I found this sign while on a quick pit stop in southern Brown County / Northern Manitowoc County at the wayside / rest stop of Hwy 43! I have stopped there a zillion times and just noticed it today and had to share it with all of you blog followers! Check it out the next time you are in the area! Have you seen any sings like this anywhere else?
Every year as my daughter's birthday month approaches the discussions begin about where the party will be, what it's theme will be, and what type of decorations we will have. Now I am a very creative mom and always try to think out side the box and come up with something new but this is even better then what I could have thought up!
Imagine this..... "A Very Dairy Party"
The theme - Cows
The Decorations- Cows and cow spots of course
The Purpose of celebrations - Any event!
The Goal - To provide entertainment and awe while promoting wholesome dairy products!
The centerpiece - A 925 pound sculpture made from cheese! That's right folks, check these sculptures out!
That's right my fellow cheese lovers - A half of ton + of cheese is what the Wisconsin state fair had crafted into an amazing sculpture by "The Cheese Lady" (AKA Sarah Kaufmann). A Wisconsin native and graduate of UW Madison, "The Cheese Lady" travels the country carving these amazing sculptures from Cheese! The 2011 Wisconsin State fair sculpture (top picture) put her in the Guineas Book of world records for the largest cheese carving! She started this record breaking sculpture with a 1000+ block of cheese from a small cheese factory in Kiel, WI called Hennings Cheese. They are the last cheese company that still makes "Mammoth Cheese Wheels" that weigh between 150 and 12,000 pounds! It was no surprise that the record winning sculpture started as one of these mammoth blocks!
Ok - Back to reality of my birthday party planning! It's not too likely that I will be able to have Sarah the Cheese Lady come to my house and carve a giant birthday cake for the special event, but here are some great ideas on how Wisconsin Cheese the life of the party!
For the kids - String cheese and cheese curds are always a hit with kids of all ages. If your in a pinch cube up whatever type of cheese you have in the house in serve in snack size bags, or on a fun platter with small pretzel sticks to serve them! Football Parties - Serve up your favorite cheeses on a platter, with crackers, or even just a bag of cheese curds! (A bag of cheese curds makes a great last minute dish to pass on your way to the party). Or try one of the recipes from the Wisconsin Dairy Council web site like this one for Individual Fritos Pies - Wisconsin Style http://media.eatwisconsincheese.com/recipes/article.aspx?rid=1629
Why party with Cheese?
Dairy & Weightloss - 3 a day of dairy as part of a reduced calorieweight loss plan can help adults achieve better weight loss results!
Dairy & Stronger Bones - 3 a day of Dairy is a deliciously easy way to help build stronger bones and healthier bodies!
It's TASTY!
So the next time you are planning a party, looking for a snack, or happen to have a half ton block of cheese sitting around, turn to cheese to make it the best party ever!
Read the full story of the Wisconsin State Fair Cheese sculpture here!
As the calendar quickly flips through the days of September, we are about to see a lot more then just fall colors as you're out and about on the roads! Our area farms are going to be working frantically to harvest their corn crop & to plow and fertilize their land to prepare for next years season. This means we will once again see more farm equipment on our county and rural road ways. Here are some tips and facts to remember when you are approaching farm equipment on the road.
1. Slow tractors and faster cars means the amount of time it takes for the two to meet each other happens VERY quickly!
2. Farm machinery operates differently then your car or truck! It is not very maneuverable!
3. Top 3 differences between the way a car handles and a tractor.
* Speed - (Most are less then 25 mph) Some new "hi speed" tractors can reach 40 mph
* Turning - (Watch for wide turns, look ahead for farms or field entrances they may use.)
* Braking
4. The tractor driver may not be able to see you! Sometimes the equipment they are hauling blocks their view of cars coming up behind them! You can keep your distance to assure the driver can see your car in the tractors mirrors!
5. Watch the tractor's road position! This is often a clue to tell you what direction they will be turning. If the tractor driver seems to be "hogging the road" or "driving almost on the wrong side" chances are they are trying to tell the cars behind them they are about to turn!
6. The equipment is often much wider then the road it is traveling and will have to use the road's shoulder or even the ditch to make room for you to pass! (If you are every wondering why they are not pulling over to let you pass, chances are there is something on the side of the road preventing them to move over!)
Here is a video of a farmer in Tennessee who has some more first hand tips on how to share the road safely with tractors. You even get to "take a ride" in a tractor! Hopefully these tips will help you stay safe on the roads this fall as well as help our farming friends do the same! Happy driving and remember that every time you see a tractor on the road it is heading to a field to prepare food for their cows for another entire year!
Due to some recent changes, I am unable to continue my favorite new hobby, this blog! No worries though... It will live forever!! :) Although I will not be the editor, new and exciting things will be posted weekly by a friend of mine that loves the dairy industry just as much as I do. I appreciate the support and hope you have learned something about our beautiful bovines and the safe, healthy, and nutritious milk that they produce.
Do me ONE favor though -- Comment, Ask & Inquire! Always ask.
I am back on schedule -- for a little bit. Its Thirsty Thursday... all about MILK!
From the my dairy to you, milk goes through strict quality controls to ensure freshness, purity and great taste. Milking equipment delivers milk directly from the cows to a refrigerated holding tank to preserve freshness and safety. Then, the milk is quickly transported by truck to processing plants for continued freshness and safety. But what happens there? Pasteurization -- Homogenization -- Fortified?
What's the difference?? Every wonder what these terms mean?
What Is Pasteurization?
This is the process of heating raw milk at a high enough temperature for a sufficient length of time to make milk bacteriologically safe and increase its keeping quality. Most milk sold in the U.S. is pasteurized. All milk intended for direct consumption should be pasteurized - it's a matter of food safety.
Since its introduction over a century ago, pasteurization has been recognized around the world as an essential tool for ensuring milk and dairy products are safe.
The dairy industry, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend that no one consumer unpastuerized milk.
Pasteurization is a simple, effective method to kill potentially harmful bacteria. It does not affect the nutritional value of milk.
According to health experts, pasteurized milk offers the same health benefits as raw milk, without the risks.
What Is Ultrapasteurization?
Milk that is ultrapasteurized has been heated to a higher temperature than pasteurized milk. Ultrapasteurized milk stays fresher longer under refrigeration than pasteurized milk. This process is often used for cream and eggnog.
How Does UHT or Ultra High Temperature Milk Differ from Ultrapasteurized Milk?
The major difference is that UHT milk is packaged in sterilized containers. UHT milk can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 months. Once opened, it should be refrigerated.
Why Is Milk Homogenized?
Homogenization breaks up and disperses milk fat throughout milk, resulting in a smooth, uniform texture. Most whole milk is homogenized to prevent the cream from rising to the top. Homogenization results in a softer curd in the stomach that aids digestion.
Why Are Some Milks Fortified?
Because few foods, including milk, naturally contain vitamin D, this vitamin is added to 98% of fluid milk marketed in the U.S. Because vitamin A is removed with the milk fat, this vitamin is added to 2% reduced-fat, 1% lowfat and fatfree milks. If vitamin D and/or A is added to any dairy product, it must be indicated on the label. Nonfat milk solids may be added to some fat-free milks to improve their appearance, flavor and nutritive value. The milk must be labeled Protein Fortified or Fortified with Protein. The addition of nonfat milk solids increases the calories from protein and carbohydrate and adds more calcium. Some milks may be fortified with calcium. If so, this must be indicated on the label.
Clipping cows: What does that mean?? A haircut of course!
There are a few reasons for a cow haircut:
Grooming - It's nice to clip a cow in the spring to get her thick winter hair off.
Looks - A cow may get clipped for a show or to show her off to visitors. A clipped cow makes her look more attractive.
Both!
Clipping a cow is just like shaving a dog, except with bigger clippers. It would take forever to clip a cow with pet clippers. The clipping process is not painful for the cow at all. To make sure it is a safe process for both the cow and myself, I like to put them in a "clipping chute." The chute ensures that the cow stays in one spot AND gives me the flexibility to get every angle. It also gives the cow the flexibility to drink water and eat during the process.
Clipping is not necessarily fun for the "clipper." Hahah. Usually when I'm finished, I am covered in hair.. in MY hair, in my nose, and down my shirt! Definately need a shower afterwards. The worst is when its really hot and humid. Yikes!
Here is a video of one of our cows, Allie, and the haircut process! I clipped her in April to get her winter hair off.
Football Parties - Serve up your favorite cheeses on a platter, with crackers, or even just a bag of cheese curds! (A bag of cheese curds makes a great last minute dish to pass on your way to the party). Or try one of the recipes from the Wisconsin Dairy Council web site like this one for Individual Fritos Pies - Wisconsin Style http://media.eatwisconsincheese.com/recipes/article.aspx?rid=1629
As the calendar quickly flips through the days of September, we are about to see a lot more then just fall colors as you're out and about on the roads! Our area farms are going to be working frantically to harvest their corn crop & to plow and fertilize their land to prepare for next years season. This means we will once again see more farm equipment on our county and rural road ways. Here are some tips and facts to remember when you are approaching farm equipment on the road.