Welcome to #CloverU

Posted on by mlball2014

Good Morning and Happy Friday!logo-interior

Welcome to a world where I as an adult get to make messy slime and lava lamps, travel jungle explorations, and get to be a veterinarian for a day! I introduce you to #CloverU; a pre-kindergarten to 5th grade adventure.

Follow #CloverU and Picking Wild Flowers this summer to see the crazy, awesome lessons we have planned! We are still taking registrations so be sure to sign your kids up today (Johnson, Washington, or Iowa County)! I feel empowered to spike a love for agriculture and science in others.

Clover University has been inspired by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). All of the camps are designed to meet one of the topics listed. I have been busy planning away and here is what the summer has to hold:

Vet Science Camp (Grades 4 and 5)

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Vet Science Camp will be filled with black lights, germ glow, banana shots, and ruminant stimulations. Kids will learn how to read/administer feed and medication labels while enjoying a fun “feed mix” snack. We might just bring in live animals to play with! 😉

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Digging Deeper (Grades 2 and 3)

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Digging Deeper kids will begin their day with Nature Bingo and a walk around the fair grounds/park. Camp goers can expect to test taste vegetables/seeds and to learn how plants grow. To really experience what it is like to garden; kids will plant their own sunflower to take home. Sunflowers are annual so don’t worry parents; it is only one season!

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Messy Science Sensations Camp (Grades K and 1)

I had some fun in the office this week! I tested all of the experiments to make sure I was a pro! k-1st grade kids will love getting messy with slime and lava lamps! Messy Science Sensations is all about using 4 of our 5 senses (nose, touch, ears, and sight).

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Kids will really dive into their imagination as they become scientists! The goal of the camp is to peak curiosity in the world around them.

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Washington Camps (k-5th)

July and August I will spend some time preparing camps for Washington County. Be sure to check out the Washington County Extension and Outreach site for more information. Camps include Babysitting Education, Jungle, Bug Mania, Parachutes, and Oceans of Fun. Stay tuned for more!

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Have a great weekend everyone!

 

 

 

 

10 ways to reach 10,000 STEPS this SUMMER

Posted on by mlball2014

This weekend it was no struggle reaching 10,000 steps. With all of the Summer activities that keep our schedules crammed; it is no brainier why is it is easier to reach our fitness goals. How are you reaching your goals? I would love to hear all about your favorite activities in the comments below.

I love trying new things and keeping my routine fresh. Here are 10 ways that will help me to reach my 10,000 daily steps this Summer.

1.Participating in public challenges

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Michael, Megan, Caleb, and I participated in a Gladiator Assault Challenge. We ran a 5 mile mud obstacle course and did not come out of the race clean! It was one of the most rewarding runs I have ever competed in. I hope I can sign up for a few more this summer as well as a couple 5K races.

2. Attending Sport Events

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Supporting those you care about is both rewarding and motivating. It can be fun to attend sporting events with friends and family. This is Michael’s (brother) first year in trap shooting and I have had a blast cheering him on. Not only do I receive a lot of steps by walking to and from ranges but I leave high on motivation from watching everyone compete.

3. Gardening

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Many of you have seen my gardening posts on Facebook. After taking a few Horticulture classes at Iowa State University I now  have a green thumb. I don’t know if I necessarily believe that but confidence is key right!? haha.

4. Fishing

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I have been fishing a few times this Summer and I have my pole in my car ready to go for next time! I enjoy the calm, stillness of the water and the pure enjoyment I receive just by being outside. You would be surprised how active fishing can be!

5. Running/Walking

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Running is one of my favorite forms of fitness. I love challenging and pushing myself to go further. Running at school verses home looks different. I have to be a little more cautious when jogging at home. The hills and country roads can be dangerous so watch out for me and other runners on your way home!

6. Exploring

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I found this trail in Ames and my oh my was it beautiful! Last week my friend Mo and I hiked around lake McBride; we got to talking and time just flew. Stumbling across trails can be an excellent way to reach 10,000 steps.

7. Dancing

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Kassie and I went out dancing and I achieved 10,000 steps within an hour!! Enough said 🙂

8. Chores

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Being a farm kid generates a lot of steps! Opening gates, walking buckets of feed to the bunks, and filling tanks can tire a person but trust me I wouldn’t trade it for the world! Chores might look different from person to person but laundry, dishes, and cleaning is a great way to reach your goals.

9. Biking

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I am looking forward to taking this puppy out tonight!! I loving adding bicycling to my workout schedule. It is a great change of pace!!

10. Boxing/Home Workout

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We have a kick boxing set in the basement and even though I am not that good I love getting down there just to throw a good punch! It is a great stress reliever and is fun to try moves I saw on “Never Back Down” haha.

 

Flowers, Coffee, & The Goals of a Christian Life

Posted on by mlball2014

Last week Mom, Megan, and I planted the garden and some beautiful flower pots. I felt free being able to unplug for the morning; just soaking in all of our many blessings. So often we rush through our day moving from task to task. Being in the moment is an art that is hard to perfect but every time we practice we get a little closer to really enjoying all of the little things.

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My relationship with Jesus is like a growing tomato plant. Not quite mature but the potential is there!

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Each time that I read the bible and each time that I attend church I grow another leaf. This summer is an opportunity to follow a path that God had planned for me. I will be coordinating STEM Camps for elementary students (BTW follow me this summer as I embark on a new journey… more to come)!

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A few weeks ago I heard a beautiful quote from Harvest Vineyard Church. I find myself rereading it often and wanted to share it with you.

“The Goal of the Christian Life is not to simply get us into Heaven but to get Heaven into us,” Richard Foster.

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I find this quote to be simple in words but complex in meaning. It is easier to say that we want to have a personal relationship with God than it is to put in the work and effort to keep that relationship.

While flipping through my bible this morning I found a prayer card from my confirmation days. Bringing me back to the time when my relationship with God was new and thriving;  I plan to utilize this sort of prayer method throughout the summer to keep my motivation high and my time with God beneficial.

ACTS Prayer Method 

A: Adoration- praising God

C: Confession-admitting our faults and weaknesses

T: Thank- Giving Thanks for God’s Grace

S: Supplication- Asking God for help for others and for ourselves.

Thank you for reading Picking Wild Flowers. If you would like to try a few other methods of prayer please comment below and I would be happy to message you.

See you next week! 🙂

Happy Mother’s Day

Posted on by mlball2014

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Happy Mother’s Day to the best mom a girl could ask for! I know everyone says that about their own mothers but there is something amazingly special about you! My blog “Picking Wild Flowers” focuses on Faith, Farm, Food, and Fitness but this week I wanted to spend a little time thanking you.

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Between all of the running you do for your three children and the love you show us; you have got your hands full, but it never seems to bother you. While being in college I have really grown to appreciate all that you do for me.

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Family has always been a priority to you. Eating dinners together, movie nights, Saturday races, gardening, and much, much more. You have raised three children to be respectful and motivated in all that we do. I hope to be half the mother you are someday!

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This year has been a whirl wind and it has gone by in the blink of an eye! I am excited to see what God has in store for all of us.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7  – Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous; is not proud; is not conceited; does not act foolishly; is not selfish; is not easily provoked to anger; keeps no record of wrongs; takes no pleasure in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

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Mom, you really know how to balance responsibility and fun!

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We really have experienced some crazy milestones together. First person to take me to get my tattoo at 18 and Las Vegas at 21. I have a pretty cool mom!!!

Besides all of the fun we have together; you are always there for me. You are a role model that I want to inspire to be and overall a great mother to all three of your children.

5 Important Tips of Branding

Posted on by mlball2014

Blog published on https://blogs.extension.org/womeninag/

By Morgan Ball, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Ag Student Assistant

GUIDE TO

This week I had an important question posed to a article I posted on Facebook that discussed “Five Smart Habits for Young Farmers.”  The question asked me to explain the importance of branding as a grain farmer.

Original article: http://www.agweb.com/article/5_smart_habits_for_young_farmers_naa_sara_schafer-naa-sara-schafer/

I decided to pander the question.

Branding is an influential aspect to any business. A brand allows you to connect to others through your operation. Focusing on building a positive reputation and connections people can relate to.

Laura Cunningham, Marketing Coordinator at Latham Seeds, expresses “A brand is the image portrayed to those around you, it raises a level of professionalism; it even recognizes how your employees represent your farm/brand.”

Developing a brand can help distinguish a difference between your lifestyle and business.

Rather we know it or not; everything and everyone has a brand. Developing and upholding a brand is completely optional but I guarantee your operation has a reputation in the community. Is that reputation a positive one? Is it recognized by your last name? Do those down at the grain bins know your truck as it pulls up? If you answered yes than that as a matter of a fact is included in your farm’s brand.

Developing a brand that you as an individual created can be challenging but ease into it by following these 5 tips.

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Tip 1: Make sure to include room in your budget for marketing dollars.

Tip 2: Utilize your new brand to add value to your products (all folks in agriculture have direct or indirect products- might look a little different but doing business with others can be influenced by a positive brand).

Tip 3: Create consistency with your brand.

Tip 4: Meet your primary target market where they are- on social platforms, grain co-ops, auctions, farmer markets, etc.

Tip 5: While developing a brand think about your employees (or those who make decisions- family, business partners, etc.). What is the mission of your business? What brand will drive motivation among your employees?

I hope the 5 Important Tips of Branding were helpful! If you have any questions comment below and I would be happy to discuss the topic further!

In the mean time here are a few extra resources that might spike your interest.

Recent Webinars: https://learn.extension.org/events/tag/womeninag?type=recent

  • Tune up your Farm Market Booth to Boost Sales
  • Direct Marketing Meats
  • Marketing your Products
  • Risk Management and your Agritourism Business
  • Targeting your Market Dollar
  • Social Media and Email Marketing Tips to increase Farm Market Sales