Rubbing Elbows

In the past few months, I've been so pleased to see someone I know get published and another friend mentioned in a magazine article.

The first is Ben Gotschall. He is the herdsman at the dairy that we used to buy our raw milk from (before we started milking our own cows) and he was the one who delivered our Annabelle to us when we bought her from Ben's dad (who, by the way, is named Jerry...how can you not love that? Ben and Jerry???) He has started writing articles for Stockman Grass Farmer, sharing his vast knowledge of cattle with his readers. Ben is all cowboy, and, amazingly enough, is also a poet and has published a book called Where It Happened. What fun!

The second was a surprise to me. I was reading an article in Stockman Grass Farmer (different article!) when I stumbled upon the name of Butch Tindell of Texas. He is the man at Homestead Heritage who taught the homesteading course that Don and I took a few years back. And, this last time we visited, opened his home up to us for a lovely dinner. He is a wonderful mixture o knowledge and hospitality. He will be teaching at an upcoming seminar in Colorado as he represents Homestead's business model for their grass-fed/grass-finished beef.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, I have joined the ranks of those in print. Mother Earth News printed the letter to the editor that I wrote! I was reading my October issue and imagine my shock when I read my own letter. I had written about our experience building a homemade chicken plucker (the one designed by Herrick Kimball). Of course, I realize that my claim to fame isn't nearly as exciting as a book of poetry or being a keynote speaker at a conference, but I'll take what I can get.

Autographs available upon request.