Episode 242 Susan's Shire: The Joy of Handmade Gifts

We won’t be bringing you our typical podcast for the next few weeks, because we’re doing a Bowman left. Those of you who are regular listeners might remember that that’s the swerve in plans we tend to do if we find something interesting to pick up. Sometimes that’s sudden, sometimes expected, but either way it’s a departure from our norm. We’re about to get on a plane to head to Grand Island, Nebraska, because this week is the 2022 American Boer Goat Association’s National Show.&...

15 Juni 202213min

The Chowchilla FFA has earned the title of State Champions for Dairy Cattle Evaluation, and we have two of those proud titleholding individuals with us today. Mr. Brad Bitter, FFA Advisor, and his student Sydney Alexander politely allowed us to waylay them for a quick conversation amid the bustling halls of the 2021 FFA Convention. Staying true to the nature of Californians, there’s no shortage of topical variety - Though we are Californians, after all, so we did include drought,...

2 Juni 202215min

We met up with Paul and Darlene Miller from Windy Creek Farm in New York while we were at the annual North American Suffolk Horse meetup at the Ashtabula County fairgrounds in Ohio. As usual we were on our way to Horse Progress Days and decided to take a Bowman left. There aren’t that many Suffolk Punch horses around anymore. It’s really a shame, because a rich history, smarts, and hardworking traits all in one compact package aren’t as common as you would hope anymor...

26 Maj 202218min

Have you ever seen one of those commercials for an all-American heavy-duty truck, with an all-American cowboy or farmer? They’re usually off-loading dirty-but-not-too-dirty hay into a field, parked on a majestic mesa, with the sun shining about. There’s not a lot of sweat, and perfectly-placed dirt on all the faces. No dirt on the cows, either. It’s lovely and stirs the patriotic soul. But the glories that can be achieved with a model, perfect lighting and a 20-person ...

19 Maj 202219min

Every once in a great while you meet people who are just plain special. The Hostetler Family and the company they run, Mountain Meadow Wool, is a true family affair. Now, we aren't talking of just the related kind, but the Hostetler's run their business and treat everyone who works for them as family. Rick and I saw this first hand as we filmed there in Buffalo, Wyoming last week. So, today we bring you part two of our story from Mountain Meadow Wool. We speak with Karen's son Ben, as he take...

12 Maj 202235min

We’re back from the cold and snowy north. Our trip to Mountain Meadow Mill in Buffalo, Wyoming was delightful, and today we’re bringing you a conversation with Karen Hostetler, its founder – who is also the matriarch of a fast-growing clan of Hostetlers. They were a truly nice bunch, and we’ll definitely want to go back again after this trip (even after next week’s podcast with Ben, aka Hostetler #2). The Wyoming and Montana regions are full of many things, even though many...

5 Maj 202239min

We’re back on the road, and we’re celebrating this Spring burst of energy with a giveaway from Premier 1 Supplies. Joe Putnam will give us a quick check in on the shipping news, and we tell you how to put your hat in the ring for the freebee. And next time…not just the old run of the mill. Literally. Links: https://www.premier1supplies.com/ https://www.ctlr.org/ https://www.abga.org/ https://www.milkingdevons.org/index.html https://www.sheepusa.org/ https://www.heritageyak....

28 Apr 202210min

In honor of all of us surviving an overload of people, places and holidays in the news this month, we’re giving you another conjunction – the FFA and the Collegian FFA and Farm Bureau Chapter Ag Club at SUNY Morrisville. And a Mustang. And a tractor. And 60,000 kids (okay, we didn’t have the 60,000 kids on the mic, but they were all there in the background somewhere in the building). The practice of agriculture is not just only a “raise either cows or pigs or wheat or corn” ...

21 Apr 202216min