For I Know the Joys

I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.

I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.

I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.

I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.

I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.

The FFA Creed written by E.M. Tiffany

Ah, the good ol' creed.  These 5 paragraphs once rolled around in my brain during freshman year of high school as I prepared to be the Freshman Creed Speaker.  I had to have all of these paragraphs memorized, and I had to successfully answer 3 questions prepared by the judges.  I practiced and practiced.  Shafranek helped me by asking questions from previous years to give me a feel for what the judges would possibly ask.  One question he asked me dealt with the second paragraph.  He asked me something about the joys and discomforts.  I don't really remember the question, by part of my answer for joy was the birth of new calves.

Practically every year there was always a calf in need of a bottle.  That responsibility fell on Peyton and I.  We loved doing it!  Eventually, we got to the point where we could have our very own calves to feed, break to lead, and show at the fair.  This was a pretty big deal!  Eventually, those calves got older and were having calves of their own.

Cinnamon is one of my 'babies.'  She was part of my first cow/calf project, and she has stayed with me ever since.  She is the biggest pest I have ever owned.  She hates trailers, loves to be the first one at the food, can escape pens from time to time, is spoiled by Dad, and is a beautiful red.

Last fall, she was supposed to be pregnant.  To my great disappointment, she wasn't.  This isn't the first time I've been faced with this.  They need to stay on a sort of schedule so they don't chance getting sold.  The problem wasn't her, so Dad gave her some more time.  

I waited and waited and waited.  I left for camp at the end of May and still didn't know the verdict.

One weekend I called Dad and he said he would be preg-checking that week.  This would give me the answer.  The next weekend I called him again.  I was driving back from La Crosse with Alison and she heard me suddenly get really excited and start screaming because Cinnamon was pregnant!!  :)

Honestly, if camp people didn't hear my talk about my cow at all, they must have been ignoring me.  I talked about her the rest of the summer!  I talked about the names I had picked out, and even explained to Ric how AI works.  People gave their opinions of the names Tito and Spinelli, and were excited when I told them I might have a Christmas baby.

The months slowly slipped by as I visited Cinn in the field and felt her growing belly.  I counted down the weeks until Christmas time.  Finally, last week Dad started the spoiling and began putting Cinnamon in the barn nightly.  Dad said she wasn't due until the 29th, but I remained hopeful that I would see my new baby before I left for camp.

Christmas was yesterday and Dad kept Cinn in the barn all day because he thought she might be close.  We checked in the afternoon.  Still no signs of a baby.  I checked after supper.  Still no signs of a baby.  I checked before I went to bed.  Still no signs of a baby.

This morning I struggled out of bed, ate breakfast, and settled into the chair.  Dad came in and told me I had a new heifer.  

WHAT?!

I told Mom the name and she kept trying to make me change it to Noel, Holly, or Mistletoe.  I'm all, "No, Mom.  I've been talking about that name since June.  I've settled."  I quickly dressed and headed out to meet my little black beauty.

First glimpse.

Cinn was being a protective mother, so I couldn't really see her then.  I went out later this afternoon and I got right down to her to snuggle and kiss her little swirl on her sweet face!  Isn't she the cutest?  :)

This had to be one of the joys and Mr. Tiffany had in his mind when he wrote that second paragraph of the creed in 1930.  It is forever one of my favorite joys of the farm life.

One of the best parts about this baby is that Dad wants to break her to lead to have another chance at a sort of lead cow for the herd.  This means that I get to break her!  This is something that I sorely missed this spring.  It is also something that I thought I was saying goodbye to since I no longer show my animals.

I am so happy with Cinn and Spinelli and love spending time in the pen sitting on the straw that brings memories of summer.  Summer thoughts are nice to hold onto since it is so cold out!  I am pretty sure Cinn doesn't mind being spoiled by spending the winter in the barn!  :)