1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,020 Welcome to the 168th episode of the Bullvine Podcast, where we're not afraid to tackle 2 00:00:10,020 --> 00:00:12,640 the tough issues in dairy farming. 3 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:18,160 Today, we're milking Valentine's Day for all it's worth with a special episode that'll 4 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,440 warm your hearts faster than fresh milk from the tank. 5 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:26,700 We're diving into some moving love stories from the dairy world, proving that romance 6 00:00:26,700 --> 00:00:32,560 can blossom even in the most unlikely places, like right next to the manure spreader. 7 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:37,640 From starry porch proposals to barn-filled vows, we'll explore how these farming couples 8 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:43,120 have found their perfect match amidst the silos and milking parlors. 9 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:47,400 So grab your sweetheart and let's churn up some dairy-inspired romance. 10 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:52,280 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, where we bring you the latest in dairy farming news, 11 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,520 trends, and heartwarming stories from the industry. 12 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:57,320 I'm Bella, your host. 13 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:03,320 Today, we've got a special Valentine's Day episode that's sure to warm your hearts faster 14 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,280 than fresh milk from the tank. 15 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,820 We're diving into some moving love stories from the dairy world. 16 00:01:08,820 --> 00:01:13,480 These tales prove that romance can blossom in the unlikeliest of places, even in the 17 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,240 middle of a cow barn. 18 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:20,900 As one farmer puts it, farming with love is like making the perfect batch of cheese worth 19 00:01:20,900 --> 00:01:23,080 every moment. 20 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:28,120 While urban romantics might be gathering in dimly lit eateries this Valentine's Day, farming 21 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:33,600 couples find magic in their shared duties and fleeting glances over milk pails. 22 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,520 These stories go beyond simple love tales. 23 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:41,240 They're lasting testimonies to the strong bond of partnership, where a love for the 24 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:45,120 land blends harmoniously with deep devotion to each other. 25 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,200 That's beautifully put, Bella. 26 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:48,200 And you're right. 27 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:54,360 There's nothing more romantic than the smell of silage in the morning. 28 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,940 Let's start with our first tale, shall we? 29 00:01:56,940 --> 00:02:01,380 It takes us to a Pennsylvania county fair, where Marie and Mark Cannon's love story began 30 00:02:01,380 --> 00:02:05,440 amidst the lowing of cows and the bustle of show preparations. 31 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:09,800 For Marie, it was a spark of hope among the bustle, yearning for a glance from Mark amid 32 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,580 the chaos of show preparations. 33 00:02:12,580 --> 00:02:16,080 And Mark, true to his nature, sees the moment. 34 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:21,760 At a bonfire the following week, he bravely asked Marie out, starting a courtship as natural 35 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,160 as the changes of the seasons on a dairy farm. 36 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,820 Their first date was quite an adventure. 37 00:02:27,820 --> 00:02:32,060 Mark invited Marie to help with the milking, humorously noting that others had mysteriously 38 00:02:32,060 --> 00:02:35,000 found themselves otherwise occupied. 39 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:40,520 The evening was marked by a hasty meal of pancakes and an adventure in herding 15 runaway 40 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:41,740 heifers. 41 00:02:41,740 --> 00:02:44,740 Talk about a stress test for a new relationship. 42 00:02:44,740 --> 00:02:47,160 What a wonderful start to their relationship. 43 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,720 And I heard Mark's proposal was equally romantic? 44 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:52,520 Indeed it was, Bella. 45 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:56,860 After their heifer adventure, Mark led Marie to the porch swing, a cherished haven for 46 00:02:56,860 --> 00:03:00,220 unwinding after exhausting farm days. 47 00:03:00,220 --> 00:03:04,840 Under the stars, he unfolded a piece of paper and read aloud a poem capturing their shared 48 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,520 experiences over the past year. 49 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:12,860 The poem captured the challenges and silent victories intertwined with their love. 50 00:03:12,860 --> 00:03:17,160 The final line wasn't just a proposal, but a promise to cultivate a life together as 51 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,520 steadfast as the legacy of farming they treasured. 52 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:25,760 Now 30 years later, their love story still thrives at Cannon Dairy Farm in West Middlesex, 53 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:31,160 Pennsylvania, affirming that the most heartfelt romances often begin in genuine settings where 54 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:36,760 hard work, shared principles, and sincere devotion converge. 55 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,320 That's truly heartwarming, Doug. 56 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:44,240 Now let's move on to our next story, which takes us to the agricultural campus of Dalhousie 57 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,880 University in Nova Scotia. 58 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:51,820 Here two students, Lindy Feltmate and Scott Brown, found love through their shared passion 59 00:03:51,820 --> 00:03:53,840 for agriculture. 60 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:58,560 Lindy had an affinity for horses, while Scott came from a dairy farming lineage. 61 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:03,140 Their tale took root amidst the campus' classrooms and laboratories, where joint projects and 62 00:04:03,140 --> 00:04:09,340 knowledge exchange fostered a growing camaraderie that soon deepened into a meaningful partnership. 63 00:04:09,340 --> 00:04:13,400 By graduation, their dreams had merged into a unified goal. 64 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:19,420 Together, they moved forward with determination, starting a dairy farm in New Brunswick. 65 00:04:19,420 --> 00:04:22,340 Their journey transcended mere business endeavors. 66 00:04:22,340 --> 00:04:26,660 It was a heartfelt pursuit to cultivate a life where their harmonious skills and enduring 67 00:04:26,660 --> 00:04:29,740 passion could flourish in unison. 68 00:04:29,740 --> 00:04:34,780 Now they're not just running a successful dairy operation, but they're also raising 69 00:04:34,780 --> 00:04:36,680 two children. 70 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:41,740 It's a real testament to the power of shared values and passion in a relationship. 71 00:04:41,740 --> 00:04:43,640 That's a beautiful story, Bella. 72 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:47,380 It reminds me of my own experience in the industry. 73 00:04:47,380 --> 00:04:52,080 Sometimes the best partnerships come from bringing different skills to the table. 74 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:55,160 Now shall we move on to our next tale? 75 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:59,860 This one's about Krista and Brett Swanson, who met at the 2009 National Farm Machinery 76 00:04:59,860 --> 00:05:01,340 Show in Louisville. 77 00:05:01,340 --> 00:05:06,220 Now that's what I call finding love among the machinery. 78 00:05:06,220 --> 00:05:12,300 Their meeting was quite serendipitous, happening on February 13th, the eve of Valentine's Day, 79 00:05:12,300 --> 00:05:14,500 when a friend introduced them. 80 00:05:14,500 --> 00:05:19,540 Despite living on opposite sides of Illinois, Brett wasn't deterred by the distance. 81 00:05:19,540 --> 00:05:24,660 He drove across the state the very next weekend to take Krista on their first date. 82 00:05:24,660 --> 00:05:30,320 Their romance swiftly blossomed, guided by the natural rhythm of the changing seasons. 83 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,900 Within a year, they pledged their lives to one another. 84 00:05:33,900 --> 00:05:38,800 Now they're raising three daughters on their picturesque Illinois farm, with a fourth child 85 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:39,800 on the way. 86 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:45,320 It just goes to show that when you find the right person, distance is no obstacle. 87 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:46,820 That's so true, Doug. 88 00:05:46,820 --> 00:05:50,120 In farming, we're used to overcoming challenges. 89 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:54,860 A little distance is nothing compared to dealing with a broken down tractor during harvest 90 00:05:54,860 --> 00:05:55,860 season. 91 00:05:55,860 --> 00:06:00,060 Now, let's move on to a more modern love story. 92 00:06:00,060 --> 00:06:03,160 Have you heard about Aaron Harris and Jared Beaton? 93 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,980 They met on the reality TV show Farming for Love. 94 00:06:05,980 --> 00:06:11,480 Aaron, a dedicated dairy farmer from Creston, found love with Jared on the show. 95 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,100 But their story didn't end when the cameras stopped rolling. 96 00:06:14,100 --> 00:06:19,000 Jared has fully embraced the farming lifestyle, learning that love on a dairy farm is about 97 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:24,000 the little things, like bringing coffee during long barn hours or helping with hay duties 98 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,140 before dawn. 99 00:06:26,140 --> 00:06:30,840 Jared truly understood the essence of Aaron's commitment to agriculture, showing a sincere 100 00:06:30,840 --> 00:06:35,000 appreciation for farm life and empathetic acknowledgement of Aaron's devotion to her 101 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:36,720 herd. 102 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,800 Nearly a year later, they're thriving. 103 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:45,400 Jared has seamlessly integrated into the cadence of the farm, learning that love on a dairy 104 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:49,120 farm transcends beyond grand romantic displays. 105 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:54,360 It flourishes in the shared experiences of dawn milkings and midnight animal care. 106 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:58,120 That's a wonderful modern twist on farm romance, Bella. 107 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:02,900 Speaking of strong partnerships, let's talk about Sadie and Glenn Frerichs. 108 00:07:02,900 --> 00:07:09,520 Their story is a great example of how compromise can lead to innovation in both love and farming. 109 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:13,520 They came from different dairy farming backgrounds, but managed to blend their methods into a 110 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:15,480 unique approach. 111 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:20,380 They've been working together for 12 out of their 15 years of marriage, creating a hybrid 112 00:07:20,380 --> 00:07:25,880 system that honors both their traditions while pioneering new ones. 113 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:30,800 Through effective communication and a foundation of mutual respect, they've developed a system 114 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:37,720 that simultaneously pays homage to their roots while pioneering new and innovative traditions. 115 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,900 Each new morning gives them opportunities to reaffirm their dedication to their herd 116 00:07:41,900 --> 00:07:45,260 and appreciate one another's perspectives. 117 00:07:45,260 --> 00:07:50,320 Their operation is a testament to the remarkable achievements attainable when two people harness 118 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:56,760 their shared passion for dairy farming and wholeheartedly embrace each other's ideas. 119 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:01,360 That kind of flexibility and willingness to learn from each other is crucial in both farming 120 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,040 and relationships, isn't it, Doug? 121 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:09,520 Now we have another beautiful story to share, the tale of Val and Greg Levine from Unk Brock 122 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,760 Farm in Shagdecoke, New York. 123 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:17,880 Their story really shows how the most enduring love stories often begin with friendship. 124 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:23,160 It traces back to kindergarten, a time of shared crayons and alphabet explorations when neither 125 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,960 anticipated the path ahead. 126 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:31,120 They went their separate ways after high school, but destiny had other plans. 127 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,460 Five years after graduating, Greg took on the morning milking duties at Val's family 128 00:08:35,460 --> 00:08:39,420 farm coinciding with Val's return from college. 129 00:08:39,420 --> 00:08:45,100 This transformed their childhood camaraderie into a deep and genuine connection. 130 00:08:45,100 --> 00:08:50,620 Now at Unk Brock Farm, where the Dawn Chorus includes the gentle lowing of 200 dairy cows, 131 00:08:50,620 --> 00:08:54,600 they efficiently manage their herd and raise their three children. 132 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:58,560 Rooted in the agricultural legacy that initially united them. 133 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:04,860 It's a beautiful example of how shared roots can grow into a strong future together, Bella. 134 00:09:04,860 --> 00:09:08,120 Now we have one more unique proposal story to share. 135 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:12,080 It's about Duncan and Courtney Bailey from Fillmore, New York. 136 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:16,640 Duncan came up with a proposal idea that only a devoted dairy farmer might conceive. 137 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:20,640 It all happened in the barn, where Duncan orchestrated what appeared to be an innocuous 138 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,560 activity naming a newly born calf. 139 00:09:24,560 --> 00:09:28,460 He attentively listened as Courtney suggested name after name. 140 00:09:28,460 --> 00:09:34,320 Each one was met with a gentle refusal until she had offered 50 different options. 141 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:40,400 Then with the same precision demanded by the evening milking routine, Duncan proposed Diamond. 142 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:45,540 Unaware of the significant moment unfolding, Courtney actually deemed the name stupid. 143 00:09:45,540 --> 00:09:51,420 But then with a sparkle in his eye that mirrored the gem in his pocket, Duncan asked again. 144 00:09:51,420 --> 00:09:56,720 This time he knelt on the barn floor, presenting a name for the calf and a diamond ring destined 145 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,840 to alter their lives forever. 146 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:02,200 Now that's what I call a diamond in the rough. 147 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,900 What a unique and heartfelt proposal, Doug. 148 00:10:04,900 --> 00:10:09,080 After hearing all these stories, what do you think they tell us about love in the dairy 149 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:10,360 farming world? 150 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:15,440 Well, Bella, I think they show us that the most enduring love stories in farming are 151 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:22,200 built on shared values, mutual respect, and a willingness to face challenges together. 152 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:26,800 Whether it's chasing down runaway heifers, working side by side in the milking parlor, 153 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:31,000 or finding creative ways to propose, these couples have found romance in the everyday 154 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,680 moments of farm life. 155 00:10:33,680 --> 00:10:38,600 These stories highlight that genuine romance in farming is seldom about extravagant gestures 156 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:40,720 or opulent meals. 157 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:46,580 Instead, it's discovered in the shared warmth of pre-dawn milkings, in the tender support 158 00:10:46,580 --> 00:10:52,000 of a partner who provides coffee during extensive barn hours, and in the serene understanding 159 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:56,760 between two individuals who have elected to weave their lives together amid the rhythmic 160 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:58,720 cadence of farm life. 161 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:03,880 Well, Bella, I think they show us that the most enduring love stories in farming are 162 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:10,480 built on shared values, mutual respect, and a willingness to face challenges together. 163 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:15,440 Whether it's chasing down runaway heifers, working side by side in the milking parlor, 164 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:20,040 or finding creative ways to propose, these couples have found romance in the everyday 165 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,280 moments of farm life. 166 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:27,360 These stories highlight that genuine romance in farming is seldom about extravagant gestures 167 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:28,960 or opulent meals. 168 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:34,440 Instead, it's discovered in the shared warmth of pre-dawn milkings, in the tender support 169 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:40,000 of a partner who provides coffee during extensive barn hours, and in the serene understanding 170 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:44,880 between two individuals who have elected to weave their lives together amid the rhythmic 171 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,880 cadence of farm life. 172 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:50,360 Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. 173 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:52,880 That's all for today's Heartfelt episode. 174 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:57,240 If you're feeling inspired to prioritize your relationship, thank you for joining us on 175 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:58,600 this journey. 176 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:03,320 Subscribe so you never miss a drop of wisdom, share this episode with every farming couple 177 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:05,560 you know, and leave a review. 178 00:12:05,560 --> 00:12:06,960 Your voice matters. 179 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:12,480 Remember, nurture your relationship now or risk losing the most valuable asset on your 180 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:13,480 farm. 181 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:27,840 Until next time, keep it spicy in the silo, farmers.