In San Joaquin County...

In San Joaquin County we have three Ag Venture Days which are like a farm day where people from many different agriculture industries come to one place to teach 3^rd graders about agriculture. I recently attended the Ag Venture in Manteca and presented to 7 groups with each presentation lasting about 10 minutes. In my presentation I covered milk's journey, beginning with the cow all the way to the consumer's table. I had pictures of cows eating, drinking, being milked and sleeping in their beds. I also brought some of the feed the cows eat, the bottle we feed the calves with, as well as an actual milk machine that we use to milk the cows. I enjoyed the amazement I saw in the kids' eyes when I told them a cow can weigh up to 2000 pounds and that they eat about 80 pounds of feed a day.

I also had the honor of being in the Escalon Veteran's Day Parade today. Listening to the news the other day I was afraid it might be canceled because there was a chance it was going to rain, but we ended up having a pretty nice day. The parade began at 10:30 a.m. with the sounding of the air raid siren and a fly over by historic aircraft. I then rode in a convertible down a crowded Main Street to cheers and waves and was also able to watch part of the parade and see some of the veteran's who have served in past wars.  I appreciate all they have done to keep this country safe for us, as well as the men and women who are keeping us safe right now.