We took the kids to the OSU vs. Va Tech game Saturday. Since my wife and I both went to school there as well as the majority of my siblings and my family we are all very strong BUCKEYES!
We did a little tailgating before the game and the kids needed to use the restroom. Just outside where we were headed the cheerleaders were putting on a show getting people pumped up. My kids both stopped and stared as soon as they saw them and saw Brutus there.
You have no idea how excited they were when the guy they keep seeing on TV came right over and gave Alex a high five and knelt down and gave little a kiss on the hand like a princess and then wanted to take a picture with them!!!
The SHOE, as it is known to us Buckeyes stayed unchanged for many many decades until after I started college in 1996. During my time at OSU the stadium got a face lift and C deck was extended up and a new press box and score board as well as permanent south stands were also installed.
Well, the SHOE just got another upgrade. The south stands were added onto to provide a few thousand more seats and permanent lights were added to the top of C deck.
Our seats this year are in D deck, which is right under the press box. I really like sitting in this deck. You have an excellent view of the field but are still protected from the weather. The kids actually made it through the entire game awake this year even though it wasn't over till after Midnight. And, even though we lost they still had a blast and cannot wait to go back again.
GO BUCKS!!!! OH!!! IO!!!!!
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| Showing our Buckeyes roots at my buddies wedding! |
Now, on to the EPRI project I am working on here on the farm. I got the call Monday morning that my concrete guy had an opening in the afternoon and would be here ready to pour at 1:30 sharp! His company name is Accent Concrete out of Green Ohio. He does 100% of our concrete work on all my projects at work and does some pretty awesome stuff with concrete. He also knows how to put it into get 'r' done mode and make it happen when it needs to get done!
He came with an army of guys and trucks! We had the entire place full of trucks, I know know I can handle up to 5 pickup trucks, 2 of them with trailers, misc. farm equipment, and 5 concrete trucks in my driveway at the same time and still have room for trucks to get in and out!
The good thing was since this is a heavy use pad we were not looking for a perfect finish. We needed a solid product that will stand the test of time. Since it will be covered in manure 95 percent of the time we didn't need to spend a lot of time finishing. Just screeded it off, quick float and a rough broom finish and done.
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| Ramp extension |
This is the best part about using a quality contractor and also knowing how to prepare properly for him in advance. You can see the pad we poured last year in between the ramp and the new pad. Ray and I poured that pad at this time last year. I prepped the site and he poured it 4" thick with wire reinforcement. This year, after the worst winter in 36 years, there is not a crack.....anywhere! Furthermore, I had 40 tons of gravel, a D5 dozer, and 6 fully loaded concrete trucks pass over this pad with ZERO damage! If you ever need concrete poured it is worth the time and money to do it right because it will last a long long time if you do!
So 7 concrete trucks and 57 yards later here is the finished pad. All I need to do now is finish adding corral boards and two more short fence runs in the pasture and we are finished!
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| Looking out of original corral to new pad. |
I am happy with the finished product and can't wait to get the feeder on it and let the cows in. I will most likely do that this weekend. In the picture above you can see the manure storage area in the back left corner. It will be so nice to be able to just scrape it all into a pile when it gets messy and let it compost down to use it when I need it!
I also added a little bit to the area outside the pig shed. This will allow me to clean the pig shed and put that manure on the compost pile as well fully eliminating the need to take manure out onto the driveway keeping the farm cleaner and everyone happier!
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| Addition to pig shed pad. |
Here is a shot from the pig barn showing the pad from the pigs point of view. I let the sows out of the boar lot today and they immediately tried out their new walkway. They acted like it has always been there!
Here is the finished waterer for the cows. This turned out perfect. It should be high enough to stay above the manure even in a nasty cold winter like we just had where it keeps freezing and getting deeper. It should also be low enough for even the small calves to use it.
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| Cobett cattle waterer installed in heavy use pad. |
Here is a pic looking back at the cow shed. A little before and after.
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| Before pad and corral installation |
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| After installation |
I need to go out this weekend and take some pictures from the same spots that I took some older pictures. They should make for some cool comparisons.
More soon....well, as soon as I can. Trying to wrap up the last of the hay for this year so I can take care of some much needed equipment repairs and rethink some things to make next year easier and more efficient!
Goodnight everyone and GO BUCKS!!!
Kenny
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