This is me way back in the day. This is my heifer Arial. I still have a cow of hers today in my cowherd.
I hope all my readers had a nice Thanksgiving holiday filled with good food, good friends & family and good memories. Thanksgiving is easily one of my favorite holidays of the year. I hope all my readers remembered to give #foodthanks to the people who toil the land and made our Thanksgiving meal (and every other meal) possible.
This past week I was catching up on my reading and came across a great article by Holly Spangler in Prairie Farmer titled “Why do you love farming?” (I have been tweeting some of my favorite quotes). It got me thinking about all the reasons why I am thankful for my childhood growing up in production agriculture.
I’m thankful for the memories I have catching tadpoles in our creek, checking cows with Dad in our back pasture in our pick-up truck or four-wheeler, bailing hay with my family, taking the cattle out to tie-outs at night after a long day at the county fair, and observing the birth of a baby calf (and litter of puppies). I’m thankful for Carhart overalls keeping me warm on cold winter days while working cows, a good pair of Ariat cowgirl boots, and green sawdust at Louisville (NAILE). I’m thankful for the moments catching fire flies in a mason jar, smelling freshly cut alfalfa hay, sweeping out our barn, and entertaining guests at my family’s annual cattle sale. I’m thankful for the time I spent helping my grandmother make lunch for my hard-working grandfather who was on a tractor all day (usually consisted of fresh lemonade, bologna sandwich, and maybe a dessert) and the time I spent with my family on “show day” at the county fair. Heck, I’m even thankful for a few of the water fights that I would have with my brother on the wash rack on a hot July day. I am thankful for the time that my father took to teach me to judge livestock (remember that “fat is flat and muscle is round”) and show cattle. And I’m thankful for the peace and quiet that comes at the end of a long days work.
Even though I reside on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, I wouldn’t trade my memories growing up in production agriculture for anything. It’s who I am and what has instilled my great love for the agriculture industry.
So I ask you – why do you love farming? Why are you proud of your agricultural roots? On this holiday week, why are you thankful for involvement in the food and agriculture industry?