It was a sunny, beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest, and I decided to take the kids to Retired Farmer Disneyland. It’s a place that sells the best burgers in the area.

It’s a big month for us in the dairy world. Happy June Dairy Month to those who celebrate. It seems appropriate to celebrate the work of all those who care for cows 365 days a year and turn grasses and corn into delicious cheese and ice cream.

There are several things that just completely mesmerize us as humans. One is the way the campfire dances on a starry night as it licks the wood and dances all around it. Another is the way we can watch a hoof trimmer slice away trimmings on a hoof to reveal either a clean hoof or something more exciting.

I really didn’t want to write this article. I really don’t like that we are fighting with the Canadians.

Spring is in the air in the Pacific Northwest as we got our first two days of high 50 degrees. This is affectionately known in our area as “fake spring.”

It’s Valentine’s Day today as I sit down and pen this. A day created by Hallmark for guys who said they loved you 22 years ago and would keep you posted if there was a change to that. 

Happy days are here again in the Pacific Northwest as we hit winter solstice and the days are getting longer. It’s amazing how a few days of sunshine will fire back up the dopamine receptors.

When contemplating what the worst job on the dairy is, we have several contenders. There is tarping the feed pile as we dodge rat- and silage water-filled tires; there is dealing with retained placentas that chose a later date of exit than the calf that filled it. Dealing with abscesses or backward calves, and the one thing I was dealing with this morning that seemed like great article fodder: dehorning calves. 

There are several keys to wedded bliss in a marriage where you both work on a farm or farm business. Keys like: Never go to bed angry, the family that prays together stays together, and never move cows together.

Welcome to 2025! Like you, I will no doubt be writing checks for the next three months with 2024 scratched out in the top corner.