Merry Christmas to all

[cakadu]

As we head into the holidays, I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Here's to health, happiness and prosperity in 2005 - whatever that looks like for you.

This year has not been without it's challenges and who knows what next year will bring.

As we look back and reflect there are still many things to be grateful for - the two biggest being family and friends. That includes all of you here on agri-ville as well. I'm grateful we live in a place where we can give our facts, opinions and information without fear. We may not always agree, but even in the best of families this can be the case. It's been wonderful to see new people join in the conversations.

I've heard that the gift is in the giving and the feelings you have when you give your gift. The gift I have received has been in the form of being able to converse with you throughout the year. The passion of some folks really shines through and I hope you don't ever loose your passion.

Thanks for all of the information and advice you have given me. (Our Donkey is doing just fine and is a really sweet girl who hardly ever brays.)

May the blessings of the season be there for all of you. Health and happiness always. I look forward to many more conversations in the coming year.

Linda

[cowman]

And a Merry Christmas to you and your family too Linda !
In a year that has been full of challenges, we can't overlook the our good fortune. If we have our health and can continue to keep the roof over our heads and feed our families we have so much more than a huge percentage of the world's population.
In our world where Christmas has become so commercialized, we need to stop and realize that the most wonderful gift we can give is that of friendship and goodwill.
I too am grateful for the opportunity to network with folks in the agriculture industry on Agri-ville, I had been away from this site for some time, but since returning I continue to be amazed at the knowledge and though provoking comments on almost every subject imaginable.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season and may 2005 be a year of Good Health, Good Friends and Good Fortune to you and all the folks at Agri-ville.

[kato]

I would like to add my Christmas greetings to everyone here too. (As I wipe the shortbread crumbs off the keyboard)

It has been a long and difficult road from last Christmas to this, but I believe that things are getting better.

Some things I have learned over the past year are ...

That we are not in this alone, and it's the support of friends that helps get us through difficult times.

That it has been a 'defining' time for our generation of cattle producers much like the Depression was for our parents.

That we will come out of all this much stronger and wiser, and future problems in the cattle business will come to be compared to these troubled times.

That when things are going smoothly, there is no incentive to change for the better, even when you know you should. When things don't go smoothly, we are inspired to come up with ways to make our future better.

That there really is a silver lining in every cloud, even if we can't see it right away.

I hope the day is not far away when we can look around and see a truely Canadian cattle industry that stands on it's own, and becomes a world leader in the quality of our beef.

It's up to us to make it happen. After the lessons we have learned, and the progress we have made, my Christmas wish is that we see it through to success.

Merry Christmas from Manitoba. May your eggnog be cold, may your toes be warm, and may your tractor start on the first try!

[PureCountry]

What a poetic bunch!
I'll just say Merry Christmas to all, and to all a few nights of not worrying about the issues we discuss here.
Use the holidays to ENJOY time with family, don't spend it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Darcy.

[farmers_son]

I would like to also take this opportunity to wish each and all a Merry Christmas and the best in the New Year. In our family our thoughts throughout the year but especially during the Christmas season go out to our Canadian soldiers and our family members serving in the armed forces overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere. A special thank you to the people behind Agri-ville for making this forum possible.

I think in years to come we will look back to 2003-2004 as the beginning of a new era for agriculture, especially beef producers. Through adversity comes opportunity and I believe a bright future awaits those who meet the present day challenges with optimism and ingenuity. My sincere wish is that you still have optimism in our industry as we enter another year. Health and happiness, family and friends are the real blessings in life and as the years pass we realize that more and more. All the best to each and everyone.

Life is short, make the most of it. Have fun.