Category: Fun

Advice for a Keynote…And it’s funny!

Today my good friend Shelly and I gave a keynote for Dunn Carney’s Ag Summit. It was such a great opportunity and we both really enjoyed ourselves.

I hope that folks got something from our message. I also have to say that preparing for something like this, as you would imagine includes quite the process. What to speak about, how to speak well together and inevitably how to look good while together up on stage.

So to expand more on the clothes part…we both have a sort of go to outfit that we know we both feel good in. We are farmers, so our business attire is far from vast! So we decided the night before, this is what we were going to look like…This photo was taken a few months ago at a farm bureau event at the same location as today. No big deal right?  Well here’s the kicker folks. We did not realize that this picture, these outfits would be used in the handbook passed out to everyone. So today we look EXACTLY the same as our photo. We are dying!!!! It’s hilarious!!!!!  But maybe it was on purpose, I mean you need to be recognizable and consistent in your story right?! (This was not on purpose hahahaha!)

So my advice…maybe try to mix it up a bit…and if you get caught with…hmm…the same pants on, you might as well own it!

The St. Paul Rodeo

Well it’s that time of year again.  People from all over, put on their dusty (or brand new) boots and head out to St. Paul, Oregon for a show that they will never forget.  The St. Paul Rodeo is celebrating 81 strong years.  img_1486In a town of only 322 it’s incredible that we can find the room to welcome over 60,000 folks on this weekend every year.  But it’s a family tradition that lasts generations for many, it’s a way of life for others, but for many of us it’s a weekend of reuniting with old friends, cheering on those brave enough for an 8 second ride, and celebrating our freedom and all that comes with the good ‘ol 4th of July.

IMG_4337

It’s flags flying and the pride you feel as Mary Ann Zielinski belts out the National Anthem more beautifully than you have ever heard.

It’s cold beer on a warm night.  It’s dusty and dirty, with BBQ sauce and elephant ears.  It’s carnival rides and parish chicken dinners.  It’s freedom and fun, maybe in the end it’s just a small taste of all that I love about America.

It’s also a testament to the hard work that this community is no stranger to.  From the ticket takers and beer pourers, to the firemen and EMTs, it’s all one big volunteer effort to keep everyone well fed, well hydrated, safe and having a great time!100_27971

Happy 4th of July everyone! Come on our and see us June 30th-July 4th!  You won’t regret it!

Photo Friday…Fkr or Frk…what?

Some of you may know the outcome of the minimum wage issue in Oregon (bill to increase the wage passed the House), some of you may care and some of you may not.  But for me, as a business owner and Oregonian, this is so annoying frustrating infuriating…unbelievable.  I could go on and on about how unions pushed this bill, how Democrats voted yea even though they admitted it was a bad bill for Oregon, or how protesters stormed the House floor even when they were getting what they wanted (because it still wasn’t enough).   But I don’t have the energy for a post about that today, I’m too tired with real life, real work, and dealing with real issues that fall on deaf ears at Legislature.  So instead I’m going to share this ridiculous photo, that I just noticed after looking at it on my desk for almost two years.

12735962_10100856612104379_775917461_nCan you see the mistake?  I always joke that I don’t know how to say my last name correctly…apparently I also don’t spell it correctly.  Happy Friday!

Sincerely, Brenda Frketich