For Doug

Kids and Dogs

After a whomper of a silage season, we shifted a bit to take care of some other things. Our family, most importantly, enjoyed a holiday season of baking cookies, watching favorite movies, hunting dove, and just being together. All five under one roof again. We loved it.

There’s the wall full of bookcase Ron built (which needs some finishing), eucalyptus branches that fell in the big wind were cut, split and stacked. We girls shopped for items that we had saved for all year, and Ron and I shagged bp at the high school for Chris. Year end accounting, budgeting for 2012, and travel plans were hashed through.

This year-end was different for us though – because we were reminded in the most difficult way that life is short and death is sure. We learned that we can’t take anything for granted, that our family is our most important asset, and that despite the darkest of hours, there is a loving God who will take care of us. And everything will work out ok.

Doug Maddox taught us so much over the years. He challenged us, listened to us, took a risk on us, and believed in us. For that, we are so thankful. Doug passed away December 19, and we miss him. He was a survivor, an optimist, first to give new things a try – a “why not?” type of guy. So it is with that in mind we open up 2012.

We are very excited to have Eddie Mello and Joe Martin working with us. These two are knowledgeable, easy to work with and the best in customer service. We are so lucky to have Dr. Keith Bolsen, formerly of Kansas State, and his wife and partner Ruthie stand beside us in our Silostop business. You won’t find a better resource team when it comes to silage production and safety. We are also ready to help with calf care and management through our Calf-tel information and products.

And we have you. Our business is built around helping dairy farmers make good decisions, providing the information needed and answering questions – sometimes challenging them with questions – like “why not?” We learn from them, they learn from us. We appreciate also the nutritionists that we share information and ideas with.

So here’s to 2012 and the wonderful opportunities available to all of us. May we have the courage to step up to that plate.

Why not? We only live once.