Let me tell you a story about a heifer named Sassafras.

When I was growing up as the oldest daughter in a single-parent household, I knew that I probably wasn't going to get the help I needed. Whether it was with my homework or around the house, I just powered through and put a lot of pressure on myself to do it well so I wouldn't need help in the future.

Every planting season brings a sense of excitement and opportunity to try something new. Each spring also seems to come along with its own challenges. This year, we decided to no-till plant our corn crop not only green (into a living cover crop) but without a planter monitor.

I’ve managed to cultivate a knack for finding four-leaf clovers over the years. We have a number of clover patches all around our farm where, if you’re looking, you can find at least one four-leaf clover; my daily record so far is 22. I’ve even found a couple of six-leaf clovers while going about my day.

Klipp explained that, compared to their straight beef counterparts, beef-on-dairy calves are weaned early from a liquid milk diet and need a functional rumen to maintain growth and overall health.

Needless to say, my farm mom era isn’t exactly looking like I thought it would. Almost a year and a half later, with the exception of a few milkings being worn in a baby carrier or sleeping in a laundry basket as a cherubic newborn – those visions and dreamed-out-loud plans have not come to fruition.

Spoiler alert: It did not.
I sincerely thought I had a leg up on the non-farming set of expectant mothers with my experience caring for lactating animals that had the same gestational length as me. I really, truly did.

Avec le retour des jours plus courts et des matins plus sombres, il est temps de se préparer à faire face à la dépression saisonnière.