Farm + Horse Camp 2019
My good friend Jolene and I always talk about the experiences our kiddos have when we visit family “on the farm”. Each summer they go visit her parents who farm and ranch in Montana and we head to horse camp in North Dakota. Both include a wealth of memories and fun things to do, so it was awesome when it finally worked out to meld the two together. And just like that Farm and Horse Camp was born.
We loaded up Jolene’s van with bags, snacks, and an iPad full of movies (just in case), and headed north to Montana. The kids all traveled well together and I think Jolene appreciated the company during the drive. There may have been a few episodes of car karaoke which sadly weren’t recorded.
Farm Camp in Montana
As you can see, we did all the farm things. We cooked large farm meals, we watched a combine being loaded on a trailer, we rode in a combine and a swather, we climbed on hay bails, we checked the cows, we checked the corn, we checked the hay, we visited a Great Grandma, we went on a scavenger hunt, and we rode the 4-wheelers. Even though it was a lot of time in the truck driving from one field to another, it was so fun to see and experience that lifestyle which is still very important to Jolene’s family. We can’t thank the Vaira’s enough for welcoming us into their home as if we were family.
Horse Camp in North Dakota
Next stop was horse camp where we did ride some horses. It was neat because Ava gets to see and help with cows at farm camp each year but this was the first time she got to ride on a horse. It was fun watching everyone in the arena. Even Jackson and I got to go for a ride and of course Jackson was sure to hop on the tractor with Uncle Mark any minute he could.
We were also able to add in another element of fun this year at horse camp. It just so happened that when we were planning our trip we checked the line up at the ND State Fair and were able to score some tickets to one of my favorite country singers, Tim McGraw. So during the day we took the kiddos to the rides and then we caught the concert with Flat Stephanie (thank you real Stephanie for staying home to hang out with the kiddos), Mark, Darcy and quite a few of their friends. It was a great time.
My kids will say that the best part of horse camp this year was the ND State Fair, but I think it was being able to visit the elders once again. My Auntie Irene and Auntie Pat are the closest thing I have to visiting my Grandma Myrna, so it is always wonderful to visit them, give them a squeeze, and hear their memories.
A huge thank you goes out not only to David and Peggy but to my Aunt Darcy and Uncle Mark. Our children will forever remember their memories from Farm and Horse Camp.
More Farm & Horse pics:
