agproud.com is the digital home of Progressive Dairy, Progressive Cattle, Progressive Forage and Ag Proud Idaho magazines. We offer content for dairy farmers, cattle ranchers and hay and forage growers in the U.S. and Canada. Subscribe to podcasts, newsletters or magazines offered on dairy, beef, and forage at agproud.com https://www.agproud.com/rss/articles I mean, I’m a dedicated straw hat member and all, but I’m pretty sure my type of garden works the same way my mirror does: The farther away I am from it, the sure-as-heck better everything looks. I mean, I’m a dedicated straw hat member and all, but I’m pretty sure my type of garden works the same way my mirror does: The farther away I am from it, the sure-as-heck better everything looks.

]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/61832-wipe-your-feet-weeding-with-scissors http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/61832 Imagine my shock, then, when last fall I discovered that we were due to deliver another pivot. I hadn’t even known we were expecting. Imagine my shock, then, when last fall I discovered that we were due to deliver another pivot. I hadn’t even known we were expecting.

]]> Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/61690-wipe-your-feet-his-and-her-pivots http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/61690 Now, 50 years later, I’m beginning to realize how much age and time have altered my mother’s memory. She retold the story of the great river crossing during a recent family Zoom call, and I was stunned. She misremembered every detail. She called the river a “stream” and Easter’s great leap a “hop,” and she claimed she’d clapped and cheered my landing – not in awe – but to keep me from crying. Now, 50 years later, I’m beginning to realize how much age and time have altered my mother’s memory. She retold the story of the great river crossing during a recent family Zoom call, and I was stunned. She misremembered every detail. She called the river a “stream” and Easter’s great leap a “hop,” and she claimed she’d clapped and cheered my landing – not in awe – but to keep me from crying.

]]> Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/61562-wipe-your-feet-the-day-orphan-easter-jumped-the-great-nevada-river http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/61562 “I think I have to let you know,” I told her as soon as I could get a word in edgewise, “that this employee is actually my daughter.” I also felt I needed to explain the seasonal nature of her employment. “She works for us between semesters, over breaks, whenever she is home. See, we have a family farm.” “I think I have to let you know,” I told her as soon as I could get a word in edgewise, “that this employee is actually my daughter.” I also felt I needed to explain the seasonal nature of her employment. “She works for us between semesters, over breaks, whenever she is home. See, we have a family farm.”

]]> Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/61385-wipe-your-feet-irresistible-employment-opportunities http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/61385 I’m not ashamed to admit that one of the happiest days of my life was in high school, and it was a revenge day. What’s worse, it was a revenge day exacted against an innocent person who had no idea I even had a stake in his tragedy. I’m not ashamed to admit that one of the happiest days of my life was in high school, and it was a revenge day. What’s worse, it was a revenge day exacted against an innocent person who had no idea I even had a stake in his tragedy.

]]> Mon, 31 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/61171-wipe-your-feet-the-man-who-drives-me-crazy http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/61171 The point of this whole story is that my mom is downsizing. Downsizing is an unemotional word that actually means “ripping your heart out.” Downsizing is emptying your life out of closets and boxes and drawers and arranging it onto the floor in piles. Downsizing is deciding which pieces of your past should be donated, sold or thrown away. The point of this whole story is that my mom is downsizing. Downsizing is an unemotional word that actually means “ripping your heart out.” Downsizing is emptying your life out of closets and boxes and drawers and arranging it onto the floor in piles. Downsizing is deciding which pieces of your past should be donated, sold or thrown away.

]]> Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/61051-wipe-your-feet-the-downside-of-downsizing http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/61051 What he’ll be wearing is never a mystery. On any given day, I can predict with 99% accuracy what’s coming out of the closet. For chores it’s going to be a T-shirt, Carhartt pants with lots of pockets, boots of some kind and a baseball cap. I think he wears T-shirts so often, he no longer considers them as separate from himself. They have become his second skin – his top epidermal layer. What he’ll be wearing is never a mystery. On any given day, I can predict with 99% accuracy what’s coming out of the closet. For chores it’s going to be a T-shirt, Carhartt pants with lots of pockets, boots of some kind and a baseball cap. I think he wears T-shirts so often, he no longer considers them as separate from himself. They have become his second skin – his top epidermal layer.

]]> Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/60908-wipe-your-feet-are-you-wearing-that-in-public http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/60908 Having only one chicken has put me in an awkward position. Can I even call myself a chicken lady anymore? Can I wear my chicken pajamas? Can I buy the chicken socks I’ve had my eye on? I’m guessing not. If my grammatical calculations are correct, owning one bird means I should be called a hen lady now. That puts me just one step away from being called an old hen – a step that’s way too close for my comfort. Having only one chicken has put me in an awkward position. Can I even call myself a chicken lady anymore? Can I wear my chicken pajamas? Can I buy the chicken socks I’ve had my eye on? I’m guessing not. If my grammatical calculations are correct, owning one bird means I should be called a hen lady now. That puts me just one step away from being called an old hen – a step that’s way too close for my comfort.

]]> Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:58:24 -0500 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/60754-wipe-your-feet-the-last-hen-standing http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/60754 And yet I cannot divorce my freezers. Just know, if we ever have a weeklong power outage, the Colemans will be hosting the greatest barbecue ever visible from outer space. And yet I cannot divorce my freezers. Just know, if we ever have a weeklong power outage, the Colemans will be hosting the greatest barbecue ever visible from outer space.

]]> Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/60621-wipe-your-feet-one-freezer-is-just-not-enough http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/60621 The difference between me and Dave can be summed up in the church parking lot. When we pull in on a Sabbath morning, David instantly knows who’s there before he actually sees anybody. The difference between me and Dave can be summed up in the church parking lot. When we pull in on a Sabbath morning, David instantly knows who’s there before he actually sees anybody.

]]> Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/60476-wipe-your-feet-its-not-who-you-are-but-what-you-drive-that-matters http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/60476 It’s getting to be about time to put the lawnmower away for the winter and thank goodness for that. Thank goodness we still have a mower to put away. Most of all, thank goodness the temptation to use it will be locked up for a full five months. It’s getting to be about time to put the lawnmower away for the winter and thank goodness for that. Thank goodness we still have a mower to put away. Most of all, thank goodness the temptation to use it will be locked up for a full five months.

]]> Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/60335-wipe-your-feet-the-grass-is-always-greener-after-its-been-mowed http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/60335 I recently learned from my teenaged daughter, for example, that we are an “ingredient family.” She mentioned it casually one day, just as if she was talking about growing up during the Great Depression or surviving the Dust Bowl years. “Yeah, we never had good stuff to eat like my friends did. I grew up eating chocolate chips for dessert because, you know, we are an ingredient family.” I recently learned from my teenaged daughter, for example, that we are an “ingredient family.” She mentioned it casually one day, just as if she was talking about growing up during the Great Depression or surviving the Dust Bowl years. “Yeah, we never had good stuff to eat like my friends did. I grew up eating chocolate chips for dessert because, you know, we are an ingredient family.”

]]> Mon, 19 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/60168-wipe-your-feet-theres-nothing-to-eat-around-here http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/60168 Someday I realize that Dave and I will probably spend all our time wandering the fields looking for lost shovels. At that point, I might not remember my name, but I will be able to tell you that Ace is “the place with the helpful hardware man.” Maybe that’s all I really need to know. Someday I realize that Dave and I will probably spend all our time wandering the fields looking for lost shovels. At that point, I might not remember my name, but I will be able to tell you that Ace is “the place with the helpful hardware man.” Maybe that’s all I really need to know.

]]> Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/60002-wipe-your-feet-why-can-i-only-remember-what-i-want-to-forget http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/60002 There’s a flavor of humor in Idaho that is hard to define. It’s not salty. Well, no, I guess it can be salty. But it’s not dry. Then again, I guess it can also be dry, really dry. But it’s definitely not bitter – though at times it might sting a bit. There’s a flavor of humor in Idaho that is hard to define. It’s not salty. Well, no, I guess it can be salty. But it’s not dry. Then again, I guess it can also be dry, really dry. But it’s definitely not bitter – though at times it might sting a bit.

]]> Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/59841-wipe-your-feet-its-not-as-funny-if-you-laugh-out-loud http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/59841 “Cows are out. Can you give me a hand getting them back in?” That one question told me that he was officially scraping the bottom of the barrel – a man clear out of better options. I am the last person anyone wants to have to call when cattle are involved. “Cows are out. Can you give me a hand getting them back in?” That one question told me that he was officially scraping the bottom of the barrel – a man clear out of better options. I am the last person anyone wants to have to call when cattle are involved.

]]> Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/59668-wipe-your-feet-the-telephone-call http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/59668 The awful truth is, we don’t really want to go anywhere. We are so old and so set in our ways, so boring, so calcified, so embedded in this farm, that what we really want is for everyone else to go away, so we can get our work done. The awful truth is, we don’t really want to go anywhere. We are so old and so set in our ways, so boring, so calcified, so embedded in this farm, that what we really want is for everyone else to go away, so we can get our work done.

]]> Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/59487-wipe-your-feet-the-romantics http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/59487 I come from a long line of women who cook according to the theory that everyone is just one step away from starving to death. My mother’s family, in particular, plans for the worst no matter the occasion. I come from a long line of women who cook according to the theory that everyone is just one step away from starving to death. My mother’s family, in particular, plans for the worst no matter the occasion.

]]> Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/59282-wipe-your-feet-is-too-much-ever-enough http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/59282 “So Dave,” I asked, “Explain the math to me. We couldn’t tear down the barn because you were afraid it would cost too much, so once we ate that cost, we bought a pivot?” “So Dave,” I asked, “Explain the math to me. We couldn’t tear down the barn because you were afraid it would cost too much, so once we ate that cost, we bought a pivot?”

]]> Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/59103-wipe-your-feet-a-pivotal-event http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/59103 Apparently, I’m just not cut out for self-improvement. What I need to do is start making resolutions for other people. Whoever said, “You can’t change other people; you can only change yourself” was obviously a pessimist. Apparently, I’m just not cut out for self-improvement. What I need to do is start making resolutions for other people. Whoever said, “You can’t change other people; you can only change yourself” was obviously a pessimist.

]]> Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/58938-wipe-your-feet-a-new-approach-to-old-resolutions http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/58938 David was also trying to text and walk, which was probably his real problem, so he didn’t see the black and white “cat” before he was literally on top of it. David was also trying to text and walk, which was probably his real problem, so he didn’t see the black and white “cat” before he was literally on top of it.

]]> Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/58793-wipe-your-feet-men-dogs-and-skunks http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/58793 I try to do my best to warn people about the realities of country living versus the little-red-barn, paint-by-number version. For some reason, I feel a particular responsibility to be the warning angel of the 4-H sector. Take, for example, steers. I try to do my best to warn people about the realities of country living versus the little-red-barn, paint-by-number version. For some reason, I feel a particular responsibility to be the warning angel of the 4-H sector. Take, for example, steers.

]]> Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/58625-wipe-your-feet-so-you-want-to-show-a-steer http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/58625 Just brush it off? What exactly did he think he had splashed through – powdered sugar? Just brush it off? What exactly did he think he had splashed through – powdered sugar?

]]> Thu, 26 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/58439-wipe-your-feet-never-a-dull-moment http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/58439 Is a prayer sincere if it starts with, “We are so thankful for the moisture we have received, and we know we need every drop of it, and we are not complaining, but maybe in passing you might want to know that we can’t get into the field to do any fieldwork, so uhhh ... just mentioning it in case it affects your eternal plans. Amen.” Is a prayer sincere if it starts with, “We are so thankful for the moisture we have received, and we know we need every drop of it, and we are not complaining, but maybe in passing you might want to know that we can’t get into the field to do any fieldwork, so uhhh ... just mentioning it in case it affects your eternal plans. Amen.”

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/58296-wipe-your-feet-when-things-are-too-good-thats-bad http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/58296 Another important thing to know about Coleman cars and trucks is that they aren’t sacred. If whatever you fit out your vehicle with can’t withstand the big five, you better not go there. Another important thing to know about Coleman cars and trucks is that they aren’t sacred. If whatever you fit out your vehicle with can’t withstand the big five, you better not go there.

]]> Tue, 22 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/58158-wipe-your-feet-do-you-know-how-to-drive-that http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/58158 People sometimes ask me what it is that I do all day. To be honest, I’d like to know myself. Whatever it is, I’m sure not getting it done, that much I know. Still, I wonder what people imagine I’m up to when they ask that question. People sometimes ask me what it is that I do all day. To be honest, I’d like to know myself. Whatever it is, I’m sure not getting it done, that much I know. Still, I wonder what people imagine I’m up to when they ask that question.

]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/57978-wipe-your-feet-and-what-do-you-do-all-day http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/57978 Did you know that farmers don’t need pain medication? When they are as grumpy as @#$%!, it is simply because you are irritating, not because they are in any discomfort whatsoever. Did you know that farmers don’t need pain medication? When they are as grumpy as @#$%!, it is simply because you are irritating, not because they are in any discomfort whatsoever.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/57766-wipe-your-feet-the-impatient-patient http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/57766 I like to ask David questions I already know the answers to. It’s my own private game of “How Well Do You Know Dave.” I happen to be the world champion, and I score pretty high most of the time, though every once in a while, he’ll throw me a ringer. I like to ask David questions I already know the answers to. It’s my own private game of “How Well Do You Know Dave.” I happen to be the world champion, and I score pretty high most of the time, though every once in a while, he’ll throw me a ringer.

]]> Tue, 09 May 2023 13:00:25 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/57555-wipe-your-feet-ill-take-dave-for-the-win http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/57555 Dating holds some unique challenges for farm girls. Of course, I realize dating isn’t all peaches and cream for anyone, and I fully support the right of every single person to experience their own brand of dating agony. Dating holds some unique challenges for farm girls. Of course, I realize dating isn’t all peaches and cream for anyone, and I fully support the right of every single person to experience their own brand of dating agony.

]]> Mon, 10 Apr 2023 17:59:15 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/57395-wipe-your-feet-etiquette-quandaries-for-dating-a-farm-girl http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/57395 Whatever happened to the grandmas that prepared their grandchildren to be soft but tough and kind but not taken advantage of? We need more of those women today – women like Grandma Hartman. Whatever happened to the grandmas that prepared their grandchildren to be soft but tough and kind but not taken advantage of? We need more of those women today – women like Grandma Hartman.

]]> Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:50:52 -0400 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/57158-wipe-your-feet-grandma-hartman-im-ready http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/57158 The strangest thing about all the ball caps around here is: Dave and the kids don’t actually wear them. I mean, they don’t wear 99% of them. The strangest thing about all the ball caps around here is: Dave and the kids don’t actually wear them. I mean, they don’t wear 99% of them.

]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2023 12:34:44 -0500 https://www.agproud.com/blogs/19-wipe-your-feet/post/56955-wipe-your-feet-my-caps-runneth-over http://www.agproud.com/blogs/19/post/56955