THE AMERICAN FARMER – Spring Planting Corn

It’s six o’clock in the morning.  The alarm sounds and stirs the young, stubble-faced, fourth-generation farmer to life. With it comes thoughts of excitement and anticipation.  Sitting up in bed, wiping the sleep out of his eyes, he can’t help but think of the generations before. What thoughts and fears went through their minds? What about their life was the same? What was different?  What were the battles they faced each year, and how did they overcome them? 

Showered, face shaved and teeth brushed, he grabs his mug and reaches for the coffee pot in an effort to steel away at the chill in the early morning air. Sitting at the table, steaming mug in hand, he listens as the birds begin to sing their morning songs. The squirrels chase each other in play, searching for yesterday’s hidden trophies with seemingly endless enthusiasm. As each moment passes, his excitement grows. What does the new year have in store? Will it be another year of drought, or will this be a year of flooding?  Will the rains come when needed? Will his efforts from the winter keep the competitive weeds at bay?

Getting up, he knows that there is no use dwelling on what may be.  It’s time now to sow the seed and to have faith in lessons learned from generations past.  The young farmer grabs his lunch and a few drinks and loads them into his cooler as he heads out the door. Opening the door to his truck, he throws his cooler into the seat next to him, turns the key, and heads to the shop.  As he pulls in, he sees that his Dad is already hard at it, checking the hoses to the hopper and doing a final check on the rest of the equipment.  Sitting back a moment before getting out, he reflects on the scene playing out before him: His father handing over the reins, trusting him with control of the family farm.  How could he ever imagine doing anything other than farming?  Thinking back on the heritage that he’s been blessed with, and looking forward to the legacy he will leave his children someday.  He thinks of the torch being passed down to him and knows that there is no other life he’d rather live than this life, a farmer’s life.

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The hopper is full, the hoses and gears checked. The tractor has been prepped, and the time has finally come.  Grabbing his cooler, and climbing into the cab, he can’t help but smile.  It’s finally time.  Months have passed since he last occupied the driver’s seat, and of all crops, corn is his favorite.  Why? Maybe it’s the sign of a new growing season.  Maybe it’s looking forward to the high yields that corn brings. It could be one of many reasons. One thing is for sure though, planting corn breeds a sense of excitement unlike any other in the heart of this young farmer.  Pulling into the field from the county road, he stops for a moment, reaches into his cooler. Cracking open the can of soda, he lifts it into the air. Here’s to the year of a good harvest.  Here’s to the land I sow.

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