Travel, be it to a different state or a different hemisphere, exposes people to new ideas and often challenges traditional thinking. As dairy farmers increasingly travel to trade shows, organize farm visits and exchanges, and more recently, "tour" farms virtually, they engage in discussions and idea exchanges on new technologies and farming techniques. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Cape Dairy Experience, South Africa's largest dairy trade show. I was there to represent my family's small business, Advanced Comfort Technology, based in Wisconsin.

Will Gilmer is a dairy farmer in Alabama. He blogs at http://gilmerdairy.blogspot.com. My family gathered together at my parents' home for our traditional Thanksgiving meal on Friday evening. Mom had cooked just about everything one could hope for: turkey, ham, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, rolls, and deviled eggs (I ate eight).

I love the Christmas season and being reminded of the greatest of all gifts to mankind, the birth of the Babe of Bethlehem, even the Christ child. Many sights, sounds, smells and events bring back a flood of good memories of Christmases past. I’ll never forget one Christmas as a young boy, when I was out of touch with the concept of time. I confused the 23rd of December to be Christmas Eve day, waking on the 24th to find out that Christmas was actually the next day. Now that was a long 24 hours, let me tell you.