Helping Hands

The other night, Matt was able to spend an evening with my Dad at the local farmers' convention. It consisted mostly of eating steak and golfing, but it was also a chance for Matt to meet some of the people in our community who live this agrarian lifestyle we are considering. There were agronomists, weathered and experienced farmers and ranchers, newbies who are just getting their feet wet (though Matt wouldn't consider himself even at that level yet), and grain elevator operators, among others. The talk revolved around crop conditions, prices, the drought, the latest chemical and seed innovations, and the quality of the steaks being served (We're farmers here, but we're also Germans, who like a good meal.). Initially, when I asked him about his night, Matt said that it went just fine, but when I pressed him for clarification, he said that it was interesting to see how many other farmers live in this area. And that's a solid observation.

In many ways, the life of a farmer is fairly solitary. Rural farms can be remote, visits limited to dealerships, repair shops, and the grocery store. But gatherings like these underline the fact that although we hear regularly in the news that smaller family farms are being abandoned at an alarming rate, many farmers still plod ahead, working with the economy's ups and downs, figuring out new ways to not just maintain a lifestyle but expand it. They still have pride in their work, knowing their occupation is necessary and good. And in my experience, most still have an optimistic streak: things will get better, prices will go up, kids will return to farm, and small towns won't disappear.

But the one thing that really stands out to me is the attitude most farmers have toward other farmers, especially those who are trying to get into farming. Rather than viewing these young bucks (or does) as competition or nuisances, they view them as colleagues who need all the breaks they can get. Matt's been overwhelmingly encouraged since he first mentioned our plan to others, and none are more excited than our local farmers. This career is one of helping.

My dad would never tell you this, but he fully embodied this helpful spirit yesterday. The kids and I went out to check crops with him, and on the way back, we stopped by one of my dad's pastures that had been baled. Men were working with tractors, stacking the bales onto the stack movers, and we were flagged down by the owner (a young man, not much older than me). He trotted over to us, and we made small talk about the hay for a while, as farmers do. Then, he looked my dad in the eye and said, "You know, I really appreciate that you let me bale all this. I would have had to sell my cattle otherwise; I couldn't have fed them. It's a big deal." In his modest way, my dad made light of it, saying, "I was just glad someone could use it and saved us the work." However, the point had been made: farmers help farmers.

That makes me one very proud daughter, and one very optimistic wife.