I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. We had a delicious prime rib dinner with pie and cobbler for dessert. Yum! We focused on those people and things in our life for which we are thankful. Bravely, I opted to serve dinner to the kids on our china and real glassware. Amazingly, not one item was broken!
Today, I am mentally gearing up for Christmas. Perusing a few on-line sales. Thinking about gifts for my husband and children. I haven’t solicited their Wish Lists yet, but I am sure those lists will revolve around technology. Handheld gaming devices, remote control vehicles, MP3 players, GPS units, etc.
Not only does technology have a huge impact on my family’s every day life, but it also streamlines the business side of the ranch. We use technology in so many different ways from tracking data in spreadsheets to using a handheld computer for our EID program.
Let’s kick off the holiday shopping season with a fabulous giveaway! Is there a piece of current technology that you can’t imagine living without? Leave a comment with your answer and you will be entered to win:
Are you ready for this?
Yes, an iPad!! I warned you that this was the Best Giveaway Ever.
Leave your comment before noon on Friday, December 2nd.
For the record, I can’t imagine being without my ever-present iPhone. I use it for everything: checking the weather, checking email, tracking grocery lists, entertaining the kids and even making the occasional phone call!
Beef Matters 
That’s a tough question. Technology allows me to work from home which is something I am most thankful for. It’s hard to narrow down which piece technology is most useful to me in that endeavor. I guess most central to this is the internet and its constant connection to the outside world through my laptop and cell phone
i love beef, and everything that goes with it, from the work that goes into raising calves to eatin a good steak, that all makes it worth the work you all put into it.
i also have a need for an ipad, i live where we dont have a phone and are far from town, we do have internet thats how im posting, this cool tool would be nice to have to call family that we dont get to talk to much and for the ones who dont have a computer, so it would be a nice gift to have, it would put a smile on my grandkids face to get a call from nana
thanks.
I cannot live without my smart phone. It keeps me organized and knows my next move before I do.
Technology is amazing in the fact that it helps my children learn whether it is listening to classic literature when they cannot read well or learning how to spell using a Leap Pad game by Leapster. When I schooled my children at home using an online public charter school for three years they happily watched animations on the computer teaching them different concepts before they went to work with their textbooks and workbooks. If they had difficulty learning certain concepts, they were able to jump online with their teacher and get help immediately.
By using computers, Ipads, Iphones, the WII, Leap Pad or Leapster games, or just “plain ‘ol computers” everyone learns! The WII provides exercise and hours of fun!
Technology makes it so we can see family from across the world or just around the block to visit and catch up on their lives.
My iphone keeps me on track with it’s calender; alarms wake me in the morning and remind me of my appointments, and the kids’ events. My iphone is my calculator when I’m grocery shopping and on a tight budget or when I am trying to figure a waitresses tip. My iphone works wonders when I am lost and can’t find the address I’m looking for. I just simply let it locate where I am and type in the address where I need to go. The little blue dot tells me where I am and I watch it to see that I’m going in the right direction. When I want to know what the weather will be in a few days, I look at an app on my Iphone.
This phone entertains me and my family with games and online shows to watch. Texting keeps me in touch with a sister who would rather text than talk LOL! 🙂 Texting makes it so I can talk to my 15 year old in a calm manner and I don’t have to hear the whine in her voice when she doesn’t agree with my decision.
The spreadsheets and data bases on the computer help us keep track of costs, calving, cattle numbers, vaccinations and what set of cattle are on which pasture. It brings my daughter and her father closer as they entertain themselves with online livestock judging contests between them. They can shop for the best billy goat online for their 4-H breeding projects or the best bull around for better quality cattle to improve our herd.
My daughter creates Jeopardy games using PowerPoint for her aunt, using the information she must learn for her National EMT tests.
However, on the other hand, I must point out that technology also makes it more difficult to parent three children. I have to be able to monitor their online presence, where they are going, who they are interacting with, what they are viewing. The world is a much larger place because of technology. It makes it easier to bully, be mean, and be invisible in the world. I have to decide if my child is mature enough to handle the responsibility of a cell phone or the ability to text, use the internet, or use the iphone that is always connected. . .
We use technology every day in one way or another and love it. It improves our lives in many ways and keeps us in touch with family and friends that we may not otherwise be fortunate enough to see and I’m looking forward to seeing how it will change in the future.
Technically, I guess also, if I had to narrow it down, I really depend on my Iphone for many things in my day to day endeavors. I would miss it if it was gone. But, I also feel like much of our technology today is a “luxury item” and if it was all gone, we would be ok. We would just go back to our “old” way of living. We would write letters on paper, learn from each other, pass stories down from generation to generation, and drive to someone’s home to visit them and see how they are doing. There would be no more instant gratification and our lives would slow down. Those of us who have current technology are very fortunate and I’m grateful for it every day.
The technology I can’t imagine being without is fiber-optic-to-the-home internet. We have had it almost 2 years and love it!
In our remote area of the world we have very very limited cell phone useage. The Hubby and I have a tracphone. We have NO other modern technology ie: smart phone, ipad, ipod/MP3, none. I guess you can’t miss what you don’t have, but please don’t mess with our fast internet!
my grandchildren are in there teens so electronics or money is there choice, I do have a 9 yr old grand daughter, she loves clothes and bling.
my smartphone
i think technology wise i could not live without my ipod touch! my ipod has changd my life for the better! i love listening to music for hours on end without the battery getting low! i do not have a cell phone plan soo use my ipod to text and let me tell you….ITS FREE! free texting is the wayy to go! I also love the internet on it and all of the educational resources it holds! The ipod touch is an amazing invention and a lifesaver!!! Thanks so much for the chance to win an Ipad i would love to own one!
One item i can not live without would be my verizon smartphone! i use mine everywhere i go, whether its work or n event it is always at my side! i use the calender and every app relates to me and my life, it keeps my life working smoothly and easily! i dont know what i would do without it! Thank youso much for the opportunity to win this! i would love to own an ipad for my family it would be the biggest christmas present ever! I love to give my family the best and only the best and this would be it! Hope i win and good luck to everyone! 😀
My cell phone. Can’t leave home without it!
I like my itouch the very best. It plays games, has wifi, and music.
Old fashioned…. T.V.
i like laptop so i can do my homework online.
I would love an IPAD for my classroom and to use on the ranch. Tracking market prices is great with these!
I could not do without my laptop. Shopping, recipes, research and many other uses. It makes my life easier!
Wow, what a give-away! Thank you so much~ Where would we be without technology? I must say that as a non traditional student, the internet is the most important piece of technology that I use. It keeps us connected and when used correctly, is a enourmous source of information!
Until there is an app for smartphones that can temp a steak, i will have to go with my temperature sensing BBQ fork!!!
I could not live without my wiifi hot spot. I love it so wasy to use and it works with everything from my nook book early christmas present to the printer, ooh ya and all my school work:)
My kids about went six feet under when I got a smart phone and started texting since they won’t answer my calls becuase it’s not cool…. The look on their faces would be priceless if Gma showed up for x-mas with an ipad
My laptop. I got a chance to try an ipad and loved it but have not been able to buy one. I don’t know what I would do if I could not read blogs.
Trish
Well… the one thing I would die without would be indoor plumbing. How fun would it be to have to walk out to your outhouse in the middle of the night when its 10 degrees and raining?
the one thing i would absolutely die without is probably my phone. it would be awful. i wouldn’t be able to text, take pictures of the back of my head to see what it looks like or play games when im so board that my brain turns to mush. my phones not the fanciest phone but, its still a phone that helps me with fashion problems and non mushy brains.
The piece of technology I wouldn’t be able to survive without would be a computer. I’m in the junior high and I’m in some accelerated classes. Without my computer I wouldn’t have been able to find information, and type the research projects I have for my English and History classes. An Ipad would be really helpful for school research and projects as well because its hard to read on the small screen of the Ipod i have.
My computer – couldn’t work from home without it!
Kim – I love visiting your blog! Without my computer I could not do that. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I learned about your blog at the Idaho Farm Bureau Convention, great job supporting our industry!
Sharon Bloomsburg
sunnyslopesmomuv3@yahoo.com
Hi Sharon, thanks for stopping by my blog! Hope you had a great time at convention, there is always so much to take in.
We’ve been working hard to do more marketing of our grass finished beef online. We’ve been on Twitter for a couple years and have over 800 followers and we just got a Facebook page going and picked up over 100 fans in November. The web is becoming a big part of what we do and an iPad would go a long way in helping us stay more current on our internet marketing (email included) since we aren’t toting smartphones.
I couldn’t live without a camera. I love to take pictures and have a memory of everywhere I’ve been and everything I’ve done. I take a camera with me everywhere. Camera or CD player actually. Because I take my best pictures when listening to all my country music in the middle of nature. Music and photography, best technology ever.
I couldn’t live without my gps in my car
I ditto Karen. Technology-specifically Internet and my computer-allow me to work from home, and stay connected with faraway family and friends. We love to Skype with my parents and siblings in Kansas. This IS an awesome giveaway. I’d surprise my hubby with it for Christmas!
My phone because it is my life-link to my kids who are away for college and my aging parents in another state.
Your prime rib looks delicious! yum!
I love Beef!
Have only seen them on TV but it sounds like a useful tool.
I couldn’t live without my computer because I work from home.
I couldn’t live without a good phone.
The piece of technology I don’t think I could live without right now would have to be my camera – I love taking pictures of everything and with our first grandchild set to arrive in February, I am thinking it is going to get quite a workout. However, I also really like the new smart phone I just got (and like Vicki above, my kids were completely floored when I finally gave up the old Razor) I am learning so much about it and the things it allows me to do from wherever I am.
Cell phone, computer/facebook, ipod….ok I probably wouldn’t last a day without any of it.
I couldn’t live without my iPhone. It has my email, calendar, phone list, and other “need to know” details to function in a highly technical world. Take away my TV, my desktop computer, my radio, etc., but leave my iPhone!
I also depend on my iPhone for day to day activities. It is nice to leave it somewhere for the day and not have to worry about who is trying to find me.
I would LOVE an IPad! With my busy schedule at work, and being a single mother, this technology would really help me daily. Only so much I can do on a Blackberry! I heart BEEF!
The technology I can’t live without has got to be a computer. From being able to access the internet and get news instantly to communicating with people via email, Facebook and more. The computer has simplified and enriched my life. Can’t imagine life without it now.
I am grateful for amazing technolgy like iphone, droid, laptop and much more because it helps me to be connect with the friends and community! I rely on them to keep in touch with family/friends since I am deaf and couldn’t use phone to communicate. It would be amazing to win an ipad!
P.S. I love beef!!
Cell phone technology is the bomb! And now with the smartphones, it is hard to imagine life without it! From phone calls, to getting directions, weather reports, keeping track of cattle numbers, and the camera on it to capture and send sudden pics of my 19 month old! So much to be thankful for in the technology world!
I would say my laptop, but that would have to include access to the internet to go along with it. I love having all that info at the click of a mouse buttonq
Cell phone or computer–both allow us to keep in contact with our Son who is serving in Afghanistan. Cannot imagine how it was for families without technology during WWII etc….
I don’t think I could live without my computer w/ internet, as my work in grad school depends on it.
Go Beef!
I couldn’t live without youtube – I’m learning to play the guitar and it helps so much!
Have a hard time without the smartphone
I just recently got an iPhone and I’m not sure how I ever functioned without it.
I travel all over the country and we have GPS units in our trucks and tractors. I could go without a phone but not without a GPS.
I could not live with out my cell phone. It has my music on it plus my running app.
OG Droid phone, still rocking it with custom software that is limited only by my imagination and 2 year old hardware. Waiting impatiently for the Galaxy Nexus to finally come out to upgrade. Merry Christmas to me.
I couldn’t live without my smartphone. It keeps me connected no matter where in the world I am.
I absolutely couldn’t live without ALL the technology in my home… internet, cell phones, satellite dish television, etc… I love my cell phone best because I can keep in touch with my family anywhere, any time! Texting is a life-line between my children & me! An iPad would be great to take on-the-go! Happy Holidays!
iphone, if only it could dry my hair too.
I also can’t imagine life without my iPhone! I use it for just about everything – maps to clients’ houses, alarm clock, reminders…I’d be lost (literally) without it!!!
It’s either got to be indoor plumbing, electricity, the internal combustion engine or the Ipad.
When technology works it can prove to be a “lifesaver” while when it’s not working well, let’s just say no one is a happy camper. Even though I went a long time without a computer and the internet, I truly can not imagine life without them. So many tasks become so much more efficient and sometimes far more enjoyable.
Technology has had a huge impact in my family, mostly because of farming! iphones and iPads are wonderful, but I’d have to say that the advances in farming equipment have been the most impact in my life! An iPad would be a wonderful surprise gift I am already trying to think of how to use it on the farm.
Cell phone. It organizes my life.
I couldn’t live without my phone. I love that technology has made it easier for me and my family to live in another state. Grandparents, cousins and friends are easier to stay in touch with because of Facebook, Skype, texting and phone calls!
Couldn’t live without instant access to pictures, e-mail and phones. How did we ever make it through an emergency back in the day?
I could not live without my cell phone! It’s how I keep in touch with the world!
I couldn’t live without my cell phone! Portable calendar, cute dangly charm… and of course texting. someone was in the right place when they invented this wonder!
Gonna show my age… I believe it goes all the way back to Henry Ford and the ‘tractor’. One walked 8 miles behind a Draft Horse Team just to do an acre of ground…And it took a day to do it. From this ‘spring board’ we can now manage thousands of acres from the comfort of an A/c Cab in a 4 wheel drive F350. That comes with G.P.S.; computer hook up; cell phone communication Amazing! And you will still be back at the ‘house’ for supper by 5p.m.
Can’t live without my phone, very useful in making the office “portable!”