Harvest Prayer

 

A Family Road Trip to the SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota

After our family vacation to Hawaii this summer, we came home with more than just great memories and lots of photos — we also came home with a newfound appreciation for SPAM! And considering SPAM is packed only about an hour from our home, we decided it was time to make a road trip to Austin, Minnesota, to learn a little more about the canned pork product our family had been enjoying so much.

Teriyaki Pork & Pineapple Kabobs

These Teriyaki Pork & Pineapple Kabobs have quickly become a family favorite this summer! They’re easy to put together, packed with flavor and the combination of sweet pineapple with savory, tender pork is hard to beat. With a simple homemade teriyaki sauce made from ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, these kabobs are a delicious way to fire up the grill and enjoy pork this summer!

The Cookie of the Summer: S'more Cookies

This spring, our youngest daughter had a very specific request for her school birthday treat: S'mores Cookies. So, we started searching for recipes online and in cookbooks that looked soft, chewy and packed with all of the classic s'more flavors. We found a recipe that looked good and sent them off to school and hoped for the best. The verdict? Her classmates loved them. Her teachers loved them. And our family absolutely fell in love with them.

In fact, we loved them so much that one of our other daughters decided these were the cookies she wanted to bring to our County Fair next week. Since then, we've baked batch after batch, tweaking little things here and there until we've landed on what we think is the perfect version!

Knee High by the 4th of July

Every Fourth of July, our family has a tradition of taking our annual "Knee High by the Fourth of July" photo in one of our cornfields. It's a fun chance to see how much the corn has grown, and capture how much our #1 crop has grown - our kids, from year to year. These photos help us document the story of another growing season, another year of memories, and another Independence Day spent right here on our Iowa farm.

Southeast Iowa Freedom Rock Tour

This Memorial Day, our Iowa Freedom Rock journey continued through southeast Iowa, where we visited the Freedom Rocks in Jefferson, Van Buren, Lee, Des Moines, Henry, and Louisa Counties.

One thing quickly became apparent during this trip — Civil War history runs deep throughout Southeast Iowa. Many of the stories featured on these rocks highlighted local soldiers, Medal of Honor recipients, military units, and communities that played important roles during the Civil War and beyond.

My kids standing next to the Lee County Freedom Rock
Memorial Day 2026

Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip at The Olde Creamery in Rockwell, Iowa

Summer can feel like you're constantly on the go. So that's why a quick Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip pit stop is always worth the break!

This week, we found ourselves traveling between a 4-H workshop and a softball game with just enough time to grab supper. Instead of stopping at the gas station or grabbing some fast food, we made a stop at one of our family's favorite places: The Olde Creamery in Rockwell, Iowa.

2026 Family Summer Bucket List + Printable

Today is the last day of school for my kids which means it's the start of the summer for our family. We spent some time over the last week thinking about some fun things we'd like to do over the next few months and this is what we came up with!

Create your own Summer Bucket List with my FREE Printable

As a to-do list fan I love the bullet notes and calendar space so you can think how to schedule everything!

Oreo Dirt Cups

Around here National Oreo Day feels like a pretty good excuse to make a sweet treat in the kitchen. Over the years I’ve shared several Oreo favorites on the blog — Oreo Fluff, Oreo Balls, Oreo Brownies, and even Homemade Oreos. But one dessert that always gets big smiles from kids is Oreo Dirt Cups.

Crockpot Chorizo Hashbrown Casserole

Chorizo has become one of my favorite pork products over the last several years. I love its bold, slightly spicy flavor and how it turns simple ingredients into something crave‑worthy. This Crockpot Chorizo Hashbrown Casserole is a perfect example — comforting, flavorful, and flexible enough for breakfast, brunch, or even taco night.

New Dietary Guidelines: Prioritizing Real Food That Works for Your Family

Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans and shared this visual of an inverted pyramid that emphasizes prioritizing protein, dairy, vegetables, and fruits — all rooted in a focus on whole foods.

Reflections on My First Farmers Market Season with VIP Pork

As our first farmers market season comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what a rewarding experience it has been. While this side of our pork production is just a small percent of what we do on the farm, it has been so meaningful to connect with our community in a new way — by offering VIP Pork directly to customers.

Scotcheroo Milk Shake

It has become tradition in our house to make something special to celebrate the first day of school. This year, I decided to recreate the Scotcheroo Milk Shake that we had earlier this month at the Iowa State Fair. The shake is rich, creamy, and full of that delicious combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and butterscotch. It was the perfect way to top off the first day of school for our whole family!

One Pan Pork Egg Roll Bowl

It’s National Farmers Market Week, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by shopping local and letting the season’s freshest ingredients inspire your next meal. That’s exactly what I did at the Hampton Farmers Market this week — and the result? A flavorful, One Pan Pork Egg Roll Bowl!

Knee High by the 4th of July

The 4th of July is the perfect time to celebrate our country’s independence, show off some patriotism, spend time with family and friends, watch fireworks — and, of course, check crops.

Cowboy Cookies

There’s something about a warm, chewy cookie that just hits the spot. These Cowboy Cookies have been my favorite since childhood, and they’re packed with the perfect mix of oatmeal and chocolate chips. If you’re looking for a tried-and-true cookie recipe that melts in your mouth and never lasts long in the cookie jar, this is it!

2025 Family Summer Bucket List + FREE Printable

 Today is the first day of summer break from school for my kids so we took some time to create this year's Summer Bucket List!

Create your own Summer Bucket List with my FREE Printable

As a to-do list fan I love the bullet notes and calendar space so you can think how to schedule everything!

Visiting Hartman Reserve Nature Center: A Sweet Experience at the Maple Syrup Festival

Earlier this month, our family had the opportunity to visit the Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for their annual Maple Syrup Festival. We were excited to get tickets for this annual event; the festival was a great blend of nature, education, and, of course, delicious food!

Celebrating National Ag Day with a Farm Kid Q&A

National Ag Day is a time to recognize and celebrate the vast world of agriculture. As a 5th generation farm family, we live and breathe agriculture every day, and I thought it would be fun to get my kids’ perspectives on what farm life means to them. So, I sat down and asked them questions about growing up on the farm. Their answers were simple, honest and a reminder of why we love this way of life.

My kids helping this past fall during harvest
K (13), R (8), L (9) and A (11)

How to Prepare Your Easter Ham with a Simple Two-Ingredient Glaze

Easter is just around the corner, and if you're looking for an easy, yet delicious way to prepare your holiday ham, I've got the perfect recipe for you! This simple two-ingredient glaze creates a beautifully caramelized, flavorful ham that will be the star of your Easter table.