A Look Back at 2016

How can it be 2017 already? 

Everyone says that the older you get the faster time flies.  

It is so true.

Many times we are so busy and working to get the next thing checked off our list, that we don't realize all the small moments are adding up to

Days...weeks...months...

And finally...

An entire year.  

​So did we actually get anywhere in 2016?

Many times...It doesn't feel like it.

But...looking back...we did accomplish a whole lot.

Our focus for 2016 was to do less and be more.  

While we didn't have an exact plan for 2016, we had a general goal and direction.  We didn't follow our plan exactly...but we did do a lot less.

January

• Attended the AGS Midwest Showdown at the Ohio State Fairgrounds - we only showed heifers, so eliminated and extra day at many of the BEST shows.

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Jan 24, 2016 at 2:02pm PST

• An impromptu sledding day at the cabin.  The cabin has an epic hill that is the best sledding hill that you will ever encounter....the best part....the old Willy's jeep pulls you back up to the top.  It is a very rare winter when we have the perfect sledding snow on a weekend that the roads are clear enough to make the trip down to Hocking Hills.  We hadn't had a sledding weekend since before Walker was born.  Definitely a memory maker!

• Showed at the Madison County Winter Classic.  

February

• Walker finally beat his brother at the Clark County Cattle Battle...at least in one ring.  Little did we know that it was a glimpse of things to come.

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Feb 15, 2016 at 12:44pm PST

• Their one and only snow day.

• I was on baby watch...our first calf of the year.

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Feb 26, 2016 at 6:14pm PST

• Although our winter was pretty mild....this pictures totally captures how we were feeling about the cold weather.

March

• Our 15 year old dishwasher finally bit the dust after dying a slow death.  I tried to tough it out and wash dishes the old fashioned way.  My family trumped me...after they were told to wash their own dinner dishes each night...and we finally broke down and bought a new dishwasher. 

Walker loves his new pond. This is what happens when you have a inch of rain in ten minutes.

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Mar 14, 2016 at 4:46pm PDT

• The Spring rains started.

...and we have now resorted to this #4wileyfarm #OHBeefExpo16 #ohiocattle #thelifeofafarmkid

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Mar 17, 2016 at 7:36am PDT

• The kids skipped school to attend the Ohio Beef Expo...but they didn't get off easy.

• Six won Reserve Grand Champion Female at the Ohio Beef Expo.

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Apr 16, 2016 at 4:33am PDT

• Rain won Best of the Buckeye.

April

When the cows break the gate...and get loose #4wileyfarm #justanotherdayonthefarm

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Apr 22, 2016 at 4:09pm PDT

• The cows got out and we made some emergency gate upgrades.

It only took 15 years...but he's finally cutting down those pokey trees. I hate those things and now I can garden without getting poked by all those stupid needles!

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Apr 30, 2016 at 9:45am PDT

What's the best time to fix the chicken run? When it's raining. #4wileyfarm

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on May 1, 2016 at 12:40pm PDT

• We used a yucky, rainy weekend to make some long awaited repairs around the farm.

May

It was a good night at the BEST banquet tonight. Thanks OCA and BEST crew for a great year! #BESTBanquet #ohiocattle #ohiobeef #4wileyfarm #miniaturehereford

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on May 7, 2016 at 6:51pm PDT

• The boys made out at the BEST banquet with freebies and awards.

Driving through snow...on May 15th! #familyroadtrip

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on May 15, 2016 at 8:36am PDT

• A long awaited vacation!  We celebrated Daniel's 40th birthday with a weekend trip to Pennsylvania.  This was the first trip without a trailer behind us or mud boots in the back since Walker was a toddler.

• Daniel turned the big 4-0

Isaac graduated to the skid steer finally.

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on May 23, 2016 at 4:53pm PDT

No more playing for walker. We put him to work.

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on May 24, 2016 at 3:49pm PDT

• Both boys started working for a couple of neighbors.  They learned how to operate new equipment and really became a great help to us and others.

Memorial Day weekend wouldn't be complete without a watermelon seed spitting contest #memorialdayweekend2016 #seedspittingcontest

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on May 29, 2016 at 4:23pm PDT

• Memorial Day weekend at the cabin with good friends that we haven't seen in a while.  The boys have been going down to the cabin their whole lives, but have never explored the caves of Hocking Hills that are just around the corner.  We spent the weekend hiking and exploring the area.  

Walker finally driving the jeep by himself!!!

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on May 30, 2016 at 10:40am PDT

• Walker learned to drive the old Willy's jeep a while ago...but now he can do it all by himself (just in the yard, of course).  The Willy's jeep is older than Daniel, and learning how to drive in this jeep is a family tradition.  Daniel's grandpa would be so proud of his great-grandsons....and Daniel for keeping the tradition alive.

June

Annabelle just had her first calf. It's a heifer! We have waited a long time for this. #4wileyfarm #minihereford #miniaturehereford #mitchellbaby

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Jun 6, 2016 at 3:05pm PDT

• Annabelle had her first calf and Isaac got to help pull for the first time.  

• Walker celebrated his 11th birthday.

July

• Bee was born

For the last 4 years we have spent this weekend working our tails off. This year...it's time for some fun #4wileyfarm #skiapplevalley #waterskiing

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Jul 9, 2016 at 2:19pm PDT

• No bow shoot this year meant that we could enjoy the 4th of July weekend.  We celebrated by breaking in my uncle's new boat.  It's been a long time, but us old foggies surprised ourselves and got up and out of the water right away.  Isaac...was a different story.  

Surprise...it's a bull calf! We didn't think she was due until September. Oops! #4wileyfarm #miniaturehereford #cowsofinstagram #bullcalf

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Jul 14, 2016 at 7:26pm PDT

• Rocky was born...an early surprise.

• Isaac celebrated his 14th birthday.

So proud of this little man tonight. Grand Champion Beef Feeder at the Knox County Fair. He picked out this cow himself, washed him and worked him every day all by himself. This calf fought him all summer, but come fair week he turned around and decided to behave. All the hard work, sweat and tears paid off. #4wileyfarm #knoxcountyfair

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Jul 26, 2016 at 5:54pm PDT

• Walker wonGrand Champion Beef Feeder at the Knox County Fair

Isaac won 2nd place in intermediate showmanship and Walker won 1st place in junior showmanship. Their cows came into the ring fired up, but the boys fought through it and became winners #4wileyfarm #miniaturehereford #knoxcountyfair

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Jul 27, 2016 at 11:48am PDT

• Walker won 1st place in Junior Showmanship and Isaac won 2nd place in Intermediate Showmanship at the Knox County Fair.

The 2016 Knox County Supreme Champion Female. Go minis!!!!! #4wileyfarm #miniaturehereford #knoxcountyfair

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Jul 27, 2016 at 2:25pm PDT

Walker and Rain won Supreme Champion Female at the Knox County Fair!

August

Had a great time tonight at the first ever Miniature Hereford Junior Show at The Ohio State Fair. Thanks to all the sponsors who helped make the prize buckets possible #miniaturehereford #OSF16 #ohiocattle

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Aug 1, 2016 at 7:41pm PDT

• We got to be a part of the first ever Miniature Hereford Show at the Ohio State Fair.

• Six won Reserve Grand Champion Female at the Ohio State Fair.

Isaac cutting hay. Wishing he didn't have to go back to school tomorrow.

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Aug 21, 2016 at 2:27pm PDT

• Isaac learned how to run the haybine...and broke it every time he used it (it really wasn't his fault).

September

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Sep 1, 2016 at 8:46pm PDT

• We waited to take the boys to Cedar Point until they were both tall enough to ride all of the rides.  This was the year.  We learned that "Mr. I can't" a.k.a. Walker has no fear when it comes to roller coasters.  We also learned that our adult bodies do not like the roller coasters very well.  The boys have declared this an annual event, so our old bodies are going to just have to deal with it.  Thank goodness for a roller coaster loving Dad that lets Mom sit out the really scarey rides. 

Getting in some A.I. practice. #4wileyfarm #practicemakesperfect #herefords

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Sep 15, 2016 at 5:56pm PDT

• Daniel took an A.I. class earlier in the year.  He is fortunate that his class teacher has given him several opportunites to practice on some cows. 

The Cedarville Friendship Invitational Cross County meet. The boys first experience. They did really well for only training for 2 weeks. They had a great time, exceeded their goals and are gearing up to do it again next week. #4wileyfarm #veritasacademy #crosscountry

A video posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Sep 18, 2016 at 5:24am PDT

• The boys school threw together a last minute cross country team.  Walker has always been a little running machine and loves it.  Isaac participated because we made him...but he worked really hard and improved his time by almost 3 minutes.  

October

Exciting night at the PBR. What a great way to end the week #4wileyfarm #pbr #quarterhorsecongress

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Oct 14, 2016 at 9:44pm PDT

• We had a family night out at the PBR.

• Rosebattled bloat for weeks...but once we gave up, she started to recover.  Still a mystery.

Before and after picture. What a transformation!!□

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Oct 15, 2016 at 4:59pm PDT

• We welcomed Saxon...

The second transformation of the day.

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Oct 15, 2016 at 5:03pm PDT

• And Charity to our farm.

Who knew a Kalmbach feed bag could double as a Halloween costume? #kalmbachfeeds #4wileyfarm #formulaofchampions

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Nov 1, 2016 at 5:55pm PDT

• Walker made his own Halloween costume.

November

The day started out extremely stressful, but is was worth all the drama. We were blown away. All the hours, days, months and years of work has paid off. We walked away with grand and reserve heifer in the junior show, grand and reserve division winners and then reserve grand champion heifer in the open show. 4 out of the 5 we brought walked away with banners. Rain and Six finished off their show careers with a bang. Thanks to all those that have helped us along this journey #4wileyfarm #miniaturehereford #naile16

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Nov 17, 2016 at 7:18pm PST

• We attended the North American International Livestock Exhibition and had the surprise of our lives. 

• Charity as division winner

• Saxon as reserve division winner

• ​​Six as open show division winner and junior show Reserve Grand Champion

• Rain as junior show Grand Champion and open show Reserve Grand Champion

Who can find Heather?

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Nov 18, 2016 at 8:33am PST

• If you wonder what I was doing the whole time...I was the back number organizer, make sure they are in the ring person, recorder of show results, picture taker, award holder, halter holder, hat holder, get everyone in the final drive with the correct cow person.  

• The first show of the new BEST season at the Ohio Heart of it All.  Charity, Saxon, Amber and Rumor had a great start to the season.

December

Isaac had a good hunting weekend. As for Walker, I think he needs to go back to the practice range. □

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Dec 4, 2016 at 4:22pm PST

• Boys only hunting weekend at the cabin.  Isaac shot a doe and a buck.  He is getting his eight point mounted to grace the walls of the cabin beside those of his dad, uncle and great-grandfather. 

• The AGR Holiday Classic with Charity winning Grand and Bee winning Reserve

I guess we did do a lot in 2016.  

And we accomplished some amazing things.

But, surprisingly, we did a pretty good job of balancing rest and relaxation with accomplishing a lot of what we wanted to do.  

We are still learning what is important and what is just filler. 

We had times of exterme busyness this year and times with a lot of rest and relaxation.   

I think our lives will always be busy...but that is how we roll.

In 2017 we want to do much of the same. 

Balancing family time with fun, learning, work and just being.  

However...we are still waiting on that real vacation.

Maybe 2017 is our year.