a barn find

 [  an old rope halter  ]

The absolute best barn find! This halter was something I was hoping to have found. It brought tears to my eyes when I spotted it hanging up in a barn. From the barn to my cozy rustic home... it will be loved. 

This halter has passed through the hands of my grandpa and dad. And, it has adorned heifers that built our cow herd. It was incredible to find. It makes my heart happy. It makes me proud. History of the family farm should be cherished. And, I do.

At first, I was not sure how I was going to style it in my rustic farm home. But, I knew it would be a focal point. I decided to hang it as wreath in my entryway. So, I smile every time I walk into my farm home.

converting the corn crib

 

In 2012, my dad started renovating the corn crib on the farm where I live. The corn crib was sided, new sliding doors were built, and windows were installed in 2013. There are sliding doors for the alley on the north and south side of the corn crib. And, there is also a sliding door on the north west corner of the corn crib. Two walk-in doors are located for access into the east and west.

 

It is so nice to have the corn crib preserved. The corn crib was the first building project completed when my grandpa and grandma purchased the farm when they moved to rural Altona in 1957.  I have so many great farm memories in that corn crib...unloading barge wagons and filling the crib with ear corn, and sliding down the ears as we were grinding corn out of it for cattle feed.

 

cleaned corn crib

I finally made time to clean out the corn crib and organize the space. We repurposed it to be used for feed and fence. The west side of the corn crib holds feed supplies, and the east side of the crib stores fence supplies. It works very well! The converted corn crib has been such a blessing on the farm!

a day at the ballpark with dad

Eek! I got to check something off my 'greener pastures' list... go to a Chicago Cubs baseball game with my dad! And, I got to take him to his first Cubs game! I was beyond excited to do this!

 

Since this was my dad's first baseball game, I bought him a shirt to wear. One morning after cattle chores, I walked into my parents' house to find my dad searching for his Cubs baseball cap to wear with his shirt. Pretty cute! It made me smile knowing he was excited about the baseball game.

 

After morning cattle chores, we boarded the train for Chicago on September 23. Once we arrived at Union Station, dad and I took The L to Wrigley Field. I loved watching dad see Wrigley Field as we approached.   

 

the friendly confines

We arrived at The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field! Dad and I enjoyed lunch and a beer outdoors at a restaurant in Wrigleyville before the game. Then, we walked back to the ballpark before the start of the game for a few photos.

 

dad with ernie banks... mr cub

 

clark the cub :)

Dad and I had a little fun taking a photo with Clark the Cub outside Wrigley! It is one of my favorite photos from our day at Wrigley.

 

  

We had perfect seats. I am so grateful I had the chance to buy the tickets. Dad was elated. He loved the view of the ballpark from our seats. And, I think he soaked up every second at Wrigley Field. It made me smile.
  

 

Wrigley was all Cubbie blue. And, the energy in the ballpark was absolutely incredible. I have never experienced a game like it. It was amazing!
 

 

 

 

Being at a baseball game at Wrigley Field, gives me chills! So much history in this beautiful brick and ivy covered ballpark at Clark and Addison. I am so glad my dad experienced a game at The Friendly Confines...the oldest ballpark in the National League.

I have been a Cubs fan since the 80s. Andre Dawson, Shawon Dunston, Mark Grace, and Ryne Sandburg were players I admired as I grew playing tee-ball and softball...especially Dunston since I played shortstop. 

 

 

It was such an amazing day! I LoVe baseball...I am a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs...a day at Wrigley Field with my dad...the priceless expression on my dad's face when we walked into the ballpark...singing Take Me out to the Ball Game...the Cubbies won 5-0! PERFECT. 

 

Cubs win! Cubs win! The Chicago Cubs beat the Saint Louis Cardinals 5-0! What a game! I did not have much of a voice after the game. LOL!

 

 

 

We had a wonderful time! I will always remember the day at Wrigley Field with my dad!

 

#GoCubsGo    #FlyTheW

The Shorthorn

 

 

One summer, my nieces visited the family farm and stayed overnight. After an evening of swimming at Oak Run with my parents, I surprised them with The Shorthorn. The Shorthorn is simply, vanilla ice cream and strawberry pop. It is a fun treat on our Shorthorn cattle farm! 

 

Now when my nieces stay overnight with us on the farm, we enjoy The Shorthorn. It is such a cute way to remember the farm.

10,000

It was an exciting morning!

 

9999.9

The Deutz loader tractor turned over 10,000 hours! The hours rolled over when feeding calves in the morning. Dad enjoyed the special moment.

 

dad enjoying the moment

 

My first memory was of my dad driving home the new tractor. I was 2 years old. I remember standing in the backseat of the car looking out the window watching my dad on the Deutz as my mom and I drove home to the farm on the sunny afternoon. A farm girl remembers important moments!

 

10,000

The tractor has worked many hours on the farm. The Deutz had several responsibilities over the years...feeding calves and cows, raking hay, baling hay, grinding feed, cleaning barns, loading manure, pushed snow. And, the tractor worked hard throughout the year. Even on frigid cold winter mornings, would start and go to work.

 

 

i heart agriculture

i HeArT agriculture

. farm . family . faith . love . tradition .



Every morning, I am blessed to wake up and do what I absolutely love...raising cattle. In my heart, I truly believe it was something I was born to do. Raising cattle is a family tradition. And, I am extremely proud to be a third generation cattleman. Raising cattle is about family, faith, love, and tradition. We take great pride in being stewards of our land, and caretakers of our cattle. It is tough work...blood, sweat, and tears. Though, it is extremely rewarding. I am able to see our work and dedication in our healthy cattle herds.

My wishes for the cattle farm...

I have quite a few wishes for the farm this year. I will need to work hard to make my wishes come true. But, it will be well worth it. I want to constantly improve.
 

. purchase barn cameras for the calving season

. build cattle sheds for calves and raising bulls

. plant trees around barns and in the pastures as windbreaks

. build a cattle shade for cows and calves in the pastures during the summer
. rebuild the corral in the pasture
. plant turnips for cows in the fall for extended grazing season

Friday on the Farm

weathered emblem of the farmall m

 

The Farmall M has history on the Stevens farm. My grandpa Stevens owned Farmall tractors. My parents now own the Farmall M and Farmall 450 that are still used on the farm. In my family, the love of red tractors is as much of a tradtion as farming.