...A Farmer in Spring.

Ashlee here! The world is waking up and I am driving 6-8 hours to get home every weekend. Read what in the world I am talking about right here...

My family has been involved in farming and ranching for more generations then I can count. My dad’s side of the family were corn and soy bean farmers in Iowa while my mama’s family were cattle ranchers and cotton farmers out west. I love this about my family’s history. I love that farming and ranching traditions were passed though generation upon generation. I love that the love for the land, environment, and animals that I find in myself is the same love that my great, great, great, great grandparents had for the land they were farming, the resources they were caring for, the animals they were raising, and the water they were using.

Through each season on my family’s farm and ranch – though each day I work – though each responsibility I preform – though each magnificent sight I see I am reminded of this unique but wonderful tie to previous generations.

Spring is one of my favorite times. I love seeing the world wake up. Whether it be by seeing new born calves test out their legs for the very first time, driving past the farm late at night and seeing my dad hard at work in the tractor, hearing birds sing, seeing trees and flowers bloom, or seeing so much new growth and beauty - I love to see the all God's creations – all that we have here - in nature – out on the ranch and on the farm once again become evident.

I think this is why I love my job so much. I get to spend every day surrounded by these things that remind me so much of the love God has for us – I am encircled by brilliance. A brilliance that not only reminds me of Him but reminds me of all the blessing I have now and all those wonderful people that came before me.

When my dad was about 4 years old he began to learn how to drive a tractor. The first tractor he drove was my great-grandpa Leo’s B Tractor. I still have no idea how he could possibly have reached the peddles (I am all grown up and still barely can reach, haha). It was at this point in little Gary’s life that he needed to assist in farm responsibilities. One of his jobs was to drive the B Tractor with my Uncle Greg, Grandma Karen, and lots of hay on the trailer. He would drive the tractor right through the middle of their few head of cattle. While he drove Greg and Grandma would throw out hay. I can just see it now – little Gary barely reaching the peddles while driving though a herd of cattle. He was trusted and given so much responsibility at such a young age. It is what the farm and ranch life is. We all pitch in – we all have our duties – and we all positively impact the farm and ranch.

Spring about 10 years ago was one of the first times I can remember helping my dad plant the fields. The planter we had, at the time, didn’t drop the seeds into the holes that the planter was making for the seeds to go into. For this reason, my sibling and I had to sit on the planter and drop two seed every 3 seconds into our designated row. Right next to my station was a tire. This tire had a white line on the wheel. I soon realized that one spin of the tire equaled 3 seconds. Can you tell this was one of the longest springs of my life? I begged my dad to purchase a planter that actually did the entire job that it was supposed to do. Looking back now I’m sure he didn’t have this not so great planter to teach me anything or to show me anything but it definitely was a side effect. That spring, I learned dedication, hard work, and the importance of drinking lots and lots of water by being immersed in the operation – by being trusted and given responsibility.

Thankfully, since then my dad has upgraded his farming equipment. I no longer have to sit on the planter and drop two seeds every spin of the tire – every 3 seconds. I do have to say that 10 years ago when that spring planting emerged out of the warm and moist soil – that moment was wonderful! That moment I felt so much joy and satisfaction for a job that we accomplished – for a responsibility my family and I had that proved to be a success. That moment made the long, long, long spring of dropping a seed worth every spin of the tire.

Spring is a great time in my life and in my family’s lives. It is the time where I feel as if the work I am doing each and every day has meaning. It is the time of my year that I feel closest to those of my past that cultivated land with shovels and their hands. Those in my family’s history that dedicated their entire beings to something that was so hard. Generations ago, my family planted fields upon fields with just a shovel. What. Dedication. And. Passion! Today, I am beyond thankful for the farming and ranching tools that we have to enable us to do our jobs more efficiently, and better.

Marveling at hundreds of baby calves and fields and fields of green sprouts is my life at the moment! In fact, I drive home from U of A every weekend – 6-8 long hours (usually in lots of traffic) because I just adore this life – my life on the farm and the ranch so much! A life I would never give – a life I love so dearly – a life I hold very close to my heart!