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Last night was a typical Thursday night for me. I went to aerobics, got home, made dinner and sat down to watch one of my favorite TV shows as well as many of my fellow co-workers here at EDJE, ‘The Office’ on NBC. Every Friday morning when we get to work we quote some of our favorite sayings and happenings that occurred on ‘The Office’ the night before. In the opening scene of ‘The Office’ last night, Jim wrapped Dwight’s entire desk and all of his belongings in wrapping paper as a practical joke, which I found to be extremely hilarious!! When Dwight saw his desk and asked Jim how he did this so fast before the work day, Jim said, “I’m a black belt in gift wrapping.” Dwight replied, “They don’t give out black belts for things that are stupid.” Jim is a jokester on the show and quite a smartalec towards Dwight, and Dwight is in his own world, a know it all, making a good target for Jim.

I knew one of my fellow cattle team members, Jay, would think it was just as funny as I did. Since Jay and I are always pranking each other and joking back and forth, I decided it would be so much funnier instead of talking about this scene the next morning, to actually wrap his desk in wrapping paper to see his reaction when he walked in the door, as well as provide a little entertainment for the office here at EDJE. I’m one of the early birds here at EDJE, so after Jimmy got here in the morning, I asked him if he had watched ‘The Office’ the night before. He said, “Yeah” and chuckled. I told him I thought it would be so funny to see Jay’s reaction if I wrapped his desk in wrapping paper as Jim did to Dwight. He agreed. So off to Wal-Mart I went to get some wrapping paper. I got back to the office and Jimmy and I started wrapping Jay’s desk. Most of my co-workers knew exactly where the idea came. We’re all still anxiously awaiting Jay’s arrival!!! I know it will be priceless!! Happy Holidays from all of us office lovers here at EDJE!!

So it is that time when I'm suppose to blog. That is right they are actually going to let me blog about something!!! Whoooooaa put on your reading glasses and let’s take a ride!

Well first off I better start off with an introduction. I'm Jen Smith, reigning from Estherville, Iowa! I started working at EDJE 11.5 months ago, so merely breaking a year here, and has it been a ride to remember. Yes I'm the only farm girl in the office so I have to stick up for myself when it comes to the Cyclones vs. Hawkeye’s. Pssh, we all know that the Clones are the better team!

 I started at Edje last November working as the EDJEcast office technician! Me being the farm girl/untechinal person I am was a bit scared to say the least! I have now come to realize that we all should have a DSL or T1 Fiber connection. For those of you that don't know what that is.... yeah don't worry I had no idea either!! I thought DSL those are my dads’ initials. So here is the down-low on internet connections if you have a DSL or T1 Fiber connection, you are flying high and should be able to get all EDJEcasts without a problem. Now if you have a satellite, cable, and wireless broadband....well lets just say the 1990's called and wanted it back... meaning it is slower then molasses in January. However, not all locations can get the high speed connections if you are out in the boonies! You sluggers just hang in there better times are ahead of ya :)

Come June I got moved on to the cattle team which was really exciting to me! I love going to cattle shows and most of all going home to work on my family cow-calf operation. Now that I'm officially on the cattle team I'm the person that gets asked all cattle questions that the rest of my glorious cattle team members don't know. But then they actually went to school for designing so they get to help me with all my blonde questions I ask them on a day to day basis... or sometimes hourly to hourly!!

This past winter was the first time I have never been home to help calve out cows, and O Buddy did I miss it!! I mean there are some things that non-farm kids don't get to experience such as getting up at 12-2-4 in the a.m. and then staying up from 6 till 10. It is a great time; let me tell ya, it usually brings out the best in family members too.  I mean there is nothing better then watching your dad run around a pen with a cow hot on his trail! It is hilarious, maybe the best part of the whole calving situation. Plus, I mean really who gets to experience a c-section and getting in there and sticking your hands in places that probably shouldn’t be mentioned on such a public blog! One of my good friends watched as his child was born and the nurses couldn’t believe he made it through the whole thing without fainting/passing out from not eating all day! He simply told them if they only knew what he has seen in his days calving out cows!!

May was a scary month in Iowa, holy COWS did we have lots of tornado warnings and floods around this neck of the woods!! Not good, but could have been a lot worse I guess! This past summer May-August, was like wedding awareness summer for me! I mean I love the meaning of weddings and all don’t get me wrong but every weekend in the summer can get a bit excessive!! Wowzers! The one weekend I did have free I got to O so graciously go to the national goat show for a week, for work!! O Lordy, was that an experience. Let’s just say that cattle shows are a lot different and when I mean different. I’m thinking like these goat shows are like sheep shows… boy was I wrong, most of these goats don’t walk they prefer to just let there owner drag them around or dolly them around on carts. This down right cracked me up! Also, they are in the barn like an hour before the show and are gone when they are done showing for the day or the show is over. This was stunning to me at a cattle show you usually get up at a mere 3:30 or 4:00 in the a.m. Wash the 7 head you brought to the show which at this time you are thinking is about a mere 5 head to many, when you didn’t go to bed till 2:30. “Because you were out networking”!  Then you feed them, and blow them out which takes anywhere from half hour to 1.5 depending on the type of hair coat they have overlaying there goods! Then the cattle rest, next you fit them, show them, break them down, wash them, blow them. Get my drift! SHOW DAY FOR CATTLE SHOWS IS AN ALL DAY NEVER ENDING EXTRAVAGANZA! This leads you into the Iowa State Fair, which every farm kid in Iowa looks forward too! Which by the grace of God my best friend Sara’s’ little brother won both the heifer and steer show this year.

This fall has been busy busy busy with EDJEcasts, and then going home to help with my families own sale among other things!!! Well this brings my story telling for the first year at EDJE to a closing for now!

Also, if you haven’t noticed I like to keep my life full of laughter and jokes, sitting at a computer all day can get pretty boring unless you have a good sense of humor. Thanks to my co-worker/roomie we keep Ed and the Edje office a hopping!

Well better get back on the saddle, and get some things done!!

It’s that time of year again!  The weather is changing; the leaves will soon be changing, and finally, its football season! 

Along with the fall season come many outstanding cattle sales, and what better way to promote these sales than to showcase the cattle and all of their information in an EDJE Online Sale Catalog.

At EDJE, we can take the PDF of your sale catalog and make some magic!  The designers at EDJE copy and paste all of the footnotes, EPDs and descriptions from your catalog and place them in an online database that generates our EDJE "Sort & Search" view.  In this view, prospective buyers can take a look at the cattle in your sale before they ever step foot in your sale barn!  The lots are searchable by sire name, EPDs, consignors and more. 

EDJE then takes that same PDF and creates our stunning "Dynamic" view.  By "dynamic" we simply mean that the pages actually flip just like you were holding the sale catalog in your hands.  With this view you get to see EXACTLY what the catalog looks like, and again, way before even going to the sale.  If you haven't seen this view, you should really check it out! 

You get both the "Sort & Search" and "Dynamic" views when you purchase an EDJE Online Catalog!  EDJE is revolutionizing the way catalogs are viewed online! 

If you are interested in EDJE Online Sale Catalogs, please click here or go to http://www.edjesales.com/ to view upcoming sales and catalogs we have completed. If you would like information of all of our EDJE products, please visit our website: www.edje.com.

Bar R Cattle Co. may have been established in 2006 but are by no means new to the cattle business. They had been assisting Alicia’s father (AAA Farms) and having their daughters show in Missouri until moving to Iowa. Living here they offer an ever growing selection of carefully selected genetics to enhance your show experience as well as offering productive males and females to throw vigorous, correct and productive calves for the sale barn or to retain as future breeding stock.
 
Bar R Cattle Co. looks forward to talking with you if you have any questions or comments don’t hesitate to contact them. If you are in the SE Iowa area, stop by the barn or you can visit them online at www.barrcattle.com!!

Announcing a whole new look for the American Maine-Anjou Association!

All three of the AMAA sites have been re-designed!

The AMAA's site offers cutting-edge services like Online Billing, and Online Membership Registration as well as much more.

AMAA Juniors can keep up on what's going on and all the latest show results on the AJMAA site.

Upgrades to the AMA Voice site include the current issue available in dynamic "page flip" view as well as the new AI Sire Book in this new and exciting format.

If you get a chance, take a look at these three unique sites!

www.maine-anjou.org
www.maine-anjou.org/junior 
www.amavoice.com 

Amber Martin
EDJE Technologies
Cattle Team

The Southwest Lowline Angus Breeders Association or SLABA for short is an organization that strives to promote the Lowline Angus breed.  SLABA's club mandate also includes education about the Lowline breed, setting ideals for their cattle and their members and working together to build a strong market and a trusted product.

If you've never seen a Lowline Angus, I encourage you to check out the photo gallery on the site.  These cattle are often referred to as "mini cows," and I'm sure you'll see why.  Because of this fact, Lowlines are ideal cattle for smaller acerages and are also exceptional cattle for children or 4-H projects.

Check out the SLABA members page to find a Lowline breeder!

"The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious."

When starting on a re-design for DP Sales Management, Holli Parke asked that I use this quote as the opening of a flash enter page for their new look.  Along with this great quote came a group of great photos and the new look of DP Sales was born. 

DP Sales Management is a family owned & run business that offers a multitude of services such as sale consulting, herd management, purchasing & marketing as well as sale management.  If you are in need of any of these services, look no further.  DP Sales Management can handle all of your needs. Call them for a listing!

DP Sales Management's new site also features the great success of Holli Parke's HTP Simmentals.  Check out the HTP page for information on HTP winners, donors, sires and embryos!

Tulare County Stockyard, located in Dinuba, CA, sells all kinds of livestock including goats, sheep, pigs, horses, beef and dairy cattle. 

Tulare County Stockyard's new website provides information for their consignors including requirements, sale day schedules, selling commissions, transportation, market reports, special sales information, and directions to the stockyard.

Check out the Tulare County Stockyard at www.tularecountystockyard.com

Amber Martin
EDJE Technologies
Cattle Team