I’ve been fortunate to grow up in the cow business. From the time I was young, I traveled with a professional cattle photographer to all parts of the country, showed cattle across North America and attended hundreds of sales, as my father was a sale manager.

As I look around my neighbourhood, in a right-to-farm community, there is one word that comes to mind as we begin a new year – build.

Our school had its annual fall fundraiser, an evening of family fun activities with food and a live auction, put on by a group of volunteer parents, teachers and staff members.

One of my favourite stories to tell is about the time my grandmother made pancakes with a dead mouse.

Some people spend their summers at the beach or on a lake. With second or third crop in by now, you’re probably thinking you’ve spent some significant time in a hayfield.