Preparing for the Solar Eclipse of 2024

       The word eclipse immediately brings to mind the last total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, with the best viewing area in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, a small town 100 miles west of my home. This brought hundreds of thousands of people to Kentucky and Tennessee, not just Hopkinsville, but the entire surrounding area to be able to few the eclipse. This was right in the middle of the Kentucky State Fair and the move-in day for hogs and sheep. It was the day that we were on the road for over 6 hours making our way to Louisville, a drive that normally takes us about 90 minutes. Yes, the time is correct. We were on the road for 6 hours with 2 lambs in a trailer on a hot summer afternoon fighting the traffic with people from all over the world on every major road, secondary road, and literally pig path dirt road available. 

     The traffic on all roads was moving at a snail's pace. Knowing the back roads of our area, we thought we would be able to take a secondary road to Louisville without any problems. Wrong! I remember vividly our family arriving at the square in Elizabethtown with a 20-foot gooseneck trailer in tow and needing to make a right-hand turn, when another driver pulling a larger gooseneck RV trailer pulls up next to us and begins to turn in the second lane, barely missing our trailer.  It was a mess!

     The eclipse of April 8, 2024, can be viewed best in a narrow path across the United States which includes Henderson, Kentucky, a small town in the far western portion of our state. Bloomington, Indiana, has been advertised as one of the best locations near us to view the total solar eclipse for the longest time of approximately 4 minutes.

Map provided by NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

     I personally have no desire to travel to another location and deal with the traffic woes of getting home afterward, however, I do like to take advantage of God's great work and wonders, so I am preparing now for the event by ordering protective eyeglasses. NASA's eclipse safety website states to be sure to purchase glasses that come with an ISO compliance label, or standard, of 12312-2 on the packaging. This is very important information to have to make sure everyone in your family or group is protected while looking at the eclipse. 

     I have found a great source for safety glasses on Amazon, and also made in the USA which I really like! You can purchase 2 or 100 and many quantities in between to take care of your family, classroom, or organization. 

Don't delay! We are all procrastinators at heart and April 8 will be upon us soon. Please click on the link below to purchase the protective glasses now while they are available.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

NASA approved Eclipse Glasses

     

Valentine Gifts for a Livestock Family

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     Valentine's Day is just a week away and for our family we have historically not made a huge deal out of the holiday. The fraternity Valentine's Day dance was our formal first date so maybe we should celebrate more than we do. I know that some couples make a point to go out to eat and have a date night, however, I would rather stay home and not wait an hour or longer for a table.

     Flowers are always a considerate gift, but not always preferred. Chocolate or candy of any kind is also a popular option. As a livestock producing family, I often think of items we can use in our daily life at the barn or on the road at livestock shows. We have a large circle of friends enjoying the same life and lifestyle so this blog is for you!

     Raising and showing livestock is hard work so having an opportunity to sit and relax in a comfortable chair is always welcome. Folding camp chairs are handy at the barn and at livestock shows and they come in a variety of styles and sizes, making it easier to find the perfect chair for everyone!

Camp chair

     

   

     The folding rocker is one of the most popular chairs available, offering a comfortable seat with the addition of soothing rockers. Great for anyone of any age but especially nice for families with small children.

  

     The Timber Ridge Heavy Duty Camping Chair with compact size side table is versatile and sturdy, holding up to 400 lbs. I like the way this chair folds and has a convenient carrying handle. The attached table is a must for food and drinks and the pockets are a great place to stow cell phones.

     Love the compact blanket! Rip-proof, water-proof, and sand-proof, make it a great option to have around the barn if you have children.  This is a great product to use first on the ground to protect blankets and quilts from moisture and dirt or used alone to provide a clean play area for kids! For the price and compact size it may be nice to have one or two on hand. Each blanket is 60" X 56".

 

     The Paw Patrol Kids Camping Chair is perfect for children ages 3+. Most kids love Paw Patrol and would love to have their very own chair.

 Livestock show supplies are always a nice gift! A bucket full of daily care products or show day adhesives and paint will put a smile on any age livestock exhibitor. Exhibitor harness and number clips are often lost, so replacements make great gifts. Supplements, electrolytes, and calming pastes and liquids are products used by the majority of livestock exhibitors. 

    As most of you know we are Champion Show Supply, the Sullivan Supply dealer for Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Give us a call and let us put together the perfect Valentine gifts for your family, or order some of the items suggested in this post.  270-404-5301.

     

      Less than a week ago, on Friday evening, tornados and storms moved through 4 states into the early hours of Saturday morning. My home state of Kentucky was hit hard with numerous towns being struck by tornados and straight-line winds. Mayfield, Dawson Springs, Bowling Green, as well as others suffered fatalities as well as devastating destruction. My home county was hit in two areas with homes and barns being destroyed, but thankfully no fatalities.

     It is no surprise to see how Kentucky residents have stepped up to help their neighbors in clean-up and donations, as well as opening their homes to those suddenly left homeless. With Christmas near, families lost their gifts and social media posts have been flooded with people looking for gifts and treasured items, some being found hundreds of miles away.

     All of this has taken my mind back to my childhood and the time that our neighbors lost their home one night to a fire. We lived on a small farm in this same rural community and our neighbor's house was across the road and maybe 1000 feet from our house. I remember seeing the house burn, and the frightening thoughts and just feeling so sad for our neighbors. Their two children were basically my age and I remember thinking how it could happen to anyone and the worry that stayed with me for weeks.

     I remember going through my clothes to give to the kids and the good feeling it gave me knowing we were helping our neighbors. I can remember putting a pair of tennis shoes into the bag, because Mama knew that the size was correct for one of the kids. 

     These weren't just nameless kids that I didn't know. They were my neighbors. We played together often, and I honestly can't remember if we were in school at the time of the fire, but the youngest child and I were in the same grade.

     A day or two after the fire, my grandfather stopped by the house and sat down with me in our living room where I was playing. He said there had been a lot of donations for the family, but there weren't many toys donated for the kids and he asked that I get some of my toys together to give to the kids. I went to my room and gathered a paper sack of toys and took to him.

     I immediately picked up the toy I had been playing with, a plastic accordion, and began making a lot of noise, which I'm sure I thought was music. Pappaw asked that I sit down by him on the sofa, so I did with accordion in hand.

     "You really like this accordion?" he asked.

     I know that I just said yes, it was fun to play with. 

     Pappaw then explained in a way that only Pappaw's can, that if I liked playing with that toy so much, so would my neighbor. He said it's easy to give away something that may not mean as much to me as that paper bag full of toys, but that giving someone something that was special to me, would be special to those kids too, and that they would surely have as much fun with it as I did. 

     I reluctantly handed him that accordion, that I remember being red, blue, and white in color. Pappaw gave me a big hug and picked up the bag of toys in one hand and carried the accordion in the other. It was significant that he didn't place that accordion in the bag with the other toys. 

     Growing up in the 1960's and 70's was great. Technology for us was transistor radios and walkie talkies! We played outside using our imaginations with days filled with playing cowboys and indians, and army.  Exercise was not an issue as we ran, played basketball, and climbed in and on the barns. Bicycles were our horses, motorcycles, or cars, and we never rode on the highway, but through our yards and barn lots. We never played inside our homes, or if we did it was in the basements, which weren't finished. Honestly, I don't think we ever thought about playing in the house.

     Years later, and of course I don't remember my age, but possibly 11 or 12, I was at my neighbor's house playing, the one that had the housefire. We decided to play catch and I didn't have my ball glove with me and didn't want to cross the road and go home for mine, so my neighbor said he had an extra in his room and we both ran into the house to get it.

     I stopped at the doorway of his room, and I immediately saw my accordion sitting on the top shelf of his bookcase. A good feeling came over me, knowing that accordion was special to him to be in such a prominent place in his room, still, so many years after that fire. 

     I didn't say a word to him about the accordion that day and I never did. I knew that what Pappaw had told me was true. It was a special toy for me and it became a special toy for him too.

     Great lessons are taught and learned in times of trouble and sorrow. That accordion was just a toy. I don't remember who gave it to me. In those days, you didn't just get toys, they were gifts on birthdays or Christmas. My life didn't change by not having that toy to play with and I probably never thought about it much until I saw it on that shelf, but giving that toy away taught me a great lesson. 

     I know this week that many are giving money, their own belongings, and cherished toys to others in this time of need, and God will bless both those that give and those that receive. 

Let Kentucky Show

     Good morning from the beautiful commonwealth of Kentucky. Much has changed in our state since March 13, however, I can honestly say that our geography and rural landscape remains beautiful and well worth the time to drive around and through the state. Granted if you do plan a trip make sure you pack your lunch and plan accordingly because you may or may not find businesses and restaurants open for service.

    My motivation for writing today is not to discuss Kentucky tourism, although that's always encouraged, I want to address the shut-down of Kentucky's livestock shows and possible cancellation of the Kentucky State Fair due to Covid 19. I want to clarify that I am all for keeping everyone healthy and safe, but believe that livestock shows can continue in Kentucky just like horse shows. Let Kentucky show. 

     Exhibiting livestock for 4-H and FFA youth is not just a hobby or a project for the majority of these kids and their families. Raising and exhibiting livestock is  their daily life and livelihood. Exhibiting livestock for our youth is just an extension of their daily life on the farm and a way to further learn about nutrition, animal health, genetics, marketing, and the simple but important issues of life like responsibility and the rewards of working hard, setting goals, and diligence in meeting those goals.

     Livestock families are just that, families. I am so thankful for the families and dear friends that my kids grew up with at livestock shows. The friends and the older kid and adult mentors that taught them so much about livestock production, showmanship, and fitting and grooming their animals for the show ring are the closest friends and are life-long friends.

Photo Credit: Jerome Settles

Photo Credit: Ashley Thomas

Photo Credit: Sarah Coomer

     The livestock shows are important to producers to market the animals. As a livestock producer we are always striving to improve on what we have in our pasture with each mating. I don't understand the failure to see the importance and weight of having the Kentucky State Fair, or any state fair. The shows are as important to the breeders as the Kentucky Derby is to the horse farms. There may not be the large amounts of money involved, but bull semen costs range from $20 to $500 per straw and embryos and female flushes costs producers thousands. All of this to improve overall production. The loss of livestock shows for producers to exhibit their animals can ultimately cost them money and the chance to cash in on their investments. Bottom line, winning race horses sell stallion seasons and shares,  and winning bulls, heifers, and market animals sell livestock, semen, and embryos. 

Photo Credit: Mollie Tichenor

     The Kentucky State Fair has been our family's vacation for over 25 years. We have taken the kids and exhibited beef cattle, market hogs, market goats, and market lambs. It is not a restful vacation but one that we look forward to and enjoy. It is a week to ten days filled with very early mornings, wash racks, making stalls and displays,  hectic show days and late nights. We love every minute of the work and time spent together with friends in the stalls, at ringside, and sharing meals at favorite restaurants.

     I'm not sure that everyone understands that many of our youth have their own herds, their own farms, and their own livestock production business even before they are 16. Many have worked to turn their life's passion into their own business or extension of their family business but be well aware that these kids are making and spending their own money in their business purchasing not only the animals but feed, equipment, and medications for their program. 

     My point again is that this is not a hobby or just a sport. It is a living and a way of life and livelihood for many. I do not understand how the state can open an amusement park for 16,000 and not allow livestock shows to be held in a normal setting. We now have a livestock show schedule for the summer with three shows in June and the majority of district shows for all species scheduled for July with many restrictions due to Covid 19. 

     The Kentucky State Fair is the goal show for many Kentucky youth exhibitors with both market animals and breeding stock.  That means that they have been fed for months on a schedule, with the goal weight  for the August date of the Kentucky State Fair. Many people may not understand the science and management that goes into each animal and how feed rations are adjusted to keep an animal on a schedule to reach a specific goal weight at a specific time. This is also true for the major shows like the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, the American Royal in Kansas City, and the National Western Stock Show in Denver. Animals are fed with those specific show dates as their goal. 

Photo Credit: Brooke Benton

     Let Kentucky show. Please allow the hard-working agriculture youth to showcase their projects,  exhibit their animals and step onto those coveted green shavings at the Kentucky State Fair.