May you always have cows around

This week one of my good girlfriends asked if I had heard Corb Lund's new song, and if I hadn't I needed to check it out. I checked it out and therefore I present Cows Around.




If you aren't in a position to have cows around I'll let you adopt mine so they can bring you much happiness. Corb even mentions the two breeds of cattle my family own first - Hereford and Simmentals. Yes, that is the kind of thing that makes me happy even when I was up at 6:30 in the morning in -5 F (without the windchill) weather feeding those cows this morning.

p.s. Don't forget about the Country Outfitter gift card giveaway!

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Lady Gaga Moves to Nebraska?

Little Monsters Love Agriculture

Ok Lady Gaga isn't moving to Nebraska as suggested by SheKnows, an entertainment gossip site. However, it is true that Gaga has been spending a lot of time in Nebraska with what she calls a "cool Nebraska guy," and more importantly Lady Gaga told Star Pulse, "that there is nothing sexier than shooting a scene in a cornfield." Can any farm girls confirm or deny?

Her next music video "You and I" will feature barns, small towns and cornfields all near Springfield, Nebraska, according to the Des Moines Register. I guess after the infamous Meat Dress and her recent GagaVille - a spin on Farmville (if you haven't watch the video it's a must) Lady Gaga is showing that she likes us agriculture people - wait I think she would say us agriculture monsters.

When there are superstars out there that choose to support agriculture (unlike Carrie Underwood) I choose to support them. I also think that Lady Gaga is actually pretty darn smart and talented, yes quirky, but different isn't always bad.

I was also excited to see this in my roommate's US Weekly.

"I like weaning calves on my buddy's Utah farm," Josh Kelley of Lady Antebellum in 25 Things You Didn't Know About Me. Yup, they get added to the "I support agriculture" ipod playlist. 

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Lady Gaga is farming

Little Monsters are farming, and you have never seen these crops before.

Farmers

Yes, Lady Gaga has entered the world of farming. She's shaking things up on the popular game FarmVille brought to you by the gaming giant Zynga.  GagaVille will be a neighboring farm to Farmville - unicorns, sheep on motorcycles and crystals will be present. Not only will players get to till the soil, but they will also get access to three never-been-heard before songs off of Lady Gaga's "Born this Way album."

Even if you don't plan on playing this video is definitely worth watching. I am pretty sure none of you have ever seen a tractor like this before.




Disclaimer: Growing food on Farmville is nothing like real farming. 

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Miranda Lambert Hell on Heels

Miranda Lambert our beef loving cowgirl.

Since Miranda was such a hot topic on my blog this week, I figured why not end it with her. I love this song that she sang with her new band Pistol Annie. You go Miranda, and thanks for talking a little bit about agriculture.



I hope you all have an awesome weekend! I'm off to South Carolina, a state I have yet to been to. Should be exciting.

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I’m thankful for roadtrips

101 in 1001

We survived our 2nd
Calf Fry together. 

Time to give a little gratitude on the blog as part of my 101 in 1001 project. This past weekend I headed to Stillwater for my annual Calf Fry trip. This time my co-pilot was the Boy. It is hard to believe that is was at this event last year our relationship really kicked off.

We arrived at Miss Northerner’s trailer house (I mean what would a weekend of Red Dirt Music be without a trailer house). The Park West Palace would be home to eight people during the next three days. Eight people staying in a trailer = someone is going to have to sleep on the floor. It also means it takes approximately three hours to get everyone showered. Water tanks are not that big.

Randy Rogers was the musical highlight for me. Yes, I was that girl belting out Kiss Me in the Dark, and I was in great company. Throughout the weekend there were too many inside jokes to count, Eskimo Joes, my slowly becoming famous Shrimp Gumbo, a pitching contest, in which I made a hole in one, Zebra Cake races, dancing and a terrible rendition of Fancy. I am really not a good singer.

Dana can literally eat a Zebra Cake (similar to a Little Debbie) in 30 seconds.  This has become an annual tradition.

Now that is great form.

What I am most grateful for is the friends that accompany me on this trip every year. Sometimes we don’t see each other often, but it doesn’t matter because we pick back up from where we left off. And each year I seem to leave with a few new friends in tow. I mean the Montana Boys seen to your right probably know more about my personal life then they ever planned too. My Alberta heritage quickly gave me street cred, and they quickly declare I was just a norther sister. The bottle of Canadian Rye I bought with me probably didn't hurt.

Throughout the weekend I saw friends from 10 different state and a bunch of Okies, all gathered for a little fun in Stillwater. 

Pretty girls. Great friends.

Dana was the further traveler again, this year flying in from Detroit.

So thanks friends. I hope that you have people you can count on like these awesome people. Can't wait to do it all again next year. 

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Food Animals

Food Animals vs. Pets - there is a difference

MirandaLambert.com
aka Superstar 

Miranda Lambert has done a nice job of explaining the difference between food animals and pets. Miranda Lambert is not only a superstar in terms of country music, but she knows that protein is a great way to keep her energy up and that “there are some animals you feed and some animals that feed you.” Yes, Miranda Lambert you are now an even bigger superstar in my books. 

Food animals seems like a simple concept. They are the animals that you eat, but yet I still get asked all the time how I can eat my cows. I talk a lot about my cattle on my blog, and there are certain ones that are really close to my heart – like CDY Signature 2N. She is one of my favorites, but I also know that she is a beef animal.

CDY Signature 2N

Signature was one of the last heifers I showing through junior cattle programs and my sister showed her in 4-H.

 Signature’s job for the last eight years has been to raise calves that we can sell as seedstock animals to other purebred cattle breeders. The bull calves go onto sire (father) calves that will be fed out for beef production, and her heifer calves remain in my herd or are sold to other purebred cattle breeders.

This is one of the 2011 bull calves out of Signature.

However, Signature is getting older and for the last year has had some hip problems. This winter it got a lot worse, and my family and I don’t want to see her going through more pain next winter. So after her calf is weaned off this fall I will sell her, and her ultimate fate will be hamburger. Yes, it is sad, but I grew up knowing that cows are for food, dogs are for pets.

Here is Miranda Lambert’s full quote on food animals from her Health.com story.

Q: Was it hard slaughtering animals that were your pets?

A: Dad would give us two rabbits as our pets, or we’d have one pig we could name. They explained that not every animal was a pet—some were providing for our family. It sounds weird to other people, but I look at it like, there are some animals you feed and some animals that feed you. 

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Crystal Cattle's Dance Moves

Shake your groove thing

A friend reminded me about this video today. A few years ago she came across it and was instantly reminded of me. I may of may not have pulled a few of these dance moves out before! Regardless I hope it brightens up your day.

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Wide Open Spaces - Texas Long Weekend Part 1

Driving, driving, driving.

Last weekend I got to head south with the boy to a friends wedding. Now first let me explain we call these holiday weekends, long weekends in Canada. No one seemed to have a clue what I was talking about when I kept on referring to the Labor Day weekend as the long weekend.

Back to the topic. We fly into Fort Worth on Thursday and stayed with the boy's sister and her fiance. The next day they treated us to a quick tour of the Superior Livestock Auction building where the fiance works, and then some amazing BBQ at Coopers, all down in the Stockyards. The Brisket and the blackberry cobbler were amazing, and trust me Texans know how to do both of these the best.

Then it was off to San Angelo, just a mere four hour drive south. ugh. However prime opportunity for me to take pictures, and maybe complain a little that we couldn't stop at every western decor home store we saw. Texas I will return.

We did drive through Dublin, home of Dr. Pepper. I always get excited about tourist things like this. This is what it looks like on the drive by.

And although, we we greeted by a beautiful sunset as we entered San Angelo. It was time to wear some engergy off.

And so as is tradition, if you are going to sing karaoke, you better sing Sweet Caroline.

The boy's sister and I were very excited to be on stage.

Also, a note to those that like to sing karaoke. It helps if you turn the microphone on. We didn't realize it was off until half way through the song. Which, actually may have been a good thing.

Stay tuned. Part II to be reveled later in the week. And there may or may not be more karaoke and a picture of the boy.

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I think we are alone now.

Classic.

Let me hear your heartbeat.

Let me feel your heartbeat.

Let me touch your heartbeat. 

I can change your heartbeat. 

First off, I never knew that Tiffany's famous song started off that way. Learn something new everyday. Secondly, I bring up this song because I got to make a road trip to the great farm state with a friend that really appreciates this song. But thirdly, I think I should tell you how I learned about this song.

You may not know, due to my klutzy tendencies, but I actually danced (ballet, lyrical, and jazz) for 12 years, and even took some classes in college. I remember in about first or second grade we did a jazz routine to I Think We Are Alone Now. We wore this two piece green and white polka outfit with a big green and white polka bow in our hair.

Listening, to this song now, I think why were we ever dancing to this song when we were seven years old. However I do know now that if I ever have to sing a karaoke song, I can sing this one by heart. Belt it out.

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I am just going to declare the start of Summer.

Unofficially it starts now.

I know the "real" official start to summer isn't until June 21, but with 90+ degree temperatures and a great long weekend I am just going to go ahead declare it Summer. Plus, I just heard this song, and I think it screams summer. Now I am warning you the video is not that interesting. So just sit back, close your eyes and listen, because the song is amazing.

Here's to a summer of being Wild and Young.



You can connected with these guys here.
http://facebook.com/americanbang
http://twitter.com/americanbang

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Top Five Ways to Be a Real Cowgirl

Welcome to the blog carnival.

One of the my new Twitter/Blog friends The Cowgirl Life is hosting a blog carnival this week, and asked me to join. She asked my what does it take to be a real cowgirl, so here is my top five list.

1. Dedication, passion and hard work. Although, much more of my time is spent behind a desk than in a pasture or on a horse, the lessons I learned growing up in agriculture will never leave me. I also, know that even though I might not be the one calving cows or vaccinating calves now, I can share my knowledge with others, to ensure that agriculture's story is being told.

2. A good pair of cowboys boots. If you haven't noticed I kind of have an obsession with cowboy boots. I don't own that many pairs, but I love to window shop. Just search boots at the top of my blog to see all my old posts. You won't be disappointed.

3. A working knowledge of Red Dirt music. All this new country is just not for me. Give me the lyrics of Randy Rogers, Miranda Lambert, Wade Bowen or Gary Allan. They sing about long songs and revenge. This girl also likes to dance so you better know how to two-step.

4. A trip to the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. You really haven't lived until you have been to the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth." The rodeo, chuckwagons, Ag-tivity in the City, and amazing western art show are the highlights for me. My cousin is a chuckwagon driver and will be racing at the Stampede this year. You can follow his journey up and down the road on facebook.

5. Know how to cook a steak or hamburger. You are going to need some fuel for the fire, so I suggest a serving of lean protein. I really can't stand chicken anymore and would much prefer a beef any day. I love that's it's summer and that means the grill is getting lots of use.

For those of you that are visiting my blog for the first time thank-you. It is a combination of my love for agriculture, the western lifestyle and the fun I have along the way. Be sure to check out This Cowgirl Life to see the other blogs that have been written for the Cowgirl Carnival.

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Give me a redneck girl

Actually I would prefer a boy. 

These posts were actually wrote before my departure for Calf Fry so i don't have any stories to tell you yet. The forecast didn't look great for the weekend, but I can tough it. Tonight if all goes as planned I am going to be listening to the Bellamy Brothers belt out a tune or two.

I remember 4-H and junior livestock dances. Redneck girl was a classic sing-a-long song. However, the verse "give me a redneck girl" was commonly changed to "give me a redneck boy." According to this post of mine, it seems some of my friends found that redneck boy quite easily.

You wouldn't think a 20-something gal would get excited about the Bellamy Brothers, but come on they are a classic. And I also was the girl that freaked out last year when I met Wayne Newton.




Have a great weekend.

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Calf fry... the Official Countdown has began.

And then the Gods created Calf Fry and all was good in the world.


OK maybe that is an over exaggeration, but this is truly one of my top five events of the year. Calf Fry is held every spring in Stillwater, Oklahoma. I talk about Texas or Red Dirt Country a lot and this event bring together the very best music.

My friends and I have been talking about this event since we were all together for the National Western Stock Show in Denver. We can't wait to take Stillwater by storm, just like last year, and now the day has finally come. As you are reading this I am in my car road-tripping it with Doc, headed south.

But don't worry while I am gone I have a few posts in store. Hopefully, it'll make you feel like you are along for the ride.

This was our group at Calf Fry last year. Yes, a limo picked us up from the trailer park. 

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Music discovery... Jaida Dreyer

Can't get enough of her. 

Between the recent ACM's and Calf Fry coming up I have got music on the mind. Currently, I am working the the 2010 Great American Calf Fry Road Trip Playlist, which you will be getting a taste of in the coming weeks. Ms. Bewitching (who I think I am going to change to Doc) and I are going to be road-tripping down to Stillwater to meet Miss Classy, Cgood and the Trailer Park Gang, and we are going to need something to be jammin' to.

However, I have made a music discovery via Twitter. Her name is Jaida Dreyer and she is fantastic. The problem is I am pretty sure she hasn't signed with anyone because I can't find a place to download her music! However, thank the Lord for YouTube. She's all over it. Now we just need to find a way to get this girl on the radio or at least iTunes.





She has a list full of awesome songs. You can either search for her on YouTube or visit her Myspace page here. 

p.s. If you missed yesterday's post you have to check it out. The comments are great!

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Get off on the Pain - Love you Gary

A Little Monday Music

Hello, Monday Morning. I have to say I would have rather slept for another five hours than face you, but that is the way life goes. Wednesday thru Sunday I was in Minneapolis at the Youth Industry Beef Conference. Lots of energetic youth and good discussion, but it sure wore me out. However, the flight home yesterday gave me and my iPod a chance to get reacquainted, and I knew exactly what I would be listening to...

In February, I had a chance to see Gary Allan in Dallas. He is one of my favorites, great music, good looks, how could you go wrong. I finally had a chance to download his new album, and I have fallen in love with the title track "Get off on the Pain"

Cause I love the long shot

And the left out lost causes

Hanging out in the back of the pack with the dark horses

I ride the wrong road just as fast as I can

God knows there's no one else to blame

Sometimes I think I get off on the pain 

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Last five hours...

I am the Energizer Bunny.

My life has been a whirlwind. And that may lead to me disappearing from my blog for the next few days. I just have to get caught up on some things. My friend Robyn always seems like she is conquering the world each step of the way, sometimes I wish I could get it all done like. Today she wrote a post call "My first four hours." I was pretty down today, feeling like I wasn't getting much done, but when I started to write it all out like Robyn did, today was no so bad. Just a little room for improvement. So this is how my last five hours went:

5:30 - at a still a work. Been editing videos all day, but they are looking great. Abby calls, take the chance to catch up while more videos are loading. Bummed I won't get to hang out with her during Fake St. Patty's Day, but I am way excited about our Calf Fry trip! Videos are still loading.

6:00-7:00 - keep on working on video, the client's sale is coming up, and people want to look at these bulls. I know how important it is to get them done.

7:10 - computer is crashing! Try to fix it, but give up. Take computer and equipment home, maybe it just needs a rest, and I can fix it tonight. Drive home, calling the girlfriends - nobody is answering! I need to talk to someone, already had one venting session today.

7:30 - make it home. Throw a pot of tortilla soup on the stove. Pull in computer and cross fingers. Computer is working, but editing software isn't. Ugh. It'll be Ok, I am going to have some time to work on other projects now.

8:00 - phone call from home. Didn't go well. I am stressed out. Just try to think positive thoughts.

8:15 - make a to do list. I have got to get organized.

8:30 - get first load of laundry in washing machine, and other loads started. I haven't done laundry in weeks. It's going to take awhile to go through.

8:45 - address envelopes, for Emilie's shower, while watching some American Idol (they aren't that good this year). The big day is going to be here before we know it. Trying on my bridesmaid dress this weekend!

9:00 - sort through mail, pay bills, find a really nice thank-you card from Brett and Karen's wedding, renew K-State alumni membership and sent donation off to K-State Judging Team through Telefund. Already feeling better.

9:30 - more laundry and cleaning my room. It's a disaster, even worse the usual. I feel like the only time I am in it lately is to sleep.

10:00-10:15 time to find some new itunes, while folding that laundry. I have been listening to my itunes so much lately that I am getting burnt out on Rihanna, Jay-Z and Gary Allan. Buy new Reckless Kelly Cd and a few other songs. I need suggestions though. Any ideas.

10:15 - time to write this blog. Really should have been on the treadmill. Oh well life isn't perfect.

10:45 - I have now gone over my five hours recap. And not headed to bed yet. Six things crossed off the to-do-list and tomorrow is a new day.

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Four more sleeps until Randy Rogers Band!

My love for Texas country. 

So I have mentioned before that I love Texas Country music. And I really love Randy Roger. You can read all about my college concert experience here. A couple weeks ago I found out that Randy Rogers is coming to Manhattan on a Friday - which is a rarity - Longhorns' concerts are always on Thursday which creates some problems for me. Driving the two hours and eight minutes back to work either the night after a concert or the next morning is just too hard. My body can't take it anymore!

Anyways back to Randy Rogers, he has this song called Kiss Me in the Dark. It's one on of my absolute favorite songs, and I will be belting it out Friday night, with all the girls! Take a listen.

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Zac Brown puts PETA in its place

Grammy winning group eats meat.

The Grammy's Best New Artisti winners, the Zac Brown Band and their No. 1 song, Chicken Fried, is under attack. In a letter last week sent to theboot.com, PETA requestted that Zac and his band change the menu on their pre-show "eat-and-greets" to something more tofu-friendly. Currently, the menu includes plates of pork, beef and all the fixings. 

"If PETA has its way, the 'Chicken Fried' singers will be hosting an all-vegan edition of their celebrated 'eat and greets' for fans," a rep for PETA wrote to us.

"We're writing today in the hope that you'll extend your love of freedom to animals," PETA continues, addressing the band. "In your song 'Chicken Fried,' you praise the simple pleasures of life -- a cool drink, a home filled with love, enjoying the sunshine -- all pastimes denied to the millions of cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals raised for food on factory farms every year."

Well Zac has responded, and it's a win for agriculture! No Carrie Underwood likeness going on here.  Via Twitter the Zac Brown Band posted this.

"Dear PETA -- Plants are living creatures too ... Bacon had a mother, but so did Pickle. It takes life to support life -- welcome to the planet." 

photo courtesy of theboot.com

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Vegas NFR style, buckles and singing

Don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys...

On Friday night we hit the ground running. R3 and I left straight from the office and headed to the airport, and thanks to Southwest and those handy little drink tickets we were able to enjoy a little relaxation. The plane was full with a combination of rodeo goers, marathon runners - there was a huge race in Vegas on Saturday, and a bunch of K-State vet students and equine enthusiasts that were attending the National Equine Practitioners meetings in Vegas. Why can't my meetings be in Vegas?

Once we arrived in Vegas, we checked into the Planet Hollywood hotel - and yes we somehow managed to get a suite. I would highly recommend this hotel, very nice, good location on the strip, great places to eat, and the a mall attached to it. This would be R3 demonstration the size of our tub. We also each had our own vanities. Very important!

Later that night we headed over to South Point to watch the NFR buckle presentations. It's neat to watch the contestants talk about their ride or run, they bring the stock contractors up there with them, family, etc. Everyone is pretty excited. While you are at South Point you can also take in the Calgary Stampede party. Us northerners like to surround ourselves with other northerners ;). In this picture Kaycee Field is getting his buckle from Round 2 in the saddle bronc riding. p.s. it is very strange to see rodeo clown Flint Rasmussen without his clown get-up on.

That night we headed over to Mirage, where all the contests all go. It was neat to be standing there and get to mix and mingle with all the guys you see down in the arena or on the big screen. Every night at the Mirage they also have a line up of country music singers. The first night we saw Jason Meadows, who was the second-place finalist on the third season of Nashville Star. And yes, he gave me one of his band's drumsticks. He was pretty decent, worth looking into. However, the second night we got to see Michael Scott, and he was really good. A little more rocker to him. I like this song of his if you want to listen.

Next time we'll talk about the importance of shopping and plastic guitars!

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Viva Las Vegas - NFR

We are going to rock this town tonight!


My roommate, R3 and I are on the road a lot, and it isn't very often that we get to take a true vacation. So, when the opportunity presented itself we jumped at the chance to take a Las Vegas vacation - NFR style.

Over the next few days I will have updates on -

• The importance of a Vegas survival kit
  
• The return on the green guitar
  
• Some awesome shopping
  
• Of course our night at the rodeo - where we also became famous
  
• Me getting to see one of my most favorite celebrities
  
• Some new country artists you need to check out
  

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