Bobby and I hit the road earlier this week…
March 19th, 2010
and I got to try something for the first time.
Milking a cow. Not as easy as it sounds....
It was Agriculture Day here in Georgia this past Tuesday and Governor Perdue invited us up to help judge the finalist for best in state food products. The Governor's staff are some of the nicest people you could ever meet (this means you Joyce and Molly) and Governor Perdue's entire family was there so it felt more like a reunion than an official day of work. Obviously agriculture is a tremendous resource for us here in Georgia, did you know we are the largest producer of poultry in the country? It was such an honor for Bobby and I to be able to offer our support to the farmers and small businesses in our home state.
Chuck Leavell was also a guest of the Governor. Chuck is a great champion for the environment and as the Director of Environmental Affairs for the Mother Nature Network in Atlanta, is working tirelessly on changes that allow farmers to get the most out of the land with the least impact on the environment..
Oh yeah, he is also the keyboard player for The Rolling Stones.
It was such a fun day meeting all the finalist and tasting their food( T. Bill Lee's BBQ sauce was one of my favorites),as well as meeting about 500 young people involved in 4H club's. The farming industry has so many intangibles that dictate a successful season and the folks that farm are to be celebrated.
I heard someone say "If you have food, thank a farmer" and that's the truth.
It was funny to look around basically in the middle of Atlanta and see small town folks, tractors and of course the cow. What I have come to think of as my cow. Milking a cow is not a sport for the timid. It's basically an invasion of one animal's personal space to accommodate the wants of another animal. It's hard to articulate the feeling as the distance grew shorter between my hand and the..nozzle? I definitely moved slow. I reached in three times and the cow only kicked my hand off twice so I got in at least one professional pull. I didn't even produce enough to make a good mustache. I told Jack what I got to do and he asked "Was it 2 percent Dad?". Never underestimate the retention of a three year old.
For the record Bobby passed up this opportunity because he is a chicken. Chicken. Tell him I said so.
Special thanks goes out to the Governor's staff photographer, Alana Joyner, for the use of the photo. Thanks!
That's it for this week, thanks for checking back in...
Do Good Things
-Jamie
Hi Jamie,
Well, I have to say I would be like Bobby on milking the cow. I can imagine the experience though, it must have been fun. We tend to forget about the hard work of farmers, thanks for reminding us. They deserve a lot more praise than they are given. Great to hear how many are involved in the 4H club, such a good organization for the youth!!
Take care and have a great week!
Diane on March 19 2010
Wow, How awesome you got to experience that! ...Err (not just milking the cow…Good job Jamie!), I am talking about giving hard working farmers the credit they deserve and to make a difference in your community with awareness! Your family is truly amazing and you deserve all the happiness this world can provide. 
Hopefully my husband and I will get to visit Savannah again while we are in Hilton Head this year….Love the store! It brings me to my ‘Happy Place.’...now if only I could cook like your Mom!! .....LOL
P.S. I give Bobby an “E for Effort”—especially since I have never milked a cow myself,either !
Take Care,
Drusti “Your Vegetarian Fan” Naik Klein
( you’ve got to at least have one right?...lol)
Drusti Naik Klein on March 19 2010
Hello Jamie, My son Jacob and I went to a place here called the BAAMOO Farm in North Carolina on a school field trip one time. Each child (if they wanted to) got to milk a cow, feed a baby cow milk from a huge bottle, watch sheep being sheered off, and of course feed the chickens and collect eggs. He did"nt care to much for the chickens they kept pecking him. Have a great Spring !! It’s beautiful day here! Love ya"ll, Shelia Key
Shelia Key on March 20 2010
Hey Jamoe.
T. Bill Lee’s BBQ sauce is our very own Gina Lee Garcia’s sweet Daddy’s sauce!
So happy you enjoyed it! She is a sweet heart and wanted to win. I think this is almost as good! Thanks, for her!!!
Yes…....I am everywhere!!!!!
Love ya!!!
Deb M
deb m on March 21 2010
Flavor of Georgia was fabulous - with your help! Check out our pictures of the day…http://2010flavorofgeorgia.shutterfly.com/27.
All the best,
SPK
spk on March 22 2010
Hello Jaime -
Well what a fun day, and what a great experience. I grew up in rural San Jose, CA (I know, it’s a big city now, we lived in the country) and I grew up in 4H. We raised pigs and sheep and rabbits, I had a horse and life was GRAND. In elementary school one of the funnest days was when a local farmer brought the cow and we all took turns milking it. I absolutely loved it…..Bobby, you don’t know what you missed 
I now live in Central California, Turlock to be exact. My evening job is at a company called Just Tomatoes, Etc! The owner is a 4th generation farmer, the company is based in Wesley, CA - I’m pretty sure it’s on the map Agriculture is HUGE in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Speaking of farmers, Bill, the owner of Just Tomatoes, just put homegrown grapefruit in my car, I love grapefruit. Every night when we have dinner we don’t thank just any farmer, we thank Bill Cox!
I am so glad you enjoyed the day. Farmers ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking forward to seeing you in May!
Always,
Tracdey
Tracey Lopez on March 22 2010
Jamie,
You and Bobby were incredibly gracious to everyone you came in contact with, including my crazy family. Y’all make great ambassadors for the state, thanks for that. It was very nice meeting the both of you. Hope you had as much fun milking the cow as dad did.
Dan
Dan Perdue on March 24 2010
tennessee fan here jamie i must say you are H.O.T.!youre not only easy to look at,listen to,and fun to watch with your momma,but you can cook too.not many men hold all of those assets.
lori hill on March 26 2010
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its great to see someone praise our farmers and the industry. thanks Jamie.
LOL @ 2% milk! Jack is a cleaver comedian!
hope y’all get some down time at home and enjoy some Spring weather. btw~hows Champ? i imagine hes ready to romp in the yard now the sun is warmer.
have a great week
thanks for the blog
Donna S on March 19 2010