Sharing Blog Posts

Recently I became aware of two blogs that posted recent travels to farms. One visited a dairy farm and one visited a beef farm. I want to both share their blogs and thank the authors for their comments and viewpoints.

Here is a bit about each author and their blog. Read for yourself about their farm visit experiences and then if you have never visited a farm, now is a good time to make an appointment with one that can show you where your cheap, nutritious and safe food supply comes from in the United States!

Sherri Schuber, a New York City mom, active blogger and soy beverage consumer visited a California dairy farm, interacted with dairy producers and saw how dairy cows are raised on a modern dairy farm: http://momtrends.blogspot.com/2010/06/travel-to-modern-dairy-farm.html.

Ryan Andrews, a registered dietician, personal trainer and vegan visited a Colorado feedlot and saw for himself how beef cattle are raised: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/cattle-feedlot-visit.

Cheers & Happy Eating!

Celebrate June Dairy Month with Some New Recipes - Homemade Butter

Well June Dairy Month 2010 has officially arrived! It is one of those months I love both because of the weather and that we celebrate my favorite foods - anything made from MILK!

Here is a fun recipe to make with Kids during the summer or all year long.

Homemade Butter

2 cups cold whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
A few drops yellow food coloring (optional)

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream at medium speed until light and creamy in color and the liquid separates out. This step may take 8-10 minutes. Drain off liquid; rinse butter with cold water. Work butter back and forth with a spatula or rubber scraper to remove more water and buttermilk. Drain well and add salt and food coloring to butter. Beat again to ensure good mixing. Chill (Makes 1/2 pound or 1 cup of butter.)

Freezing Homemade butter: Butter can be frozen for up to two months. (You can shape your specially made butter in molds to make for a special occasion.)

Using Buttermilk: The liquid drained from the butter may be used in a variety of ways. It can be used as a beverage as is, or mix it with fruit juices for a different flavor. Buttermilk can also be used in making sauces and gravies.

ENJOY!

Sykora's New Calf

Sykora made an investment this year into the Jersey breed by purchasing a Spring Calf at the Wisconsin Spring Spectacular Sale. Sykora plans to show this calf at the little britches class at Isanti County Fair. The name that Sykora gave the calf is 'Buttercup'. Even though the calf has another name on her registration paper, Sykora likes to give each of the calves she shows a 'special' name.

Here is Sykora & Buttercup after the sale.

Buttercup lives at my parents farm in Minnesota and Sykora gets to work with training the calf to lead, learn about what to feed her and helping her to grow on the weekends we visit the farm.

Stay tuned to more details about Buttercup.

Governor Doyle - Please Veto the Raw Milk Bill

This just in - Governor Doyle VETO's the Raw Milk Bill. - Check out Story here.

A Win for Public Health and the Dairy Industry's Image.

His reasons for the Veto - The governor wrote:

"I recognize that there are strong feelings on both sides of this matter, but on balance, I must side with the interests of public health and the safety of the dairy industry.

"I am listening to the unanimous voice of public health professionals including leading doctors at the Marshfield Clinic and Gundersen Lutheran Health System who have found the sale of raw milk to have potentially harmful health effects.

"I also have to protect the safety of the dairy industry, which is critical to our state economy. We have worked successfully over the last seven years to modernize Wisconsin's dairy industry. An outbreak of disease from the consumption of raw milk could harm our reputation for providing healthy dairy products, and damage the entire industry.

"A group of experts will continue to study the question of whether or not the state should allow and regulate the sale of unpasteurized milk in the future. This group will make certain that the concerns and interests on all sides are fully analyzed."

This morning I sent off a quick personal message to our Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle encouraging him to VETO the Raw Milk Bill. I hope he and/or his staff get the opportunity to read it and I hope it makes an impact on his decision.

Yesterday, I was pleased to hear that the Governor hesitated about signing this bill, it gives Wisconsin's 26.5 Billion dollar Dairy Industry another chance to be herd. The public's health is at stake as well as the name brand MILK's image is at stake.

This morning a group that represent a wide and varied coalition of farmers, residents and business people from across Wisconsin who are against the Raw Milk Bill are holding a Press Conference to share their reasons! I am with them in spirit today and I hope their message is heard. Here is a bit about that group.

If you haven't seen my reasons for opposing the Raw Milk Bill read my previous blog - Milk Should Be Pasteurized.

Signing off for today! - Drink Milk - (pasteurized milk that is!)!

Holstein Bull Pilot Is Proven

I am happy to report that we have sent a bull to stud and it is now officially proven...014HO05360 S&E Shottle Pilot. This bull was bred by my husband Joe and his partner Jamie Endvick and is from a cow family that Joe has owned an bred for many years.


















Here is a bit about the Pilot. 014HO05360 Pilot is an early Shottle son. His dam is an Excellent-93-3E Patron daughter, Gunners-Will Patron Patti and was a Gold Medal Dam and Dam of Merit. She has high milk production records: 2x 37,070M 4.7% 1,728F 3.6% 1,333P.

The next dam Staussdale G-W Phantasy EX-90 has records to 42,920M 4.0% 1,696F 2.9% 1,251P. And the third dam back is Staussdale Blackstar Pansy EX-91 being Excellent across the board GMD, DOM and has records to: 34,510M 4.1% 1,408F 3.1% 1,062P.

Pilot has two full sisters that are doing well. S&E Shottle Pixie-ET VG-86 with production at 2-9 2X 305 24,350M 4.0% 983F 3.2% 788P and S&E Shottle Panda-ET VG-89 3-2 2X 305 28,230M 3.3% 944F 2.8% 787P.

Accelerated Genetics sire analysts report that Pilot daughters are tall, strong, deep-ribbed cows with wide sloping rumps. He comes in at +1887 TPI and he is a good type bull at +2.08 PTAT. Pilot is also a high component bull being +.07% fat, +53 fat and +.06% protein, +43 protein.

For more information on Pilot, go to Accelerated Genetics website www.accelgen.com.

Milk Should Be Pasteurized

With the topic of raw (unpasteurized) milk in Wisconsin's Legislature, and after spending a weekend working with Dairy Producers, I thought it was time to voice my opinion about the importance of drinking Pasturized Milk!

Since its introduction over a century ago, pasteurization has been recognized around the world as an essential tool for ensuring that milk and dairy products are safe. Here is a link to the article 'The Dangers of Raw Milk: Unpasteurized Milk Can Pose a Serious Health Risk" which is posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) website and quotes the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Milk is something that my family goes through by the gallons each week and the milk we drink is pasteurized and bought at the grocery store each week. (Funny side story, my daughter Sykora loves to 'milk' the pretend cow at the Viking Grocery store in Reedsburg, it is so cute. Even though she has had a chance to milk real cows at her grandparents farm, she still likes the pretend cow too.)

What is Pasteurization?
Pasteurization involves the heating of raw milk to a minimum of 145˚F for 30 minutes or to 161˚F for 15 seconds, followed by rapid cooling. This step is very important to continuing the production of safe and wholesome milk. Research has shown that there is no significant difference in the nutritional value of pasteurized and unpasteurized milk. (Research source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Food and Drug Administration. Grade 'A' Pasteurized Milk Ordinance - 2005 Revision. Washington D.C.: USDHHS, PHS, FDA, 2005.)

In a recent report, the U.S. FDA and the CDC reminded consumers that even with sanitary collection practices, raw (unpasteurized) Milk could contain harmful bacteria. Federal law prohibits the retail sale of raw milk across state lines and many state have banned the sale of raw milk. Here is a great fact sheet. (Its called raw milk fact sheet).

I was very disappointed last week when I learned that the Members of Wisconsin's Senate Ag Committee decided to pass the proposal that would allow state dairy farmers sell to raw milk to consumers. Read here for more information about what the Ag Committee decided.

I encourage families who are concerned about the safety of their families to contact your legislators about this Public Health issue. To find out who your Wisconsin Legislator is and more information about what they are up to go http://www.legis.state.wi.us/.

For the safety, of my family, I will never serve raw (unpasteurized) milk and I hope that the Legislators in Wisconsin realize the Safety of Public Health and keep raw milk from being sold in Wisconsin.

Here is a link to other dairy websites for more great information about Dairy Farming and Dairy Foods.

Have a great day! And enjoy a refreshing, wholesome glass of pasteurized milk!

New Tidbits

I am back. Yes, I have been a bit lax on my blog, and its time to get back to work on it.

Recently, my family along with a couple of friends took a great, adventurous trip to Peru. We started in Lima, then Arequipa, Puno, Lake Titicaca (and visited 3 islands on the lake where we were able to look into Bolivia) and then we visited the cities around Colca Canyon. It was definitely a fast paced trip, seeing and learning a lot about Peru's culture.























Here is a cute photo of our daughter Sykora with a baby Alpaca!

On the farm news front, I would like to let anyone know who is interested in Jersey cattle and wanting to expand their herd that we are selling a fancy, Fall Calf at the Midwest Spring Jersey Sale on Saturday, April 10 in Rochester, MN. Here is the calf's info.

Golden Hill TBone Lucky
Birthdate: September, 2009
Sire: Richies Jace TBone
Dam: Suess Millenium Linda
2-10 305 14,610 5.0% 732 4.3% 623

(Owned by: Diamond S Farm & Joe and Kari Stanek)

For questions about the calf contact Joe Stanek - 608/434-4110

Also, if anyone is interested in either breeding age bulls or bull calves prior to weaning contact Dave & Kathy Skiba at 651/674-7318.

Happy Thursday!

Drink Milk!