Agriculture: People Just Don't Get It!

My background in farming consists of this: my dad grew up on a farm and I was in 4-H as a kid (and no, I did not show animals). That's it. Or it WAS until my world was completely flipped upside down and spun around when I married a farm girl.

The first time I visited my – girlfriend at the time, now wife – Amy's, family farm I was given the task of picking rocks in one of the fields. Her dad literally plunked us in the middle of a field with a wagon and a tractor and told us to pick up rocks. I mean I had heard the phrase 'rock picking' before but never had a desire to participate. 

If it was supposed to drive me away, it didn't work. I returned.

I think I started winning her family over when I continued to come back even after the most ridiculous tasks. One time I even got attacked by a coughing cow (Just take a moment to think about that). One of the most memorable moments early in our relationship was when we were standing in the farm house kitchen and we look out the window to see a heifer staring back at us. I learned right then and there. It doesn't matter the time of day or what you are wearing: if someone yells "COWS ARE OUT". You run…and fast.

I have now been fully immersed by the "farmer schedule." As someone not used to the long, physically laborious days, it's exhausting. Often when at the in-laws, I help milk and feed the cows, feed calves and clean the parlor…which is a never-ending task. 

I will admit I am a self-proclaimed neat freak, so I enjoyed getting to clean up the parlor (or so I thought). The first time, I worked for an hour or two to make it shine. It stayed that way just long enough for a cow with a strategically-aimed backside to change that.

I'm not afraid to admit the calves are my favorite. When they're not head-butting you between the legs – which is a less than pleasant feeling – they're just so darn cute and relaxing. I've heard of dog therapy before, but is there such a thing as calf therapy? If not, I may have discovered it. Often, I'm found snapping pictures with the little buggers. People say photos and video of cats rule the Internet, but I think it's just a matter of time before calves get their time to shine.

Growing up I didn't give much thought to where my food came from. It's not that I was blind to the agriculture world, but I hadn't experienced it first-hand and had little connection to it. As with many consumers, the thought didn't go much beyond food comes from the grocery store. I didn't understand the battles today's farmers experience every day...or, in fact, the joys their profession brings. There is a disconnect between the average consumer and the American farmer, more so than there was a few generations ago. That's why it is so important to help share agriculture's story.

Now, even though you may not be a farmer, you may be closely connected to agriculture because of a friend or family member. You are valuable to agriculture. I want to share a story about a girl in Texas who just might be the perfect example of why you need to speak up for agriculture.

Kendyll Williams is a young girl from Fort Worth, Texas. She has been criticized by animal activists for selling her market steer at the Fort Worth Stock Show. (Animal activists believe animal agriculture of any kind is inhumane.) Her steer, Oatmeal, was born blind and certainly didn't show much promise for a good show animal. But, Kendyll who is 13 had a goal to get Oatmeal to the Sale of Champions and raise some money along the way to purchase more steers and eventually pay for college. Oatmeal advanced to the sale and was sold for $8,000. Kendyll said her goodbyes to the animal she had raised and developed a trusting relationship with just like many others in the beef industry have done and will do.

If you have shown beef animals before, you know first-hand how hard it is sometimes to watch them be loaded onto a truck, but it's part of the process and part of the circle of life. (Cue Lion King melody??)

Oatmeal was transported with dozens of other steers to a meat processing plant. The local newspaper published a story the following week about Kendyll and her steer. That's when the Internet trolling began. Many readers commented they were outraged that the steer had been sold for slaughter. Others did show their support, but it's the hateful and vicious comments that leave the lasting impact, especially to a 13-year old girl.

Some accused her of being heartless. Others were shocked she could kill an animal after growing so close to it. Some comments stick out to me like, "Can we start a Go Fund Me page to help the family keep the steer until its natural death?" or "Cruel. I'm sorry but either keep him or see to his safe passage beyond. Poor thing must have been beside himself leaving her and carted to death in a strange, most likely inhumane, slaughterhouse."

Beside himself? I don't know about you but I have never seen a steer 'beside himself' before…

After the first story ran, a Facebook page -- Oatmeal Blind Steer -- was created and animal rights activists were trying to save the steer from entering the food chain. All of the commotion worked because Oatmeal was "saved" from the meat packaging plant and donated to Texas A&M for research. Which many were still not happy about.  

You give activists an inch and they'll want a mile. The extremists out there want him at a sanctuary, period; here he can live a happy life as a pet. These activist groups are harassing the family who raised the steer, making constant phone calls to Texas A&M and the company that purchased the steer. They will not stop until they "free" this animal. Is it a realistic battle? Absolutely not. I'm sure though, if asked, many would say they would like to free every animal on every feedlot. Perhaps they would much rather see cattle cease to exist altogether and meat taken off the dinner table completely.

This is our reality in agriculture…this is what we are facing.

This story isn't about a lack of compassion for an impaired animal. Livestock shows teach youth invaluable skills, work ethic and life lessons, including the responsibility of treating animals with respect and the importance of raising quality animals for nutritious food. The family knew the ultimate purpose of this steer from the get-go, and that's what cattle are raised for -- to produce quality beef for families around the globe. We can't go "saving" every steer that a group of activists wants.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where people see little difference between pets and livestock.

It has been proven time and time again that social media can create a firestorm of outrage. We must stand together to combat this firestorm. There's power in numbers. These activists don't have more numbers, they're just louder. Which is why they're successful. We can be loud too! We must be louder.

So what can we do when eaters, even some highly-educated health professionals, don't understand agriculture and what it takes to produce the food on their plate?

Share. Share. Share. And be there to connect people to farmers.

When the general public thinks of farmers or the ag-industry they think of little red barns. They may even think of the word "hicks." They think of ma and pa getting up at the crack of dawn and milking some cows by hand. My weekends at the farm are far from a vacation, They generally consist of 15-plus hour days, and they’d be even longer if we had to milk all 200 cows by hand! Plus, we’re not just up to milk and then head home to flip on the TV…to see what the Kardashians are up to. There’s so much more to Wisconsin agriculture than just getting the job done, and even in the great state of Wisconsin, where farming is at our roots and a part of our lifestyle, people don’t understand about the day-to-day operations of a modern working farm. Many don't get the amount of work and dedication that goes into keeping the farm afloat, let alone the pride every farmer I know glows with. So get out there and share that with the public.

At my in-laws, Manske Family Farms, we have done farm tours the last couple years. It started as an education opportunity for the neighbors. The farm was expanded in 2014 from a small dairy with stanchions in the 'little red barn' to a parlor with almost four times as many cows milking. We invited the neighbors, family members and friends out to the farm one summer afternoon and showed them around the new facility, explaining the process of milking each day, the sanitary procedures required and cow-care that is practiced.

We opened up the doors for anyone and everyone to stop in and see up-close what a working farm looks like. We welcomed questions, and clarified the misconceptions like how there is no antibiotics in your milk. We showed them the bucket the cow-treated-with-antibiotic's milk goes into and explained that it would get dumped down the drain: not go in the tank with the other milk. 

This "open barn" event has continued and grown. We had a pretty cool moment happen last year when we actually had a calf born at the same time tours were happening. A woman with Down Syndrome was on the tour and took great interest in the cow calving. The family stayed for an extra half hour so she could cheer her on as she calved. 

I also never get sick of seeing a little kids' face when they let the calves suck on their fingers. There's spit and slime everywhere but there is usually a huge smile on their face. It's an unforgettable experience.

We have to answer the questions people have. If we don't, they will Google them and who knows what they'll find. Many of the questions may seem obvious to you. Something like 'why are the calves all separated into individual cages?' or 'why do you take the babies away from their mother?'. 'Why artificially inseminate?'. 'Do you give your animals shots?' We can't chastise those who ask the questions or make fun of them for not knowing. They're curious, and they want to know more about what they don't understand. It's an opportunity for those of us knowledgeable about agriculture to get to them before the animal activists do.

I think that the ag industry can do a better job of finding a common ground with the public and finding a way that farming relates to them. This is what many of the ag journalists in the state do every day. Why might someone not associated with agriculture care if there is a drought? Well eventually there will be a shortage of some kind of food and they are going to want to know why their grocery bill is going up. Connect the dots back to the farm for them and make them understand that farmers, equal food on their table.

It's important to share positive messages about food and farming in person and online. Tell your friends, both those involved in ag and especially those not, about what you do around the farm or in your projects. Take time at the county fair to talk about your show animals with fair goers. Let the kids walking around the fair pet your calf. Talk about the TMR mixer in your snapchat video and what you are doing with it. Tell stories about crop rotation and tilling the fields when you post a picture in the tractor on Facebook.

Let's take a second to talk social media. Social media is a strong marketing tool. It helps to knock down the barriers. Something as simple as sharing a photo or video helps showcase what you do on a daily basis. I've never seen an industry so passionate about what they're doing, so show people why you love what you do whether that's on the farm or in some other part of the ag-industry.

It's no secret when I'm at the farm for the weekend, because I am snapping away, showing my "city friends" all around the farm, and getting up close and personal with those cows! Not too long ago, I was a city boy through and through. Now, it's not uncommon to receive a selfie of me hugging one of the cows or bottle feeding the calves with the stupidest grin on my face.

It's important to think as a marketer. What I mean by that is think about the message you want to convey. What is it people do not get that you want to change? Start there. Show this message in a positive light. Change the negative perception that exists about the ag industry. Social media offers a unique way of communicating with the public because you are creating content people can engage with. A big advantage to social media is that someone can directly respond to what you're sharing. It's a great way to connect consumers to agriculturists.

I work for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, which is a government agency dedicated to promoting all the fun things we have to offer here in Wisconsin. I am so proud to have the opportunity to promote ag-tourism as part of my job.

Now ag-tourism has been a buzzword recently. Even though, it means different things in different parts of the world, ag-tourism is defined by an experience that includes visiting or staying on a working ranch or farm, vineyard or agri-business, and having the opportunity to take part in the everyday workings of the destination. You might be able to assist with animal or crop care, harvests or cooking. It's an educational experience for the visitors and another source of income for the ag business.

In Wisconsin, ag-tourism is incredibly diverse. It includes an afternoon at a pumpkin patch, apple orchard or strawberry farm, a trip to a local dairy to milk the cows, getting lost in a corn maze, trying a fresh, squeaky cheese curd still warm from the vat, going to a petting zoo or farmers' market. It gives those who don't often have the chance, to see where our meat, vegetables, milk and other products come from. With these experiences, it's important to engage both children and adults. It's important to expose kids to these opportunities early. It's far easier to craft the minds of young people while they're still trying to figure out answers in life for themselves. But that doesn't mean you can rule out engaging the adults. Even though many of them already have an opinion in their mind about agriculture and what it means to them, it's never too late to learn and they most likely have questions.

Today, less than one percent of our nation's consumers live on farms, with many being four to five generations removed from even knowing someone that farmed. A generation of children is being raised who don't know how an apple grows on a tree or how a gallon of milk gets to the grocery store. It's kind of scary…

At the Department of Tourism and the Wisconsin Ag-Tourism Association (or also known as WATA) we invite consumers to get in touch with the land – whether that includes a farm-stay bed and breakfast or visiting a pick-your-own orchard or food discovery center. With these experiences, consumers have the chance to meet the producers, farmers, growers, brewers, bakers and cheesemakers who are directly responsible for bringing us local, Wisconsin products. Until I had the experience, I didn't know much about farming. We really need to get those customers to experience agriculture.

Currently in Wisconsin, and plenty of other states, there is a huge foodie movement. People are interested in and want fresh, locally-sourced foods. Events like dinner on the farm and pizza farms are increasing in numbers. Farm-to-table dining is blowing up in urban settings. Restaurants are promoting themselves as farm-to-table, meaning they get their food directly from the source to deliver to consumers. 

I think it's important to mention diversity in agriculture is important and that is what really makes Wisconsin unique. We have a lot to offer. Large or small, conventional or organic, Jersey or Holstein… it doesn't matter, because people need to have a place to get their information on farming and ultimately, we are a small crowd and need to stick together.

My in-laws and brother-in-law's farm isn't an ag-tourism destination, but it acts as one on occasion. Those tours are important. Transparency is crucial.

The open-door policy is a growing trend, and if it's possible for you to do, whether you work on a farm, in a cheese factory, at a brewery or winery or in marketing for agriculture, reach out and connect with community groups. Invite them for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at what it is you do every day. There's interest out there. It might not seem very revolutionary or cool, being that you see it all the time. But some don't. Some grown adults have never had the opportunity to set foot on a working farm. Peak their interest and welcome them with open arms. With so much negative press in agriculture, this is a perfect way to say "We have nothing to hide. Come take a look for yourself." This goes for inviting the media as well.

Agriculture isn't always seen as being cool or attractive. Most think of it only as back-breaking labor, without an economic pay-off — and little room for career advancement. Agriculture means more than subsistence farming though. Today, you can explore career options in permaculture design, communication technologies, forecasting, marketing, quality assurance, urban agriculture projects, food preparation, environmental sciences, advanced technologies and more.

Farmers, businesses, policy-makers and educators need to promote agriculture as an intellectually stimulating and economically sustainable career—and make jobs in the agriculture and food system cool for young people all over the world. You may not be a farmer; neither am I. But there are so many opportunities in agri-business, journalism, ag marketing and public relations. My wife, Amy works in communications for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. She wanted to stay connected to the farm, without the day-to-day operation. I think it's because she isn't a morning person and didn't want to get up early to milk cows everyday... 

I promote ag-tourism in my job with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. There are countless opportunities out there to work in agriculture. You don't have to become a farmer to promote agriculture or work in the industry.

I now know where my dad became so knowledgeable about so many things, and my father-in-law is one of the smartest men I know. Seeing – and often helping with – the labor that goes into each day in agriculture gives me great appreciation for farmers and agriculturalists. Many farmers are a caregiver, veterinarian, midwife, mechanic and business person, in addition to being a spouse and parent.

Agriculture is lucky to be made up of so many knowledgeable men and women. The education, diversity and passion I have seen as an onlooker in the Wisconsin ag community is impressive. And this all starts with young generations. Participation in 4-H and FFA programs teach you invaluable lessons not only in the importance of the ag industry, but also life lessons in responsibility, the rewards of hard work and personal character. I urge you to get involved, or if you already are, stay involved, in agriculture. Become a part of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation or their Young Farmers and Agriculturists program. Attend events like Ag Day at the Capitol where you have the ears of our state legislators to explain what farmers and the ag industry need to be successful. Channel your passion for agriculture to make a positive difference for Wisconsin. We need you.

Now things are not always going to be easy to share agriculture's story – just remember Oatmeal the Steer. If I have learned one thing about farming, it's that sometimes it seems like nothing can go right. One time on the farm I stayed up until nearly 2 a.m. helping my father-in-law fix the TMR in the freezing cold. Another time I got the teat dipper kicked out of my hand leading to it getting all over my face (and yes I took time to Snapchat it before wiping it off…).

You see farming isn't always easy. Neither is being a leader. But if we work together and everyone does their part in sharing ag's story, we can make a difference.

Growing up, my dad used to always say, "Everyone should have to grow up on a farm." While I may not have done that, the tale sure has come full circle. I now, am what I like to call, "a part-time farmer and a part-time 'ag'vocate."

I've Gone and Married the Farmer's Daughter!

I’ll admit it. Growing up I was naive to how my food actually got to my table and what farmers went through on a daily basis. I understood neither the struggles nor the joys they experienced in everyday life.

My dad grew up on a pig and beef farm, and eventually a dairy farm, but I never had the opportunity to experience it since a fire destroyed the farm three years before I was born, and was sold. As a result, I was born a city kid. I've always heard the tales of life on the farm; all the trouble my dad and his brothers got into and my dad’s notable line, "Everyone should have to grow up on a farm."

I met Amy Manske in college and we eventually began dating. She was a farm kid and while I heard stories about farm life, it wasn't until I actually visited that I understood why her weekends at home were far from relaxing. There's always something to be done on the farm. The very first time I visited Amy’s family farm with her, her dad asked us to pick rocks. Yes, you didn't read that wrong. We had to go out to one of the fields and pick up any rocks we could find; and some of them were quite large!

October 18, 2014 I officially joined a farming family (And became a forever rock-picker) by marrying Amy. Talk about full circle.

Farmer-in-training

I've been fully immersed by the "farmer schedule," and as someone not used to long, physically laborious days, it’s exhausting. When at Manske Farms, I help milk and feed the cows, feed calves and clean the parlor. Feeding calves has grown to be my favorite task. I find them so relaxing. (I've heard of puppy therapy, but is calf therapy a thing?) I've gotten to name a few of the calves, and Amy’s mom gives me regular updates on how they are doing and how many calves we’re up to now. I even get the occasional calf photo with captions like, "Lucy pouts when she doesn't get fed first." To which I respond, "I taught her well."

Calves are my favorite because cows can be rather stubborn and cleaning the farm seems to be endless. For example, on one of my visits to the farm, I scrubbed and I scrubbed on the parlor walls to get them all nice and shiny. They sure did look good, if I do say so myself; that was until I caught one of the cows aiming her butt at it…let's just say it was quickly dirty again.

I've learned that farming is a constant cycle, with curve balls here, there and everywhere. While there are the scheduled things that need to be done, there are also the unscheduled things like when the silo breaks and this new guy gets recruited to haul what felt like hundreds of wheelbarrows until 1:30 a.m. because the animals can’t go hungry.

Those are the days I can't believe farmers keep farming.

A small piece of the puzzle

I now know where my dad became so knowledgeable—his years on the farm. And my father-in-law is one of the smartest men I know. Seeing—and sometimes helping with – the labor that goes into each day gives me so much more of an appreciation for farmers. The farmer is a caregiver, a veterinarian, a midwife, a mechanic, a business man and a family man.

The ag industry is lucky to have men and women knowledgeable on so many topic. The education, diversity and passion I have seen as an onlooker in the Wisconsin ag community is impressive. In my day job, I work for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, promoting everything that is awesome in our state, which includes ag-tourism. I have met some remarkable people involved in the ag industry, and along with that and learning about the diversity and opportunities we have, Wisconsin agriculture never ceases to amaze me. Tourism and agriculture are two of our leading industries in Wisconsin and it's an honor to be involved with both.

Respect

I never thought I would grow to like farm smell in my car or the dirt under my nails. I enjoy spending time at the farm and I think that shocks the heck out of Amy. She may not say it, but I know she is impressed when I ride by on the tractor or put a milker on a cow. She does however roll her eyes when she finds me out back by the calves… as someone who grew up feeding them she doesn't get my fascination. I also know for a fact her family (and especially my family) are surprised at my willingness to help out where I can too.

Farming gives you a perspective of life you often glance over. As the average consumer, you don’t understand what all goes into producing that milk or that cheese.

With that being said, I could not farm every day. For those who do, I respect you.

It’s true what they say: agriculture is more than a part of life; it’s a lifestyle, a passion. I like to think I’ve become a component of this community as a part-time farmer—what I call myself. And I’m officially a Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation member too!

I’m so fortunate in more ways than one, to have married the farmer’s daughter.

#AvengersTakeChicago

This past weekend I took a much needed getaway with my close friends, Krissy and Taylor, and the love of my life, Amy, to visit a good friend of ours, A.J. The title of this blog should give you a good idea of how the weekend went. And if you don’t get it… you’re not supposed to. If you search the hashtag on Twitter you can see the numerous tweets from the weekend.

It all started when I took off of work on Friday which was super exciting in itself. Driving consumed most of the day with Krissy being dropped off in Wisconsin Dells from West Salem. In Wisconsin Dells, Amy picked up Krissy and met me (coming from Green Bay) at Amy’s apartment in Madison. From there the three of us met Taylor in Mukwonago for supper at her house before we headed south of Chicago to A.J.’s house.

Before we started driving though, there was the difficult task of packing the car; we weren't quite sure where to put all the crap we brought along. We certainly had enough food to feed an army, not to mention our beverages of choice, which could not be one of the items left behind. The trunk was beyond full and Amy and I were surrounded by what couldn't fit in the trunk. Finally on our way about two minutes into our drive, I got a Charlie horse, and with everything surrounding me had quite a bit of difficulty getting my leg in the air...

The drive down was entertaining to say the least. With Taylor at the wheel, we swore we wouldn't make it but we did after what seemed to be all night.

A.J.’s house seemed like a mirage in a desert. Until we actually walked in I wasn't convinced it we were actually there. I was excited to see A.J.; though this was my second time seeing him face-to-face. After the first time we met we just became friends instantly and have become quite close, even with the miles between us. It is great to have a bond with someone and stay close even when you don’t get to see each other very often.

We met A.J.'s family and settled in for a night at his house. I’m am pretty sure his family thought we were staying a week with as much stuff we hauled inside. We soon popped open some drinks and played some Apples to Apples to pass the time. The comedy that comes out of this game is amazing. I ended up winning “violent” with my “Canada” card. A.J. and I tried a new beer called Batch 19, made by MillerCoors, which was great and I highly recommend it.

Saturday morning came and we piled back into the car with all our stuff and headed 45 minutes northeast to downtown Chicago. Our first stop was the Art Institute of Chicago. Upon parking the car on the street, we nearly left it without realizing we needed to pay for parking, which just shows how “big city” we are…

And now for my advice of the day: even after you graduate, carry your college ID with you. It still gets you discounts. We scored a few bucks off our admission to the museum because of our quick thinking and white-lying skills.

The institute was really interesting, and so huge! We saw everything from ancient Aztec sculpting to modern day canvas paintings and 3D work. One of the highlights was definitely seeing the American Gothic painting by Grant Wood. You have to know this painting because it is the one of the farmer and his wife and he's holding a pitchfork. Amy geeked about this painting and even got her picture taken with it.

Amy also got us yelled at while looking at a sculpture of people holding hands. As she told us her interpretation of the piece, we were circling the work of art and I guess a guard thought we were going to get dizzy and fall into it...oops.

As we headed out of the museum and into the cold we were fortunate that the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park, our hotel for the night, allowed us to check in early. After a little navigating and yelling we found a parking garage by the hotel and unloaded. The hotel was fantastic and thanks to my mom we got an amazing deal on it. To our surprise A.J. didn't have to sleep in the tub as planned because we had a full-sized couch in our room.

We naturally had to order Chicago style pizza for supper (even know we had tons of food with us). It was delicious! After an early supper, we ventured back into the cold to go visit the famous bean. We took some group pictures and watched as people fell down on the ice rink next to the bean.

Once we went back to the hotel which was only about a block away (thank goodness for all of our freezing-cold toes), the evening festivities began! Krissy and I, maintaining our amaretto King and Queen status, started the night right with amaretto sours. After chilling in the room for awhile, some drinks and games, we headed out for the evening.

We hailed a cab to get to a club called Excalibur. A.J. made friends with the cabby, asking him, "Do you like 90's music?" Ha! I’m not sure the man knew what to do but after the awkward moment they started talking sports and all was good.

The club was pretty cool, but expensive. I suppose that's typical in a big city though. The club was interesting. The crowd was such a mix of younger people, and old people. We did some dancing and as you know, if you have gone out, the night got more fun as we continued to drink.

Highlights at the club include Krissy dancing with a drunk middle-aged woman, A.J. dancing with a different drunk middle-aged woman, Amy getting dragged on stage by some guy (that I quickly stole her back from. Oo oo!), and A.J. hanging out with a man in a wheelchair (and being quite proud of himself!). Oh...and I was a part of a booty shaking competition...

It all happened when the DJ called me up to the stage along with, an Asian man and an African American man. The DJ proceeded to make fun of my Wisconsin accent and my shaking was, well, not good, as I bared the burden of going first. The African American man of course won (supporting all stereotypes), but he did include more stripping than shaking in his efforts. I'm pretty certain I beat the Asian man though, which was an accomplishment!

Sunday, we left and headed back to A.J.'s house and bid a sad farewell. We followed our route back to Wisconsin and sat down to enjoy the Super Bowl, the blackout and the commercials at Amy's place in Madison.

It was such an amazing weekend that went by far too fast. I love my friends and can't wait till I get to spend time with them again. They truly are amazing people! It was also so great to be able to experience Chicago with Amy. Many more trips for us to come I hope.

Presidential Inauguration 2013

So President Barack Obama has been sworn in as the 43rd president of the United States. While his fan base in attendance was fewer than in 2009, my thoughts are he left strong messages for the American people.
Before I get into discussing the president's knack for public speaking and providing hope to the U.S., can I just say, "Did anyone see how happy President Clinton looked?" He had the biggest grin as he watched Obama sworn in. Clinton and Obama I feel make a great team in that Obama has a major economic situation on his hands. Clinton was the only president in how many years to end his term in a surplus. Say what you will, but Clinton was a fantastic president and knows how to tackle both economic strain as well as national and international disaster. So there's my Clinton plug.
Obama started out strong right away in his inaugural speech. Talking to all being created equal and living by the truths we've known since the establishment of the Constitution; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These truths, as stated by Obama, may be self-evident, but they are not self executing. Therefore, if you want to live a happy life and be allowed your freedoms, effort and hard work is required. There's no such thing as a free lunch.
To go off on a bit of a tangent, this is what bothers me so. Many people in our society expect things handed to them and don't want to work for money, privileges and happiness. I fear for many in my generation and those coming after me and what their future holds. Get off your butt and do your own laundry, make your own food, do your own shopping and for heaven's sake get a job and start saving. You don't have any money? Hmm..weird. I know the job force is crappy right now, but jobs are out there. You just have to keep trying. In Wisconsin, we have been ever fortunate that our job growth continues and has not slumped off in the crashing economy. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said around the country. While private sector jobs continue to grow, jobs in the public sector have nosedived, opposite of what they did under George W. Bush's watch. Bush may have increased revenue greatly in his first term as president, but his administration failed to regulate the spending of that revenue wisely which eventually added to our deficit. In the four years after the Bush tax cuts went into effect, Bush and the GOP congress increased the debt by 1.6 trillion dollars. Yet Obama has managed to top him, increasing the debt over a similar period by 4.5 trillion dollars. Scary. I think this is a trend that must be addressed by our federal government. The debt cannot continue to be increased. We cannot afford to live in this amount of debt forever. America is losing value fast.
A quote from Obama's speech I thought was neat and super relevant to everyday life is "when times change, so must we. We need new responses to new challenges." That's so true. I'll be the first to admit that change is scary. But honestly, it's a part of life. We can't keep living the exact same way day in and day out. Our generation has survived because of its ability to adapt to change. It's what we do, and what we must continue to do. That means coming together, not as men and women; not as rich and poor; and not as republicans and democrats; but as the American people. One body. Together we can adapt to change and survive so that future generations may learn to survive.
While Obama endured much criticism in his first term as president, he led us in overcoming some great feats. Four years ago, Obama took office with the country in the midst of two wars and the worst economic crisis in more than half a century. His second inauguration comes with one war over, the other winding down and the economy recovering. The problem we are facing is that Washington is currently dominated by such a bitter political standoff, that this creates such a deep partisan divide in the nation. 
Now I am not saying every single one of Obama's policies is wonderful. That's why we have the balance of political powers. However, it seems these days that the political parties are so worked up in stopping the other from accomplishing something, there is no compromise and there is little room for discussion. The idea in that Congress was there to balance out the executive branch--and actually be stronger than it--was so that the president could not create whatever policies he pleases and become too powerful. The balance was not created so there would be constant defeat on the president's end. My feelings are that Obama has done a mighty fine job handling Congress and working with them. Congress now needs to learn to work together and be representatives of the American people, not their own agendas. When you take office as a public servant, you make an oath to God and to country, not to party.
As said by Obama, "We are made for this moment and we will seize it together."
Critics are saying that reality has set in for many Americans and that no one is talking about change anymore. My thoughts: what a great attitude to have. Let's not talk about moving forward. Let's not talk about progress. That sounds like a splendid idea to me. The United States of America is a massive country with more than 300 million people. Nothing is going to be accomplished over night. Change takes time. I couldn't believe how many people were already disappointed with Obama less than 6 months into his first term because nothing was happening fast enough. Good grief.
I could get into all the issues Obama mentioned in his speech like tragedies building us stronger as citizens, or the strange climate change (props for addressing that), or the rising middle class. I do however want to touch on the amount of equality Obama has brought up not only in his inaugural speech but in his first term as president. The women of our country deserve the same opportunities as men and vice versa, and should be paid equally for them. The gay community has been a major debate and i'm sure will continue for awhile. And finally, racial issues we sadly still face in our country should be addressed, now. What a standout president to mention these subjects people are so touchy about.
I end with applauding Obama for how much he tries to be on the same level as the average American. He wants to understand what people face day to day. Even in his speech, he used "we" so so many times. We can make a difference. We can make change. He talks to the American people as one of us, not as being above us. Oh and the White House has jumped headfirst into social media, which I of course love! Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Foursquare, LinkedIn, you name it and they've jumped on it. This I think is so important to reach out to the public in ways people are communicating these days.
Now I am not a part of a particular party. I do not strictly vote party lines. I am simply an American citizen, supporting my president and telling it like I see it. This time, I just happen to see a lot of good in how this term is beginning. My opinions are my own, Everyone is entitled to their own opinion
Our president and our congress need our support. Whether you agree or disagree with a particular topic, speak up. Our representatives don't know what we're thinking unless we tell them. Get involved. Write a letter. Send an email. If you're unhappy, tell them. If you're happy, tell them. This is something I too need to get better at.

Senior Year Is Full Steam Ahead

Sadly, the racing season has come to an end--I finished 16th in points. For now, the racecar goes up on blocks and I dive headfirst into the mound of studying already on my plate.
It's only a few weeks into the fall semester and I feel like I've been at it for months. This may be the senioritis setting in already...yikes. I feel like I am just ready to graduate and be done with it. I'm sure I will be ready to head right back to school shortly after the monumental day passes.
Taking 18 credits, my fall semester is proving to be far from easy. My schedule is freaking me out a bit as well. Each of my classes, with the exception of one, meet one day a week for three hours. It certainly is strange. While night classes are a common thing in the communication major, never have I had so many at once. The classes are definitely not a breeze either. Organizational Communication with Phil, Ad Campaigns with Tim, just to name a couple. However, I must say I do enjoy all my classes thus far.
I truly believe the communication program at UW-Green Bay is phenomenal. I have learned so much in my time here and feel I am ready to step out into the real world and get a "grown-up job." Many of the classes are tough, but worth it. I took Theories of the Interview with Phil a couple semesters ago. That class kicked my butt, but it was one of the the most worth-while classes I have taken. I learned so much about the interviewing process that I didn't know before. There is just such an array of classes offered in the communication major that can help us to be successful.
UWGB not only has outstanding programs, but the opportunities I have had are amazing. The leadership positions I have been trusted with and the organizations I have been involved with will make me better suited for society and will aid in me being successful. That's what I love about UWGB--the huge amount of student involvement.
I plan to graduate in May, which seems to be right around the corner. While I still have quite a few months until that day, it will be here before we know it. Crazy! I never thought that day would come, but it's creeping up fast.
The fall semester is not even half over yet, but I am looking forward to my final semester. I have two classes to take. The rest of my credits will be earned through internship credits. What an amazing semester! Hopefully my simpler schedule will allow me to do all the things I have not had the chance to do in my three years already completed.
I want to get back into intramurals. I want to take more advantage of the Kress while it's still free for me to use. I want to explore places in Green Bay I have not had the chance to. I want to take naps.
There is one thing I really regret not doing while in college. I wish I would have studied abroad. I have always wanted to travel to England and explore Europe. I came very close to studying in Holland a few semesters ago, but backed out. So unfortunate... I may never get the chance to go. I guess I will just have to wait until I'm rich and famous and can afford to go myself. (Graduation gift idea?? Plane ticket??)
As I count down the days to graduation, I try to also savor what time I still have. You only go to college once (usually). My journey is coming to an end. It's nearly time to start a new chapter in this book called life. But for now, the action in this chapter is far from over.

A year from now

So my sister asked me today "What are you doing next summer?" I simply replied with "Well..hopefully I'll have a job." She wanted to know if I was living at home because apparently my mom seems to think I will still be living at home.
That made me think...where will I be in one year? Yes I want a full-time position in the field of journalism. But I don't want to be a grown-up, with a grown-up job. Oh well..it must happen at some point.
What worries me is thinking about where I may be in one year's time. There's so many places I want to go. London, New York, Chicago and Minneapolis. And yet, I want to be in La Crosse. I love it here and have so many good things going for me here. So now I am in a pickle..do I move away and hope to one day return home? That seems like the most logical scenario. But leaving what I know and am comfortable with does scare me a bit.
I'm definitely not picky in where I end up having a job, as far as geographically. I would like to end up back in the Midwest someday if I do choose to move away after school. I like the area and want to be close to family. I also want to see the world. This is where I am stuck.
We'll see I guess. Who knows what will come my way in the next year. I just have to have an open mind and be grateful for the opportunities I am given.

My journey with the Boy Who Lived

Yes..I am talking about Harry Potter. As some may know, I am a bit of an HP fanatic. Ok..I may be obsessed. Yes I got to the theatre 60 hours before the midnight premiere of the 8th and final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Yes i camped at the theatre, sleeping in tents on concrete. But hey, my friends and I were the first ones in line in the entire U.S. How cool is that?
We had our tickets, we were simply camping out to get the seats we wanted and just to celebrate the amaziness. We dressed up and played Quidditch. We had duels and tried our HP trivia.
It was an absolutely wonderful experience, to spend time with all these people who love the same thing you do.
Many people don't understand the passion I have for these books and movies. And I don't really know how to explain it other than I grew up with the franchise. Harry Potter is what got me into reading. I never in a million years would have thought to pick up a chapter book. I hated reading until I started those books. They took me away into another world when I so despised a lot in life. Middle school you know...not the best years...I spent a lot of time with my books those days.
It truly is sad to see the franchise come to an end. It almost feels like part of me has died. Yes I always re-read the books or re-watch the movies, but it's not the same. It's been a wonderful journey and I have loved every moment of it. My fellow "Potterheads" are some of the best friends I have. I enjoyed sharing the experience with them and watching as our love for the books transitioned to screen.
Call me crazy...I am crazy. But not many can say they have such a great passion for something. And hey...I could be addicted to something worse.. :)