NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Rancher - Thank you for your vote of confidence.

Relocation isn't really an option. We own our house, most all of our family is here and dh has a really good job here. I'm sure that he could get a transfer if we wanted to, but we really like it here and don't want to move.
Quote:
Lets see if I can answer you without writting a book

I went to SUNY Morisville and have finished my AS in Equine Science and Management with a specilation in Race Horse Management. I was working on getting my BA in Equine Breeding Management. I would have 3 semesters left of full time classes. To finish I have many "Barn" classes that I would need to complete some of which I would need to be available overnight. DH is a trucker and is gone during the week so I wouldn't be able to leave my little ones home alone over night. I'm also sure that I would have to take many clases over again since it has been 14 years since I left. I'm turning 35 this year and I don't think that my mom would want to pay for me now. (she still paying for my younger sisters). The bigest thing that is holding me back from going to any college again is the idea of taking on any more debt. DH and I have worked very hard the last few years to pay of all of our debt. The only real debt that we have now besides our monthly bills is our mortgage.

I'm not sure what I want to do when I grow up...

I was in my forties. I was the oldest in the class.

1. Find out what you need to get your BA. Do this on day one. Call or go to the school, get some counseling.

2. Find out what it will cost to finish. You may qualify for something. Do this on day two. I worked for the PO they paid for zilch, but I qualified for enough money to cover one class. The interest on loans is 3.5% or thereabouts. Sometimes tutoring new students pays some $$.

3. Think of a way you can do the work. Who can stay with the kids while you're at school. Do this day three and four. My kids know they can count on me. I'm retired. I babysit when DD has to go to the docs or take the kids. DW and I have already taken the GD to the docs by ourselves. We're on the list.

4. Talk it over with DH and decide how it would benefit your family. Perhaps if you got a job at Morrisville afterwards it would mean free tuition for the kids? DW works at the hospital, DD got to go to nursing school free. I understand that those employed at SU get some bennies for their families. What are your job opportunities after graduation? Maybe DH would like to do something other than drive truck. Will this give him more choices? Maybe open up more opportunities for you both?

Going back and getting your BA may not be the right thing to do, but at least survey your options and make an educated decision. Don't look at the obstacles, think of ways you can work around them.

Sometimes you gotta step outside the picture to get a better view. What would you tell someone who was in your position? This goes for anyone here thinking of going back to school. Take it step by step, one thing at a time. For me it started with one class, then I was taking two or three sometimes four each semester til I finished.

I wish you well,

Rancher

 

[Cass]

I was in my forties. I was the oldest in the class.

1. Find out what you need to get your BA. Do this on day one. Call or go to the school, get some counseling.

2. Find out what it will cost to finish. You may qualify for something. Do this on day two. I worked for the PO they paid for zilch, but I qualified for enough money to cover one class. The interest on loans is 3.5% or thereabouts. Sometimes tutoring new students pays some $$.

3. Think of a way you can do the work. Who can stay with the kids while you're at school. Do this day three and four. My kids know they can count on me. I'm retired. I babysit when DD has to go to the docs or take the kids. DW and I have already taken the GD to the docs by ourselves. We're on the list.

4. Talk it over with DH and decide how it would benefit your family. Perhaps if you got a job at Morrisville afterwards it would mean free tuition for the kids? DW works at the hospital, DD got to go to nursing school free. I understand that those employed at SU get some bennies for their families. What are your job opportunities after graduation? Maybe DH would like to do something other than drive truck. Will this give him more choices? Maybe open up more opportunities for you both?

Going back and getting your BA may not be the right thing to do, but at least survey your options and make an educated decision. Don't look at the obstacles, think of ways you can work around them.

Sometimes you gotta step outside the picture to get a better view. What would you tell someone who was in your position? This goes for anyone here thinking of going back to school. Take it step by step, one thing at a time. For me it started with one class, then I was taking two or three sometimes four each semester til I finished.

I wish you well,

Rancher

x2

I went back to school at 35. Weekends. Graduated with "high honors". My kids watched me do it. They didn't DARE complain about homework or trying to make good grades. I was working a full time job, raising 3 teenagers, teaching Sunday School and the Youth Fellowship leader, there was always food in the house (usually hot, even), they never missed any event they wanted to attend and we went on vacation twice during the 4 summers I was doing all this. I no longer use the degree, but I have it and I know if I can survive College I can DO ANYTHING. (took me 10 years to pay off the loans.....but I was earning more due to degree, so it didn't impact the family's bottom line)

Consider your options and "Just do it". You won't regret the few years of "hardship" when it is all over. I promise.

 

[Lapeerian]

Taking Equine Courses is not like regular college classes, there is much more involved physically. Like spending days and nights at the barn, which is fine when your a full time student. I got my Associate in Stable Management at Caz, then stayed an extra year for a certificate in Equine Reproduction. I really enjoyed it and should have transferred to Mo'ville to complete a BA in Equine Reproduction. But, equine industry is down, at least in some places. I was a trainer for a couple years after college, then end up with a broken collarbone and the farm discontinued training at that point. I miss the equine life, but have 3 horse pasture pets to fill the void. And if it wasn't for getting out of training, I would never have applied for the job I have had for 10 years now. Horse jobs are hard work, little pay or benefits, high risk, but oh so rewarding for the soul. Check around your local stables and network through equine friends. I know I have seen a couple working student opportunities show up through Facebook. Degree not required. Just brush up your skills and you may find something.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:

...like this? silver

Wyandotte​

 

[why do birds]

Rancher - Thank you for your vote of confidence.

Relocation isn't really an option. We own our house, most all of our family is here and dh has a really good job here. I'm sure that he could get a transfer if we wanted to, but we really like it here and don't want to move.
Quote:
Lets see if I can answer you without writting a book

I went to SUNY Morisville and have finished my AS in Equine Science and Management with a specilation in Race Horse Management. I was working on getting my BA in Equine Breeding Management. I would have 3 semesters left of full time classes. To finish I have many "Barn" classes that I would need to complete some of which I would need to be available overnight. DH is a trucker and is gone during the week so I wouldn't be able to leave my little ones home alone over night. I'm also sure that I would have to take many clases over again since it has been 14 years since I left. I'm turning 35 this year and I don't think that my mom would want to pay for me now. (she still paying for my younger sisters). The bigest thing that is holding me back from going to any college again is the idea of taking on any more debt. DH and I have worked very hard the last few years to pay of all of our debt. The only real debt that we have now besides our monthly bills is our mortgage.

I'm not sure what I want to do when I grow up...

Hahahaha! I'm 47 and I don't know what I want to be when I grow up! The only idea I can come up with is maybe Cornell? I say because they may have similar animal management programs and they may still offer low/free tuition to those who qualify financially. You already have really awesome classes and degree! I'm jealous! It's hard to have small children in school but not impossible. I was pregnant in 1st year of a 4 year graduate program and had a 2 year old. It wasn't easy but I did eventually complete the degree. Sometimes it's necessary to weigh the financial benefit to the debt that will be incurred. Why isn't anything in life easy? In retrospect, my graduate degree was a total waste of time and money. It would seem that you'd have to be close to the program with overnight help to watch the little ones. In grad school we rented a room to a student who helped out with the children. But we made the mistake of hiring an Au Pair for the children but she "babysat" the hubby instead of the children. So, hire a really old grandma type if you go that route! I think it's great that you have your own home and a husband with a job! That's a real miracle in today's world! I'd be happy to be home with the little ones.

 

[Glasshen]

My neighbor used to take care of animals for people. She would take care of my dog, if we were away, but she would take care of farm animals for people. Cows, horses, goats, alpacas...perhaps you could peck away at the required hours, perhaps broaden the degree so it was more useable? Some colleges are able to be creative and let you practically design your own program. Others hold fast to silly requirements, like making my 60year old friend who had never taken a foreign language take two classes of Italian for her final two classes to get her BA. Oh she had a 4.0 in English Lit...no exceptions.

When I was in middle school an older lady told me to be sure to get my education, because if I didn't I would always miss it, but if I got it no one could take it away. It was nice of her to tell me that, it is so true.

Alfalfa.

 

[Cass]

My neighbor used to take care of animals for people. She would take care of my dog, if we were away, but she would take care of farm animals for people. Cows, horses, goats, alpacas...perhaps you could peck away at the required hours, perhaps broaden the degree so it was more useable? Some colleges are able to be creative and let you practically design your own program. Others hold fast to silly requirements, like making my 60year old friend who had never taken a foreign language take two classes of Italian for her final two classes to get her BA. Oh she had a 4.0 in English Lit...no exceptions.

When I was in middle school an older lady told me to be sure to get my education, because if I didn't I would always miss it, but if I got it no one could take it away. It was nice of her to tell me that, it is so true.

Alfalfa.

That's a market that is underserved.....farm animal sitter. If there was someone I could hire to chicken-sit I would do it. If I had any ability with horses, cows, goats, sheep, etc, I would start a side business taking care of them so their owners could actually go on vacation without worry. If you had dogs and cats I would do them too, while I was there. $25 a day plus milage for one trip a day, $40 a day for 2 trips a day (again, plus milage) With so many people starting their own little farms in their back yards, this is definately an under-served market.

There is a man, local to me, that makes his living cleaning up dog poop in people's back yards. Who would have thought that THAT would be a business that would take off?

So why not farm animal sitter? (I am not talking a herd of dairy cows...just small farms with 5 - 15 animals depending on what needs to be done, of course) Just like you plan the cost of parking your car at the airport into your vacation budget, people would plan the $200 - $400 a week for their animal sitter into their vacation budget.

I'd put up a sign in the feed stores and have Vista Print make me up some business cards to spread around at the Stewart's bullitin boards. My kids could ride along in the car, but not get out of the car at any stop, of course. Stop, put the feed and water into the bins, open the doors, close the doors (whichever needed to be done depending on time of day), collect the eggs, milk the two goats, and be on my way in an hour or less. $25 bucks an hour is more than I have EVER EVER EVER made. No cleaning of stalls or coops included. Just daily food and water and collection of product. If you talk to me nicely, I'll put the eggs or milk into an outdoor fridge for you. I won't enter your house, unless you have indoor pets you are playing me $10 extra a day to feed. Wouldn't need extra insurance, because you would be on their property. Wouldn't need special clothing. Would want to buy some spray for the bottom of your shoes so you don't biocontaminate people's property. So what's bleach cost? Mix it in a bottle and spray the bottom of your shoes while sitting on your car seat. Oh, and plastic floor mats for your car, so you don't ruin the rugs in your own car if any bleach solution drips from your shoes.


Edited to add: actually I would do the bleach solution to my work shoes, but I would change my shoes to drive my car. (put the work shoes in a plastic bag) Wouldn't want manure to get stuck in the brake pedal. ewwww.

 

[JLaw]

I dont know know if there is a course or not but i want to be a chicken vet. I love chickens and dont mind alittle blood. I talked to my vet about my chicken and they looked at me like a was wearing the dang thing on my head or something. From what i know i think i still have a few years on my GI bill to help pay for stuff but atm dont know what to go for or where to go. I dont thinkg i would mind the animal sitting job but finding enough people who are going out of town often enough to pay your bills would probaly be hard to do. Not to mention the cost of gas and if something goes wrong they hold you accountable wich i wouldnt mind but lets face it freak things happen with animals that we cant control but you know someone out there will blame you then try to sue you. If i did the sitting think i would have to walk around with a video cam strapped to my head so i can show what i did or didnt do lol. I love animal and wouldnt mind learning more maybe i should see what it takes to be a farm vet.

 

[Lynzi777]

Gramma Chick - this one.....

Like Ke said, it's a Silver Barnevelder, not too popular yet because only a few people are working on them. I like them a lot. Would probably even consider getting one in the future....

 

[bakingintherain]

Good for you!!  good luck.  Eat more leafy greens!!

Thank you I eat mostly vegetarian anyway (kinda hard in the winter, hoping to have a green house next year for kale and such) but I cut out sugary snacks and heavy carbs like bread and pasta too

e Can't wait for Spring! Grow, Veggies, GROW! 

Yes! I am so holding out for that, yesterday got me so excited it was 50's and no snow, today we have about an inch everywhere, good for the economy though

Gramma Chick - this one.....

Like Ke said, it's a Silver Barnevelder, not too popular yet because only a few people are working on them. I like them a lot. Would probably even consider getting one in the future....

They are so pretty, might add them to my list