What it Takes to Be a Farmer

Don’t let people tell you that you dropped the ball. 

A farmers work is never done, it is one of those careers and life callings that starts in the early morning light and doesn’t stop until that same hour the next day. When one starts a job on a farm, it often leads to another and then another and it soon feels as though there are no more hours in the day, unfortunately leaving things unfinished behind to attend to the most important. Im not judging you if you find yourself here, believe me that is the life of a farmer, and we are here to encourage one another. Over the years there have been some who have come onto the land and thought it important to let us know the job we didn’t finish or telling us we better get to it or asking questions about our logic to how things are done. Im here to tell you, its not you! Everyone seems to think farming is sitting on the front porch in a rocker 24/7, while we would love to have that pinterest look we all know those are pictures of a building just built or the chicken placed perfectly so as to get that beautiful shot of the golden curled girl in her expensive hunter boots,(im not mocking by the way, we all need these inspiring pictures to get a burst of uplift to want to make our farms prettier and more clean).  Don’t get me wrong, there are precious quiet times on a farm that truly are picturesque, but for the most part its dirty, heart throbbing, tear jerking and sweating hot work. It truly is running to the truck to get in the middle so you don’t have to open every gate on the way out to the pastures because you are too tired from what the morning duties had already brought. It’s rushing the medicine and needle to the animal, its kneeling on the hard ground and bending over to tube a calf that is malnutrtioned. Its jumping up and over the fence after tagging a calf and mama is right on your heels kicking you out of the pen. Its praying to God the rain will come when the sun beats down scorching the plants. It’s getting up and out of bed unable to call in with a replacement when you are sick. Its hollering and losing your voice over the bawling of the calves and smoky air in branding days. Its driving standard while backing up a trailer perfectly hitting the stall gate each time. Its remembering the medical history of each animal in the herd as the vet asks you in one visit about each one.  All of this would not be second looked at by most but to you it is all worth it to the goal of that harvest year end. Don’t let people make you feel belittled and like you can’t keep all your balls in the air, who can?  Know you are doing well, and if you need a boost of knowing how to be more organized, start with one small job, complete it in full and move on to the next, the more small jobs you get done will get you into a larger schedule accomplishing more each day. Make lists that help you, if you’re anything like me I rely on my lists although I dream a little too big and may only accomplish 1 or 2 jobs in the day that is always moving, it still is a huge encourage boost in the morning to get going for the day. Know dear reader you are not just taking care of one job, if you are in crops you are in eternal stress over the weather, time management and stock market, by the time you are in the tractor though people may think it’s a lazy day in the field that must be so relaxing,  you know all the discernment, and know how that goes into every piece of that tractor and bailer, you become the mechanic learning the inner workings of every machine piece knowing what to listen and look for in errors, these are long hot days that people do not see. Every animal you take care of is a life in your hands, from baby, to adolescent and adult you are caring for these creatures keeping them fed, healthy and sheltered that is a continual system to improve their livelihood. You are the bookkeeper to your company which is your farm keeping track of all the financial stress and worry. You are the neighbor that carries the load of your friends as you help each other out in crisis, ready to drop everything to run for any emergency. You are the muscle in pulling the calf that needs to be out within a span of time as you pray God gives you the strength for one last pull. You are the mother or father to the orphaned piglets that need love and attention to grow strong to make it on their own, you are the nurse and innkeeper that stays up all night to make sure the baby lamb makes it through the night on your kitchen floor. You are the leader of your flock or herd that depends on you to care for them and lead them right. You are the mathematician who continually keeps all numbers from feed ratios constantly changing to the number of bales you have left in the large stack in the shed. You are the designer and carpenter as you build every outbuilding holding all of these precious beings. You are the gardener who knows the best fertilizers and watering times to yield the best vegetables and fruits. You are a host/ess as you still among all of these assignments still carry on a social life. You are the house keeper keeping the home clean not only from every day dirt but the muck and manure that comes with your territory. You are the camp cook making large orders for hired hands in harvest times. You are the encourager when your partner wants to throw in the towel or when your child is sick at home while you still must carry on the daily chores. You are the temp as you are called out to do odds and ends adding to the long list of your resume qual`8

itites as you learn new certificates to further your farm. You are the welder that fixes the problem in a flash, or the plumber that fixes the leaky pipe. You are the pest control getting rid of anything that would endanger all you have worked hard for. You are the salesman who pitches to the crowds your great goods you have grown. Your are the teacher who carries on what you have been taught passing it to the next farmer. You are the landscaper that moves a pile of manure from one place to the next or builds a berm so the spring water wont overflow. Each of these jobs are usually one part of a day for most of you farmers, So when you think of yourself and hear others ask why is one job not done, don’t listen. This position takes heart, it takes brains and it takes determination. From the beat of your brow to the accomplishment of seeing your hard work come to fruition. Know your worth and that you fill the job of many, while some may think you do not carry a lot, you know the brunt of it. So don’t let it bother you these scoffs and mockers who of most could not take on a day in your shoes, but instead turn in self-esteem and know that you have what it takes to be a farmer.