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Bloom In Your Family, Community and Life with Val Plagge

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Wondering how it’s possible to find balance and bloom in your family, community and life?

Bloom in your family, community and life by mastering the art of communication! Val Plagge is the special guest today. She’s discussing a topic that many Ruralites struggle with – Including me! 

So, listen to her episode and find inspiration! And, check out all the amazing nuggets of inspiration Val has to offer in the show notes while you listen to her episode.

Bloom in your family

 

FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT VAL

  • From rural North Central, Iowa (Latimer). 
  • She’s a wife and mom to four kids.
  • Val attended Iowa State University, where she met her husband.
  • Together, they raise corn, beans, pigs (finishing) and kids. 
  • Keeps the books and helps with marketing for the farm as well as seasonal farm work. 

Surprisingly, Val still finds time to volunteer in her rural community: 

  • First of all, Church: Christian education, such as Christmas Program and Vacation Bible School. 
  • Also, Adalente: A group to help the growing Hispanic population. 
  • And Make a Wish. 
  • Then, different agriculture groups, such as Farm Bureau and Corn producers
  • And, she’s a Common Ground Volunteer!
  • Finally, 4-H Communications Project Leader

So, Val wears a lot of different hats! Next, let’s hear some advice from Val. 

AND A PIECE OF ADVICE FROM VAL

“Bloom Where You Are Planted.” 

She wants to help make where she lives a better place, both farm and her community. 

NEXT, LOW POINTS THROUGH THE JOURNEY

When Val was in college, her parents got divorced after 25 years of marriage. It was very hard on her. 

And she took partial blame on herself. She attended therapy sessions to help her and her family get through the struggle. 

Bloom in your Family

 

LESSONS LEARNED

  • First of all, keep spouse number 1 to bloom in your family.
  • Furthermore, communicate with spouse and God and together you’ll bloom in your family. 
  • And she learned that there’s very little informational materials for adult children and divorce.

What Would Val Had Done Differently?

  • Probably, she wouldn’t have taken everything to hard or too personally. She would have taken a step back and looked at the big picture more. 

THEN, VAL DESCRIBES THE “AHA MOMENT”

Her lightbulb moments came in 1st grade! She learned that even in rural Iowa, not everyone knows how food is grown on the farm. 

 

WHAT IS ONE THING THAT VAL STRUGGLES WITH?

Biggest struggle is keeping the house picked up with four kids. The kids often distract her from what needs to be done around the house. 

CONSEQUENTLY, WHAT IS VAL MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

Val is most excited about those little moments with her kids and seeing them grow up. Each of her kids have different personalities and interests. 

SO, WHAT IS HOLDING VAL BACK FROM REACHING HER GOALS?

Val’s ultimate goal in life is to help youth to develop their interests. She loves working with youth and helping them develop skills and interests. 

But, time is the biggest thing that holds her back from those goals. The farm and family is growing so that takes up a lot of time. 

Tips for Getting Involved & Volunteer

Volunteering is great for meeting new people and understanding everyone in the community. Also, keeping the rural community alive. 

How to get involved:

  • First of all, go to church
  • Or, visit the local chamber of commerce
  • Finally, figure out where key leaders & influencers hang out (coffee shop, YMCA, big events, etc)

Bloom in your family

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED

Become involved and volunteer in the community. This has really shaped who she is today. 

Also, keeping the relationship first is very important to her. 

 

FURTHERMORE, HER BEST PERSONAL HABIT

She uses an app from Proverbs 31 Ministry called First 5. This is a devotion designed to take only the first 5 minutes of your day. 

 

FAVORITE GO-TO MEAL

Definitely Pork Loin: 

  • First of all, Smoked Pork Loin. 
  • Also, Pork Roast: Drizzle Soy Sauce, 1/2 bottle of Teriyaki Sauce in a crock pot, then fill with water and slow cook. 

The possibilities are endless for the pulled pork. So, you can use pulled pork in: Tacos, Spaghetti Bakes, etc. 

FAVORITE APP?

First of all, Evernote! It allows you to:

  • Set reminders
  • Or Upload pictures
  • Then, Make Lists
  • And so much more. 

Also, Google Calendars to keep everyone in the family on schedule. 

AND, FAVORITE PHYSICAL TOOL

One physical tool is the dry erase board in the kitchen with the family prayer list. It’s a way to include the kids into daily prayers. 

 

BEST BOOK SHE WOULD RECOMMEND

The Antelope in the Living Room by Melanie Shankle. 

Also, she wrote: Sparkly Green Earings and Nobody’s Cuter than You. Those two books are also very good. 

bloom in your family

AND, IF VAL WOKE UP TOMORROW, ACQUIRED 10 ACRES AND $1000, WHAT WOULD SHE DO?

For sure, she will use the money to build a large tree house for the kids! And the extra 10 acres added on and planted to a crop. 

IN CONCLUSION, SOME PARTING WORDS OF WISDOM

Remember always to put family and time first before anything else and you’ll bloom in your family, community and life. 

FINALLY, CONTACT VAL

First of all, Facebook: Val Plagge

Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids Blog

Twitter: Val Plagge

Instagram: Val Plagge

Email: [email protected]

Finally, catch all the past episodes of Rural Women Inspired!

RURALITES, HONE YOUR DREAMS, OWN YOUR LIFE AND I’LL SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD.

~ MUCH LOVE ~

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