Cowboy Case

Case loves animals. Especially cows. Last night, when I took these pictures, he was playing with the calves, throwing hay into their feeders and our smallest heifer would nudge his hand with her nose and he thought it was so funny. I love watching him play with the animals. I love that he loves animals.

Teacher Turn the Key award 2009

The National Association of Agricultural Educators, Inc.
300 Garrigus Building · Lexington, KY 40546-0215 · www.naae.org


News Release
For More Information:
Julie Fritsch, Communications/ Marketing Coordinator
jfritsch.naae@uky.edu
Phone: (859) 257-2224
Fax: (859) 323-3919

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- NOVEMBER 2009

Duncan Agriculture Teacher Selected for Educator Award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Caitlin McSpadden, agricultural educator at Duncan High School in Duncan, Ariz., is one of 47 individuals nationwide who received the Teachers Turn the Key Award, given November 21st at the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) annual convention in Nashville, Tenn.
The Teachers Turn the Key Award program (TTTK) is a scholarship to allow early career agricultural educators to attend the annual NAAE convention, giving them an opportunity to become involved with their professional association on a national level. TTTK participants take part in a special programming geared toward early career agricultural educators.
McSpadden has taught at Duncan High School since March 2007. She believes in incorporating life lessons into her teaching. After learning about sustainable agriculture, students created a farmer’s market that they furnish with plants from the department greenhouse. McSpadden has partnered with many local businesses and organizations to increase awareness of agriculture and the agriculture program in the community. A billboard that resulted from a partnership with the local Cattleman’s association welcomes visitors to the community. Her program hosts an eighth grade recruitment event to promote agriculture classes, and a silent auction she started her first year at the county fair raises funds for FFA activities.
“As an educator, I believe that every student in every class has the opportunity every day to succeed and learn in a dynamic and fun environment that encourages leadership,” said McSpadden.
Each of the Teachers Turn the Key winners received a plaque and a scholarship to cover convention registration, travel expenses, and housing during the NAAE convention. Dodge sponsors the TTTK program as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
NAAE is the professional association for agricultural educators. The mission of NAAE is “professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy, and service.” The NAAE office is located in Lexington, Ky.
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just us

We made the trek to Tucson for thanksgiving and spent time with my family. I took some pics of us just relaxing on the back porch, something we seldom do.

Case and Ila on Thanksgiving

Case and Ila, or "I" as he calls her, had a fun time playing together at my parents on Thanksgiving. My brother, tyler caught some pictures of them playing outside together.

Playing together in Ila's boat

Ila loves playing with Case, so much that she has to have him in a headlock whenever he trys to escape.

boots and the boys who wear them

Case is such a little cowboy. He rides horses, chases chickens and cows, pulls in kitty-cats tails and butts heads with the do-goat (our goat who thinks he is a dog). He has started wearing my boots, and I caught some pretty sweet pictures today!

I am pretty sure we are going to get Case his own pair of boots this year for Christmas!

many things can be hats

The other day we went to walmart and I got a mop and bucket combo. Case thought the mop strainer made a good hat, and he told me all the way home about his "hat"

future owner of McSpadden Ford

McSpaddens' this one is for you!

herding chickens

Case loves animals. Especially his chickens, and he loves to herd them with his herding stick.

Here he is stopping the hen from passing

and chasing the rooster around the yard

Teacher Turn the Key Recognition at 2009 National FFA Convention

This a bit late for posting, but I have been pretty busy.

This summer I was nominated and awarded a National teaching award for 1st - 3rd year Ag teachers, called the Teacher Turn The Key award, or TTTK in short key. TTTK is a scholarship program that allows new teachers to have the opportunity to travel (all expenses paid) to the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) convention and attend some awesome professional development workshops to become a top notch teacher. In addition to the professional development workshops, I will also attend special sessions only for the award winners throughout my week in NASHVILLE at the GAYLORD OPRYLAND HOTEL (only capitolized to share my excitement) as well as some fun activities during my entire WEEK away from home! I am quite excited if you can't tell!

Besides the point however, I was recently selected by the NAAE to do the "NAAE greetings" during the 5th session at the National FFA Convention in front of about ohh, 1,000 students. No big deal ya know... haha! just kidding! The President of the NAAE spoke about me and what a fantastic job I do as a teacher and then they showed my picture and stuff up on the big screen. Luckily, I had my FFA president take some pictures as well, so here are two for you to see!

Being recognized above, there were 3 of us teachers recognized out of 50 teachers nation-wide

The 3 of us teachers - the lady on the left is from Alabama, the guy in the middle from Missouri and me, from Arizona!

I will be gone in Nashville from November 16 - November 21, so I will take lots of pictures and you can be excited for me!

a red roof is a beautiful roof!

Case has started "smiling" for the camera and he is pretty silly. He also loves to play with eartags and pretends to put them in his ears and everyone who will let him get near their ears!

Case was a pretty good helper when it was warm enough to go outside!

Eric is Mr. Stunt Man himself. You wouldn't catch me standing like this on a sloped roof, but Eric has been on the roof nearly the entire time! Yay Eric!

Beginning the other side (North side)

The finished front of the house

starting off below

We put on our metal roof this weekend with the help of Udon, Kim and Rueben. Honestly I didn't do anything but cook and watch Case, but everyone else has done a fantastic job!

Alamogordo trip

Last weekend, my gramma Vergie got pretty sick so Case and I drove over to see her in Alamogordo which is about a 3 hour drive from our house. We were able to catch up with family and visit over lunch as well. Here are some pictures I caught during the day.

Uncle Rob is quite a talented singer/song writer. My aunt bobbie calls him her own personal George Strait. He is holding his grandaughter Kylee. Both Kylee and Case are facsinated with music, so they were both helping Uncle Rob play the guitar.

Here is a good pic of Gramma Vergie and Case, listening to Uncle Rob play some music

again, Case thinks that guitars are pretty cool. Then again, music runs pretty deep on both sides of my family, it just skipped a generation with me I guess.

Case always thinks he "needs" in the fridge. He will run up to it pulling on the door yelling, "Peezz, need!!!" (aka please need) Here he was helping Gramma Karen get some grapes for a snack.

The cutest picture of all. My grandparents have this tractor sprinkler and Case was persistent in trying to ride it and get it to go. Looks to me like he needs a riding tractor for Christmas.. even my grandma said so.

As I write this blog today, my gramma vergie is still not up to par, and probably won't be getting any better. She needs a lot of prayer, my grandpa needs guidance and my family needs wisdom.

Oh how I hate skunks

why is it that skunks are taking over the world? Aren't they varmints? doesn't that mean you can shoot them whenever you darn well please?

well, here in Greenlee County, they are taking over. I kid you not, everyday, no really, EVERYDAY on my way to school I see at least 3 dead skunks on the road. Every night on my way home at least 1 runs across the road. Well, to add to this disgusting stinkiness, we have had a resident skunk on our farm over the past week. I don't usually mind when we have animal visitors, in fact I enjoy seein the toads and the various species of birds. I could live without the snakes and spiders and I absoultley despise the skunks.

Tonight I arrived home to a putrid, rancid stench of skunk. I knew he was close by as I started towards the door, as I got closer, both dogs, Pancho and Clyde stopped in their tracks and even Choco the Goat quit moving. I knew I better make a run for it before I got sprayed. Luckily, I made it in the house and immediately Eric asked, "where is he?" Turns out I wasn't as lucky as I thought. Darn. Hopefully I don't smell like rotten garlic/onions and permanent markers tommorrow, that is not the scent of a rockstar. (besides the point, but tomorrow is rockstar day for our spirit week)

So here goes the story:

Eric says come on, we are going to kill this skunk and you are to hold the flashlight. Now let me tell you, I hate being the flashlight girl, because regardless of what we are killing (last week it was a rattlesnake, tonight, a skunk) I ALWAYS have to STAND STILL NEXT TO THE ANIMAL. Not fun!!

Luckily, Eric is a pretty good shot and once we located the skunk, which happened to have been very comfortable under neath Cases' jogging stroller... another location I don't need perfume de skunk... he shot it directly between the eyes! Yay! One skunk down and hopefully that is the last skunk at the house!!!

Pictures below: sorry, they are out of order

Step 5: haul skunk off with dogs on 4 wheeler. Pray they don't drag the rancid thing back to the house.

Step 4: Find pliers to carry the skunk to 4 wheeler. Note: I did offer up my precious and well taken care of fencing pliers. Thankfully, Eric found his in the farm truck.. thats right, he can have the skunk scented pliers.

Step 3: shoot skunk between the eyes on the first shot, so you don't have to shoot the nasty thing again. Sorry if you are grossed out by blood, but I need you to udnerstand how disgusting this is.

Step 2: skunk has been found, me serving as flashlight girl and camera girl, believe you me, its a tough job, but yes, someone has to do it.

Step 1:Looking for the skunk (sorry pics are out of order)

new camera!

yay! I got a new camera this past weekend, it is a canon powershot SD 1200 and is about the width of a candy bar and legnth of erics' blackberry, so small and compact! Plus, it is turqouise blue, so its fun and trendy!

anyhow, Case has been feeling pretty crummy,

yesterday I stayed home with him and we learned he had an ear infection, but after some antiobotics, he got better pretty quick.. here are some quick pics to show you what a cute little guy he is!

missing

well I feel that I have kind of abandoned my blog. not on purpose of course, but its pretty naked anymore. You see, I have been using my camera instead of the Ag camera for work because I like it better, and I so the other night I meant to bring my camera home and I don't remember if I did or not because now I cna't find it.

I do hope I find it soon, otherwise, I might have to get a new one, and my mom only got me that wonderful little canon powershot 2 christmases ago.

no fun.

mass update

so life has been incredibly busy during the start of the school year. This weekend is fair which is super busy around the McSpadden household. I have been working 14 and 15 hour days since Wednesday and its not about to stop until tomorrow. I should be cleaning the bathroom upstairs right now, but its been so long since I have wrote here, I almost forgot how!

We have been very busy with animals, the silent auction , rodeo queen contests and last night the junior rodeo, tonight the pro rodeo. I am very proud of my students this year, FFA is reeling in the awards - so far, my students have won the following:

• Reserve Grand Champion Lamb - Showmanship
• Reserve Grand Champion Steer - Showmanship
• Grand Champion Steer - Showmanship


• 1st place Market Steer
• 3rd place market steer
• 2nd place market steer
• 2nd place market lamb
• Reserve Grand Champion Hog
• 2nd place market hog
  

Thats just the animals, we also had kids win in the rodeo, and 2 of my students were in the rodeo queen contest, one winning the title, the other serving as first attendant. Needless to say, I have been pretty busy.

My babysitter, Rosemary, or as Case calls her, "NiNi" has really stepped it up this year and has been watching Case nearly through the entire fair. Last night she even took him on the itty bitty kid rides and won him some cool stuffed animals!

We watched the parade and took some pictures, overall, having a very fun time! As you see here my FFA kids with their entry, entitled " Everyone is a WINNER in Duncan FFA!" (the fair theme this year was, "everyone is a winner!")

Case enjoyed some applejacks in the back of the truck during the parade and he even got to pet a miniature horse too!

I'm starting a business

just wanted to let you all know that I am starting a little business for some spending money on the side. I am calling it HowdyK728 (name of my first dog, K (for Katee) and 728 (my birthday)) and I will specialize handmade cards, jewelry and metal art. I even am going to have an online store, on etsy.com but its not all set up yet. just FYI....

sometimes

sometimes when you either forget to do things or do things a little late, it makes others very mad.

dirty diapers

this morning Case took his daiper off and threw it outside of his crib. When I asked him why he took it off, he said "dirty" and pointed to it. Well, duh? why would I ask such a silly question.

looks like its time to get a little boy potty.

first big boy hair cut

he looks too grown up!

I learned a new word this morning

I learned a new word this morning, and another one yesterday. They are from the language of toddler. "Wa-Wa" is watermelon and "craka" is cracker. I am amazed at how fast this little boy of mine is growing!

eating dinner last night, really enjoying his cheese stick!

picking apples with me and Eric at Angle's Orchard on my birthday

driving dad's tractor.

showing me where his head is.. while eating pizza...

playing on a box in his room