Thursday, November 3, 2011

Farmers Rock!

Five years ago today my family found out how dangerous farming could be. My dad was involved in a horrible accident resulting in losing his right arm. Two days later he had a heart attack and had to have 4 stints put in. He is doing well and has adjusted very well to his handicap, and still farming!

Farmers are amazing! No matter the obstacles that may stand in their way they find a way around them.  My dad is no exception. We are in awe. The first spring after the accident dad was still a little leary on being out by himself but he did. He was spraying and the hoses came off the sprayer. They are usually held in place with zip ties. Try using zip ties with one hand. Dad used duct tape, a lot of duct tape. Red Green has nothing on my family (he has shows and books on usages for duct tape).

At a times like this you find out who your friends are, who steps up to help without being asked. You hear about it all the time on the local news when farmers pitch in and help. It was no different in the Woodward-Granger area. Dad had finished getting the harvest in just the day before the accident but the fall prep work still needed to be done and the local farmers came to the aid. I let Andy stay home from school so he could take pictures and video it. I then made the photos into a slideshow for dad a couple of years ago. He is very proud of it, he has the pictures in a photo album by his chair and every once in awhile he will ask me to reprint a picture so he can give it to someone who was probably there to help.

Full time farmers like my dad are a generation that is dying out.  I attended a wake tonight for a farmer who passed away this week he was 88. He was my Dad's neighbor while he was growing up and later became his landlord and friend. About six or seven years ago Joe wanted to sell his pickup, he wasn't driving anymore and had no use for it. He asked my dad if he wanted to buy it under one condition. The condition being that the hampshire pig sticker stay on the doors of the truck. Dad still has it pig sticker and all.  Tim helped Dad fix the tire tonight and get it started, we are going to place it in Joe's field.  Tomorrow when the funeral procession goes past it to the cemetery Joe's will have one last salute the farmers way.

I am getting away from my point here but I just wanted to share how I see a farmer. There is just something about a farmer that when it comes right down to it they are there for their fellow farmers. I can't really put it into words but I am proud my dad is a farmer, that my husband would love to be a full time farmer and that my son wants to be somewhat a farmer.

I am sharing Dad's video. Thanks to all the farmers and friends that helped that day it meant more than any of you will every know.

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