The Fabulous Farm Life

The Fabulous Farm Life

By Cort Witt

It all started four years ago... the best experience ever... a life altering decision.  That decision was to begin farming.

Growing up in town, I did not have many opportunities to doing any kind of farm work.  I knew that something inside of me had the urge to be on a farm, but I thought I would never get the chance.  Then, it happened.  

My parents got divorced when I was in first grade.  I had thought, “My parents will never get divorced.  They are the perfect couple”.  I was so wrong.  They were very dissatisfied with their relationship and I just didn’t want to believe it.  

At this point in my life, my dad moved out.  He went to a small farm outside of Kandiyohi a little ways.  It was very hard for me.  My dad was granted custody of me and my sister right after that and we were forced to live out in the middle of nowhere away from our mother.  

I needed something to cheer me up, anything! I searched and searched and then I found it.  I walked out to the barn and saw that the folks we were renting the farm from had left some animals behind.  I slowly entered the barn and saw a goat. 

Everyday after that, I would feed him and play with him.  We became best friends.  His name was Goatsie.  Goatsie got me through all the hard times.  I could talk to him and he wouldn’t judge me because, obviously, he’s a goat!

Then one late summer day, we got a phone call.  It was the owners of the house saying that they sold the land and we were going to have to move.  They were going to tear down our house and build a new one.  So we packed up our things and moved.

We moved to a decent sized farm house right outside Kandiyohi.  I liked this a lot better.  I was closer to my mom and, therefore, I could see her more often.  The day we moved in, my new neighbor walked over and introduced himself.  His name was Brad.  He ran a dairy farm and farmed a lot of land.  This fascinated me!  I loved farming from what I had learned from my grandparents and I knew this was my chance!

A few years had past since we moved in and I began to get bored in the summers.  It seemed like I had lived there my entire life and I felt like I had seen it all before.  That summer, Brad’s dad died.  This hit him hard as he was left the farm to run entirely by himself.  I felt led to do something to help him.  

I was extremely shy at the time so I couldn’t build up the strength to ask him if he wanted some help.  Who in their right mind would want a girl to help on a farm.  So I waited a few more years.  Then, four years ago from this May, I asked.  I got his phone number from my dad and told Brad about my passion for farming.  He listened and then responded, “Let’s give it a try and see how you do!”.  

I was ecstatic!  I finally asked and I finally got to fulfill my dream job!  It took me a year to get used to how Brad wanted things done.  Some people want things done their way and I greatly respect that.  I worked my heart out and it paid off.  I have kept my job for four years now and I work every night instead of just in the summer.  Brad told me that I work hard enough that I deserve a day off every week so I take every Sunday off.

Thanks to Brad, I have saved up enough to buy myself a car.  His cousin had an 87 Firebird with extremely low miles that I bought with my money from work.  I think I would be lost without doing chores every night.  I have gotten into a habit.  I get home from school, do chores, eat, hang with friends, do homework and then go to bed bed.  I love my routine and I don’t want to change it!

I am excited for summer to come so that I can work all day in the field.  I do enjoy field work more than cattle chores but I am still very glad that I have the opportunity to work with them.

Yes, farming has its ups and downs.  We get frustrated and things don’t always work right, but at the end of the day, Brad and I  love our jobs and wouldn’t trade them for the world.  When things don’t go right, we need to turn to God and ask for His help.  We need to understand that we can’t do things alone.  We need the help of our Almighty Savior to get us through the day.

God has led me into the farm life and I am glad that He did!  I am happy to see what the future holds for me.  I do hope that I have farming in my future but I will go wherever the Lord takes me whether it is farming or not! 

Farming

Farming

By Cort Witt

There are a lot of jobs in the world today.  One of those jobs is farming.  Farming is one of the oldest jobs around.  

I know from years of experience that farming is the most exciting and challenging job around.  You are never bored when you live or work on a farm.  There is always something to do.  Whether you find something laying around to fix, cattle to sort, or just sweep in feed; there is never a dull moment.  

The work never ends when you have cattle.  They are always tearing up buildings or fences, getting out and running around, or making the barn dirty.  During the winter, crop farmers just sit around or get their equipment ready for spring.  With cattle you have daily chores that must be done for the cattle to survive.

I am glad I live and work on a cattle and crop farm.  In the winter is the only time that things slow down a little.  In the spring, summer, and fall I am always on the go and working long hours.  I absolutely love to work at maximum capacity.  I am a very hard worker and I need to be on the go at all times.  That is why it is a good thing that I am a farm girl.

People say that farming isn’t for everyone and that girls can’t farm.  Well, they are wrong and I am solid proof of that.  I have farming in my blood on both sides of my family.  I was born to farm! Without farming, I would be lost just like a lot of other farmers.  

I would strongly encourage everybody to try farming at least for a day.  It is a great way to teach kids how to get a great work ethic.  It is sad to see what is happening to the children of today.  They all rely totally on electronics and can not even talk to each other face to face now.  Children need a reality check.  You can not rely fully on your parents for income.  You need to learn what it means to work and make a living.  What better way to do that than putting them to work on a farm.

If you are going to start farming, I would stay away from the GPS systems.  They 

are handy if you have a very simple field with not many obstacles in the way.  If your field is complicated and has a lot of poles on it, you should stay away from it.  GPS systems take all the fun away from farming.  They drive for you and all you have to do is turn around on the ends.  I would get bored and fall asleep.

Farming has been around for years unlike many other jobs.  Nothing beats sitting on a tractor all day.  The wind blows to keep you cool, the sun shines on you and gives you a good tan, and you know that you are making a lot of money while you relax.  

Yes, I know that farming is not the job for everyone.  Some girls won’t even attempt to drive a tractor and I understand that.  I am just saying that farming is a great chance to find the inner you.  I guarantee a grand work ethic will develop during you time on the farm.  

I would strongly encourage everyone to work on a farm during the summers.  You will not regret it because farming is the best job ever invented!!!

By Cort Witt