I grew up on an 80-cow Holstein dairy family farm cropping corn, alfalfa, soybeans and wheat in eastern Iowa. I am putting the animal science (2005) and DVM (2009) degrees I earned at Iowa State to good use by focusing on the basics of cattle husbandry.

Since its arrival three years ago in Twin Falls, the Jae Foundation has built a footing from the ground up to preach the importance of affirming mental health. And by ground up, that goal starts straight from the boots.

In the hectic world of dairy, we all know there’s only so much bandwidth for saying “yes” in a day. And it seems like the opportunities never end – a new organization to volunteer for, a new task that needs to be completed, and so on and so on.

I’ve heard from several dairy farmers that they don’t know how much longer they can hold on. I’ve watched families struggle to keep a dream alive at the demise of the family. And I’ve seen individuals suffer because they didn’t think there was life after dairy farming. Now seems like the right time to illustrate a story of a dairy family who overcame greater challenges than most of us will ever face.

Now, halfway through reading The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst, I’m finding myself on a personal journey that is reminding me to be patient and intentional with my time, my choices, and myself.

Legacy is often thought of as a tradition passed down from one generation to the next. While tradition certainly plays a part, legacy goes beyond that. It’s about the mark you leave on the world, the values you uphold and the contributions you make.

In this episode of the Progressive Cattle Podcast, Editor Tyrell Marchant interviews Frank Mitloehner, from UC Davis, as they talk about sustainability and the industry’s relationship with the public when it comes to these issues. Additionally, Editor Carrie Veselka discusses all things mental health and resources available for farmers and ranchers with Jessica Cabrera of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

It was an early Thursday afternoon. I’d made the 26-mile run into Burley to a sale with a little load of leppy and oddball calves that, after a few weeks of TLC and too much money spent on grain, finally appeared respectable enough that I dared take such a ragged lot wearing my brand to town.

I’ve managed to cultivate a knack for finding four-leaf clovers over the years. We have a number of clover patches all around our farm where, if you’re looking, you can find at least one four-leaf clover; my daily record so far is 22. I’ve even found a couple of six-leaf clovers while going about my day.