December 29, 2021
Happy New Year! A new year can often bring hope for changes in our...
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December 29, 2021“Upcycling.” Most often we think of this word in connection with home furnishings or...
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August 25, 2021Although I am not a life-long farmer, I am fortunate to have had intimate...
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August 12, 2021I have spent my entire life in agriculture! Growing up on a Nebraska family...
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July 28, 2021My family: My husband, Steve, and I will soon celebrate 40 years of marriage. I...
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July 14, 2021As a mother of three, and a cattle feeder near Howells, Nebraska, the beef...
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June 21, 2021Have you ever looked out the car window at one of those big white...
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June 18, 2021My husband, Beau, and I are the fourth generation (raising the fifth) to farm...
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June 1, 2021Growing up working in my parents' grocery store and helping out on my grandparents’...
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April 27, 2021Being ranchers in the Sandhills of Nebraska, my husband, Kerry, and I are all...
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April 27, 2021As a farmer, I not only think about purchasing and preparing food but producing...
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March 8, 2021From Behind the Wheel of the 'Burban Our 'Burban has seen in all: With more...
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February 15, 2021Lambing: My favorite time of the year on the farm! I love to watch...
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February 12, 2021Beef recipes, BLOG, Dessert, Life on the Farm, Local/Organic, Nutrition, RECIPES, Sides, SustainablityThe first-ever CommonGround CookSmart Series in partnership with Nebraska Extension was held in Grand...
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January 6, 2021Dull as dirt??? Hardly. Dirt - or more accurately, soil - is far from...
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January 6, 2021Have you ever looked out the car window at one of those big white...
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January 6, 2021Meet CommonGround volunteers Karol Swan and Joan Ruskamp. Karol isn’t just a farmer — she also...
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December 28, 2020Growing up on a farm as a kid, I was often asked to listen...
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November 8, 2020Some days it seems so long ago and other days, it’s like it was...
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October 22, 2020Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG, Corporate Farms, Dairy, Farming, Food Prices, Food Safety, GMO Foods, Hormones, irrigation, Local/Organic, NutritionCOVID-19 certainly turned our world upside down. CommonGround Nebraska volunteers love to meet you...
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August 3, 2020It’s every Midwesterners' favorite time of year: sweet corn season! During the summer, you...
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July 28, 2020Being a transplant to country life, I have learned a lot over my last...
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July 15, 2020UPDATE - as of August 27, 2020 It took only a few weeks for Burger...
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June 30, 2020A Little About Us Karol Swan and Jordan Swan have a farm near York, Nebraska....
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June 17, 2020As we get ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, you might be thinking,...
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May 15, 2020BLOG, Corporate Farms, Farm Moms, Farming, Food Prices, Food Safety, Life on the Farm, Local/Organic, Nutrition, RanchingWhen considering the phrase “farm-to-table,” what images or words come to mind? Maybe words...
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May 8, 2020These signs became familiar sights for many of us in the Midwest after historic...
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April 24, 2020“Mom guilt.” It’s like laundry. No matter how hard you try to wish it...
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April 20, 2020We are all relearning to grocery shop for home cooking and dining far more...
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April 3, 2020If your family is anything like mine, you’ve likely heard of the infamous “five-second...
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March 6, 2020There isn’t anything much cuter than a baby calf. Black, white, brown fuzzy little...
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March 5, 2020Calving season is happening right now across much of the state. If you drive...
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February 7, 2020Obviously, this is not what is meant by a carbon footprint. There has been...
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December 29, 2019With the new year upon us, I want to reflect on what I am...
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December 22, 2019How does the nutritional value of food today compare to the past? It’s pretty...
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October 31, 2019When winter arrives, we aren’t the only ones bundling up to stay warm. As...
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October 26, 2019Talk: Agriculture is bad for the environment. Truth: Agriculture efficiently cleans up greenhouse gases...
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September 2, 2019The center of the tailgating universe may or may not be in Nebraska, but...
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September 2, 2019How often do your kids drink milk? As a dietitian and farmer, I can...
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September 2, 2019Amber Pankonin, Registered Dietitian discusses all things GMOs.
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July 2, 2019Facts and nuggets of wisdom about chickens and the variety of ways they provide...
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June 25, 2019Nebraska CommonGround volunteers invited Nebraska Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) teachers to Shelton for...
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May 29, 2019We just celebrated National Chocolate Chip Day, and I think we all know that...
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May 2, 2019It’s there somewhere, isn’t it? ... Maybe it’s gone…. We had a field there. Sand...
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March 1, 2019As temperatures slowly start to rise, the time has come for all Midwestern crop...
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February 26, 2019There is something about February that makes me think about beef. I don’t know...
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January 7, 2019BLOG, Farm Moms, Food Safety, GMO Foods, Hormones, Life on the Farm, Local/Organic, Nutrition, SustainablityI love talking! Seriously, I know that sounds strange, but I am a person...
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January 7, 2019rBST FREE! – This is a new label you may see on many dairy...
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November 7, 2018Is there glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® herbicide, hiding in your cereal? Even...
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November 6, 2018Five Facts to Share at Your Thanksgiving Table That old calendar has flipped quickly and...
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October 22, 2018Guest blog written by Debbie Borg, Nebraska farmer and mother of three. Debbie Borg lives...
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September 25, 2018As we draw closer to the fall season, women are busy putting out their...
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September 7, 2018Do you remember as a child how anxious you felt before field trips? You...
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September 6, 2018Deb Gangwish and her husband Paul have raised five children, row crops and livestock...
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July 5, 2018I recently had the opportunity to participate in an event titled “Moo at the...
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July 5, 2018A few years ago, I taught beginner piano lessons. Even the youngest students could...
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July 5, 2018I recently had the unique opportunity to volunteer at a CommonGround exhibit at Omaha’s...
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May 5, 2018These cow calf pairs are grazing a cover crop of rye, which was planted...
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May 1, 2018BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Food Prices, Food Safety, GMO Foods, Local/Organic, Nutrition, UncategorizedBeing the mother of two boys and now infant twins is no easy task....
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April 12, 2018I am relatively new to the world of agriculture. I grew up and lived...
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March 29, 2018If you’re involved purchasing food for yourself, your family or for your business, you’re...
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March 29, 2018Cattle are amazing creatures with the ability to live all over the world including...
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March 2, 2018While our calves are due each year on February 23, a lot of them...
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February 12, 2018Living on a diversified farm brings many seasons. Planting season, irrigating season, harvesting season,...
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January 24, 2018Knowing what to feed baby can be confusing. There are more options today than...
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January 4, 2018Setting health goals for 2018? You’re not alone – especially if consuming less sugar...
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January 4, 2018New Year’s Day is a day like no other. Many of us take stock...
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December 21, 2017Every year our cows get a present from my husband; it’s become a tradition...
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November 17, 2017Three things cross my mind when I grocery shop for my family, especially leading...
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November 9, 2017Are we there yet? Are we there YET? Are we THERE YET? ARE WE...
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November 6, 2017Welcome, Velkommen, Herzlich, Willkommen, Bienvenido! Every language has a way to say “Welcome!”. When...
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November 3, 2017Fall is such a great time of the year! Beautiful Nebraska sunrises and sunsets,...
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October 31, 2017Fall. Pumpkins. Flannel. Changing leaves. Changing seasons. As gardens and farmers markets succumb to frost...
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October 17, 2017It’s harvest time around the country, which means farmers are busy trying to get...
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October 4, 2017Harvest has started across the state. This summer was stressful for many farmers in...
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September 20, 2017Farming is an industry that's full of hardworking men and women who don't mind...
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September 12, 2017Fall has come early here on the ranch. Most years, we don't wean our...
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September 11, 2017U.S. farmers and ranchers who raise livestock are extremely dedicated to the well-being, comfort...
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August 29, 2017For years, the last week of August for my family has always been a...
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August 8, 2017Before we know it, August will slip away and fall will make its appearance.... This...
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August 1, 2017"Nature's cruel, but we don't have to be." is one of my favorite quotes...
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July 28, 2017The fifth Farm Road Rally tour took place July 20, 2017 and made three...
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July 19, 2017As summer creeps on, the cows continue to graze on pastures. Throughout the summer,...
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June 27, 2017The last few days of spring were eventful to say the least. A storm swept...
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June 16, 2017It's been 365 days since Jared and I married. Where the time has gone? I...
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June 14, 2017Have you ever wondered, how is farming sustainable? This was a question that was...
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June 9, 2017Our new tenants have finally arrived and are making themselves at home. Fifteen baby chicks have...
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June 6, 2017I wrote this blog from the buddy seat of the planter tractor. Yes, we were...
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May 19, 2017My dad has me booked every Tuesday and Friday this month. These days are...
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May 15, 2017There it is – another picture on Facebook of a person your age standing...
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May 8, 2017CommonGround volunteer Joan Ruskamp visits with Moms Everyday about hormones in beef production.
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April 29, 2017Corn planting has only just began and - to no surprise - has already...
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April 22, 2017I write this while sitting on the floor at the foot of my bed,...
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April 9, 2017There's a long-standing joke that there are three ways to get into farming: through...
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April 4, 2017Easter is upon us, as is the end of the Lenten season. This year, Jared...
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March 30, 2017CommonGround volunteer visits with KHAS Reporter Brandon Peoples about the importance of Agriculture, the...
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March 28, 2017As the drama of March Madness tournament continues to heat up, so does the...
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March 16, 2017March is going as quickly as it came. Ever since I graduated college, time...
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March 16, 2017Calving is quickly starting to slow down. We are down to our last 40...
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March 9, 2017As farmers, we see the production side of agriculture. We know all about...
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March 9, 2017March has only just begun and it already feels like spring is in the...
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March 7, 2017Can you believe it's already March?! Spring is in sight and I can't wait...
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March 1, 2017How to make your own: 1. Find a plastic bottle (standard water bottle is what...
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February 22, 2017February is about over and this week we're finally going to hit halfway through...
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February 8, 2017Guest Post by Amber Pankonin, RD and Blogger at StirList.com As I drove up to...
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February 8, 2017You may be seeing a trend in my favorite recipes...but Jared and I have...
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January 31, 2017Record keeping in the cattle and farming industry has always been important. Tracking genetic...
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January 27, 2017There’s a new sheriff in town and his name is VFD. Do you know...
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January 20, 2017Many of us often set goals to improve our health through exercise and weight...
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January 20, 2017Things are just starting to heat up here at the farm....and I don't mean...
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January 17, 2017BOY have a lot of things changed since my last post! Farming and ranching can...
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January 12, 2017If you've ever watched "The Sound of Music" then you know there is a...
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December 31, 2016You've seen the posts and read the blogs, 2016 was a terrible year and...
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December 21, 2016Farmers and ranchers are hard to buy for. Why? They need something, they buy...
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December 12, 2016The grain bins are full, the combine is put away and harvest is officially...
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November 26, 2016"We come and go but the land is always here. And the people who...
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November 23, 2016Hello my name is Jenny Wiese and I live and breathe agriculture. I’m a...
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October 27, 2016My high school-aged daughter once got stuck with her friend behind a slow moving...
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October 9, 2016The old adage, “When it rains, it pours,” often applies more to life experiences...
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October 6, 2016“Farmer's Daughter” is a title I feel honored to have been blessed with. I'm...
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August 25, 2016It’s sprinkling outside. Normally that is not a very exciting topic to blog about,...
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August 14, 2016Guest Post by Amber Pankonin, RD and Blogger at StirList.com As I drove up to...
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August 8, 2016My farming experiences were limited when I was growing up. I had extended family...
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July 19, 2016The local county fair is always a highlight of summer for our family. Nestled...
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June 16, 2016Guest Post by Amber Pankonin, RD and Blogger at StirList.com A few weeks ago I...
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May 19, 2016Farmers and ranchers occasionally need inspiration. They may be looking for a new...
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April 22, 2016April 22nd is Earth Day. Having lived on a farm nearly all of my...
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March 18, 2016Sometimes the word "pesticide" can be kind of scary and we don't really know...
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March 16, 2016A few years ago I put together a demonstration showing the levels of estrogen...
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March 4, 2016When one of my boys is sick, my "mom" instincts kick in and I do...
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February 23, 2016Antibiotics, BLOG, Corporate Farms, Farm Moms, Farming, GMO Foods, Hormones, Life on the Farm, UncategorizedSeveral years ago I became aware of the public conversation about how food is...
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February 12, 2016I’d bet the big bucks that the only time “Mr. Corn Farmer” has used...
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February 7, 2016Football is one of my favorite sports to watch. Did you know Super Bowl...
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February 2, 2016The weather models were right this time and my farm is located near the...
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January 25, 2016First, I want to give a big virtual hug to all of my friends...
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January 15, 2016The sound is faint at first then annoying enough to force me to I...
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January 8, 2016Guest post by Amber Pankonin of Stirlist.com As a registered dietitian and culinary student, I...
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December 15, 2015Are farmers busy in the winter? Yes. We may be outside of the growing...
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October 7, 2015I remember a conversation from last summer. “Honey, do you want to be my “Rake...
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September 17, 2015Whether it’s Taco Tuesday or Fajita Friday, have you ever considered where the corn for your...
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May 13, 2015Our neighbors hosted their annual bull sale in March. Selecting the right bull for...
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March 18, 2015One of the first signs of spring is the arrival of a garden catalog...
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March 9, 2015RD Amber from Stirlist, a registered dietitian passionate about food, health and nutrition, recently...
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January 20, 2015There’s a little acronym floating around: G-M-O. Many people have heard of it and many...
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January 20, 2015Can you remember back to when you were a kid on those long, sultry...
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October 23, 2014We are seeking Nebraska farm women who are interested in sharing the message of where...
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October 15, 2014Have you ever walked beans? Have you ever heard of walking beans? I smile as I...
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July 3, 2014The Fourth of July is a great time to celebrate with friends...
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November 22, 2013This is an important time of year. A time for family, food, and fun....
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August 29, 2013It’s hard to believe, but the summer is almost over. Soon, the long hot...
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July 27, 2012In my feedlot, we use misters - much like you would find at a...
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July 26, 2012Life is so full of choices…from “What’s for supper?” to “What am I going...
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July 26, 2012Life is so full of choices…from “What’s for supper?” to “What am I going...
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July 23, 2012CommonGround Nebraska volunteer Diane Becker talking with grocery store managers at the CommonGround BBQ...
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July 20, 2012Our family hosted an open house of our newly constructed wean to finish swine...
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July 19, 2012Speak Up is a series of blogs where CommonGround volunteers from all over the...
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July 17, 2012A few weeks ago, I took pictures of the kids running up and down...
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July 12, 2012The summer countryside on the Great Plains is beautiful when the "amber waves of grain" contrast against the...
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July 6, 2012I think most people realize that planting and harvest seasons are busy times on...
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July 5, 2012Lincoln, NEB., July 3, 2012 – Fifteen leaders in Nebraska’s food industry came together last...
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July 3, 2012CommonGround Nebraska volunteer Shana Beattie sits down on Good Morning Nebraska to talk about...
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July 3, 2012CommonGround Nebraska volunteer Shana Beattie sits down on Good Morning Nebraska to talk about...
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July 2, 2012Right now, the three middle kids are taking a quick break from working with...
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June 27, 2012It can be said that a farmer wears many hats. But a farm woman...
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June 25, 2012Speak Up is a series of blogs where CommonGround volunteers from all over the...
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June 12, 2012When I was a kid, I used to sing a song that went something...
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June 7, 2012That was my mantra during my college days in the sorority that I lived…...
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June 6, 2012‘Tis the season for planting in the Midwest and many other parts of the...
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May 21, 2012I'm excited to give you a glimpse into the everyday life on our ranch!...
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May 16, 2012For Beef Month, I want to share one of my favorite BEEF recipes: Beefy...
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May 11, 2012Kaydee Caldwell and her mom, Dawn, at their ranch in north central Kansas. Dear Food-Loving...
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May 8, 2012Since May is celebrated as Beef Month, I wanted to share about a beefy-opportunity I...
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May 7, 2012At first glance, what do you think are the occupations of the gentlemen in this...
