A Little Rain Will Do

Before you start reading, scroll down to the bottom of the page and listen to the Cody Canada song A Little Rain Will Do.

I did not marry an emotional man. But the first time he heard that song a few years back, it brought tears to his eyes.

Every farmer out there knows the struggles of drought. It can wipe out an entire crop.

Farmers are stubborn and proud. As the song says, they don't want handouts when times get tough, just a little rain will do.

I cringe when I hear people complain about "bad weather" and "I wish this rain would go away already."

Especially this time of year.

If I could slap them without facing assault charges, I would.

I'm sorry the rain ruined your beach vacation. But be thankful it will mean higher yields and American-grown food on your table.

After losing our own crops to drought in the past, we finally took the plunge and started irrigating this year.

While we aren't irrigating any grain crops just yet, we are focusing our watering efforts on the sod fields. 

Last year's test run convinced us it was the direction we should go in.

But first we had to install electric down by the well to run the pump.

This is farm safety at its best.

Then we had to run a line from the well to the field.

Unfortunately you can't just drill wells anywhere.

It took us two tries and two wells to find enough water.

We will eventually bury pipe underground leading from the well to a couple of different fields.

This is an example of what you don't want to see.

And this is an example of why Woodrow loves to see it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

That dog is a mud magnet.

And skunk magnet.

And groundhog magnet.

You get the idea.

He loves to roll in it.

He loves to drink it.

He would probably eat the mud if we let him.

I'm Farming and I Grow It

This video has been making the rounds the past day or so. 

 But just in cased you missed it, it is a must watch!

This family farms just outside of my hometown of Lindsborg, Kansas.

((Turn off my music player at the bottom of the page first))

Look Who's 30!

June 15th marks a big birthday in my family.

But I'm going to make you keep reading to figure out who it is.

Her childhood pictures are just too cute to pass up.

And she's going to wonder how in the world I got my hands on them.

Don't worry about it.

I've got my sources.

Are you starting to figure out who this is?

This adorable little girl...

...is my beautiful sister-in-law, Shannon.

I didn't meet her until she was an adult.

But judging by the pictures, she was an absolute doll as a child.

Too stinkin' cute.

Whoa, until that one comes across.

Nice pose.

Kinda creepy.

I really hope she gives me some equally adorable nieces someday.

But according to my mother ... I'll end up with a house for of girls on the farm, and cheerleader Shannon will probably end up with a house full of boys.

Isn't that how things usually work?

I have shoe boxes full of embarrassing childhood pictures of me with out-of-control bangs in the 80's.

Shannon's were all pretty normal.

Not much blackmail here.

And then you have the cheerleader in the making.

I am assuming this is her high school squad.

And then her college team.

I think this was her first pro team.

And then you have the NFL.

Obviously, I wasn't going to ask her help to caption these pictures because not only would she 100% forbid me from putting any of them up, there is also the potential for bodily harm.

Alright, not really.

But it's still better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Happy 30th birthday Shannon!!

Just in case you forgot, I'm still in my 20's.

Weirdro ... I mean, Woodrow

I would say long story short. But let's be honest...

Long story long, this is how I found out my dog has an array of mental disorders:

Our Border Collie had a little run-in with a groundhog recently:

Shortly after I quit filming, the little rodent jumped up on Woodrow, dug into the dog's back with his sharp teeth, and bit down hard so he could hang on for a wild ride.

Woody squealed like a pig while he tried to shake the groundhog off. He bucked like a bronc flinging the critter from side to side.

Eventually the pup succeeded.

That's when J tracked down the groundhog in some nearby brush.

I won't tell you what the stick is for.

We'll just say we had to figure out a way to keep the groundhog from going anywhere, in the event he had to be tested for rabies.

The following day, Woodrow went to the vet to get a rabies booster just to be safe.

While I was there, I asked the vet if dogs happen to get schizophrenia.

Yes, especially Border Collies, she quickly answered.

And Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, too.

That explains a lot.

And I'm not trying to be funny.

Woodrow is truly 100% schizophrenic and OCD.

This dog has the most ridiculous tendencies, habits and freakout sessions.

To put it plain and simple: he's a nutjob.

But he's just so darn lovable.

So affectionate and loyal.

I like to think that his mental instability just adds to his personality.

Of course, it doesn't help matters when I torture him with his arch nemesis, the handheld fan, while in the tight confines of my car.

I'm a jerk, I know.