We can all agree: the climate changes. We call this the change of seasons and they happen every year, to one degree or another. We can expect cold and snow in the winter, heat and severe thunder storms in the summer and a wider variety of weather in the spring and fall. Some things rarely change yet many whip up a frenzy when natural disasters inevitably occur.

Earlier this year, I visited our nation’s southern border. I knew there was a crisis there, but that visit opened my eyes to more instability and hardship than I had previously seen. Along the border wall at midnight, my colleagues and I spoke with dozens of illegal immigrants who had been detained. I was heartbroken to meet a little six-month-old baby sitting by the wall with her mother waiting to go to the processing center. I was told this was not an unusual occurrence.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the ribbons and trophies, but 4-H is about so much more than that. 4-H is a community.

We all know that exercise is great for our overall health. Exercise is important for our cardiovascular health of course, which is why the American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every week. No less importantly, and especially as we get older, another huge benefit of exercise is in fall and injury prevention.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of meeting with Candice Price, the owner of Home Team Auto Sales in Omaha. Candice traveled out to Washington to speak with her federal representatives about the challenges she’s faced as an entrepreneur and business owner. She and I hit it off immediately, and I was grateful for the many insights she shared with me. During that meeting, we came up with the idea to organize a roundtable with other female business owners in Omaha.

My son is a Boy Scout. Hopefully, he will become an Eagle Scout like his dad, his grandpa, his uncle, and not to mention eleven of the twelve men that walked on the moon. Whether he does or not, it has been an honor seeing the program help him and other boys mature into responsible young men.

Summer is a great time to enjoy tomatoes fresh off the vine. There are so many wonderful ways to enjoy tomatoes from a bacon, lettuce, tomato sandwich, to mixing them with mozzarella and balsamic glaze, to roasting them on the grill. Other ways might include omelets topped with tomatoes, a fresh salsa or putting them in a pasta salad.

When Volleyball Day in Nebraska was announced and tickets put on the market, we had an opportunity to take our entire family, but with schedules being schedules on a Wednesday night, we declined. Doggonit.

During the South Dakota Festival of Books, I listened to a group of five successful novelists discussing the art of writing and what they gained from creating those words. They all seemed to agree with journalist Malcolm Gladwell, who said that it takes some talent, but more importantly, about 10,000 hours of practice to become good at anything. They each also said that writing has given them joy and humor, an understanding about life and a sense of meaning.

Gardener are beginning to harvest the produce from the gardens they planted in May. One of the first vegetables to be harvested is cucumbers. Cucumbers are plentiful right now either from your home garden, at a farmer’s market, from your neighbors, or in the grocery stores. They are a welcome addition to meals this time of year and can be prepared in a variety of ways.