Summer Farm Work Is Fun With Friends!

The Farm takes a lot more work than this farmer is able to handle, so that is why we are always thankful for our farm friends. Last week, we asked our families to come out and lend a hand on a cool July morning and that is just what they did!

We trimmed our wildflowers and "dead headed" them. That means that we cut off the spent flowers to save the seeds for next planting season.

We finally finished our painting job on the sheds. Looks nice from the alley now.

Mrs. Pillers pulled the biggest carrot that we had ever seen from the garden. The carrot was not good to eat, but it produced flowers that had a million carrot seeds on them. So, we harvested those seeds to plant in cooler temperatures.

We had a huge load to haul away to make room for Fall planting! There is never a dull moment on the farm, and always a list a mile long.

Thanks everyone for giving us a bit of your time! We couldn't do it without you! E I E I O...,

GenYOUth Nutrition-Physical Activity-Learning Connection Summit

This week was more than exciting, to say the least! I was invited by our Healthy Zone friends to attend the GenYOUth National Convention at AT & T Stadium. It was just what this health loving teacher needed to get fired up for the upcoming school year!

The morning started off with a tasty breakfast that highlighted some of the new national breakfast recipes and standards. Yum!

There were several keynote speakers throughout the morning.  We learned from leading experts in the field of childhood health and nutrition who were there to share their knowledge base. Included in these leaders were members of the NFL, The Cooper Clinic, FitnessGram, National Dairy Council, United Way, Fuel Up To Play 60, Quaker Oats, Pepsico, GenYOUth, US Department of Agriculture, Farmers, Community Leaders, Teachers, and folks from the Medical field. I was proud to be representing our school and took in as much as I could.

While a break was in session, these Healthy Zone teachers were brought onto the field to work with student ambassadors and the Healthy Zone Champion, Troy Aikman!

Activities to engage and re-charge our brains were provided when the Fuel Up To Play 60 Student Ambassadors sat down with us for Lego building fun! We built a scene and shared an inspiring experience with each other. Can you see the two  Lego chickens in my Lego hands below?

The Student Ambassadors and Summit leaders were treated like Pro Football players when we entered the field through fog to participate on the gridiron! Our faces were even flashed up on the humongous Jumbo-Tron.

Student Ambassadors created posters of health and fitness. The winners' poster will be printed and hung in football stadiums around the country. They were all super excited about that opportunity!

The challenge from the summit was to go out and make big changes in our communities! My fuel is fired and we are well on our way! I can't wait to make more healthy changes at our school and in our neighborhood! Thank you genYOUth! This farmer is motivated!