Good Morning from Wisconsin…still.

The convention is going well, everyone is having a great time and the kids have been the best group I’ve ever dealt with! Yes, you can take farm kids off the farm and they know how to behave, get along and enjoy their time away from the work. I’m so impressed with every single one of them….can you tell?

This morning Brittany Westendorp and Keith Kramer were in the fitting contest, they did well and it was a great experience for them both. We will find out how they did today at the luncheon. So until then I will sign off and report the results this afternoon when I sit down to write my column.

More later!

It’s been a busy couple of days here in Wisconsin at the National Holstein Convention. As you can see I haven’t had time to post anything.

So let me give you the condensed version of the last two days. Sarah’s speech went well. She is one of these people who has bad rehearsals and then when the spotlight turns on, she goes to town. She was great! She lost her place a couple of times because she was being so animated, but she looked like she was having a great time. I know she was nervous, but she did well. We will find out just how well she did on Thursday.

Last night they had a Junior mixer and the band Catchpenny played. Since two of the guys in the band were from Indianhead, a Holstein farm in Wisconsin, I decided I would go meet them. So I sat down at the table with the band and started into my reporter interregation mode and found out everything I wanted to know. What I found out is that they are a great group of young men and are very talented.

Today we toured farms all day. Frozene, So-fine Bovine, Maple Lawn and Rosedale. They were all very different and very interesting! Tonight was the convention sale at Heatherstone Farms. A huge group of people showed up for a great meal and an even better offering of cattle. It was great fun!

I’ve got lots of pictures to share, but that will have to wait until next week when I can download them onto my computer at home.

Now I’m going to drop into bed and repeat to myself, I’m not tired…I’m not tired….I’m not tired!

Good Morning from a sunny Wisconsin Dells!

JW, Sarah and I are on the convention trip in Wisconsin and having a good time so far. We got through Chicago without any trouble or even much traffic. In fact we were on the west side before I heard the question, “Are we in Chicago yet?”

This morning we will head down to the convention where Sarah will compete in public speaking, Levi and CJ will compete in Dairy Jeopardy and we have a few other things on the schedule.

While walking back from the fitness room I heard a familiar laugh and it turned out to be Patty Hyde. Rumor has it she’s here with the president of the Michigan Holstein Association….in the same room! Don’t worry, they’re married!

Well, it’s almost time to go, please pray for Sarah today, this is the first time she’s done this, although she doesn’t seem nervous, I’m sure she is. And thanks in advance!

Later….I have a great story about four farm boys and the hood of a van!

It’s another beautiful morning here on the Knolltop!

Luke is gone to his last day of basketball camp, Bobby and JW are fixing fence and Sarah and Jake are doing housework and aren’t happy at all about it! Oh well.

Last night Jake’s team beat Pittsford by a lot! And JW and Luke’s team took both games of their double header last night. Luke got to pitch the second game and after he ran out of gas in the fourth inning, JW came in to relieve him, but he had the National Holstein Convention on the brain and had to be relieved in the last inning. At least that was Luke’s rendition of the game. Actually Luke went into greater detail about JW’s performance last night and I’ll just say this; I’m glad I wasn’t riding in the truck with the two of them on the way home from the game. It must not have been too bad, they were joking around by the end of the evening.

Today we are scrambling around getting ready for to leave and to be gone for a week. You know how it is before you go on a trip, you get to the point when you have so much to do you stand around and say, “Why did I say I’d go on this trip, it’s easier just to stay home!”

Good news and answered prayer yesterday. Dad went in for his surgery and it was a great success….so far. I spoke with him on his way home from the hospital and he sounded so good I asked to speak to mom. When I got her on the phone I asked if Dad was still drugged up from the surgery and she assured me he wasn’t, he just felt so much better! So…thanks for praying, I really appreciate it!

Now today I want you to pray for another friend of mine who is facing surgery today. They didn’t want me to say anything to anyone, but I can’t keep from asking for prayer so with no more information than I’ve given you, will you stand in the gap for my friend? THANKS!

Fun was had by all who promoted one of natures most perfect foods….MILK!

With our black got milk? background and our milk musctaches we donned everyone we could with a white sticker over their lip, snapped their shot and gave them a chug of milk before they went on their merry way to investigate other interesting venues all for kids.

With Lori from Knolltop Morgans and her brood we had a great time giving away free stuff and providing keepsake pictures for those brave enough to stand still for a sticker shot.

Of course the workers had to get in on the action with their own poses. Sarah shows off her muscles while Jake tries to pose for a serious shot. His giggling got in the way and his mustache kept falling off!

Then I wanted JW and I to get our mug taken and he generously sat on my lap! Of course the story behind that is, when he was younger and actually fit on my lap, I would ask him if when he was 16 years old would he still sit on my lap and let me hug him. He promised me he would. Now I have my very own picture of a kept promise.

Even the Hillsdale County Sheriff got in on the act with his milk mustache! He’s up for re-election, I think this would make a great campaign shot!

The cows are milked, the work is done for the day, except the laundry of course. And I’m ready for bed!

It’s a cool, clear morning here on the Knolltop. And it’s going to be a great day!

For those of you who have wondered and have been praying for my dad, I want to say a big thank you! He is headed for surgery on his back on Friday. I don’t know what the procedure is called, some big long name no doubt, but it sounds like it should be successful. So, three weeks ago he was nearly comatose from pain and now he’s out driving the tractor, in pain, but not as much. You know when a farmer has hay to bale there is no such thing as pain. Keep praying for him and I’ll let you know how it goes.

Jake’s team won last night by a big margin. Needless to say he was thrilled. And University of Georgia beat Stanford last night too in the NCAA baseball playoffs. Since Big Daddy is an alum of UGA we have to cheer for the Bulldogs!

Luke’s first day at basketball camp was fun. When he got home we were headed to Jakes game so at 10 pm last night he was sitting on the kitchen counter giving a blow by blow report of everything they did. As I wiped down the counters and got the coffee ready for the morning, I counted my blessings to have my 15 year old expounding on his eventful day, telling me what he liked and what he didn’t like about his camp. There will come a day when I will long for him to sit on my counter and tell me about his day.

Today I head for Lansing for a Michigan Holstein meeting. We’ll see what kind of a rowel my friend Gene VanRhee and I can get into today! Honestly, he and I get along great because we are so straight forward with each other even though it’s not all that pretty sometimes.

It’s a beautiful father’s day here on the Knolltop. I’m having a cup of coffee before the boys and I head back out to the barn to finish chores. Then we’ll take Big Daddy out for breakfast!

I wrote a Father’s Day column last week and have had several comments about it so I thought I’d better include it here for those of you who don’t read it in any paper. I even had a Pastor ask for a copy of it to put in his church bulletin and to share on his radio program.

So here it is….
Truth From the Trenches
By Melissa Hart

He is tall and skinny, short and round. He wears shorts and tank tops and slacks with starched shirts. He has dirt under his fingernails with sweat dripping down his forehead and he is as clean and neat as a white sheet of paper.
He’s a mechanic, a banker, a dairy farmer and a factory worker. He knows how to change a flat tire and some spark plugs and he knows the ins and outs of Wall Street investments.
He’s good with his hands, has the biceps of Hercules and he has trouble bending over to tie his shoes. He can run a marathon and likes to drive to the mailbox. He drives pick-up, a Lincoln Town Car and a Cobalt.
He likes pizza and beer and pasta salad and red wine. He knows his way around the kitchen making a killer omlet and he is challenged to find the difference between the coffee maker and the blender.
He’s never cleaned a bathroom in his life and he’s gets upset when the shower isn’t wiped down after use.
He’s geeky with a silly sense of humor and he’s trendy knowing all the slang. He knows how to program a computer without the slightest idea of what “protect the plate” means. He can still place a double while never knowing that stripes and plaids don’t go together.
He wears wrinkled t-shirts to his kid’s awards ceremony and wouldn’t be caught dead in anything less than a pressed dress shirt and khaki slacks at the Christmas concert.
He’s got a pony tail left over from the 60s and his barber knows he likes it “high and tight.” His face is clean shaven everyday without fail and he’s got a full beard.
He wears cowboy boots, tennis shoes, loafers and wing tips. He never leaves without his favorite hat and his hair is perfectly styled with the help of sculpting gel.
Plaid shirts are great, tank tops are better, polos are his pick and his dresser is full of t-shirts. He loves baseball, football, hockey and NASCAR. He can’t live without his Blackberry, laptop and Starbucks coffee.
His wife is his jewel and his kids are his heritage. He hugs his little girl one day and then steps back the next as he watches her emotions run wild on a tirade confirming that he’ll never understand the female gender.
He knows his daughter needs him desperately but struggles to know when to wrap his arms around her or give her some space.
He wants his sons to make all the right choices but has a hard time getting beyond their hormone ravaged body and mind. He can see their path and wants to make it straight and painless, but knows they will suffer just like he did and will be better for it.
He wants his six year old to knock the ball off the tee, his ten year old to hit a single, his 16 year old to hit a grand slam and his 25 year old to move out and get a job.
He wants his daughter to marry the perfect man, knowing he doesn’t exist and his son to marry a woman who will whip him into shape.
He wants his parents to be taken care of, his wife not to worry and his kids to be happy.
He wants his wife’s respect, his daughters’ love, and his son’s admiration.
He has so much to share but can’t find the words. He has so much to give, but fears rejection. He has so much potential but not enough self confidence.
He’s given it his best, most of the time, but knows he falls short of his own expectations. He wishes for second chances, longs to take back misspoken words and despises the hurt he has caused.
He’s tenderhearted yet well guarded. His heart has been broken a million times but you’d never know it. He’s a provider, a protector, knight in shining armor. He’s a businessman, a caregiver, a decision maker and a rock.
Who am I writing about? You guessed it….your dad.
Happy Father’s Day!

It’s a party sunny, partly rainy day here on the Knolltop. That’s the way it will be most of the day, so they say.

Last evening JW and Luke had a game in Jonesville. I arrived as they were winning the first game. The boys came over to report and JW said he was 1 inning away from pitching a no-hitter! He was so excited. I was happy for him, but sad because I had missed it…yes those cows had to be milked! But I got to watch the whole second game and they won that one too. Luke played center field and had a few hits.

The fun part was, these parents don’t know my boys or me, so when I sat down I kept my mouth shut and waited for them to talk about my boys. The best part was, I heard a couple of the dads say, “That kid from North Adams can throw some heat! WOW!” As my chest swelled up with pride, I continued to keep my mouth shut, which is a miracle in itself.

Unfortunately Jake’s team lost last night to Camden by one run. He wasn’t happy, but the ice cream we had made it all better.

I’m not sure what today will hold on the Knolltop. We have to start scraping part of the barn to get it painted and I’ve got to finish mowing. I still have a few flowers to plant and yes, laundry…more laundry….the never ending mountain of laundry!