The beach could be really great but I rather be surrounding by faith, family, and farming. Read down below to hear my mama's wise words. XO Ashlee
I have those days that I would much rather have an 9 – 5 office job. Better yet, I have those days that laying on the beach almost looks too good to pass up. I have those days that are frustrating; the days that nothing seems to be going right. The days that I am not strong enough though the trials and the hardships that come with the lifestyle I decided to be a part of. I admit that without family and faith I would give up on the farming. For this simple reason I sum up agriculture in 3 words: FAMILY, FAITH and FARMING. In my mind, agriculturalists have to have more than just a work ethic or an idealist image of farming and ranching. Agriculturalists must have passion and they must have a great support team in order to be successful. For the days I fall short I thank my family, and my faith for taking the slack necessary and backing me up. These two huge things in my life enable me to do my job even during the times that I want to give up and be a beach bum.
My mama has taught me to lean on my faith and my family though those hard times. She is a very wise and strong women in agriculture. She is passionate, she is resilient, she is driven, and she fights for what she believes in. It doesn’t surprise me to see my mom working cattle, driving a tractor, staying up all night finishing the job, communicating with local, state, and national government representatives, hauling cattle, butchering poultry, spending hours upon hours with new baby chicks and turkeys, checking cattle, harvesting crops, planning our harvest festivals, teaching the community about what we do- I mean she does it all. Her life is filled with passion for safe and affordable food and a passion for the land and the animals that we are here to care for. I’m telling you, if anyone in agriculture could do it all by themselves it would be my mom- she is much stronger than I am. Through it all she still teaches me to unify with other farmers and ranchers. She said the following: “We are not competing against each other. We are working together to feed the world.” Oh how true that is. We all have the same goal- to provide food and fiber for the families of this world. We do this by standing together- unified and strong.
This unity is what I love most about agriculture. I love the people involved in our county’s food system. It makes my heart happy to know that those producing our food are families. Working each day to provide healthy and great products for their families as well as other families. Farming is all about families. It is a lifestyle every member of the family must be a part of. A lifestyle every member of the family can be a part of. The values and character that come with being a part of this industry is irreplaceable. In fact, when I think of genuinely good people I think of farmers and ranchers. I think of the millions of times I have had to call an agriculturalist to come save my day; to be my Super Man and rescue me. The times I drove down the wrong dirt road for 20 miles and got a flat tire. For the late night my truck broke down with a load of cattle in the trailer. For the times five thousand guests were coming to the farm and I wasn’t ready. For the all-nighters that were spent saving a calf’s life. Most recently - for the days and days I spent searching for my grandma’s dog with no luck - that is until a gang of super people came and saved me once again.For the times I didn’t know where else to turn. There was always a farmer or a rancher – a member of my family - there to save me. Kindness just comes with the job title. It is their way of life. Farmers and ranchers are as good as they come. I am proud and honored to call farmers and ranchers my family. And I am even more thankful to my parents for raising me the way they did and giving me my huge agriculture family.
The next thing my mama taught me is to have faith, something I wouldn’t give up for the world. A factor of my life that keeps everything else going. In agriculture we do all we can to plan ahead, work hard, and prepare but at the end of the day the best thing to do is pray. Pray to the man that created it all for the simple fact that SO MUCH IS OUR OF OUR CONTROL. There is absolutely no other way to grow and produce food than to rely on God - agriculture could not continue without Him. Each and every organism has a purpose and a unique contribution to the function of the world. In agriculture we must depend on all of these parts and pieces to be in just the right place at just the right time. We depend on the rain on certain days and sunshine on others, the soil, the bees, the weather being just what we need it to be, the birds, the native grasses, the seasons, the WATER, the lack of weeds, and ants - we depend on it all. There are so many variables that come with the career of being a farmer and a rancher. Variables that are beyond our control. Because of this we must be willing and able to depend on someone, something greater than ourselves. We must have faith that the land we work will provide the needed nutrients for our cattle and our families. Faith that the rains will come and the range land will grow. Faith that our crops will sprout and our yields will meet our expectations. Faith that weeds, disease, or even bugs won’t destroy our crops. Farmers and ranchers must have faith. Our world is a testimony; it is amazing to see everything turn out just the right way and set a way for our jobs to be successful.
FAITH, FAMILY, and FARMING are my top three – they are what I thrive on. Without just one of the things on this list my life would not be complete. I am beyond thankful for the support the agriculture industry gives me and the life I am able to have through farming and ranching. Agriculture - It is just what I do. It is just what we do.
Comments