Many of us live in places where the weather may change at the blink of an eye. We may have four layers on in the morning, but by afternoon, we have shed three of them: our “I’m warming up” layer, our “It’s past midmorning” layer and our “Dang, it’s a different climate” layer, which leads to …

I remember one time we were trying to make it back to the house before the snowstorm drifted our lane shut, but our four-wheel drive was no match for the high winds, and I sank into a drift about half a mile from the house.

As the bus rolled up to the high school gym on that cold, late-February Saturday night, I cracked my aching joints and unraveled myself from the nonexistent comforts of the third seat behind Russ, the ever-patient driver of Cassia County Joint School District bus number 9.

In the gripping finale of our 2023 NCBA coverage, Bridgette Readel of Rural Minds discusses mental health resources in rural America; the University of Tennessee’s Troy Rowan gives producers advice on developing a bull-buying game plan; and Dave Weaber from Terrain talks through ways the industry can rebuild the national cow herd after drought.

Thank you. Thank you for showing up month after month and engaging with others in our community. Your time and attention is valuable.

My husband’s grandfather went by the name Pete. It wasn’t his given name, and no one seems to know for sure where he got it or when it started. Pete was as amazing as they come: the perfect blend of gentleman, comic and hard worker. His kindness radiated out of his sparkling eyes.

When our kids were little, we made an effort to go see grandparents over the holidays. We flew south some years and drove five hours to my folks other years.

Growing up isn’t always easy.

Yes, I know that’s true for the kids, but today I’m talking about us parents. Growing up isn’t easy because as our kids grow up, we are also still growing up.