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Sep 29, 2013

harvest blessing


My most favorite time of year is fall.

And not because of all the pumpkin spice goodness, the beautiful landscapes and the crisp, cold weather. Don't get me wrong. Those are all things I look forward to.

My husband raises field corn and soy beans. He pours his heart and soul into our few acres each and every year. "We don't have much, but we are the biggest smallest farmers around" he says. It is true. My husband never sits back and complains about his older equipment or the fact that he has to work a full time day job before he can get in the fields with just an hour or two of daylight left. He never gets jealous of his buddies with the bigger and the better equipment. He's genuinely happy for the guy who outbids him on the ground he so desperately wanted. He's it.

He's the real deal.

And fall harvest season....this is his Super Bowl. But you won't see him in spandex. Trust me.


There's nothing that boy loves more than bringing in his crops every fall. It's hard work and long hours but at the same time it's his chance to really sit in the cab of the combine and take in every inch of his property. It's his time to watch the yields per acre to see how well the crops did in certain areas and what he can do differently next year to improve. It's what he lives for.

Yes it's frustrating that our plans are made by the mercy of the weather. It's difficult to plan meals and most times we just have to wing it. Sometimes he's not getting into the shower and into bed until midnight. I never know when he's going to need my help. Our vehicles are covered in dust. We usually miss the good fall parties and sometimes I have to go to weddings alone.

But it's all so worth it.

It's so worth it to watch him in his element and to be there to help whether it's bringing him a hot meal, running for parts, running the chisel plow, keeping him company in the combine or chasing with the grain cart.

I'm one lucky girl and that's all I have to say.

I hope some day my husband's passion, perseverance and hard work pays off and he gets to live his dream of working one job as a full time farmer. It's this time of year, every year, that I am really truly reminded of how deserving and selfless he is. And that's why this is my favorite time of year.

If you farm, you've probably heard comments from people relative to "Oh you just farm for the money... " or "Farmers just want their tax breaks from the government..." or "It must be nice to sit in a tractor all day..........."

Yes, it is nice. It's actually really nice to sit in a tractor all day. For just a few weeks out of the year.

The rest of the year is spent wrenching on equipment, washing equipment, burning and cleaning brush, repairing grain bins and related equipment, pulling or repairing fence, picking up rocks, spraying weeds, painting, meeting with various consultants for seed and crop insurance, paying bills, doing paperwork, hauling grain to the elevator, shoveling out grain bins, helping other farmers and much more! Not to mention, if a farmer has livestock, that adds even more to their plate all year round!

A real farmer does more than just sit in a tractor.

I once asked my husband out of concern for smaller farms having a hard time to grow, "What happens if you are no longer making money off the farm?"

He replied "Well, as long as we are breaking even, I'm going to keep farming. It's what I was put on this Earth to do."

He doesn't care about the money.

And really, all these tax breaks and government supplements we supposedly get, we'd sure like to know where they are.

Farming for my husband is just as important as food, water and shelter. It's embedded in his survival hierarchy of needs. When he's not working on a piece of equipment, paying farm bills or working in the fields, he's reading his farm magazines, looking through used equipment catalogs (those things are the devil, by the way) or talking to his dad or fellow farmer friends about their crops or equipment.

It's in his blood.

They say this is the time of year for us to give thanks and recognize our blessings.

We are truly blessed. Blessed with the capabilities to forever live our dream.

His grandpa would be so proud.

4 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for this post! So nice to se there are other small farmer's out there with older equiptment like us. My husband also works a full time job and would like someday to stay home farming full time. For us it is not about the money it is about doing something we love! Rebekah

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    1. Hi Rebekah! Thanks for stopping by. Small farmers are definitely my favorite :) I hope your husband's dream comes true some day!

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  2. What a beautiful story. I think you speak for many of us. When the one you love, loves the land you love it too. Thanks for sharing your heart, and even though I don't know you, after reading your story I think it's safe to say our hearts beat alike.

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    1. Thank you so much, Kelly! It definitely was a hard post to share because I did share my heart.. without trying to be too sappy! I'm so glad our hearts beat alike. It's reassuring to know that there are others like us in this world!

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