You know, I have been given the experience of a lifetime – traveling around the country, taking photos of all different kinds of agriculture. As exhausting as long weeks on the road sometimes are, I never take them for granted. I get to meet and visit with some of the most brilliant and kind and values-oriented humans out there. And we have so much fun.

Yet, the shoots that make me tearfully happy are always the ones that remind me of home. The ones where the kiddos contribute to the farm’s success, learning invaluable life lessons along the way. The ones where work and life has no balance – it exists as one, with everyone working alongside each other. The ones where family means more than anything. It’s these shoots that let me have a grown-up perspective on how I was raised. It fills my heart and leaves my eyes a tiny bit teary. This life is so good.

Testing the water temperature for the calves’ milk…

…and then hauling the water to the barn…

…where it’s mixed with milk replacer…

…and poured into a giant trough for the calves.

Then it’s time to haul feed!

James does the “spin move” to help him carry the feed through the barn – something we did as kids too! As you lift the bucket, you spit it around, so that the momentum from the spin makes the bucket feel lighter, and you can take a few steps per spin. Farm kids, you know what I’m talking about! 🙂 

After a dozen or so spin moves, the buckets are delivered to the feed trough…

…and leveled out.

Ah, life on the farm. 🙂