It warms my heart when I watch news stories or read accolades praising dairy farmers’ hard work and dedication, especially so during June Dairy Month. Farming isn’t just an occupation, it’s our way of life. So thanks to all, every single one of you, who appreciate what we do on a daily basis.
Every day there’s something to be thankful for and the opportunity to go to work in the great outdoors is one huge benefit of dairying for a living. The other day I was chopping first-crop hay in one of our fields. The alfalfa was fragrant and sweet, the aroma engulfing me. It was a glorious day, picture perfect. Every now and then a few fluffy clouds lazed across the sky, dotting it white; otherwise azure blue had the upper hand.
I had my phone with me, of course, and I snapped a picture of the symmetrical rows of hay, lined up just out past my cab, catching the front part of the tractor and a section of muffler. During a lull in the chopping I posted it on Facebook under, “What’s on your mind?” (I was tempted to write: absolutely nothing.) This day I chose: “The view from my ‘office window’ today!”
Later on that night, I was scrolling and noticed people had “Liked” the post, along with a couple of comments: “I drove by and saw you in your office, beautiful day,” and “Love your office.” My sister wrote, “That office is fully functional with many hours of completed work even though there isn’t internet, imagine that!” My favorite one was: “Mmmm, lucky you! My mind just smelled that fresh country air! I miss being on a farm. You are truly blessed!” Yes, friend, I am blessed.
An additional blessing of farming for a living is the ability to grow and eat what we raise. We know what we’ve fed our animals and in what conditions they were cared for. Currently, we are raising two pigs. For the time being, our outdoor calf barn has been re-converted back into a pig pen.
Securing four piglets from a contact in De Pere, the other day my sister brought two of them out to us, keeping two for herself. They were delivered free of charge to her, along with a portion of the feed they were used to, a kind gesture on the part of her very accommodating pig farmer, whom she described as, “a nice young man with a red beard to his chest, clear blue eyes and a straight, pearly smile.”
My sister is a farmer at heart, but alas married a fellow that eventually became a farmer of souls, instead of soil. Nevertheless, he allows my sis to dig in the dirt, seed down a little patch of oats and plant a bit of corn, raise a few animals and enjoy her roots. On her little “ponderosa,” she has a dog and a cat, has raised horses, goats, chickens (learning shortly how to slaughter them) and now pigs, a new undertaking for her. An adventurist at heart, my sister is full of spunk and sees potential and possibility in every challenge, especially when it comes to farming. Often, she picks my farmer husband’s brain for suggestions or advice.
As kids, we grew up appreciating the satisfaction of a day’s hard work in the fresh air, and were raised on whole, unpasteurized milk and flavorful, homegrown meat. We know where our food comes from because we helped, firsthand, in raising and growing it, from little on.
I’ve never known a different life and cannot imagine having raised our own family in any other way. Our oldest son, living in California, has commented to us on more than one occasion, “You guys have taught me how to work! The people out here don’t know how to work!” A great work ethic is just one lesson taught when one is raised on a farm.
Daily, opportunities abound to appreciate our chosen livelihood. Aromatic, first-cut alfalfa, fresh country air, homegrown food, whole, straight-from-the-bulk-tank milk and a good work ethic are just a few benefits of farming for a living.
Thanks again for your kind gratitude for the work we do. We really appreciate June Dairy Month’s salute to farmers!
(“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20)
