Day 15: God has given me the privilege to be alive

For the last two years, I have grown to appreciate God’s gift of living on this Earth. We are not guaranteed when our last breath in this world will be, so we must make the most of it. Appreciate the time you have, and live for those who have gone to a greater place because of God’s grace.

About a year and a half ago we lost someone that meant so much to us as a family and as a community. Cody Scott Richardson, worked for my dad and he also was a full-time fireman at Zionsville Fire Department. He was someone my dad viewed like a son. He cherished him so much for his hard work and his spirit.

I remember the day I got a call saying I needed to go home immediately. I rushed home and quickly ran out to the barn to find Seth, who works for my dad, frantically waving his arms for the ambulances and police to arrive at the right place. I ran behind the barn only to find my dad in the tractor holding Cody in his arms crying. I heard someone say he wasn’t going to make it, and in that very moment I realized how a life can be taken away in just a second. Cody was only twenty-six years old, and died of a sudden heart attack. At his funeral they played the song, “The Dance”, by Garth Brooks. I don’t think I have ever seen my dad cry that much, but we knew that Cody was in a better place celebrating a new dance of life with his creator.

Right before I attended the University of Illinois. We lost another person that had her whole life ahead of her. My second cousin, Cheyenne, was planning on taking a semester off then attending college to major in something pertaining to agriculture. Like me, she had just recently graduated from high school in Ohio. She was only eighteen years old when she was killed in a car accident. She was in an induced coma for nearly two weeks when she passed. Visiting her in the hospital, it personally took a toll on me because she was my age. She didn’t get to experience college or having a family and kids in the future. But, when she passed there was a peace that the Lord was in her heart as she often wrote inspirational verses in her room and proclaimed her faith. Her smile was so contagious and she was always happy even when she was going through a hard time, she could always manage to smile!

It is crazy to think about how young someone is when their life can suddenly be taken from them. I’ve sat and have thought about that for a long time, and God has truly blessed me with this life. It is not guaranteed, it is a privilege and a honor. Because there are no guarantees in this life, I want to live life to the fullest. Choosing to major in Agricultural Communications and attending the University of Illinois has allowed me to live for not just myself, but for my God that has allowed me to be here and the others that celebrate with him in heaven above like Cody and Cheyenne!

Day 14: He’s not just Cover Crop Dave, he is Compost Dave

My dad in the last couple of years has become very interested in creating compost. He has started his own composting business where he composes his own piles. His goal is to provide the proper elements and components to create successful compost. When I said he was passionate about the dirt, I meant it.

He has recently built a greenhouse where he tests the success of his compost. What he does is he will put pure compost in pots, and he will plant things such as radishes and carrots. If the plant proceeds to grow successfully in compost that is how he knows he has produced a mixture with the correct amount of elements. He also tests the temperature of his piles to ensure his compost is being produced and maintained successfully.

Building piles is a very strenuous process. I learned this the hard way when dad had me help him and Taylor, who works for dad, spread phosphorous on piles. You don’t realize just how heavy phosphorous is until you pick it up with a shovel! After that day, I really grew to appreciate my dad and others that worked for him.

Just like cover crops, when I listen to my dad talk about the compost and how helpful and successful it is in crop production, sometimes it is hard to follow. But since I have been at the U of I the use of his compost has also sparked my interest and I truly enjoy listening to all the knowledge and input he has to say. So, I not only chose to major in Agricultural Communications because I wanted to understand Cover Crop Dave, but I also wanted to finally understand Compost Dave!

Day 13: I finally found the right place for me

I love where I grew up. But, by my senior year I knew I was ready to go to college. It was time for me to meet new people, experience a different atmosphere and really focus on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Attending the University of Illinois has been the best decision I have made for myself, and has provided me with so many opportunities within my first semester.

I grew up with plenty of amazing people that have helped me get to where I am today, but despite this I knew it was time for a change. I wanted to surround myself with people that are just as passionate about the agriculture industry as I am. Living in 4-H house has definitely stimulated this and I am so lucky to have so many girls that I can always count on! It is refreshing to meet so many people that have the same interests I do with similar goals.

I have been blessed to have so many different opportunities within my first semester. The North American International Livestock Internship was a fantastic experience and I learned so much from the professionals I worked with. I’ve also been involved in the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow and have recently become the ACEs Council Representative. These opportunities have allowed me to be apart of something that means so much to me.

The new ACT officer team.

I can honestly say that U of I was the perfect place for me. I have been able to thrive and have met so many people that have been so influential. If I would not have chose to be in Agricultural Communications, I do not think I would have ever found the right fit for me with some amazing people.

Day 12: Mom always wanted the best for me

I don’t think I have met a person who is as selfless as my mom. She has raised my sister and I, and we both know she genuinely loves and would do anything for us. She has always looked out for us having our best interest in mind. This is something I can say I didn’t fully understand until I started at the University of Illinois.

My mom and I have butted heads a lot. From the time I was in junior high and high school we just didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. But as I have grown older, I’ve started to comprehend a large part of why we did not always get along was because I never fully grasped the concept that she was always looking out for me. Whether it was curfew, constantly having to text her where I was, it was all because she cared so much about me and she wanted me safe.

When I hurt, she hurt. She took every one of my feelings to heart and there isn’t another person that I can say cared that much about how I felt. She has overcome so much in her life which has allowed to grow an even deeper respect for her.

Being at college now has made me realize how much my mom has done for me. I have definitely appreciated her so much more. When I chose to major in Agricultural Communications I did not realize that it would strengthen the relationship between my mom and I. She has always wanted the best for me, and I can finally say that I understand why.

Day 11: Love me some Jella

God has truly blessed me with an awesome sister to grow up with. Even though she is two years younger than me, I look up to her everyday. She is a beautiful, diligent, smart and Godly young woman, and she has truly been an inspiration to me! I know she is someone I can always talk to when I am going through a tough time or we can always make a good time out of nothing.

Since I can remember, Jenna has been in love with the farm. Her passion for agriculture has been unceasing and she continues to grow in her interest. Now she is a junior in high school, and just recently has become the active president of her FFA chapter. She loves being out in the barn working with the pigs every chance she can get. After school, she is always out in the field helping dad with whatever he may need. She is eager to learn more about the industry through hands-on experiences.

Because she is a junior it is time for her to start considering places to attend college. At this point she is very interested in majoring in Animal Nutrition. Her heart has always been set on Purdue but she is now considering other schools such as K-state and Oklahoma State. I try to convince her that U of I would be the place for her but I don’t think she wants to follow in her sisters footsteps. I know whatever she chooses will be the perfect fit for her and she will highly succeed in whatever she decides to major in.

I cannot express how unbelievably proud I am to call Jenna my sister. When I decided to major in Agricultural Communications, I can remember her making fun of me because she thought I wanted to be just like her. But looking back on it, why wouldn’t I want to be like her? Without her being in my life, I honestly don’t think I would have chose to be an active advocate for agriculture. I am so thankful for Jella; she has allowed me to pursue something I am genuinely passionate about. I couldn’t have asked for a better best friend.

Day 10: Cover Crop Dave

If anyone knows my dad, they understand how passionate he is about the soil. His farm operation now is all no-till, where he is also successfully incorporating cover crops into his production system. When my dad starts talking about the soil and crops, it is almost impossible getting him to stop.

Radishes, Austrian Peas, Ryegrass: these are just some of the many cover crops he has been incorporating into his operation. His main focus in planting all of these different varieties is that he can successfully add nutrients in the soil to make it healthier for crop production. Not to mention, by utilizing successful cover crops he is preventing detrimental soil erosion.

A mixture of radishes, turnips, crimson clover and hairy vetch. 

 Working in a field of Cereal Rye.

Dad’s success with his cover crops has led him to some pretty interesting experiences. He unexpectedly was on the front page of the No-till Farmer with a featured story. He has a couple youtube videos that just describe what he has used that has worked best for him while planting cover crops, and he also has traveled to some no-till conferences where he has given presentations as well.

A mixture of Austrian winter peas, oats and hairy vetch.

When my dad starts talking about his cover crops and biology of the soil, to me it is very difficult to comprehend all the terms and methods he explains to me. Although, I have found that now that I’ve started writing I have become even more interested in crop and soil health and directly how it is affecting farmers just like my dad. I have learned so much from him this semester just absorbing everything he has to say. So when I think about why I decided to major in Agricultural Communications, I definitely believe I wanted to finally understand Cover Crop Dave!

Day 9: Somedays I wish I Could get Back on the Saddle

I have grown up loving horses. I started out riding on my little Shetland pony, Toby, when I was three years old and that sparked my interest and desire in riding horses. I rode in Indiana Junior Rodeo for two years with my old Buckskin horse named Skip where we participated in barrels and poles. I was also an active 4-H member in the horse and pony project for four years.

I truly enjoyed participating in those events in my younger years, but my mom encouraged me to try something that was maybe a little out of my comfort zone, reining. I started on my first reiner, JC, when I was in seventh grade. I began to gain interest in it and decided I needed a horse that had more experience. That led me to my favorite little mare, Missy. I showed Missy for two years and I would not replace those moments I shared with her. She was the best horse to me and we had so many accomplishments together.

Riding my Quarter Horse, Missy at a reining competition!

Finding Missy and these accomplishments would never have been possible without the help of Shannon and Randy Fowler. They had been so helpful to me while I was learning to rein. Even though at times they were hard on me, I know they truly wanted me to succeed. Shannon gave me lessons and I could not have asked for a better instructor. She would be tough on me, but that only made me stronger and understand the importance of taking constructive criticism in order to improve. She taught me the more I rode and practiced, the more natural it would become.

Shannon and I with Missy after showing.

By my freshman year of high school I had gotten very involved with sports. I was apart of the varsity volleyball and basketball teams as a freshman. So the summer going into my freshman year was my last time riding horses competitively. I often think back to those times and really regret giving up reining. It is because of this regret, I hope that a degree in Agricultural Communications will give me that motivation to get back up in the saddle!

Day 8: One word: Pigs

I have grown up in a pig barn. When I was young my dad had a farrow to wean operation, and as I grew older we transitioned out of the market hog business to strictly farrow to finish. Currently we have about twenty five sows that we breed for show pig and feeder pigs. Swine will always be something that I can honestly say is a part of who I am.

I’ve helped dad castrate and process baby pigs since I was six years old. I have learned how to ear notch, cut teeth, cut tails and successfully give iron injections to piglets. Not only did I watch my dad do these things at a young age, but I also have watched him feed and clean in the barn since I was real young as well. Since I have grown older my sister and I work hard out in the barn cleaning and feeding pigs.

My sister, Jenna showing her duroc barrow at the state fair.

Normally my sister, Jenna and I will take turns cleaning and feeding pigs. Cleaning hog pens is a task that was taught to us at a young age. We have quickly learned the value of hard work from doing this. Feeding sows, nursery and 4-H pigs all have varying diets. It has been very interesting to me to see how an animal develops from these different rations of feed while I have had the job of feeding in the barns.

The swine industry is my passion. Working with that animal and making sure it is at the highest production level through nutrition, breeding, and proper animal husbandry is an inexplainable feeling. I believe there are multiple topics and issues going on in the swine industry that producers and consumers need to be properly informed on. Some of these issues include: PED, swine flu, nutrition, and proper care. Agricultural Communications gives me the opportunity to speak the truth about these issues and where the industry is heading! I want to successfully advocate for the swine industry, and I fully believe Agricultural Communications will provide me with this opportunity.