A Look Back at 2017

1/8/2018

It's that time of year when every one is making new year's resolutions and planning all they are going to accomplish in the coming year.

At times, these resolutions can be overwhelming. Sometimes it is a struggle just to survive the day, let alone try to move forward and accomplish huge goals.

I know...little by little gets you where you want to be.

Sometimes I need to look back at what I have accomplished, just to give me the motivation and confidence to know that I can and have accomplished great things.

I say "I"...but here at 4 Wiley Farm...this is a "we" venture.

Very little is done around here without the blood sweat and tears of all 4 of us.

My boys are helping a neighbor bale!! So I had to resort to my wife for help!! I hope she doesn't dent my tractor!!□#4wileyfarm #countrylife

A post shared by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Jun 11, 2017 at 12:01pm PDT

We didn't set any lofty goals for 2017. We just wanted to balance family time with fun. learning, work and just being...and to take a real vacation.

I think we did a pretty good job of accomplishing all those goals.

January

As high as we can go. Rocky Mountain National Park #4wileyfarm #rockymountainnationalpark #bearlake

A post shared by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Jan 21, 2017 at 8:14am PST

We took that much needed and long awaited real vacation.

Well, it was as real a vacation as we will probably ever get.

It still involved cows, but without the responsibility.

Daniel grew up travelling out West with his grandparents so it has always been a dream of his to take our family out West and show us all the sights. One of the items on our bucket list is to show in Denver some year before the boys graduate.

While we didn't get to take the long scenic drive out West, we did hop on a plane to go watch the Miniature Hereford Show at the National Western Stock Show.

The trip was amazing in so many ways.

February

Cattle shows and colds just wear him out...but he insists he doesn't have a cold. #4wileyfarm #madisoncountywinterclassic #ocabest

A post shared by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Feb 12, 2017 at 12:16pm PST

February was a busy month of B.E.S.T. shows, but we powered through. The show schedule was more compressed this year, but the season ended earlier so it was all worth it.

March

We missed having Dad at the show today, but Isaac and Walker stepped up to the plate, and with the help of friends, we had a good day #4wileyfarm #ocabest #ohiocattle #miniaturehereford

A post shared by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Mar 4, 2017 at 7:43pm PST

Mom and the boys were on their own for the Holmes County B.E.S.T. show. We didn't like it...but we survived...and don't want to do that again.

And yes...the barn is that loud.

There is no better reward for all those late nights in the barn than to see the success of your cows. Isaac is very proud of this little heifer. This is the first calf out of his very own heifer. Starting out with reserve Best of Buckeye is a pretty good way to build a herd. #4wileyfarm #bestofthebuckeye #OHBeefExpo17 #ohiocattle #minihereford #miniaturehereford

A post shared by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Mar 19, 2017 at 4:56pm PDT

The highlight of March is always the Ohio Beef Expo. We did well in 2017, and as always, had a great time.

Calving season was in full swing

And the boys spent spring break with Grandma and Grandpa which gave Mom and Dad a much needed break.

April

Missy is such a good mamma. Cuddling up with her new little girl Fina. #4wileyfarm #miniaturehereford #minihereford #cowsofinstagram□

A post shared by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Apr 3, 2017 at 5:02pm PDT

April brought us some more calves.

A new batch of chickens...

And a perfect Spring that let us put the girls out to pasture a little earlier than usual.

May

Our newest edition. Just a couple hours old and already full of life and personality #4wileyfarm #miniaturehereford #ohiocattle #bullcalf

A post shared by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on May 12, 2017 at 11:16pm PDT

Our calving season lasted a long time.

We attended the B.E.S.T. awards banquet. Walker earned the highest number of points for the season in the Miniature Division and received a belt buckle as his award.

June

Summer vacation officially began and the boys didn't waste any time getting down to having fun.

The boys brought their feeder calves home. As you can see, they had a lot of work to get them ready for the fair.

Cows were washed and worked every single day.

Rain rain go away. Don't come by back 'til after hay. #4wileyfarm #makinghay #johndeere #newholland

A post shared by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Jun 8, 2017 at 4:43am PDT

We cut hay...

And we finished out the month with our last calf of the year.

July

My 40th birthday just happened to fall on a Friday, so I treated myself to a rare vacation day.

All I wanted for my birthday was to stay at home and start on a long overdue house project. When you run a farm, your house tends to be sorely neglected. We have done very little remodeling in the upstairs of our house, and I was more than ready to tackle the next project.

We decided to take a leap of faith and tear out the carpet in our bedroom.

Since it was also the 4th of July weekend, we had a few extra days to make an absolute mess of the house.

We went from this...

To this...

To this.

Best birthday present ever!

Since we were in project mode, Daniel decided to rebuild one of the hay wagons.

Daniel and the boys had a great time working together.

The boys had a dog-sitting job that helped them to earn some extra spending money.

Both boys enjoyed a week at church camp.

We ended July with a week at the Knox County Fair.

July was one busy month!

August

August began with our second year at The Ohio State Fair.

Daniel, Isaac and Walker survived the Top Thrill Dragster. Mamma ain't dumb enough to do that! #topthrilldragster #cedarpoint #adayaway

A post shared by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Aug 31, 2017 at 11:45am PDT

We ended August with a family trip to Cedar Point.

September

We finished up our second cutting of hay...

And started halter breaking all of the calves.

October

Still young at heart...just won’t be feeling very young tomorrow

A post shared by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Oct 1, 2017 at 3:57pm PDT

One last warm weekend and we enjoyed some time on the water.

Some routine work around the farm.

Making decisions on which cows to take to Louisville.

November

Another year showing at NAILE in Louisville.

The beginning of another B.E.S.T. season.

December

Timber.....oops, it fell the wrong way #rookiechristmastreecutter #stouttreefarm #freshcutchristmastree #4wileyfarm

A post shared by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Dec 3, 2017 at 1:03pm PST

Preparing for Christmas.

The first snow fall of the year.

And we finished the year out with a brutal cold snap.

Lots of pictures, lots of work, lots of fun and lots of memories.

I love this teenage stage that our boys are in. They are so much fun to be around. We have a great family, and although we get frustrated and things aren't always peaceful around here, we love being together.

This farm is a family venture and 2017 brought us closer together and closer to our goals.

I can't wait to see what 2018 has in store for us.

This is Us - our life, our story, our farm