February 9, 2007

his week "Down to the Roots" was nominated in the category of "Best Home Based Business Award" for the 13th Annual Business Excellence Awards Honouring our Ranching Heritage. 

There were 5 people out of our whole area nominated. Just in itself, that is rather exciting, whether the magazine wins or not. We will find out tonight. There were 5 nominees. I have been in the paper entirely too much this week. Two for the dog sledding event and one for the "Business of the Week". They spelled my name right, but the website address wrong!

It stopped snowing here and now is off and on light stuff. But it is cold outside. The fire in the woodstove has gone out and only just now am I starting to get chilled. House insulation is a good thing. It must have been cold as I slept snuggled under the covers for about 12 hours straight. I will start a fire here in a bit. 

Things on the net are heating up about animal tracking systems and 'anonymous' surveys regarding Foot and Mouth Disease. I think the survey is "off" due to FMD has not been in the US for around 70 years and can also be carried by deer and rats. I took the survey as if I was still living in Oregon, just to see what it was all about.

It asks what your primary species you raise. Already it is skewed, as what if you have multiple livestocks? Then it asks for your zipcode. Then county. Herd size. It is very redundant of the National Agricultural Statistics Survey which was just recently sent out and mandatory to fill out.

UPDATE: ...and the winner is.... Not us :o) But it was fun going anyway.