The Liebster Award

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A Blogging Award … How Cool?! This is more of a social award and a way to discover more about the bloggers you follow or may be interested in following. 

The award's origination and rules seem to change across different blogs I've found but nonetheless I'm still excited about it and would Love to Thank Laura @ My Life South Of The Mason-Dixon for nominating me for this Award.  

However, before I can accept this award, I must complete the 8 steps:

1. You must thank the person who nominated you for the award. (check)
2. You must write 11 facts/tidbits/things about yourself. (check)
3. You must answer the 11 questions that were given to you by your nominator. (check)
4. You must nominate 11 (I'm changing this to 5 which is what I've seen more in researching this 'award') other bloggers who have 200 or less followers and tag them in your acceptance post. (check)
5. You must create 11 new questions for your nominees to answer in their acceptance post. (check)
6. You must notify your 11 5 nominees on their blog so they can accept their reward and pay it forward. (check)
7. You can not nominate the person who nominated you. (check)
8. After all this is done, you may add the Liebster Award button to your blog. (I Won An Award!!)

11 Tidbits about MrsLauraBeth

1. I have 3 tattoos (and counting)
2. I love singing
3. I had an internship at a Psych hospital in college
4. I hate washing dishes by hand (praise the dishwasher)
5. I love the smell of Spring
6. I took a pig on a leash (yes the animal that snorts) to show&tell in 1^st Grade
7. I love to try new and different foods
8. I have never broken/sprained/fractured a bone in my body
9. I hate scary movies
10. I love watching lightning during a storm
11. I am kinda addicted to Social Media

11 Questions from Laura @ My Life South Of the Mason-Dixon 

Why did you start blogging?
• I started blogging as a way to remind myself what was happening in my life
1. What bothers you about humanity?
   • People who take advantage of the government. I got a good email today about people who abuse the welfare system. I use to work at a grocery store and it was frustrating to see all the people who abuse the money given to them essentially by tax payers. Here is a quote from the email forward “If hard work and success are met with higher taxes and more government intrusion, while not working is rewarded with EBT cards, WIC checks, Medicaid, subsidized housing, and free cell phones ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.”   
     • :: Just want to say :: I’m not against people who use these government services for the purpose they are intended for … But when I see Joe Blow down the street with 5 new vehicles and his wife has a new set of fake nails every week but yet their family has to be on every type of welfare possible I think someone just needs to teach them money management.  
2. One-piece or two-piece swimsuit?
   • Two-piece … hopefully my metabolism keeps up otherwise I'll have to start working out or wear a One-piece.






What was your favorite vacation?
• Paris, France. I took a Spring Break trip there 4 years ago during college … it was amazing and I hope I can have the opportunity to return there again.
What countries are your ancestors from?
• Mainly Norway and France
What is one of your prized possessions?
• My Wedding Ring. It is beautiful and everything I wanted, my hubby did a great job! 
Red or white wine?
• Red
What is your favorite dish to cook or bake?
• Any kind of Pasta, I have a favorite 4 cheese pasta bake that is super easy and super delicious! 
What is your go-to stress reliever?
• A glass of wine or a nap - I like a good walk too but in the middle of winter here in ND that isn't always possible. 
3. Have you had any celebrity encounters?
   • In high school my girlfriends and I met Billy Currington  :-)






What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?


• Oh wow, I don't really remember 15 that was 10 years ago! But one thing might be :: don't worry if you aren't doing well in Math class, in the real world they always let you use a calculator :-) 

11 Questions for My Nominees! 

1. If you could go anywhere in the world for a 'dream vaca' where would it be?
2. If money were no option what would you want to do (career wise) in your life?
3. Favorite food?
4. Country or City Life?
5. Heels or Flats?
6. Do you keep up on (newsworthy) current events?
7. What (3) Blogs do you read on a daily basis?
8. Beer or Wine?
9. Favorite weather Season & Why?
10. Do you have a Favorite photo you have taken? Can be of anything from anytime … If so Post it :-)
11. Favorite (current) TV Show?

My 5 Nominees 

• Lauren @ SLP Sooner or Later 
• Claudia @ Mr. E & Me 
• Jennifer @ Simplistic Living 
• Corie Fay @ This Life of Mine 
• Dana @ The Stansbery Blog 

I can't wait to read what my Nominees have to say and I hope you will follow these ladies too!! 

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2013 Agriculturalist of the Year

And the award goes to ::: Argil Froemke!! Argil is usually referred to as Grandpa in our house; he is Steven’s maternal grandpa and we are so very proud of him.

Every year for the past 49 years the Crop and Livestock Improvement Association have a banquet where an Agriculturalist from Ransom County is chosen for the amazing things they have done for Ag!! The person selected must apply to get nominated (the app is usually done by a family member or someone close to the nominee) and then there is a selection process, the applications for nomination will stay in consideration until the person gets picked or passes away; Grandpa’s app was put in last year by a few sneaky people. The award is a surprise to the recipient (that is if people can keep their mouth shut – small towns and all) and this year we did a good job of keeping the secret because Grandpa & Grandma were totally surprised.

This is an award I hope to see my father-in-law and husband win sometime in their lifetime. Steve’s Great-Grandpa and Grandpa Rotenberger have both received the Title of Agriculturalist of the Year in 2001 and 2004 respectively so it would be neat to have all the Rotenberger men carry this title.

After the award winner is announced there is supper and then entertainment. This year was nationally known motivational speaker Renee Rongen. I thought she was hilarious and had a great message about legacy and what impact you are having on the people in your life.

Here is the what was read at the Ag Banquet to announce Grandpa as the recipient:

The 2013 Agriculturalist of the Year recipient was born on December 23, 1928 and grew up in the Shenford Township.  He was the youngest of 5 children and grew up on the family farm that was homesteaded by his grandfather in 1881 and is the current site of where he and his wife reside.  While growing up they raised beef and dairy cattle, chickens and hogs, they also farmed 350+ acres.  They used horses mostly to get their farming done.  When he was 17 he started farming with his dad and brother.  In 1950 during the Korean Conflict he joined the armed forces through 1952.  When he returned home to the farm he began helping his father and brother until his brother bought his own farm.  On January 23, 1955 he married the love of his life and that year they took over the farm from his dad.

The first year of farming on their own; it was one of the driest years they could recall living through.  The wind blew the sandy soil around and he had to replant his crops several times.  At this time there was only 1 tree on the farm and since this they have planted several trees around the farmstead and throughout many of their fields.  They also raised 150 beef cows, and fed out around 600 head of beef steers and hogs each year.

From 1957 to 1962 the farm served as an experimental Irrigation Farm.  It was one of three farms chosen in the state by the Bureau of Reclamation for an experiment in flood irrigation practices.  This program was backed by the Garrison Diversion.  They experimented with this type of irrigation practice on crops such as corn and sugar beets.  The farm was the first irrigation farm in Ransom County and today you can still see some of the ditches for the flood irrigation around the farm.  From the irrigation ditches they eventually moved into the traveling guns and then onto sprinkler systems.  

They sold their first plow they bought and are working their way into No Tilling.  They have planted over 11,000 feet of shelter belts around the original 350 acres of the family owned farmland and homestead.

The Agriculturalist of the Year began his education in a rural Shenford Township School, and then attended Lisbon High School.  Today he still has his hands in the operation, but has turned most of the work over to his two sons.  They still farm the original 350 acres as well as rented cropland.  Their crop rotation consists mainly of corn and soybeans. 

His community involvement includes serving on the Shenford Township Board for many years, President of the Anselm Lutheran Church, Sheldon’s Lions Club Member, and member of the Garrison Diversion Board for 25 years.

Argil Froemke and his wife Holly have 6 children, 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.  Their children include Ricky who passed away in 1968 from cancer, Kim and his wife Janet and their family, Kerry and his wife Jodi and their family, Kristen and her husband Fred Schultz and their family live in Truckee, CA, Brett who resides in Williston, and Lynn Rotenberger and her family.

Please help me congratulate the 2013 Agriculturalist of the Year Argil and Holly Froemke.