F2F

We drove to Omaha again this year for the Farmer2Farmer conference.  We bucked 40 to 50 mile per hour wind gusts all the way out.  I was pretty weary from driving by the time we got there.  But, we enjoyed our time there, especially the speakers.  The first evening, Rob O'Neill, former Seal Team 6 leader, was the featured speaker.  He was the Seal who shot Osama bin Laden in the raid of his compound in Pakistan.  He talked about preparation, leadership, decision making, and operating in uncertain environments.
The next day Kevin O'Leary was the keynote speaker.  He is a millionaire entrepreneur and investor, and is the mean "shark" on the Shark Tank TV program.  He talked about investments, attitudes, diversification, and building businesses.
 
It was exciting to see the growth of FBN and hear the new products coming out and the direction the company is taking in the Ag industry.  I got to speak personally with the co-founder and CEO of the company.  They have a lot of ideas to help level the playing field for farmers in an industry dominated by multinational companies.  There were farmer members in attendance from 40 states plus Canada.

As we were leaving Omaha, we made a quick stop at the Pioneer Courage Park in the downtown area.  They have some neat, life size sculptures depicting a wagon train of pioneers heading west.  It reminded me of the "Cattle Drive" in downtown Dallas.

We've already had our big family Christmas, so the actual day should be laid back.  Our kids won't be all together with us until later in the week.  Daughter #1 did present me with a plate of her spingerle cookies already!

Finally, here is a grainy black and white photo of the corn pile at our elevator this fall.  It contained approximately 2 million bushels of corn.  Most of it has already been picked up, loaded on rail cars, and shipped out. 

And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
Numbers 13:20

Winter

Winter has arrived on the farm.  I put my long johns on for the first time last week  The temperature in our bedroom has been running in the 65 degree range at night, so the old farmer's wife put the flannel sheets on the bed.  We had our first snow on Nov. 18.  It was just big, wet, flakes that didn't stick, but we have been warned.

We finished our tillage after another breakdown, a weeks wait for parts, and welding shop repair. Now we are starting to put equipment away for the winter.  The double crop soybeans were finally harvested after a three week wait.  The almost 50 bushel per acre yield was our highest ever.  It made the wait worthwhile.

The weekend before Thanksgiving, we made a quick trip to Burlington and Mediapolis as Son#2 announced his engagement.  We are thankful, excited, and feeling blessed.  We are looking forward to a wedding in March.  Rachel is from Oakville/Mediapolis but is working at the U. of I. Vet Clinic in C-U.  That is where we met her while some of our kids (including Son#2) were at U. of I.  We've been friends with her parents much longer than that.

Three of us drove down to Centralia to get a visit in with Phil before Christmas.  It was a nice sunny day and we enjoyed a nice visit with him.  Going through pat-down, the officer pulled the insoles out of my shoes when he searched them.  That was a first!  I was wearing one of my oldest pairs (and most comfortable) and his eyes widened at first look.  He told me the steel shank was showing through, and I wonder if he thought at first that I was hiding a knife under the insole.  He let me through!

The farm meeting circuit has started, and I had my first Wiegand steak (Trails End Catering) last week.  Today was the Earlybird Fertilizer Christmas Open House and 50th anniversary celebration.  More good food.
The oldest farmer was one of Ralph's early customers back in '67 or '68. We have been trusting them with our business ever since. They provide excellent service, high quality products, a large fleet of application equipment, cutting edge knowledge, integrity, and two generations of personal relationships.

 
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Revelation 19:7