Stateline Bean

Friday, December 30, 2011

....beautiful....


This morning I was able to catch the sunrise at the house!  I have been waiting for this moment because my farmers have recently moved their beet equipment into the yard and I just knew this would be an awesome photo with the sunrise in the background!  I just wanted to share it with you!  Again, we live in a BEAUTIFUL part of our world!

Relax and have a wonderful New Year's weekend!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Oh the Wind

Wow, they were not kidding when they called for wind today!  I'd venture to say it is more than just a "light breeze."  I went over to the new Coop Main Street Market to get lunch for the crew and on my way out, the lid blew directly off my meat and cheese tray and the cheese started flying around.  It was crazy!  Anyway, the new grocery store there is very nice!  You should go check it out.

Please be careful today!  I have heard on the radio that light trailers are blowing over!  It was interesting, while talking to a farmer yesterday, he mentioned that we might have a "square day" today.  Curious, I asked what that meant.  He proceeded to tell me that when it is 50 degrees outside and the wind is blowing 50 m.p.h., that is a "square day."  Then I decided that I didn't know which would be better, the 50/50 or 30 degrees and 30 m.p.h. wind?!  Glad I don't have to choose!

~Photo taken in Illinois!~

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

~Home Sweet Illinois~


Home Sweet Illinois~It was wonderful!  I hope that everyone had as great a Christmas as possible!  I got in late last night and I am so thankful for the time that I got to spend with my family!  My family just keeps growing and growing!

WOW, how green it was at home!  The weather was beautiful and totally did not feel like December in Illinois. I got to run outside in only a light jacket.  Yesterday, we got a little snow/sleet just enough to make it white for my sisters birthday!  Then it melted, allowing us all to make it to the airport and return home safely.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas!


Please take care and have a wonderful Christmas!  See ya next week...stay tuned for more updates from Stateline Bean!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Winter Wonderland


They were right!  We woke up to a snowy winter wonderland!  It is gorgeous!  As I was driving to work, I got distracted by the Monument.  The sun was shinning on it perfectly on the freshly fallen snow.  I just kept driving towards it so that I could get a better view.  So beautiful!

I do hope that everyone travels safe and is able to get to their final destination this weekend to celebrate with friends and family!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Snowing









The snow is here earlier than expected!  It started around 7 am this morning and is coming down.  It's starting to accumulate a little bit.  We will see what tomorrow brings!


Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Boxcars Leaving

The sun is shining with a chill in the air.  They are calling for heavy snowfall on Wednesday night.  I hope that I can still make it to Denver on Thursday!

Cars heading out....
...the railroad came to pick up our boxcars today!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Beautiful Weekend!


The weather this weekend was, yet again, beautiful!  It's hard to believe how warm it is just one week before Christmas!  So awesome!  Hopefully everyone was able to take advantage of the excellent weather!  Wishing you well as you finish up your Christmas decorating, shopping, family organizing, baking, etc.  Don't forget to take time to stop and enjoy the true meaning of the season!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Christmas Spirit

Good Morning All!

I just wanted to take a second to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  I know it's early, but I just had to share this photo with you of Mr. Pilot, our Board President's dog.  He has been with us all week long and it's going to be so sad when he goes back home.  We have all really enjoyed having him around!  He is such a great and quiet dog....loves "to go" anywhere in the vehicle with you.  Today, he is going with me to the post office.  :)


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Day #2


Day #2=SUCCESS!  We had a more steady crowd in today!  It was alot of fun!  Thank you all for visiting!


While we were all inside visiting, the guys were working really hard outside loading boxcars.  There are 8 cars in this picture and 7 were loaded between  today and yesterday (one car was rejected).  Great work guys!  We have had beautiful weather for the past 2 days.


Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Day #1


Day #1=SUCCESS!  Lots of food, fellowship, and seed ordering happening today here in Gering.  I have really enjoyed being surrounded by great people in agriculture!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Seed Booking Days Tomorrow and Thursday


Heath is here in Gering with us today with our new Stateline pickup, helping load boxcars.  The truck is going to good use!

Just a quick reminder, don't forget about our Seed Booking Days tomorrow and Thursday this week.  I'm cooking!  I am all ready to cook some beans tonight!  I went to the store last night to get all of the ingredients for Crock Pot Tamales and the Bean Pie that we had at our Annual Meeting.  We received an EZ Bean Cooker as a Christmas gift the other day in the mail.  What a great invention.  I will be giving it a try tonight!  Check it out:  http://www.ezbeancooker.com/ for more details.  I will let you know how it works.  It's supposed to cook beans in 12-50 minutes, depending on the bean, without soaking or anything.

Monday, December 12, 2011

America the Beautiful


Good morning, I just wanted to share with you all a picture that I was fortunate to take this weekend!  I was just in awe when I saw him sitting there on a limb just outside of town.  It was a beautiful sight!  I was so very close that I thought that he would fly away as soon as we stopped the pickup, but he just sat there keeping a close eye on us.  Look at his beak and those talons!  I was very aware that his neck feathers were  a little ruffled.  He never budged though.  Amazing!  What beautiful things you can see if you take the time to enjoy!


Saturday, December 10, 2011

Beautiful


The picture above was taken by Dave as the sun was setting a few nights ago.  We live in a beautiful place!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Sugar Factory Tour

I must say that I was fascinated by the factory tour last night.  I drive by it almost everyday and there are so many more steps that the beets go through before they become sugar than I initially thought.  We learned about each step and what is produced at each one.  Then we got to view, in action, each step.  I was amazed by all of the computer sensors in the factory that are constantly being monitored for any problems.  A simple click on the computer and things can be slowed down or stopped to prevent furthering the problem.

A view of the Monument from on top of the factory.
We toured and then had a very nice meal that was donated from several local businesses.  The tour fee will go towards scholarships that the sugar factory awards.  Thank you for a great opportunity to share what you do, with the community.  It was really neat because there were a couple of ladies there that had worked in the office of a sugar factory way back when and they were just elated to get to tour.  They said that everyone in the community should get the opportunity to go.

Moon picture next to the huge bins.
What I am going to start looking for in the stores are sugar (brown, powdered, or white) that has a lot number that begins with the letter "F."  This "F" I learned last night, means that sugar was made at the Scottsbluff Factory.  :)

Stateline Crew
I was so happy to see several of our Stateline growers at this tour last night.  Hillside Farms and Rein Family Ag are in this picture with me.  I also met one of our grower-members for the first time last night too (not pictured).

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Sugar Factory Tour

I am really excited to get to be a part of this year's Sugar Factory Tour at Western Sugar.  Sugar beets are a whole new thing to me and the longer I am here, the more I learn.  This harvest, I got to go ride in a beet digger and tonight I will get to see the whole process at the factory.  I am thankful for this opportunity.

Sugar beet in the field next to the house.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Post Office

I just wanted to send out a quick thank you to our post office in Gering.  I get to get the mail everyday and I look forward to my visits because they are so nice and helpful!  Thank you for all that you do!


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

-3 Degrees


The guys are all bundled up today as it was -3 degrees this morning when we got here.  Totally freezing!  The best part about the whole day is that the sun is shinning and the temperature is now 32 degrees above zero!  Dave and Gerald made us some chili today to eat for dinner!  It sure hit the spot on a day like today!  Thank you guys!


Monday, December 5, 2011

Cold and Sunny Here


This is a really neat picture of our facilities here in Gering.  You can see the leftover snow from this past weekend covering the ground and the sun is s*h*i*n*n*i*n*g.  Cold, but very peaceful outside, the sun is helping warm things up a bit.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Wonderful Visit



I had the most wonderful opportunity to visit with the Rein Family this afternoon.  I went over to present them with their "Clean Bean Award" for the 2011 crop year.  Both Jeremy and Jack tied for third place in the Pinto category.  We just had the most wonderful conversation and I got to see their home and where they farm.  I just had to take the opportunity to snap a few pictures of their most unique propane tank!  How awesome to turn a white tank into an eye catching watermelon!  Great idea Gloria!  Thank you for your friendship and fellowship.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Chilly


We woke up to a little snow this morning.  They have been talking about a front coming through all week.  This wasn't the fun, pretty kind of snow, it wasn't the cold and blowing kind either.  It was just kind of there when we woke up.  It wasn't enough to make it pretty, but we did get some sunshine today about the time I took this picture the clouds broke.  :)