The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill."
Cold, Rain, & Breakdowns
The boys, like most in these parts were farmin' in the cold and snow since my last write'n and then in the rain. So me and the boys went ta have coffee and visited clean through lunch until the rain stopped and we could get back ta work in the fields. Of course, something' breaks, and ya can't get farm parts as quick as ya like and delivery in the field.
The boys sez their doctor's John Deere broke down over in Iowa and he had ta wait until the part came clear from Germany. He reported that he got it fixed and got back in the field and got all of his corn done the day before it snowed and finished his plow'n and apply'n nitrogen ta help with a better yield next year.
The boys sez he's pretty fortunate as Iowa's reports say they have more grain left in the fields than Illinois', percentage wise. At least this is one Iowa farmer who will be have'n Thanksgive'n around the table with his family rather than out in the field.
Speakin' of be'n thankful.
Being a farmer is a lot of hard work. It's long days, and very physically and emotionally demandin' and extremely unpredictable:but if ya ask the boys, they'll tell ya:"it's also one of the greatest jobs ya could ever be lucky enough ta have."
Here are the top reasons why the boys and I and lots of others say they love be'in' a farmer!
10) There are never two days that are the same.
Seems there's always a new challenge, a new adventure, and something else ta do.
Of course, certain elements of yer day may be the same from day ta day, ya've gotta make things be as efficient as ya can which means jugglin' a bunch of things, multi-taskin' and makin' things work:'cause when it's busy on the farm ya've got at least 2 days worth of work ta fit into far less than that and there's WAY more ta do than just make hay while the sun shines (if'n the sun does shine that is).
Yer always move'n and do'in something else, or at the very leas -think'n about what ya gotta do next- and yer always ready fer something else ta come along and interrupt yer day and change everything up. Because of this ya get really good at be'in ready ta adapt ta something new suddenly be'n a big part of yer day, and are always look'n forward ta the challenges and changes each new day brings.
9) Fresh air and sunshine are a regular part of yer job.
There's noth'n like walk'n outside and feel'in the crisp mornin' air as ya begin yer day with or without the sun. Farmers gets ta spend a big chunk of our life outdoors, and are rarely confined ta a desk fer long periods of time. Yer desk is the seat of a tractor, or out in a field where yer crops or animals are. Even if ya should find yourself at a desk, there's always SOMETHING ya can convince yerself ya should check on - a field, a crop, an animal or anything else:because farmers just aren't made fer sit'in inside behind desks:and we like it that a way. The views from our desks aren't too shabby, even when we have ta do pesky things like pay the bills.
8) Yer in good company.
Workin' as a farmer means yer colleagues are often times family. They're the best people you can surround yerself with 'cause they just get it.
They usually have similar views, morals and objectives so yer workin' towards the same goals. They've known ya fer a long time which means they knows when ya need a break, when they can push ya harder and they're right there invested with their whole hearts and souls just as much as you. There's a level of trust that's hard ta reach with just about anyone else. Even if they don't say it, they love ya and enjoy see'n ya thrive so ya work well together make'n yer common dreams come true (even when they're drive'n ya insane at times).
7) You're your own weather man.
Ya always know when it's sunny outside. Or when it's rain'n, or about ta rain. Or when ya really NEED rain. Or when ya wish it would just stop rain'n. Your livelihood depends entirely on yer crops, and yer crops depend so much on the weather that it becomes second nature ta watch updates online, radar maps and the sky and put it all tagether.
Our dads and granddads had the art of weather forcast'in down ta a tee! They could say "it's go'in ta rain in 15 minutes, hard, fer about half an hour", and in 14 minutes we're scramblin' ta the truck. Ya get so ya feel a drop, and ya know exactly what you're in fer so that ya can juggle the day and move things around while ye adjust ta the kink in the day the weather has thrown ya.
6) You're never bored.
The words "I'm bored" on a farm don't exist! If they are ever uttered- there're lists and lists of things ya can ALWAYS do or can be done. There's always something need'n done, something new you're think'n of put'n inta action. Whether it's a crop's resilience, a bug's determination, or an even'in sunset- there's something ta be see'n, do'n, improve'n or needs change'n on a farm.
In those few rare moments where you're not a doin' anything, yer probably so glad ta have a minute of down time without anything press'n ta do, that ya soak it up and would never admit out loud of any bit of be'n bored.
5) Ya've got "mad skillz".
Be'in a farmer means ya've gotta wear a lot of hats, do a lot of jobs, be able ta grow and take care of yer crops, whatever they may be. Ya've got ta be able ta sell those crops and be the face of yer business. You need ta be able ta do the account'n, the bookwork, pay the bills, do the advertise'in, deliver product, talk ta the public, pick up supplies, fix a tractor, build something ya need, answer the hard questions, and make it pay. Ya have all of that, and so much more work, while still maintain'in yer sanity.
If'n ya had ta list skills or abilities on a resume', you'd probably need at least a 2nd page 'cause ya've got ta be able ta make everything and anything work the best ya possibly can.
4) Yer good at jugglin'.
At any one time ya probably have at least 17 balls in the air at once and ya do yer best ta not let many of them hit the ground. Not only are ya good at doing a lot of different jobs that may come up at any time, but you're also great at jugglin' be'n able ta do a lot of different things at once.
Jugglin a lot at once is hard:but we learn, grow, and do our best as we try ta do the best job we can, with everything that we do and when something crazy pops up that would usually stress someone out, we're fairly use ta being able ta take it in stride, make sense of it, and make a plan ta fix it.
3) Ya get to live where the green grass grows.
Live'n in the country means yer driveway is its own long dirt road. Ya have too much land ta ever think about rake'n leaves and yer neighbors are few and far between - but they are the ones ya can count on in a snow storm, when someone gets sick or ya just need a help'n hand.
Farm life offers a unique kind of peace and quiet, where hear'n a car pass or another voice is rare, especially compared ta the songs sung ta ya by birds as ya have dinner outside. So much beauty ya miss inside. Ya get ta see the stars, enjoy a full moon, a flock of geese, maybe a fox, whenever ya head outdoors at night, yer backdrop is trees and fence lines, not sky scrapers or office buildings. Yer commute ta work is short, ya know every nook, cranny, rock, branch and stream around. Ya always have a great place, outdoors, ta go for a stroll after dinner.
2) You're always learning .
With new technologies, new methods, experience and trial and error:ya're always changin' and growin'. Farmers are always go'in ta conferences, workshops and meet'ins try'n ta better ourselves, our farms, our industries so we can provide the highest quality of food ta peoples plates. We thrive on learn'in something new, findin' a way ta do something better. Whether improve'n the way we grow something, harvest'n something, or makin' sure that our land and crops are in the best possible condition - we're always go'in out of our way ta read, learn, grow and change ta be the best we possibly can.
1) Ya get ta put great food on people's plates.
When it all boils down ta it..that's what we as farmers are do'in ever day, and the biggest reason why, we love what we do. Whether ya sell directly off your farm ta the local folks, ya sell ta grocery stores, or ya sell what ya've farmed half way across the world: being a farmer means that ya get to go ta bed each night know'n that ya have contributed something that people need on a most basic level. We love be'in outdoors, we love who we work with, we love what we do:.we're so happy ta be able ta farm our farms each day, do'in what we love, helpin' ta feed the world.
Noth'in is quite as gratify'n after a full day's hard work know'in ya were part of put'in healthy, nutritious, delicious food on another family's table.
food
The boys said a farmer up yonder told them a community nearby him held a dinner cooked by local chefs who all used only local ingredients from various area farms. Get'n ta sit with and share a meal with friends, family and other farmers of all of the things they'd collectively produced to make this delicious meal was pretty awesome he said. We will all experience that warm feel'in Thanksgive'in Day as we say a bless'n of thanks ta the good Lord fer the harvest fer the farmer and their hard work and care fer our land.
So there you have it then - the ten best reasons ta be a farmer! The Misses and I are hope'n ta see ya in church this Sunday.
Remember, where ever ya is, what ever ya be a do'n,
BE A GOOD ONE!
Keep on smile'n,
Catch ya later,
BARNYARD BRUKE