Livestock, Crops, and Grocery Stores

Today is National WTF day.
After you made a face of disapproval, let me explain myself.
WTF, or Where's The Food Without The Farmer, is a movement and an attempt to let the younger generation know where their food comes from.  The hard working farmer is tired of hearing that his/her cotton crop comes from sheep, or that chocolate milk comes from brown cows.
It really is absurd when one thinks about it.  Me, thrusting myself into the loop of agriculture, never thought these preposterous things and therefore, knew more about the food industry than the average 16 year old.  I admit, in my senior year as President of my high school's FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter, most kids I talked to didn't really care where their food comes from.  Not to mention that most kids didn't really know our school had a working farm on campus.  They take food for granted.
Because food comes from the grocery store, right?
Wrong.
The grocery store is one of many destinations food can end up.
With beef, it starts with the cow (female bovine) or steer (castrated male bovine).
With pork, it starts with the hog.
With lamb, it starts with the sheep.
With milk, it starts with the cow.
With fruits/vegetables, it starts with the seed.
With clothing, it starts with the cotton.
Essentially, food starts with the live animal itself or seed.  And with these animals, or livestock, and fruits and vegetables, they need to be mass produced in order to meet the population's needs.  The population is constantly increasing and with more people, there is more hunger, there is more food, and there is more demand.  There is a long process as to where our food comes from.
Please, spread the word that farmers put a lot of effort into feeding the world, feeding the population, feeding you.
And if you say, "Well, then why don't we start depending on other countries for our food supply?"
And my response to that:  Foreign oil.

Take a look at the website promoting WTF and you will come across some facts about Agriculture that may astound you or interest you.  

San Luis Obispo, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain!

Did I mention that San Luis Obispo is a beautiful place?  Well I shall state it again:
San Luis Obispo is a beautiful place.

Oh what a beautiful sunday morning.  The sun proudly shines into the sapphire skies and there isn't a cloud for miles and miles
The sunlight gently slips into my dorm, filling me with relaxation and determination.
What a perfect day for a walk.
It's 10am and I make my way to who knows where?  I decide to let my feet take me wherever that may be. There was plenty of air and plenty of room to exercise my brain and body for exploring.
My feet ended up traversing me towards the poultry unit.  Of all places in the world - err, campus, why turkeys?  As it turns out,
it's not always the destination that matters, 
it's the journey that can be the most exciting.
The path leading up to the poultry unit was absolutely magnificent.  I strolled pass the dairy cows who were quietly grazing in a pasture.  I wished them a good morning as they blissfully munched on their breakfast.
As I left the ladies to themselves, I cruised by the endless fields of the very last of the corn crop.  Their life coming to an end as they would make room for a new life to begin.
A new life to begin.
Coming up fast on this little road were the peaceful sounds of the nearby beef cattle.  Perhaps they were trying to make an impression on the ladies in the faraway pasture.  I stood and watched them for quite while as they were grazing happily on the lush, ambrosial, flourishing greens of beautiful San Luis Obispo.

  
Beautiful San Luis Obispo. 

Maybe it was the cows, or the corn, or the steers,
Maybe it was the sunshine of the morning,
Maybe it was the journey, not the destination.
Maybe it was because

I was home.

I am home.

Study Time!

I'm on my way out of the hall this morning, 

I open the door to the 3rd floor common room and this is what I see.

Judging by the looks of it, I'd say they were studying math.  And yes, that is an iron on the floor.  

I guess math really pressed them to their limit.

Well I guess i'm off to the gym and then at 10am, I have Dairy Husbandry where I get to learn about milk and the magnificent animal called the cow!

Random fact:  Did you know that a human is supposed to drink about a quart of milk every day?

[assuming he/she doesn't get his/her protein and calcium otherwise]

So there's this thing called college...and a Blog

That's right.  You read it correct.  I'm in COLLEGE now!
That means new beginnings and new experiences that will constantly test my ability to do 3 things.
1)  Time management
2)  Social life
3)  Connections

Time management consists of being able to juggle classes, homework, studying, eating, laundry, showering, hygiene, clubs, extracurricular, gym, groceries, tutoring, etc...
By social life, I mean being able to balance the joys of -ahem- "STUDYING" and the joys of hanging with new friends made right here in my dorm.
Lastly, connections.  This means accomplishing steps 1 & 2, but also not forgetting about what is most important to me: family and friends.  Generally, when it gets right down to it, they will be the ones who will be there for you, no matter what.  And for me as well.

So it's just the first week of classes and I've been pretty dang tired every night.  Even though I've been clocking out at 12am almost every night  (See Step 1).  But I will surely get the jest of things as time goes, and time WILL go.

I'm immensely happy with my college of choice - BEAUTIFUL San Luis Obispo.  It's very pleasant here, with the beach only 20 miles away from campus.  The possibilities for having fun are endless here...hiking, swimming, rock climbing, biking, kayaking, horse back riding (See Step 2), farmer's market, yoga, line dancing, and much, much more!  I know I'll do well here.

And now I'd like to end with a quote that I came across during orientation:

"Success is not permanent, and failure is not final." - Unknown