Before... looking through The Barn Window

Before I get started with my sole purpose of this blog, The Barn Window, I feel it's necessary to share my background with you. (This will probably be my longest one so bare with me (: )

Don't look through that barn window just yet... you'll understand shortly.

My name is Gabrielle and I am a 23 year old Farmer's Granddaughter. That's right "Granddaughter" not "Daughter". My pops is a plumber in the big ole city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! My parents split when I was 6 but life is great, both sets of parents get along, step-parents are more than I could ever ask for, and my half siblings... well they are almost 12 and 14 so I'm sure you get that picture and my full siblings our bond gets stronger as the years go by.

I was born and raised on the outskirts of Philadelphia and knew slim to nothing about agriculture and where my food came from. I knew mom went to the grocery store once a week and brought home food, so needless to say I didn't know if machines made it all or heck maybe elves or something made all the food behind those doors we weren't allowed though in those bog ole grocery stores. Who knows nor did I even care at the time. I wasn't thankful for the hands who grew my food and I was ignorant about agriculture. I didn't think it pertained to me but I soon came to realization that it pertained to me more than anything else in this world. 

At the age of 13 and with no say on this life changing event, my mother and step-dad sat us three kids down and told us we were moving to the country. Silence for a few moments then the questions started rolling!! They had this look in their face that something wasn't right and that sparkle in the eye from a few tears not from being happy. They told us that our Grandparent's needed all of our support on the farm to help lift them up through this very difficult chapter in their lives. I honestly had know idea what to think or say I was dumbfounded (I didn't know that word then).

My Grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer and that was my mother's calling to head back to the farm life after 20 plus years in the city. I was not happy at all about this transition I quit the swim team, I was scared I wouldn't make any friends because I was a city girl showing up to this little school surrounded by nothing but fields. The first couple years were rough but I was old enough to suck it up and help my grandparents on their Dairy Farm. I learned to milk cows, feed calves, I learned what responsibility and a good work ethic was but most importantly that's when I started realizing that those beautiful gentle cows and that hardworking and dedicated farmer I called Poppop they.... THEY were and ARE the reason I was able to have ice cream before bed, milk in my cereal before school and a cheese stick as an after school snack. I had no idea there was that much time, money, sweat, and tears put into just one glass of milk. 

With the move, my grandparent's were able to have my mother and stepfather's support and help from the whole family to guide them through this rough time in their lives. I am very thankful, everyday, to say that she is now cancer free but there's always that fear of it coming back. 

Like I mentioned earlier I am 23, so 10 years has gone by since I became a country girl and so many events have led up to me creating his blog.
Such events include....
My grandfather being my inspiration and role model
Joining the Dairy Princess Court
Becoming The Pennsylvania Dairy Princess
Traveling the states to tour different commodities in AG
Attending Delaware Valley College 
Attending numerous conferences and seminars
Understanding how misconceptions erupt
Knowing and being on both sides of that table
...And much more...

I graduated from college in May of 2014 with a BA in (are you ready for it the tittle is looong!!!) Animal Science specializing in Livestock Sciences and Management and minoring in Dairy Science (whooo don't try saying that in all one breath) and I have grown to love (and when I mean love I mean favorite animal is a cow, I have lots of stuffed cows, cow blankets, cow coffee mugs, pictures, necklaces, earrings, I collect milk bottles and butter churns... OKAY you get the picture) and have so much passion for dairy cows and the industry that in June 2014 I became a full time Dairy Farmer working for my Grandfather as his Herds-woman/manager. And I absolutely love it this was my calling :)

This blog, "The Barn Window", will be about my life on the farm, from my eyes to your ears. I know what the disconnect feels like I was once in many people's shoes and now I know the truth and I want to be able to share it with you. Just thinking about what I just typed gives me goose bumps because that's just how much I care about you all knowing the truth and nothing but! I love educating the community, I love sharing facts and talking about what us farmers do and I really hope you enjoy and and share what you hear and see through THE BARN WINDOW. 

Enjoy and God Bless <3
~The Barn Window