It’s the best time of the year. By the time you read this, I’ll have about a hundred or more hours of seat time in my combine, my eyes will be watering, itchy, and crusty from bean dust. I’ll have been up and down the bin stairs who knows how many times, and the ‘kids’ will ask me “what are you doing here?” If I walk in the house before 9pm. But it’s still the best time of the year. When I was younger, I always awaited summer anxiously, but now it’s the late fall and slower pace of winter I await anxiously, and that’s right around the corner. As most know, a slower pace isn’t reality with me, although I’m hoping to get there in the next 20 years or so.
This time of year also brings the stories of people helping others. We’ve had some illness and injuries in my neighborhood, and without anyone asking, floods of folks have come to assist those who need and deserve it. We as farmers kind of take that thing for granted. We see a neighbor in need from an unforeseen circumstance, and we spring into action. It’s just what we do. I was lamenting with someone that I wonder what other industry has this type of family sensation. Maybe there are others who rush to aid but I’m pretty solid in my belief that no other profession does it the way we do. This is also an area where your local farm bureau office can help. We can step in and offer as much or as little assistance as a family in need wants. A phone call is all it takes.
As I write this, we just crossed over September 11th and our country is hurting from some horrific events. I’ve said I won’t use this platform political debates, but I sure will talk about them on “the tailgate of the truck”. Keeping silent about things that might bother you isn’t a good thing. If there’s something you think that the farm bureau can be doing for you, please bring it up to me or your local board member.
I’ve also been asked, once again, “Do you really write those newsletter articles?” Well, yes, but don’t blame the staff. They wouldn’t pay someone to submit this stuff. Sometimes it’s hard coming up with content on the last day and hour before a deadline and sometimes I feel like I’m going to spit out a bunch of rubbish just to fill a spot. But then, events unfold right in front of my eyes that shows yet another example of where your farm bureau membership provides value and I think it’s important that you are aware of them. If you haven’t, follow our Facebook page and make sure you sign up for the Monday morning email updates to keep informed of what’s going on.
