The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Happy Mothers' Day Natalie!
(Quill Edtor's Note: I thought I would give one of Natalie's article a tweak and use it to honor her and all those special farm mom's to show just what makes those moms in jeans so special and do what they do. Natalie was selected for a "Women In Jeans" magazine article in 2006, so she wrote this for the editor to get a feel for what she does and why she enjoys what she does so much.)
Hi Mark!
Kristin stopped by Friday afternoon to take pictures for the Women in Jeans article. Hope you can use one of them. Just thought I would start writing and you can use what ever you want for the article. Good luck!
FAMILY:
Natalie(Dowell) and Mark Schmitt (married 18 years)
Jonathon 14
Michael 13
Katie 11
Austin 10
FARM; We farm together with Mark’s brother Al. We milk 100 head of registered Holsteins in Benton County. We raise our own feed, so spring to fall is busy with planting, cultivating and harvesting. I do all the paper work with the registered cattle, bookwork, and am on call whenever the guys need me. I milk cows, drive tractors, stack hay. I can do about everything, except fix broken equipment. The busiest time of the day around our farm is afternoon/evening. Everything needs to be fed, cows and kids. I am always “mixing” something up…. be it TMR or meatloaf, mashed potatoes and apple pie.
I always knew I wanted to farm. I love working with the cattle and working side by side with my husband. I can’t image raising our children anywhere else. The best part is working together as a family and playing together. We’ll call up the neighborhood kids on a slow summer day to play softball in the field. What fun!
When I’m not helping on the farm, I’ll slip away to help the kids at school. Every year we load up the stock trailer with a couple of calves and take them to school! We teach the kindergarten and first graders about how we take care of our animals. The kids lead the animals around the school grounds to the classes. Only in Minnesota does the farm come to the school.
I’m probably known in the community by almost every kid. I volunteer in the school with vision & hearing. I conduct the Children’s Choir in church. I also coordinate the Rice Community Vacation Bible School between two different churches. We have about 200 kids every year. When I look back on my life I want to be remembered for making a difference and taking the time to help all our children grow and learn. It may just be taking the time to listen and giving a word of encouragement to anyone who just needs a little boost. I also hope to be remembered as someone who was always smiling and looking forward, even when it was one of those days when you’re stuck in mud! (or whatever else)
I don’t get hung up on doing housework. I would much rather be outside. It gets done when it gets done. It is a comfortable clean.
In my freetime I have been singing with the Crusade Choir for the past 20 years. This is my booster shot in the middle of the week as we rehearse Christmas and Easter music.
Two words come to mind when I think of how farming could be made easier for me and other farm women….instant potatoes. A quick way to get a good supper on the table without burning up a pot between chores. Microwave ovens are another great time saver.
Just a side note. I’ve been on extended maternity leave from ag broadcasting for the past 14 years and counting. The pay may not be the same, but the fringe benefits are wonderful!
Well, good luck Mark. I’ve tried to answer your questions as well as I could. It has been fun thinking of how to answer them. The one good thing that came out of this was looking back and ahead and smiling….this is a good life.
I have some other women that are probably more deserving of being in this column than me.
They are: Peg Wimmer (Bob Wimmer…Pierz)
Donna Poster (Greg Poster…Royalton)
Ann Borash (Ron Borash…Royalton)
Joan Fleck (Fred Fleck…Rice)
Now these women really work on the farm too. They truly farm with their husbands with no other outside help. At least we farm with my brother-in-law, so I’m able to do more things in the community.
Well, better get going. Our youngest turns 10 tomorrow and I have to bake a birthday cake. (It’s hard to believe that I never cooked or baked until I married Mark. I farmed with my Dad when I was growing up in Illinois and never did anything in the house. That is why I still don’t like to do anything in the house. I might miss something going on outside!) Have a great day!
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As their four children pursue dairy careers off the family farm, Natalie and Mark are starting a new adventure of milking registered Holsteins just because they like good cows on their farm north of Rice, Minnesota.
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Dishes to wash and clothes to mend, And always another meal to plan. Never the tasks of a mother end And oh, so early her day began?
Floors to sweep and the pies to bake, And chairs to dust and the beds to make.
Oh, the home is fair when you come at night And the meal is good and the children gay,
And the kettle sings in its glad delight And the mother smiles in her gentle way; So great her love that you seldom see Or catch a hint of the drudgery.
Home, you say, when the day is done, Home to comfort and peace and rest; Home where the children romp and run–
There is the place that you love the best! Yet what would the home be like if you Had all of its endless tasks to do?
Would it be home if she were not there, Brave and gentle and fond and true? Could you so fragrant a meal prepare? Could you the numberless duties do?
What were the home that you love so much, Lacking her presence and gracious touch?
She is the spirit of all that's fair; She is the home you think you build;
She is the beauty you dream of there; She is the laughter with which it's filled-
She, with her love and her gentlesmile, Is all that maketh the home worth while.
–Edgar A. Guest?