There have been a number of Brunch on the Farm events in the state to celebrate June Dairy Month. Sharing the farm with people who might not be aware of exactly how their food is produced is at the heart of agriculture awareness.
Last year, my brother and his family hosted the brunch on the farm I grew up on, and it was an event for our whole family. We realized just how much work goes into preparing the farm for this huge undertaking. The detailed groundwork that goes into this type of event amazed us.
This past weekend this year’s event was held at the Kurowski farm, just outside of Bonduel. A week or so before the brunch, we received a phone call asking if we could help serve food that day, approximately from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. I volunteered my services as well as my husband’s (without asking) just because I knew that many hands make light work and there are always areas where one could pitch in and lend a hand. I told the gal, “We’ll be there!”
Leaving for the brunch right from church, we had dressed in blue jeans, T-shirts and tennis shoes and felt out-of-sorts but I’m sure the Lord didn’t care! Arriving at the farm we were met with smiling high schoolers and young adults, flagging us into our parking spot. We walked in with many moms and dads pushing babies in strollers with their older little ones dancing along, excited to be there.
Making our way with the throng, my husband and I found the food tent, and the person in charge quickly assigned us to our positions. We got split up. My husband was in one tent serving sausages. I was delegated to the other tent to mix, pour and help serve orange juice and monitor the extra Nescos filled with sausages, potatoes and scrambled eggs. This was placed at the end of the juice/milk line as a convenience to those who wanted a second helping.
Our shift flew by. Every now and then I caught a little breather and was able to carry on a conversation with the courteous young adult filling juice glasses with me. She was from Bowler and had just finished her junior year of high school. Such helpers there that day! Very polite and extremely accommodating, and on top of it all, pleasant.
Many times I was met with a smile and a request from a youngster, “What should I do?” I put them to work wiping tables or running for fresh soap and water for the buckets, assisting moms and dads with carrying food to the tables — in any number of ways there were hands to help.
I’ve discovered that many people just like to be of service and I know why. It made me feel good that day, to assist in a way that made the visitor’s day satisfying and enjoyable. I felt part of something bigger than myself and the fact that I farm for a living made it all come full circle. I wanted those in attendance to become aware of agriculture in a way they may not have connected with it before.
One person who, knowing my husband was a farmer, came specifically up to him and said, “Thanks for all your hard work!” We thought it was very considerate of him and appreciate that.
Later in the morning I was filling pails full of water and a gal came in the milk house to assist. I found out that this was her 31st year of being a Farm Bureau member and helping put on Shawano County’s Brunch on the Farm. She thought the awareness of agriculture was more prevalent now than at the beginning. We talked as we worked and she mentioned these days people are more open to knowing where our food comes from and how it is produced, they’re more curious, more interested.
As my husband and I reflected on the day that night after our own chores, it dawned on me that perhaps the reason people are more curious now is that this generation didn’t grow up on a dairy farm. They had no concept of, for example, how a cow is milked. Years ago, everybody farmed and there were many mom and pop farms where the kids pitched in and helped, learned and knew just where milk came from and how it got to the grocery store shelf.
My husband found himself watching people watching a mother cow give birth that day. He told me later they were fascinated by it! For us, it’s a natural occurrence that takes place frequently. For them, it may have been a brand new experience. I was thrilled they had a chance to witness it, for really, as routine as it is to us, it’s a miracle straight from our Creator Himself.
As June Dairy Month draws to a close, I’d like to thank the many members of the Farm Bureau for making this year’s Shawano County Brunch on the Farm another great success. Thanks for all your efforts to promote agriculture awareness. And thank you to those who value what we farmers do. It’s appreciated!
(“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:12)
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