Tag Archives: ranchlife

Living Life, Ranch Life

Building Continuation!

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Can you believe it is already nearly September?!  There has been so much going on at the Ranch I have to apologize for not being better about posting!  If you follow our Facebook Page you probably have a little more insight!   So the Yearlings are close to one month from their eviction date, those ladies have been a delight to have for the most part, My kids have had a blast chasing cows and “helping” to round them up and push them where they need to be…and that is NOT in the neighbors pasture like some of those girls think!  Aside from that Here are pictures of the House building project that is coming along.  We have been diligently working on it as a team of 2-3 depending on the day, so I think we are doing a great job so far.  I’ve become a skilled sawsmith as well as learning my way around a level and square (I still have geometry so the angles get me).    Not to mention The Keya Foundation that I am working with is beginning have some great starting points on projects.  So between all of those things going on, we also are fortunate that Deleen (my Mother-In-Law) has moved out here and taken a job nearby.  Her and Albert will be bunking in the double garage/guest house, and will move into the bunk house for the winter after we get moved into our home.  It will be tight living until then but it will all work out!   So without much further waiting – Here are some updated picture of the progress we are making on the house!

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Let me know your thoughts?!!?

WWGTD

Meet & Greet – R-Crest Holsteins/Reutter Dairy

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Today we are welcoming Jodi McDonnell and R-Crest Holsteins/Reutter Dairy Farm to our blog! The operation calls Big Prairie, Ohio home and is operated by her husband, Tom, Jodi, and her parents. This operation is working on raising it’s 4th generation of farmers with Tom and Jodi’s kids working alongside their parents to help with milking and chores on a daily basis.

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The Dairy operates on 400 acres of land that is used to grow crops for feed, and is home to 120 Holstein cows. This operation is Jodi’s family’s place where she was raised milking cows and doing chores at an early age, just as they are raising their kids a generation later.   Jodi was involved in FFA and 4-H growing up and it was at the farm and in these organizations that her love for agriculture continued to grow. She attended college at Ohio State’s Agricultural Technical Institute and then headed back to the farm to help! Jodi maintains a majority of the computer records for the herd including herd health and calf growth records as well as keeping the breeding program update, not to mention the entire family assists in milking the herd. In their spare time (wink), this family enjoys showing some of their registered cows at different shows around the area.

Jodi McDonnell

When asked the question of Why Blogging? Jodi answered, “I have always enjoyed interacting with the public and started my blog this spring in hopes to reach more people while serving as an outlet for creative writing.” It is important for agricultural producers “to be more available to consumers so they ask us, the producers, questions instead of relying on social media for their information. I think this is why it’s important to have producers who are advocates so we are more visible. “

I want to know your dirty little secret…..ok you don’t have to give that up, but tell me something unique about you, your operation, your family, anything goes!

“I have always thought it would be neat to process our own milk and sell our own ice cream. I don’t know how feasible this would be, but I’ve always thought it sounded like a fun adventure!.”  Who doesn’t love Ice Cream?!

I want to add in a little something that Jodi would not mention if I didn’t.  This family has been through so much in the past few months with 2 of the children becoming extremely ill and hospitalize as well as Jodi’s Father.  There has been a website set up to help defray the medical costs, if you can please help to support this great family through donations and especially prayers.

Thank you so much Jodi and R-Crest Holsteins/Reutter Dairy for being a part of “The Women that Get Things Done in Ag” Feature! Your blog is a great way to AGvocate for our industry!  You can follow them on Facebook or on Jodi’s website here!