Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Plunging into the Blogoshpere


All the good blog names have been taken.  Seriously. ALL.  TAKEN.  I can’t use : When pigs fly, or Cowtales, or Pioneer Woman (who I LOVE!). Ugh.  I guess I will have to stick with Pigtails and Cowpies.  However, the name is quite fitting. Why? Well, just sit back and let me tell you why this title is the perfect fit into my crazy life.

First things first.  Introductions.  Hello!  My name is Jenna, and I’m from a small town in Minnesota.  No, not Minn-eee-SOOOta.  Minnesota. There is no long “O”.  Sorry.  But get that accent out of your mind!  That’s not how I talk, don’t ya know. 

I grew up on a diversified farm in SW MN.  On our family farm, we raised hogs, corn and soybeans.  We no longer are a part of the hog industry, but my dad still crop farms.  I went to college to get my Mrs. BS degree at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities.  I figured I might as well as try to experience a metropolitan area for a few years of my life.  While I was in school, I fell hopelessly in love with my cowboy.  Okay, he’s not an actual “cowboy” per se, but he is a dairy farmer.  Cows=female bovines for milk production=dairy=farmer=my Hubby!  So see.  He really is a cowboy.

Anyways, I was/am a bit of an overachiever, and I finished with my BS degree in 3 rather than the typical 4 years.  Well, being the overachiever that I am, I decided to continue my education and go for my MS.  [Actually, I continued my education because I wasn’t engaged yet!]  Three years later, I got married and finished that degree and decided to throw in the towel with the entire “formal education” thing. No PH.D for this gal! In 2011, I married my farmer, and I moved to the dairy farm.  My hubby farms with his dad and brother.  In addition to the dairy cows, we raise our own replacement heifers, steers, and crop farm.  Needless to say, life on the farm is busy!  I am employeed off the farm and started my job with an animal nutrition company.  I am blessed to work with pig farmers on a daily basis, helping them make good, informed decisions. 

I have been sitting on the fence about starting a blog for years.  Finally, one night I decided to take the plunge and, well, here we are.  The driving force of WHY I started blogging was to share the story of agriculture.  Agriculture is deeply rooted within me.  It makes me who I am today.  I am so blessed to have the opportunity to be a farmer’s daughter and a farmer’s wife, and hopefully, someday I will switch to a full time farmer.  Along the way, I may deviate from my path and tell you about my hobbies, a good book I just finished, life happenings, a recipe I need to share, my beloved dog, or may vent the frustrations of the day.  Regardless, I look forward to writing about day-to-day happenings in my life. 

Welcome to Pigtails and Cowpies!