National Convention 2015, in the books!

Although it seems the week has flown by, I had a blast in Pennsylvania this year for our Ayrshire Convention. On Tuesday I was so blessed in being a part of the National Winning Quiz Bowl team as well as seeing so many other youth younger and older compete in contests that will make them stronger leaders and all of us closer as the future leaders of our association. On Wednesday, we toured Mowrey Homestead Farm, visited flight 93 memorial, and ended our day at Hameau Farm. On Thursday the Annual Meeting was held, as well as many awards were presented for things such as All Americans and Production winners. That evening was the Annual Banquet where I gave up my title of National Ayrshire Queen and passed my crown on to the lovely Leann Van Der Lann of Fedrick, Oklahoma. Friday was the Grand National sale that averaged $3,060 thank you to all the buyers and consignors of all lots. Although this week was very hard  for me since I gave up my crown, I still had a blast I shared so many laughs with new and old friends. I hope to have set the bar as high as I could for the next Queen! But where one door closes another one opens. Love always. 

Xoxo

-Queen Kbar

I was so blessed to have met both of these young ladies this week! Lilly wants to be the National Queen someday, and I know she can do it!

I was trying my best to rock the plastic booties and KY blue dress. I pulled it off well, right?

This past year Leann has been the best princess a girl could ask for, I wish her nothing but the best during her year of reign!

Caden is my buddy from Maryland, I have known him since he was a small child, he always has a smile on his face and we share the same love for the beautiful Ayrshire cow!

Pennsylvania was such a gorgeous place to give up my crown. Much love to all who supported this convention. 

My Fairytale came true...

I woke up this morning and after thanking the Lord for another day I let my mind wander and I couldn’t help but think what was coming in a merely short three weeks it is a day that I have dreaded since last June and I haven’t wanted to think about it. Yet, it’s quickly approaching.

               If you know anything about Kailey Barlow, you are aware my absolute love for agriculture, it seems as if I always want the best for the industry and especially the animals and people in it. It was one short year ago on June 28th that my name was called for the 2014-15 National Ayrshire Queen. On that day I was flooded with emotion I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh so I decided to smile for the pictures and cry when I got back to the hotel.  Little did I know on that day that my journey was only beginning, what my goal had been ever since I knew about the Queen was to be that girl. I sat through many conventions in hopes that one day that crown would be mine, and here we are.  Dreams do come true and I will forever believe that. After a year full of pinning a crown on my head multiple times, giving numerous speeches, trying to keep my white sash spotless, and writing the “Queen’s Corner” article for the Ayrshire Digest, my fairytale is coming to an end soon but I keep reminding myself how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye this hard.  I consider myself so blessed to have been given the opportunity to advocate for agriculture and show my true love for what I do. Even though my reign will be over and I will crown the next National Ayrshire Queen, I wish her nothing but the best. I will forever hold the memories I have made and the friends that have stuck by my side through this crazy journey. Who ever knew a crown and sash could bring a girl so much happiness? Like I said before Cows and Crowns are my two favorite things in life.Not only do I make this blog to express my emotions towards the coming day, but to inspire each of you. Before this experience I was an ordinary girl and after this I will be again. I viewed it to be crazy during this year people wanted to talk to me about important things and wanted their picture with me, I felt special. And you are special too. Someone in the world wants to be you someday, they want to live your life. Here are a few things I have learned during my year that makes life easier and helps others on the way…

 -Be happy, so happy that others become happy when they see you. Happy girls are the prettiest.

- It's never to late to be who you want to be, have faith.

 -Not all superheroes wear capes, some wear work boots others wear stilettoes.

-If something scares you, you should try it

- They aren't perfect and neither are you.

-In the end everything will be okay, if it's not okay, it's not the end.

-On your worst days remember there was a guy that thought you were to die for, his name was Jesus

 

XOXO, Queen Kbar

It's June and do you know what that means?

As most teens find their favorite month to be that of their birthday so they can get their licenses or maybe it’s December so they can stock up on all the hottest things. My favorite month seems to stray off the beaten path. My favorite month is when all the dairy cows get the recognition they deserve. My favorite month is June, Dairy Month!

               Although I support each and every farmer or agricultural enthusiast in what they do, I have always been partial to dairy farmers. Yet, still many ask why should the WHOLE month of June be dedicated to dairy? Here’s 5 dairy facts that might help you understand why the 30 days of this month barely touch the recognition most farmers deserve.

 

5) The average human consumes 584 pounds of dairy products a year meaning if they live to the average life expectancy of 73 years (possibly varying a few) they will partake of 42,632 pounds of dairy products, that is a lot!

4) Dairy farmers don’t know what a “Day Off” is. They work all year around. If it’s 2 am and a cow is calving they go sit with her to make sure the calf arrives safe and sound. Even on Christmas morning, cows have to be milked. It is a true example of 24/7 365.

3) Dairy farmers work very hard to assure that milk is the freshest beverage in store. It goes from cow to the dairy aisle in two short days. If it wasn’t for hard working farmers, this would not be available to me and you.

2) Due to the caring characteristics of many dairy farmers, they spend their hard earned money to make life of the cows much more enjoyable by purchasing fans, or even pleasurable back-scratchers. These farmers don’t have to make these improvements yet they care so much about their four legged friends that they do. They will go without so their cows can have.

1) The last fact I have for you is this, Dairy Farmers do this because it’s what they love. They truly care about their animals and helping meet market standards. They aren’t people who make billions in fact most are just trying to make it by. Dairy farmers are in love with the hardworking hours they put in, and for that they should be commended.

 

          I will leave you with this to think about June Dairy Month is something I am grateful for because this industry means a lot more to me than just a cow. She’s not just a cow and they aren’t just a herd. They care about you when no one else does, they listen without complaining, and they are helping me achieve my dreams and leave a legacy. Thank You to all my fellow dairy farmers and Thank you to the Cows! Happy June Dairy Month from my farm to yours!

Not Your Ordinary Girl...

 It seems as if everyone is getting into this blogging thing and I thought I might should just take a try too! Kailey Barlow is my name most time referred to as K-Bar I was encouraged to start this and I wasn't quite sure why. Although my life is far from the "Normal" I wasn't sure why others would care about it. But after being told to time and time again, here I am. And I can only hope you find it as interesting, helpful, and inspiring as you can.  If you can’t tell from my pictures and such my background is Agriculture. My family raises registered dairy cattle in which at the young age that I am, I have already had the opportunity to own numerous All-American Ayrshires {K-Bar-Bee Genetics} That's me! My love for my four legged friends goes above and beyond! The experiences I have been given through cattle have forever changed my life, I am currently your 2014-2015 National Ayrshire Queen I guess you could say my two favorite things in life are Cows and Crowns. Through this blog I hope to share with you the adventures I have through my Queen Reign and showing cattle, it makes for a pretty interesting life that I thank God for every day, because honestly I'm not sure where I'd be without it being a little twisted...and Not Ordinary.

This is K-Bar-Bee Miss Priss and just as any farmer will tell you, it's hard to not love all your animals equally. Yet, if I were to have a favorite it would be her! She is one of my All Americans.
Photo By: Cybil Fisher Photography

 

 These are the goobers I can gladly call my best friends! Even though they are both younger than me, they inspire me to be better and always be someone they can look up too and count on! Thank you Brilee for being my sister queen and blogger!

It is thanks to these two amazing people that I can share my experiences with you! Their love for agriculture is what lit my fire! They travel thousands of miles every year and get called crazy on a daily basis but they are making my dreams come true! Thanks Mom and Dad!