What do Grain Farmers do in the winter

A simple question we get asked all the time is what do grain farmers do in the winter? What do you think we do? We have a lot of jobs we have to do all winter long...Here are a few of DRW Farms Top Ten.

1. Hauling grain is most important-we take the grain out of our bins and haul to the grain terminals. As it takes pretty much all winter to get it all hauled out.

2. Lots and lots and lots and did I say lots of PAPERWORK!!!

3. We work on equipment and do a lot of Maintenance in the shop.

4.  Lots of cleaning goes on as our machines as they get really dirty and muddy...and my OCD son can't stand that!

5.  All the yield reports and spreadsheets get scrutinized and gone thru...my husband never thinks that my computer is correct..and usually double checks it cause you know he has it all in his computer(his head)

6.  Insurance meetings take place during this time as we always need to work on our yields for the end of the year and go over each field with crop adjusters.

7.  TAXES TAXES TAXES-can you tell I hate this one by the caps! And yes Farmers DO Pay TAXES!

8.  This year we have done a lot of pushing snow.  My husband also pushes out three other family and farm driveways for our neighbors too.

9.  Budget planning for the year is a must!

10.  Planning what products we are going to use at DRW Farms is always a priority in the winter months too and we usually work with our local Coop in helping us try-(key word is TRY) to make the best decisions we can to make it a successful new crop year!

One of our trucks is pulled under the grain leg where the grain will dump in the trailer of the semi and load it up with corn. Then #sodbuster will take the semi to the grain terminal. He usually tries to get 7 or 8 loads out a day which is around 8000 bushels he moves a day.  Then if you multiply that out for a week in the winter he hauls around 40,000-45,000 bushels of grain.

Here is one of the biggest projects of the winter was this semi conversion. The boys along with their father took the sleeper off of one of our older semis.  They wanted it easier for everyone to be able to drive.  It's easier now to see out of and also easier to move around from field to field.  It's still the same length but much easier to turn around and get in and out of fields without the sleeper on.

And you have to admit it looks a lot better...and as my sons hashtags were...#daycabconversion #pete # stretch #nomoresleeper and he says it needs of course new paint job.  Maybe they can save that for WINTER 2016.  Now I don't even want to think about that yet!!

Game Day Grub

Game Day Grub

Thursday of this past week we had a home game.  Sometimes my son sends me a text and tells me we have four or five extra guys coming over for the game meal.  So, since our house is only one mile from the school its the easiest to go home to and I usually try to give them a quick easy meal.  Well on this game day the grub that they requested was tacos.  Sometimes I have everything for it and sometimes I do not.  I always have the hamburger as we always freeze a half beef every fall.  But, today I didn't have some of the ingredients so I had to go to our local Dollar General and get some of the needed essentials to make them their tacos.  

I couldn't find the normal taco seasoning we use but found McCormick taco seasoning.  It worked out great and the boys loved it.  The recipe is on the back of the package. I also used some of our home made salsa which is always a big hit. I sometimes add a little bit to the hamburger instead of the whole cup of water that the recipe asks for.  It adds a great flavor.  I didn't do it this time as some kids are picky that way. But, its really good that way and you should try it sometime! I did a double batch to make sure we had enough!

They had plenty and it was an easy quick meal for the hungry basketball boys.  I think we have made this about four times this season and will probably do it again for sectionals.  Its one of the boys favorites and ours too.

Yesterday in between basketball games I went to the Meltdown Winter Ice Festival in Richmond, Indiana.  I not only went there as a spectator but also to take some photographs. I was invited to the event on FB by one of my moms FB friends.  If you have never been I suggest you go.  The ice art was beautiful.  The evening wasn't too cold and you could enjoy the many artists while walking around downtown Richmond in 38 degrees weather. Richmond has also got some neat areas of town now that they have revitalized with restaurants and shops.  But I didn't have time for that yesterday!! (save that for another day) The reason I went was to get out of my "normal photo mode".  I think if you are doing any type of photographs..either with your iphone, ipad, film or even your expensive DSLR you all know what I mean.  Sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone and go take something completely different.  Even if you aren't sure of the settings you want to use. That is ok because digital makes that part easy for you and its called the delete button.  

I also think everyone needs to just have fun while taking photos. All work and no play isn't fun at all! Who cares what you are taking photos of as long as you are doing what you love! Also, remember we aren't back in 4-H at the exhibit hall being critiqued by that same old mean judge every year either.  This is for you so go out and give it a try.  I promise you will like it!!

It's hard to believe it so close to graduation 2011. It seems like we just started this school year. Our local school will be celebrating graduating next weekend. My son will also be graduating 8th grade and moving on to High School and then I will have two in High School next year. The time does fly by and you need to make every second of it count! One way to remember those special times are by your Senior Pictures. I have been working on several seniors this year. They are all my "special friends". I wish them all good luck with their future after graduation! It is also time to start thinking about 2012 Senior pictures. If you book your Senior Session now you will get a free 8x10 and also two sets of wallets for free. I am also looking for models at Mt. Vernon and Knightstown. I already have Eastern Hancock, New Palestine and Greenfield Central Models. Be looking soon for their "model sessions." I wish the parents and graduating Seniors of 2o11 a very fun and wonderful celebration! Way to go you did it!

"Not Everybody trusts paintings but people believe photographs." -Ansel Williams

It has been a while since my last post and a lot has been going on. I wanted to share the above quote with you because I feel it portrays photography quite well. I have found an old newspaper article that has several TidBits on Photography that I am going to share with you over the next few months. I also wanted to to let everyone know the studio is finally open. YEA!!! It has taken me three years to get this studio and I am so excited. Over the Thanksgiving weekend I had the pleasure of using the Gross Family as my guinea pigs. They were awesome..we got to use the lights I had purchased three years ago from a studio that was closing in Greenfield. I am sure most of you remember SEVEN SEAS. They were great and a lot of help to me in my photography journey and were always there to lend a hand. It was always nice to just go and talk to them about almost anything. I have included tonight some of the shots from Saturday...if anyone needs photos for the Holidays I am running a special and it will be $50 which includes your sitting and about 20 images on a CD with full copyright access..give me a call if you want to schedule...and remember people BELIEVE in Photographs!!

Saturday I had a chance to Photo my cousin and her daughter Paige...We had so much fun and Paige is a little sweetheart. I enjoyed her input. I always like to ask "where would you like to have your picture take at?". This is always fun with kids and Seniors. You always get some neat ideas and that gives also gives them some input into the photo shoot too. You never know what or where we might come up with taking their photo at...So I always learn new techniques from each one of my photo shoots!