What's Up.

Hello again. Its been awhile but things are pretty busy and I am just now getting around to the ole blog.

So here's what's up.

It is finally fall!! The awful heat wave that's been hanging over the southwest broke yesterday and it has been 'sunny and seventy' here for the last couple of days. Its absolutely beautiful and I am so glad that the farmers and livestock are getting a break from the high temps. We also enjoyed a little dust settling rain the other night so maybe things in the weather department are finally turning around.

Hello, my name is JanLee and I am addicted to Pandora Radio. I swear it has played almost non-stop for about 36 hours now on my phone. My favorite stations: Chris Young, Maroon 5, Brooks and Dunn, and Dirty Dancing (Original Cast). Bomb.com

Since being back and realizing that the good times in 14A won't last forever, Katie and I have started little journals to document our year. So far, its a really fun project and I know that someday we will be SO glad we did it. Can't wait to read our funny stories in 20 + years.

Hope your Labor Day was safe and more eventful than mine! Enjoy the four day week! :)

Contently,
JanLee

Tuesday Ten: Today's To-Dos

Man, that's a lot of T's.

1. Pray for the Marksbury Family. Yesterday, a wonderful Angus family was on their way to the West Virginia State Fair in their small, private plane. An accident occured just after take-off. Josh, Jamie, and their young son, Jake, were all injured severely. Today, Jake is having surgery but is in stable condition, Jamie is stable, and Josh is still in critical condition. Though I do not know this family personally, I pray for their full recovery and send love their way. Times like these make you appreciate your life and the people around you.
2. Buy a mortar board. On a MUCH lighter note, I cannot go another day without a planner. OSU has an official school calendar/planner for students and I am dying to get one. I have so many baby lists in my mind that really need to be written down and they NEED to be in my shiny new mortar board.
3. Unpack. I hate unpacking so I think I will go get that mortar board and then come back and look for something else to do.
4. Go to the grocery. After sitting empty all summer, our apartment has NO FOOD. The few things that are here, I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole so I better get on that pretty quick. I can't eat any more McDonald's.
5. Send a postcard. This past week, my grandfather moved into an assisted living community. He has adjusted so well and I am SO glad that he is happy, safe, and well cared for. Today, I am going to send him a postcard from Stillwater. Everybody loves a day brightener.
6. Shop for a school bag. I am done with the backpack. Besides the fact that mine look like somebody played kick-the-can with it, I have decided I want something a little more grown up than the purple back pack I have carried for the past two years. Its time to upgrade to something a little more mature and professional.
7. Check the mail. Our mail box has been slowly filling up for THREE MONTHS. It proabably needs to be checked, you think?
8. Cook something. I just have this urge to be domestic, and, knowing me, I better go with it! Who knows when this may happen again...

So I know that's only eight, but that's really all I can think of. Hope everyone has a great week!! :)

Praying for the Marksbury Family,
JanLee

Another New Name

If you've been following very long, you know this is the THIRD name change to the blog. Hopefully, the third time's the charm.

I was looking for some originality and I hope I have found it in "Cow Paths".

Happy Sunday to everybody!

Love,
JanLee

The Only Thing That Stays The Same

Everything changes.

As summer draws to a close and my travels begin to slow down, the changes have been inevitable and constant.

This past weekend, I was in St. Louis on my first official trip as a Director for the National Junior Angus Board. I returned home with more enthusiasm than I could possibly type out and a newfound respect for the people of this industry, especially the junior members of the National Junior Angus Association. Looking forward, I am thrilled to see what this expereince holds and the times in store for the team that I am so gratelful to be a part of.

This time next week, I will be back in Stillwater, Oklahoma, gearing up for another year of college. I can't believe that my college career is half way over! As excited as I am to get back after it and enjoy being a college kid, leaving home means not seeing my family for a couple of months and I can't say I am ready for that. As many times as I have done it, leaving never gets easier.

My "little" brother starts high school tomorrow. I'm not ready for that either!!! He went to St. Louis for LEAD too and is a testament to the true power that the NJAA has on kids. He came home with renewed motivation and so. much. knowledge. of the beef industry. He has given everyone here a total recap of the weekend. TWICE.

Here we are on top of the world at the St. Louis Arch and standing on the field at Busch Stadium.

Hanging in there,

JanLee :)

"We've Been Working Toward This For 20 Years"

"Go get 'em, Sis."

Those were the words my dad left me with when he dropped me off at the back door of the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Sheraton Hotel on what I consider to be one of the most important nights of my life. No pressure, right.

This summer is one that I have been planning for and working toward since I attended my first National Junior Angus Show---the pursuit of the green jacket, my candidacy for the National Junior Angus Board of Directors. All of my dedication and work paid off on the night of July 15th when the "New Six" were announced at the closing ceremonies of the 2011 National Junior Angus Show.

For the next two years, I will serve as a director and officer of the National Junior Angus Board, a group of leaders who represent the National Junior Angus Association and help plan events to continue the impact that the organization has on its 7,000 junior members every year.

My duties kick off this week as I travel to St. Louis, MO for the Leaders Engaged in Angus Development Conference where 200 young Angus cattlemen will convene to learn more about the beef industry and effective leadership as well as build the realtionships that they will carry with them for life.

Excitement is not the word.

With Joy,
JanLee

True Life

My Hometown is a Tourist Trap.

We're talking fanny packs, cheap souvenir cowboy hats, the whole nine yards.

Hurricane Mills, Tennessee's claim to fame is "Home of the Coalminer's Daughter, Loretta Lynn". For those of you who may not recognize the name (don't be ashamed, you are in the growing majority), does "You be my little Loretta, I'll be your Conway Twitty," ring a bell? That's her! Our hometown sweetheart!

Loretta's "Dude Ranch" sprawls across most of the acreage of our tiny little town and includes a campground, trail rides, Souvenir Shop, recording studio, museum, replica of her old Kentucky home, haunted plantation home, snack stand, and dirt bike track that brings in over 200,000 people every August for the World Championship Amateur Motocross Race, or something along those lines.

Now I don't hold anything against Loretta. She is responsible for bringing in a huge part of the taxes that make our county budget work every year. But that's not to say I don't get tired of stopping in the middle of the road everyday on the way to town to let little old ladies who remember Loretta in her prime cross the street to the Museum.

The Coalminer's Farmer's Daughter,
JanLee

Puppies 4 Sale

Growing up on a farm where the motto has always been, "We raise kids and cows, in that order," having dogs was never a matter of if or when, but rather "How many?" There are four kids, thus, four female dogs (we gotta have puppies!) I am the proud owner of a not so mild mannered Pembroke Welsh Corgi with a Alpha Dog attitude and a chip on her shoulder, Kit. Hannah's dog, Cricket, is an 11 year old Pug with a sweetest disposition, a habit of overeating, and a bad case of halitosis. Lawson has a timid Blue Heeler, Chesse ("Casey") who is very much the follower of the group and Beau's dog is a black and brindle Catahoula who thinks she is a Maltese named Ellie Mae.

Yeah. The variety pack.

Cricket was spayed a few years ago due to an infection that nobody speaks about because it "might hurt her feelings." Kit no longer comes in heat. My guess is that this is due to a lack of hormonal activity (maybe that's why she is such a grouch?). Lawson's dog has not yet reached the age or weight to have any babies. So that leaves Ellie Mae, the Shi Tzu trapped in the Doberman's body, who also happens to be quite *throat clearing*...active.

About 11 weeks and 2 days ago, Ellie gave birth to 6 little bundles of joy. 3/4 Catahoula, 1/4 Black Mouth Cur. Sweet little things. Now, about 11 weeks and 2 days later, the cute little puppy-wuppies are old enough to bark, chew, and chase the beloved show heifers, the only things around here that receive better care than the dogs.

This afternoon, with my blood pressure teetering on the "Heart Attack/Stroke" line, I loaded them all up (minus one that escaped over the tailgate about the time I got the truck into reverse), and hauled them to the house and threw them (not as gently as Sarah McClochlan probably would have appreciated) into the dog pen.

And if you need one, that's where they will be. FREE CATAHOULA PUPPIES! Come one, come all.

Dog Lover Hater,
JanLee

Disclaimer: I really do love dogs, just not the ones that chase and bite our show heifers. If you call the ASPCA, I will gladly give up custody of these ankle biters I captured this afternoon.

#Tweet, #Tweet

A few months ago, I "bit the bullet", so to speak, and created a Twitter account. Always up for some social media, I had checked into the site a year or so ago when it became so popular, but I was overwhelmed with followers and hashtags and trends. I just didn't get it. After finally signing up, fully prepared to never really tweet and just make an attempt to see what all the fuss was about, I was hooked (isn't that the way it always goes?).  It so much faster paced than Facebook and I have learned SO much.

Go get on!! Follow me @janleerowlett and be sure to look up some educational tweeters as well. My recommendations: @AnguaAssoc, @agchat, @USDA, and @blakeshelton. So maybe the last one isn't all that intelectual, but he sure is funny!!

Tweet-Tweet,
JanLee

What It Takes to (Maybe) Win

As the summer show season cranks up, so does the temperature, and so does the WORK. Nobody ever said showing cattle was easy, or that it didn't require a little elbow grease. As the National Junior Angus Show approaches, this is my daily routine:

1. Wake up.
2. Feed.
3. Rinse, Brush, Spray, Brush.
4. Clean pens.
5. Check cows.
6. Water cows.
7. Rinse, Brush, Spray, Brush, Blow.
8. Short Break in the A/C.
9. Clean pens.
10. Feed.
11. Rinse, Brush, Spray, Brush.
12. Turn Out.

And the next day you do it all over again. After weeks and weeks of the "Rinse, Brush, Repeat" routine, its finally time to show, and even then there is nothing even CLOSE to a guarantee that you will be "in the purple". But it doesn't take long to know its so worth it anyway. Bottom line: I love to show cattle, and I always will, and, as my dad says, "The show is won at home, in the hall of the barn, where the water flows, the blower runs, and the work happens."

This past weekend, I watched a dream of my family's come true as my brother's heifer, one which we raised, was named Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Heifer at the Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show.

Thinking Purple Thoughts,
JanLee

Recipe for the Perfect Weekend

Ingredients:
(1) the best mom ever
(1) crazy, hilarious dad
(1) BEST FRIEND
(3) days of perfect weather
(1) fun, little college town
(2) hour ride to Kansas
(200) beautful black cow/calf pairs on wheat pasture
(1) sweet Angus family
(1, tiny) precious baby girl

In favorite old farm truck, add Mom and Dad. (Works best if they have worked all day.) Stir and allow to drive all night. After settling, wake them up early for a day of shopping and let soak in long, boring banquet. Allow minimal rest before waking back up. Mix in daughter and crazy best friend. Send to next state on show heifer shopping trip. Pour into section of wheat pasture and whip with gale force, Kansas wind. Add dust for texture. Pressure cook with high stake decision before basting with delicious meal, good company, cow talk, and precious baby girl. Pour back into truck before baking at 90 degrees without air conditioning. Let cool before enjoying.

Tuesday Ten: To Do

Spring Break officially begins in t minus 28 hours! But, hey, who's counting?? This girl! That's who!

Before I can really enjoy the break from school, this is what has to be done...

1. Survive Ag Law Test
2. Study for/Take Farm&Ranch Management Test
3. PACK!
4. Make the best playlist of my life for the drive home
5. drop off/pick-up jeans at the cleaners
6. Alpha Zeta Meeting (consider yourself skipped A.Z.)
7. clean room
8. charge iPod
9. buy Beau new OSU hat
10. work....

Secret of life: Always start To Do lists with something you've already done. (It's a morale thing.)

Here's a picture just because. :)

Counting Down,
JanLee

This One's For The Boys

Lawson and Beau.

Just saying their names makes me laugh.

My two younger brothers' (ages: 14 and 12) reputations precede them. They are known, literally throughout several states, for their never-ending shenanigans, old-man-like humor, and, in Beau's case, strange likeness to my dad.

It's always something with those two and, as my mom likes to say, "They're like two lab puppies: fine when they are by themselves, but trouble when you put them together."

Over the years, they have built quite a resume of practical jokes, hilarious quotes, and signature "tricks". Ranking among their most impressive achievements are:

• Spray Paint + Hammer: Several years ago, while out on what was to be a short excursion to the barn on the four-wheeler, they were distracted by what must have been quite an enticing can of blue spray paint and, specifically, that ball they could hear rolling around inside. So they devised a plan. A short time later, after enlisting the use of a claw hammer, both boys were bright blue, head-to-toe.  It happened to be early spring and there was still a distinct chill to the air. When the paint hit Beau's skin and began to burn, Lawson, being the quick thinker that he is, turned the hose on him. When he was sufficiently soaked, yet still on fire. He was quickly loaded back on to the 4-wheeler and briskly hauled home. They both survived. Though it is a wonder considering the opportunities for smashed fingers, chemical ingestion, and  pneumonia, not to mention my mom's feelings about the intelligence they displayed in the situation.
• Homecoming Hunt: On the night of my senior Homecoming, an affair which I had been quite involved with, my whole family plus the Homecoming Queen were at my house preparing for the big game. Sometime after my mom had stepped into the shower and before my dad had arrived home from work, a "nice buck" was spotted in the pasture behind our house. Making the decision not to consult with either parent in fear that the deer would disappear, Lawson chose to take the shot. And he hit his target dead on. Needless to say, the Rowlett's were fashionably late to the game due to the 12 year old marksman in the family and his choice to shoot a deer and  the necessary task of skinning him immediately.
• Clipped Cat: Most recently added to their growing list of funnies: last night Beau and Lawson were left home alone since my dad was gone and my mom had a late meeting. While they were completing their list of daily chores at the barn, they decided that the clippers we use to fit show cattle needed to be tested in preparation of next weekend's show...and it needed to be done immediately.  So, knowing better than to try their hand on one of the show heifers, they set out to capture the beloved barn cat, Andrea, and clip her. Poor cat. She had such long, pretty hair. I can't wait to see how her fit job turned out.

Proudly,

JanLee

In Like A Lion...

It's March! And I. Am. So. Glad. :)

March means green grass, sunshine, Spring Break, and Agribition. In less than two short weeks, I will be in Hurricane Mills, soaking up some "homeness" and re-charging for the crazy two months left in this semester. February has DRAGGED by and I am in desperate need of a little break from lab exams, scholarship applications, and somewhere to go besides school, home, and the local Wal-Mart.

My plans for my week away from real life:

1. Tennessee Beef Agribition
2. Road Trip with Jennifer & Hannah
3. take lots of pictures around the farm
4. spend some quality time with Mimi and Gran-Gran
5. make time to love on my poor, mistreated dog every day
6. sleep!
7. pick some buttercups
8. build a bon fire
9. burn a really good CD to entertain me on the way back to OK
10. read a book

Out Like A Lamb,
JanLee

Tuesday 10

Ten things I am currently in love with...

1. my new The North Face jacket
2. this weather! sunny and 60!!
3. apparently the snooze button since I have severely oversslept for two days in a row
4. Spring Break is close enough to begin the countdown
5. the hot pink toes I am sporting this week
6. Wintergreen Lifesaver mints
7. iPad--my mom randomly won one last week and even though I haven't had the opportunity to play with it, I already know I will love it
8. new haircut! (and the fact that it makes me look JUST like Jessica Simpson) kidding, by the way
9. my empty calendar for this week
10. Redken hairspray

Hearts,
JanLee

Conquering Challenges, Bridging Divides

"How in the world did he tie that knot?" That's all I could think about as I stared unforgivingly straight at Trent Loos, American rancher and self made agriculture spokesperson turned radio/television show host, and his perfectly tied, silky wild rag that was knotted at his throat. At least that was all I could think about until he opened his mouth. Because let me tell you, when Trent Loos talks, you just have to listen.

For the sake of time, for your reading and my writing, I'll just go ahead and bullet point this one out. I would HATE to miss anything this man said. He was truly awesome to listen to.

• Trent defines agriculture as "the conversion of natural resources into consumable products for humankind," and his stance is that we should do whatever necessary to keep our food supply both adequate and safe. (Yes, even if that means keeping chickens in *GASP* cages!)
• He says that farmers' and ranchers' roles as producers of the world's food is "a calling, not a job." And I couldn't agree more.
• On "natural" and "organic" food production, Trent points out that people are "paying a premium for the way things use to be done, even though the old ways are not environmentally or economically sound." He poses the question of the reason for technological advances of any kind if people are willing to pay more for the obselete ways of doing things.
• He also points out (and because I do love my facts I think this is important) the last reported case of trichinosis (the single reason that every pork chop since the 70's has been overcooked) was in 1976 (35 years ago) when two people contracted it from eating bear, not pork. So spread the word, trichinosis is not longer a threat.
• Never apologize for harvesting animals. It is the animal's place in this world to convert inedible products to products fit for human consumption. Trent's tagline is "Everything lives. Everything dies. And death with a purpose gives full meaning to life." And that's what it all comes down to.
• Trent's rules whe dealing with people who protest production agriculture: never be confrontational, LISTEN to them (that's all they really want), don't make the discussion economical, make it environmental and beneficial for mankind, be strategic (make things their idea)
• One of my personal favorite's of the presentation: "We need to put ourselves in a position to create the perceptions, no react to them."
• "Advocating" implies that we are on the defensive and that is a losing battle. Be a "spokesperson", not an advocate.
• Trent ended by saying, very eloquently I might add, "I expect that we will conquer these challenges and bridge these divides." Talk about making ya want to jump up and do something! He was awesome.

Fired Up,

JanLee

Happy Valentine's Day

Tuesday Ten: Winter Weather Edition

Ten things Snow Makes Me Grateful For...

1. fireplaces
2. muck boots
3. southern summers
4. four-wheel drive
5. those fuzzy socks with snowmen on them that Mimi gave me for Christmas
6. hot chocolate
7. weather.com
8. NCIS marathons
9. Facebook

Warm Wishes,
JanLee

Hello Again :)

First, I apologize for my little hiatus. I really have no excuse other than a temporary lack of motivation that, thankfully, seems to have resolved itself.

So now to get caught up...
Missed Friday Post#1: My Animal Agriculture Advocacy and Policy class hosted a panel of lawmakers a couple of weeks ago and it was great to get some insight, and more importantly, to really discuss the public's perception of our industry and how that affects policy and regulations. We welcomed Representative Don Arms, Chair of House Appropriation Committee for Natural resources, Senator Mike Schultz, the current Senate Floor Leader, and Senator Brian Crane, a very urban, yet influential and supportive lawmaker from Tulsa.

Missed Friday Post #2: This past week, we had a similar discussion with Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, Jim Reese, Mrs. Blayne Arthur, Legislative Liaison for the Oklahoma Department of Ag, and Dr. David Vontonglen, a very involved Oklahoma veterinarian who understands the importance of speaking up.

The theme of both classes were very similar, and we discussed some common ideas:

• The most effective form of lobbying is done by constituents. You have a voice, so use it!
• Don't strong arm legislators. It will backfire.
• VOTE! And when you do, support agriculturalists!

And that's the lesson in a nutshell! Stay tuned for Tuesday Ten!!!!

TTYL,
JanLee :)

Food For Thought

The "Ah-Ha Moment" of the day came to me this afternoon in Communicating Ag to the Public.  There I was, texting my Mom about the current weather conditions in an attempt to at least remain conscious while our wanna-be PhD "instructor" went on and on about public perception of American school lunch nutritional value and new USDA regulations and whatever else she may have mentioned  while I was trying to hide my phone from my front row seat.  All of a sudden she said something that actually caught my attention.  "What if we cut costs of fresh fruits and vegetables by utilizing local growers?"  And the light bulb flashed.

After doing a little more research on the subject,  I  have found an organization that really has the right idea.  FarmToSchool.org  The National Farm to School Network's mission best sums up the idea:  "The National Farm to School Network envisions a nation in which Farm to School programs are an essential component of strong and just local and regional food systems, ensuring the health of all school children, farms, environment, economy and communities."

The idea is that local farmers benefit from the greater demand of the schools and the students receive a more balanced, nutritional meal at school and, thus, healthier eating habits that they can carry with them for a lifetime.  Though the change to fresh produce from pre-packaged and preserved food will undoubtedly cost  schools more, if its an expense that will be necessary anyway due to newly mandated USDA regulations, who better to benefit than the local economy? And besides, with all that money to be allocated to "Nutrition Programs" in the next Farm Bill, there had better be some federal funding for programs with this much promise, right?  Anyway, its something to work toward.

On To Something,
JanLee

Spread the Word

This semester, I am enrolled in a sort-of experimental class called "Animal Agriculture Advocacy and Policy" and to say this course is right up my alley is an understatement. I LOVE IT!  We meet every Friday at 11:30 and will spend our weekly hour listening to the stories and wisdom of guest speakers who  are successful advocates of agriculture, training to represent this industry in a media setting, and discussing new methods of combatting animal rights activist groups.

It dawned on me today, sitting front and center,  absorbing fact after terrifying fact about the effectiveness of the Humane Society of the United States that, 'Sure, I can sit here revelling in how passionate I am about all this stuff, but it doesn't do any good unless I do something with all this knowledge."  So here we go, the first of many Friday posts to come, strictly dedicated  to passing  what I learn on to you, and encouraging you to  pay it  forward.

Drum roll please....

1. You know those heart-wrenching commercials with Sarah  McLachlan and Willie Nelson crooning in the background..."For only $19 per month you can save these poor, sick puppies and kittens from  neglect and abuse." Less than 0.5% of the Humane Society of the United States's annual budget actually makes it to pet shelters.  Only $1.03 of that $19 is used for what the commercial advertises.
2. As of yesterday, Justin Bieber is the newest celebrity to officially join P.E.T.A. Yeah, so over Bieber Fever.
3. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. states, "Large-scale hog producers are a greater threat to the United States and democracy that Osama bin Laden's terrorist network."

Run and Tell That,
JanLee

I Think...

1. That you should never wear black boots with a brown belt. (or vice versa)
2. I'd rather be cold than hot.
3. Nobody makes sweet tea like my Mom's.
4. George Strait is the sexiest man alive.
5. Spring is the best season of the year.
6. Vegetarians are crazy.
7. Chivalry isn't dead.
8. What goes around, comes around.
9. The book is ALWAYS better than the movie.
10. Chocolate is better than vanilla.

On Your Mark...

...Get Set...GO!

Tomorrow starts the spring semester and after several crazy days of running to and fro, I am ready to hit the ground running!

Wednesday morning I headed west bright and early.  After 10 (boring) hours on the road, I arrived in Stillwater about the time the workday ended and was welcomed back by Stillwater Rush Hour.  When I finally made it back to my apartment, I literally threw my stuff from one suitcase to another, took about 20 minutes to catch up with Katie, and after a short night's sleep, was off to The Big D  before 6 a.m. on Thursday.   After a couple of days in Dallas visiting potential employers with other CASNR Student Success Leaders, it was back to business as usual in Stilly, USA, complete with 11:00 a.m. breakfasts and doing the week's grocery shopping at midnight.

As of eight o'clock tomorrow morning, it will be back to the grind. All animal nutrition, breeding, and a little ag law and farm & ranch management thrown in the mix.  I really am excited about what this semester holds in store and can't wait to get back in the swing of things.  Here we go!

xoxo,
JanLee