I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, I’m thankful for my upbringing because I can look back and see it was preparation for living here.

Growing up in a rural community with both sets of grandparents being farmers, I (DeAnna) was exposed to farm life, livestock and seed to plate gardening.  I thought it was fun when grandma would break the neck of the chicken and it would chase me around the yard until it fell over.  Although I usually do my meat shopping at a meat counter in a grocery store (it’s worth the extra cost in my opinion), it doesn’t bother me to see meat vendors outdoors selling their meat.  I’m used to men walking towards me holding a live chicken by the feet in both hands asking which one I would want and how I would like it cleaned.  I know to look for beef that has the most flies on it (if the flies don’t want it, you don’t want it!).  I’m appreciative of my time in 4-H and being with Sherri showing steer than after the sale, looking at the carcass at a slaughter house.  I’m glad I know the parts of an animal to know how I would like it cut or cleaned.