. hog show, Bourbon Co. beef show, biddy ball game, Allen County steer and hog show, KJLS)

Can't believe she's all grown up and showing cattle! Seems like just yesterday I was watching her learn to walk *Sniffle*
(@brandibuzzard on Instagram)

30. Visit 5 friends who have moved away – Sharita, Washington; Becca, North Dakota; Mandy, Iowa; Jessie, Texas; Kelly, Minnesota.

This is the famous Seattle gum wall - people keep saying 'gross!'
 Yes, it is gross but it's not like we were licking it or anything!
(@brandibuzzard on Instagram)

31. Visit Brice in A-town
32. Go fishing with my dad
102. Have a mother/daughter weekend at the lake

Professional Development
33. Defend my thesis by May 2012 – I defended in June of 2012. Dammit.
34. Publish an agriculture article in HPJ, KLA or publication/newspaper of similar demographic - May 2011 (Grass and Grain, Farm Talk)
35. Promote agriculture at community meeting or conference 3x
36. Develop a personal mission statement
37. Join learnersdictionary.com Word of the Day to broaden my vocabulary - June 2011
38. Consolidate/forward all email accounts down to 2
39. Post 3x/week for 1 month on Buzzard’s Beat - April and May 2011

Financial Conquistador-ism
40. Save $5 for each item on this list completed
41. Save 10% of every paycheck for 6 months
42. Learn to do my own taxes
43. Take Dave Ramsey finance course with Hyatt
44. Balance checkbook every month for 12 months
45. Create a family budget w/ Hyatt and stick to it for 3 months
46. Discover my credit score 47. Track Hyatt and I's spending for 3 months; evaluate and make changes
48. Complete a no-spend month
49. Pay off my small credit cards - Maurices, Victoria's Secret

Because I Want To
50. Purchase a new truck
51. Muster the courage to play blackjack in a casino - preferably win
52. Fly first class (even if it's only from KC to Dallas)
53. Go rock climbing
54. Acquire new square toed boots (preferably exotics)

Love these beauties that the Ninja gifted me with for my birthday last year!
(@brandibuzzard on Instagram)

55. Face 3 fears - (claustrophobia 7/2011, heights 8/2011, [third fear is a secret but was conquered in 2012)
56. NOT have a baby before I'm 2757. Scuba dive somewhere exotic - Great Barrier Reef 7/2011
58. Create a wardrobe I love. (This is defined as a closet full of clothes I am equally happy to wear)
59. Find the perfect cocktail dress - color insignificant – (but it’s purple, fyi)
60. Become a lifetime member of the K-State Alumni Association

Becoming Cultured, Crafty, Organized and Design-y
61. Print off and organize all photos
62. Organize Buzzard family photos
63. Compose/make/compile Buzzard family tree
64. Design and print my own custom thank you notes
65. Frame and hang my Bachelor's and (eventually) Master's degrees – this would be a lot easier to complete if KSU would send me my damn diploma.
66. Design and print our Christmas cards for 2011
67. Make a coffee table book out of my travel photography
68. Purge and donate old clothes from closets at least three times
69. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the SAME DAY - Lamington National Park - 6/2011
70. Attend an opera, symphony or musical - Love Never Dies 9/2011

Learning New Things
71. Learn to play piano
72. Learn how to make Grandma’s fried chicken, chicken n’ noodles and divinity candy
73. Learn how to fit a steer
74. Learn to drive the boat – I’ve driven the boat but still need more work.
75. Learn to change the oil in my truck
76. Learn to shoot a compound bow

Personal Development and Paying It Forward
77. Volunteer once/month at a breadbasket, food pantry or other comm. service 6 times – got this done 3 times
78. Spend under $10 on a meal & give a $10 tip
79. Donate 25,000 grains of free rice through Freerice.com (7270)
80. Write a letter to myself to open in 5 years
81. Donate hair to Locks of Love (again)
82. Start/keep journal for 12 months (1/12) – this is moving to my next list.
83. Earn someone's respect
84. Forgive someone (but never forget)
85. Say 'I love you' EVERY day for entirety of 1001 days
86. Read one book of the Bible every month for 12 months
87. Memorize a verse from the Bible every week for ten weeks
88. Attend church once/month for 12 months (3/12)
89. Tithe 10% of every paycheck for 6 months
90. Read the books from this list – fail. I only got about five read but am reworking the list and adding to next list.

Miscellaneous/Fun Stuff
91. Cook dinner every night for a week straight (M-F). Every night must be a new recipe.
92. Go see a sporting event that I've never watched before - Easter 2011, Footy game
93. Make a cheesecake and pumpkin pie....from scratch
94. Send a secret (or 2) into Post Secret
95. Attend the K-State basketball game where they retire Jacob Pullen's jersey – this was hard to do since they haven’t retired it yet but we have season tickets so I’m on the right track.
96. Drastically change my hair
97. Watch a movie based on a Nicholas Sparks book and DON'T fight back tears
98. Post every day for 1 month on From Oz to Aus
99. Play golf 3x in the 1001 days
100. Bake and decorate a birthday cake for a loved one or friend
101. Start a new 101 in 1001 when this one is complete

So, to summarize I completed 51 goals, while another 10 are in progress and if I had until April (like I had originally thought) I would have completed another seven goals. Now that I have done this I know how to write better goals for the list (which is completed and will be posted later this week). For example - #91 Cook dinner every night for a week straight using a new recipe is pretty unlikely since the Ninja is never home for a week straight so a better goal for the next list is Make a new recipe every week for six weeks.

That's just one example of improving my goals, there are many more.

Has anyone else made a 101 in 1001? I'd love to see them and would certainly link to it!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

The Facts on Food Day 2011

Friend or foe?

First off, let me say that I applaud an initiative that seeks to narrow the gap between rural producers and urban consumers. That is the whole point of advocacy and a national day that recognizes global hunger, environmental sustainability and the continued humane production of livestock is a giant step in the right direction. Food Day, which is today, is striving to do that through the following six principles:


1. Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods
2. Support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to big-agribusiness
3. Expand access to food and alleviate hunger
4. Protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms
5. Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids
6. Support fair conditions for food and farm workers

All of these principles are written with good intentions and I agree with most of them. However, does anyone else have a problem with the wording used?

Alarms are sounding with #4 at the mention of "reforming factory farms." I wholeheartedly agree with protecting the environment and animals, however, the negative connotations that accompany 'factory farming' are counterproductive to this initiative. I won't list here what the Food Day website is touting because it was just another form of propaganda that will serve as a poor influence to consumers who want the truth. However, if you wish to read it for yourself here is the direct link to the six initiatives.

The truth is that farmers and ranchers practice humane methods in raising livestock 24/7/365. Food Day is everyday to the rural American producer and they don't need a declaration from Washington to tell them so.

I'm not the only person who thinks #2 and #4 are whack - check out this piece from Drover's CattleNetwork. Additionally, the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance doesn't fully condone the #4 "as all farms, large and small, should keep animals healthy... Large does not mean bad."

My final issue lies with the partners in Food Day - there are about 60+ and they range from state organizations like The California Endowment, to health organizations such as National Association for Health and Fitness. But the partners who really caught my eye were:
- Farm Animal Rights Movement - www.farmusa.org - they self proclaim, "national nonprofit organization working to end the use of animals for food through public education and grassroots activism." They are also behind meatout.org.
- Humane Society of the United States - www.hsus.org - I don't think I have to inform you of their goals.

Additionally - Michael Pollan, author and self-proclaimed food expert and Wayne Pacelle, President of HSUS, are on the Food Day Advisory Board.

Now, obviously Food Day isn't out to abolish animal agriculture and I'm not saying that's their goal. This is just my gentle reminder that you can't always judge a book by its cover. Unless it's The Hobbit and then you can go ahead and judge away because that book is fabulous!

If you want to learn true facts about food production and connect with the people who produce it, head on over to www.realfarmersrealfood.com or ask a producer.

I hope that you will treat every day as a real Food Day, by thanking farmers and ranchers when you have the chance. Don't fall for misinformation just because it is nationally recognized. Take the time to suss out the info on your own and ask questions - don't fall for a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Until next time - thank a farmer!
~ Buzzard~