World Ag Expo & Progressive Dairy Seminar February 25, 2014

You’ll have to forgive me, the weather has been really unusually warm here in Southern California and I’ve had the gardening bug! But at long last I have made myself stay inside, I’ve set down to the computer, put  fingers to keyboard, and I’m catching up, at least a bit, on this blog. Which I LOVE to do… but I LOVE gardening better!!

We’ve been to the World Ag Expo (locally know as “The Farm Show”) in Tulare and the Progressive Dairy seminar was everything we hoped for and more! It was standing room only and following the presentation people had a lot of really good questions and we thoroughly enjoyed our time both at the Farm Show and in Tulare Dairy Country! I’ve included a URL to the video (see bottom of  this post) that was presented at the seminar, please take a moment to watch it as it’s very informative about our Waste to Fuel project. Bruce, his brother Brad and Steve McCorkle do an excellent job of telling “our story” and I can’t help it, I’m just very proud of my husband and this project!

Bruce & I with our “Circle of Energy”.

Bruce, Steve & Brad answering questions from the audience.

Walt Cooley of Progressive Dairy Magazine introducing Bruce, Steve & Brad.

Bruce & Brad in the Progressive Dairy Seminar Room

Stay tuned for another blog entry within the next couple days of a long-awaited video of one of the commercials that was filmed here on our farm! It’s the one of the Time Machine where the farmer goes back in time to fix something he didn’t get done and it’s fun but not at all what we expected. It’s much shorter than I thought it would be, and it also doesn’t use any of the footage that they took out in the fields or from outside the warehouse (or what they call a barn) and it really doesn’t show that much of our property.  But those are our trees in the background of our backyard that you can barely see through the “rain”. And speaking of “rain”…. it sure would be nice to get some…  mother nature has been very stingy this year and we here in California are in a serious drought.

And now I just have to put in a plug for technology, I love it! I  dictated this blog entry as I drove home from an unexpected trip to Temecula the other day and it saved me oodles of time!

Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead.

And They Came Riding In On Three Big Buses February 10, 2014

Three Buses, LOTS of People, Plenty of California Sunshine =  A Very Nice Day to Tour a Dairy

Just over a week ago we hosted a group from Dairy Management Inc.* who were here in So. California for a meeting in the Palm Springs area . Approximately 130 people traveled from their meeting to see our dairy and participate in four different discussion sessions of shared information: Water & Natural Nutrient Recycling, Comfortable, Healthy & Well Fed Cows, Efficiencies and to listen to Steve McCorkle, CEO of Ag Waste Solutions discuss our joint venture of turning cow manure into diesel fuel; and as a side line bonus they also were able to enjoy some warm Californian sunshine.

The Buses Arrive

As the buses pulled into the dairy Bruce, Brad and I each boarded a bus to give a quick tour of the farm. As I boarded my bus to give a “cooks tour” of our farm the butterflies were fluttering in my stomach… but everyone was warm and welcoming and once I figured out how to use the pesky microphone I think it all went well. We quickly (they were on a tight time frame) did a loop past our cows, then around the northwest section of our farm taking in the sights of an Italian Rye crop planted under our westernmost pivot line… then onto our retention ponds, past our pumping station and back towards the dairy to disembark at the “big barn” where the “manure to fuel” project with Ag Waste Solutions is housed.

Everyone broke into four different groups at this point and most put on protective “booties” over their shoes (blue booties in picture below). Then off to their respective stations for 20 minutes of discussion before then walking to the next station until all four had been visited.

Brad Scott Discusses Keeping Cows Comfortable and Well Fed

Bruce Scott Discusses Water & Nutrient Recycling

Ryan Anglin of Anglin Farms in Arkansas Discusses Energy Efficiencies

Steve McCorkle CEO of Ag Waste Solutions Demonstrates How His Water Recovery Module Works

Lunch was under a tent which came with carpeting(!) and then everyone enjoyed Scott Brothers Dairy soft serve yogurt. Yummy!!! On a nice warm (mid 80’s) day it was appreciated by all believe me.

A Beautiful Sunny California Day for a Picnic Under a Big Tent

Brad Scott thanking the DMI group for visiting our dairy.

Ryan Anglin thanking Scott Brothers Dairy for their hospitality.

Bruce Scott, Ryan Anglin, Brad Scott & Stan Scott

Brian Hanna of the Scott Brothers Dairy Creamery Serving Soft Serve Yogurt to our Guests

I wish there had been more time to get to know these folks… some were from the frozen regions of Minnesota and Wisconsin, others from New York, New Jersey, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and several of the mid-western states. All had fascinating stories to tell of their homes, their farms, their lives. We here at Scott Brothers Dairy thank the DMI group for their interest in our farm and feel blessed that we were able to share our family owned farm with so many wonderful people.

*Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI) is funded by America’s nearly 49,000 dairy farmers, as well as dairy importers. Created to help increase sales and demand for dairy products, DMI and its related organizations work to increase demand for dairy through research, education and innovation, and to maintain confidence in dairy foods, farms and businesses. DMI manages National Dairy Council and the American Dairy Association, and founded the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and the Dairy Research Institute. DMI works with state and regional promotion organizations to implement these programs across the country.

Look Who’s On The Cover! February 9, 2014

Bruce, Stan & Brad Scott

More to come later this week… but let me just say this tonight… I’m so proud of our family! And don’t the guys look good gracing the cover of this magazine! 

Circle of Energy January 17, 2014

Once in awhile an idea just “pops” and the picture below popped for me a few months ago. I’m proud that my inspiration has become a recognizable symbol of our Manure to Fuel project. Stay tuned… we’re getting closer every day… now if the exhaust system would just show up!!!

It’s Almost World Ag Expo Time! January 2, 2014

Will you be there? We will be! The World Ag Expo located in Tulare CA is always fun to attend with its new technologies, new ideas and new equipment to ogle over. It was at the Expo that I saw for the first time this very odd contraption/machine that wrapped an apron around as it took hold of an almond tree and then, as my grandma would have said, “shook the bejeebers” out of that tree! Believe me, it was quite the laughable moment when I saw an almond tree being shook hard enough to release the precious almonds onto the soft landing of a rubber apron.  Yes, sometimes it’s the littlest things that just grab me and tickly my funny bone.

Ok – enough memories… this year… WE, Scott Brothers Dairy Farms, are being featured at one of the ten seminars presented by Progressive Dairyman. These seminars are given throughout the three days of the Expo. Our farm will be “on deck” the first day, February 11^th at 1:30p.m. with a video presentation of our using Ag Waste Solutions innovative new process of turning cow manure into diesel fuel. The video will feature a good look at the equipment along with an in-depth interview of Bruce, his brother and partner Brad as well as Steve McCorkle of Ag Waste Solutions. This will be followed by a live Question and Answer period immediately after the video.

So, if you’re in the area please come by and see us.

Brad (on the left) and Bruce Scott Interview with Progressive Dairyman Magazine

2013 – Don’t Let The Door Hit You In The Rear! December 31, 2013

I’m not saying it was a “bad” year, but it certainly was a challenging year in many ways. I’m looking forward to 2014 and hopefully the return of some balance in our lives. A more balanced year that isn’t going to be quite as hectic and busy as this past year has been. 2013 was to be when we turned on the switch for our “manure to fuel” project. That happening was delayed… for many reasons. Weather delays (yes, we have those even here in sunny So. Cali), supply delays, equipment delays, you name it – that “delay” probably happened here on our farm.

However, 2013 was also a year of accomplishment(s); a year of fun new happenings; and a year of happy family memories for Bruce & I.

The “big barn” for AWS did get built – regulatory agencies not withstanding, so that was a BIG accomplishment (see picture below).  Because we are breaking ground on a new trail… and because there is no “guidebook” to show everyone involved where that trail is going… we had to scramble, walk confidently and show many times over that this project is sustainable, does not affect the environment in any negative way and does offer farming as a whole a new way of being sustainable in today’s regulated farming world.  And supply delays seem to be a way of life anymore… no one warehouses anything it seems. eBay has become my husband’s current job as he searches the web for parts, equipment and various “what-not’s” needed to complete this mammoth project of turning manure into fuel; or staying sustainable in today’s ever changing environmental regulated world of family farming.

Our family celebrated Scott Brothers Dairy Farms being in existence for 100 years… now that IS an accomplishment! 100 years! (see picture below) Can you just imagine the changes in dairying from 1913 to 2013? Yes, cows still give milk, but who would have thought of a cow having a nutritionist back in the day? Or a genetic match up for breeding cows to bulls to have the resulting calf be the best it can be? Who would have thought of a calf being born on a TV show and gaining national attention? Yes, Alan is thriving and growing and he is the darling of the dairy.

In the Fall of 2013 we enjoyed a new type of happening here on the farm. We had two commercials filmed here using our old warehouse. We’re anxiously looking forward to seeing those commercials early in 2014.  Having our front yard invaded by “Hollywood” was certainly a new experience… but actually quite a fun one!  I still shake my head though at the remembrance of how many people, how many days of work and how much equipment it takes to film a mere 30 second commercial.

And happy family memories. With two full weeks of fun this summer entertaining two of our granddaughters as well as their mom, (our daughter) we made many happy memories. We swam, walked the beach, rode some fantastic roller coasters, enjoyed some delicious soft yogurt, took the girls on an amphibious vehicle earning LOTS of oohs… and ahhhs, played with the puppy, rode ATV’s and just enjoyed each others company every minute of the day.

So, bring on 2014! We’re almost set to turn on the switch(es) to all of that huge and fascinating equipment taking its place up in that BIG barn. We’re all honored and excited to be the first dairy in the USA to turn cow manure into diesel fuel… and we’re looking forward to the future of this project within not only our farm, but across the country with other farms taking a step to be more sustainable.

Yes, bring on 2014… with more adventures, more challenges, more family memories and life events. Let’s raise a glass (of milk of course) and toast to a great New Year… for all of us!

Want a Ride? November 11, 2013

Who wants a ride? Seriously!

Both my husband Bruce and his brother Brad often find themselves giving tours of the dairy and the farm… and both have been looking for a “tour mobile” for some time now… It’s finally been found! Brad found the “trolley” at an auction in Tulare… and then he found the tractor at an auction in Vista… together they make a pretty darn cool touring vehicle. And Kai, as you can see, is ready to go!  😊

Who Wants a Ride?

Flies… Oh How I Loathe Them! November 4, 2013

As much as I love fall, I loathe fly season…, which unfortunately also coincides  with my two favorite seasons of the year, early Fall and late Spring. The minute the weather begins to turn cooler in the Fall these pesky little buggers try to get into the house. And when the weather begins to warm in the Spring they hatch out to begin their bothersome ways all over again. We have flies cluster around the doors and windows as the sun begins to set and believe me, you seriously cannot open a door without a half dozen or more of them making it into our home. If the windows are open the screens become black with flies hugging those screens for warmth. It’s just disgusting and it’s also quite discouraging! I wash fly “specks” (poop) off of window frames more than the normal person would ever think of having to do. I spray doors and windows with fly spray every evening. We leave fly bait out and then watch as the flies buzz around like little maniacal toy tops in their death throes. Do I sound apathetic about that…  you bet I do. I truly detest flies!

Flies Searching for Warmth

Kai has quickly learned that when the flyswatter gets picked up that there’s soon going to be a LOUD SMACK (and he’s not fond of loud noises), he retreats off behind a chair and hides. He knows that either mom or dad is going to be zeroing in on some hapless fly… and then with a LOUD swat and hopefully with a good aim said fly is history. But unfortunately we’re not always blessed with a good aim and then our poor puppy has to wait for another loud swat. However, as he has aged Kai has learned to not like flies either… and he is getting better and better with catching them himself. He’ll follow one throughout the house and then SNAP… he goes for it, and often catches it within his snapping jaws. For that fact alone he may earn his way into being a housedog forever! LOL

Fly season… good gosh almighty WHY do we have flies? Nothing is sacred to them, our food, the clean dishes, clean countertops; even bathroom supplies are at risk of being walked on by flies. YUCK! And have you ever tried to take a nap in the sun on a cool crisp Fall day or on a lazy warm Spring day? It’s almost impossible to do  during fly season… the flies find you and then buzz around you like some sort of kamikaze pilot, or worse land on your face just as you fall asleep… they are quite successful at virtually doing everything possible to make your longed for nap an impossibility. Dang things.

I really do hate flies. 

Meet Alan October 31, 2013

For those of you who have asked… meet Alan… of the Undercover Boss Menchie’s Yogurt episode! Alan is enjoying his life here at the dairy… he’s busy growing up and exploring his world.

 

Alan, cute and curious. 🙂

Menchie’s Comes to the Farm October 25, 2013

Frankie & Amit Kleinberger on Undercover Boss

“Amit Kleinberger, CEO of Menchie’s – and the youngest boss featured to date — delivers a baby calf at the dairy farm that supplies the milk for the company’s frozen yogurt franchises, on UNDERCOVER BOSS, Friday, Oct. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.” ~ http://www.cbs.com/shows/undercover_boss/photos/1000855/season-5-episode-5/45116/

And that farm is…??? OURS!!! Scott Brothers Dairy Farms