Bragging Rights

So, I know that it isn't good to brag, but just for a minute I have to tell you about my amazing little sister. She is beautiful, smart, kind, a great listener, and had four tassles to choose from to wear for graduation. Rachel Corn is really an incredible girl and I am glad I get to call her my little sister.

We had the opportunity over labor day weekend to travel to Oregon to watch her deliver her Valedictorian speech and accept her high school diploma. I can't believe she is old enough, but am excited for her. She will be attending BYU in the fall and it will be fun to have her closer. I can't wait to see what she 'grows up' to be and maybe my parents will come down and visit more often with their three youngest in Utah?

The weekend was again a lot of fun and full of parties. One of the highlights was the hay ride my dad took all of us ladies and grandkids on Monday at our picnic. We traveled around the big KSD field on the highway with the old John Deere tractor pulling the wagon covered with straw. I told all of the grandkids that their were alligators that lived in the drain ditch, and some of them thought they saw them too.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

GRADUATION

Justin and I the morning of graduation! I get a kick out of the guy in the background.


My amazing in-laws and us. They brougth tables, chairs, and chips for our party and drove from Kamas, and have always been so supportive of us in whatever we need.


My incredible parents who I owe so much too! Thank you so much for your example and support.


These two ladies are only the two coolest grandmas I know! Thanks for coming to graduation and always spoiling me!


This is my oldest sister Amanda who is ten years older than me and also graduated from Utah State with her degree in Agriculture Education.

The whole day was busy, fun, and full of memories. We had a large party at our home and ate sloppy joes, lots of salads, and yummy desserts. It ended with Robbie taking my niece, my sister, and my MOM on a motorcycle ride. Graduation was great!





This made us all smile!







Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Why I Love John Deere

My grandfather recently passed away on May 4, 2011. My 'Papa' as we called him growing up was a huge example to me of honesty, hard work, integrity, taking care of what you own, where there is a will, there is always a way, and that family is the most important thing we have on this earth, oh- and that John Deere tractors are the coolest things on the planet. This last statement causes me to believe that he is partly responsible for me and my husband meeting and having so much in common.

You see, my grandfather loved tractors, old, new, and especially John Deere. If you have ever been to my home, you would quickly shake your head in agreement with the statement that 'I too love John Deere tractors.' Justin and I actually met over an old crank start Allis Chalmers tractor on campus one day during club activities and I know that if I wouldn't have had the grandfather I did, I probably would have never went and tried to start that tractor that day.

I remember going home one weekend and excitedly telling my Papa about trying to start the tractor and about the really great guy I met in the process. He thought that is was pretty cool and was really concerned that I needed to be careful because "Those crank start tractors can easily spring back on you and break your arm."

Justin and I both love John Deere tractors, and for Justin logging equipment. I am sure we will have to take a family picture once or twice in all John Deere paraphanelia.

You will notice in this picture that an old John Deere tractor and 3 Hollingsworth dealership service trucks are leading the hearse up the hill to the cemetary. In front of these (you can't see it because it is already at the top) was an 8530 (a big new) John Deere tractor. This was really an awesome moment as I watched the tractors drive up the hill, it was like my Grandpa leading the whole way.



I will miss my grandpa terribly, but I know that I will see him again someday. I am so grateful for the life he lived, the love he shared, and the lessons he taught. I also know that I am part of his legacy that will carry on, and my children will be and so on. I hope to teach them part of what he taught me.

He loved trees as well, and so in memory of him we planted a baby pine tree along HWY 201 to Nyssa, OR. This is our family.


Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Bachelors of Science Degree

B.S. - Great initials to follow your name.

Yep, that is right... I am going to be a college graduate in a little over 8 days. Notice in the invite it says we are 'ECSTATIC'. Its true. Justin will be done in December. I can't believe we are almost there, but am so grateful we are.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Wanna buy a basket?

Since I have been student teaching the last few months, I had the opportunity to also coach the Ag Sales Team for Sky View FFA. It was a blast and these students rock! It was funny, because I was so nervous at the contest for them, but it turned out great and they all made atleast one sale to their judges.

For this contest, students have to choose an agricultural product they would like to sell and then develop a brochure and sales demonstration. They also take a test on sales information and participate in a team activity selling a product.



They decided to sell produce baskets from 'Sky Gate Gardens'. It was a spin off of Bountiful Baskets that focuses on Utah's Own produce. (No it's not real, it was made up, but could be a cool idea) This team placed *GOLD* in the State Contest and I hope learned a lot in the process, I know I did.

Career Development Events are one of the best things about being an Ag Teacher. You get to work with students in developing real life skills and the actual contests are always fun.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

69,168 Feet, Here I Come!

This last weekend I had the opportunity to go to SLC with my older sister Mary and be her race 'mom'. Aka, get her where she needed to be, take pictures, give her snacks, water, etc. It was a blast and she did a fantastic job.

Races, whether they be a 5k or a half-marathon are awesome. To see so many people rise at the wee hours of the morning to get out there and push themselves to accomplish something that is hard. The energy it creates is so fun and can't necessarily be described.

I ran the same half-marathon back in 2008 and have since been wanting to do another. This summer, will be that time.

My goal- To run the Top of Utah Half-Marathon on August 27.


Me finishing the half-marathon.

That will be 69,168 feet or 13.1 miles. I have a lot of ground to cover before I get there. But I can't wait! I will update on my progress.


After pictures from 2008.....

I used to think it was hard just to run for 20 minutes. :)

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Senior Project Breakfast

I have posted a couple of times on Justin's senior project and its workings. Well, all of his hard work finally came to fruition as he presented his project on Thursday, April 14, at the ASTE building on USU's campus.

Parents, classmates, professors, and students came to see the efforts of all of those in the Senior project classes. Justin's parents and older brother also came to see his project. The professor, Dr. Beard, had a breakfast for all who came and then we wandered through the different projects and asked questions of the presenters.


Justin's brother Ben, Parents Barry & Jamie, and Justin and Me.


This was the professor, Dr. Beard, who was in charge of the class. He was very particular on what he expected of the projects and the write-ups. He was also very helpful in the design process. He also made fresh salsa for the breakfast, it was awesome.



Justin's new logo for his saw mill. His hometeaching companion is a Graphic Design major. He heard about Justin's project and asked if he could do a design for him. Of course Justin said sure and told him his original idea of "Woodchuck Sawmills." Logan took the idea and ran with it. What he came up with was much better than just "Woodchuck Sawmills"

His idea 'Chuck- portable sawmill systems' We loved it. Very clean and fresh.


This classmates project was a very nice, spacious dog house for his 14 year old dog. Anthony Barinaga is my younger brother's roommate and 'Raven' (the dog) made a special trip from Rupert, Idaho that morning to show everyone just how the dog house would work out.


This is Kevin (my brother), Sam Day (Kevin's old roomate and our good friend), and Anthony. Great guys that we have had a lot of fun with this semester. Thanks Kevin and Sam for coming to support us!

Justin is hoping to use this sawmill for some great summer projects. I am so proud of him and now, only one more semester to go until graduation!




Justin and Ruth Blazzard