Life Lesson from Corn

As I continue down the path of being the next in my family to take over our farming operation, it seems like responsibilities continue to pile on. Usually I’m getting a handle on one thing, when something new comes up and seems to overwhelm me again and the cycle continues. I’m not complaining about this cycle, I know that I have a lot to learn about this whole farming thing, and I love that I’m always learning and growing. So did you know…corn roots grow over six feet down into the ground?!! By stressing the plants, farmers are able to persuade corn roots to grow further into the ground to get nutrients. In other words by stressing the corn, you get a great root system that helps keep the plant strong and growing throughout the season.

I think of this in relation to my life, growing up and now living back there and trying to grow as a woman, farmer, and business person. As my responsibilities become larger and larger, I’m finding that stress is coming right along with all of that. It’s stress that I know will subside as I get better at my new jobs in our operation, but recently it’s been really getting to me. We recently got a new linear irrigation system, one that I’m in charge of learning how to run, running, and taking care of. Well ever since the darn thing started running I’ve been getting up 2 or 3 times a night in a panic, having a dream that the linear was walking out across the prairie with nothing stopping it! Although in reality it would hit many many trees if it did start to walk away; it doesn’t matter, it’s 3am and I’m in a panic! I also have been known to sleep walk and talk, so I’m just waiting for the night that I wake up walking out my door, screaming for the linear to stop, and headed out across the prairie!!

So when I heard this little corn fact the other day; that farmers actually stress corn to make their roots grow deep and strong so that they can produce more corn and more food per plant, I had to smile. I think that’s exactly what I’m going through right now! Although I’m not having a ball waking up in the middle of the night worrying about what is going on out in the field, I know that my roots are growing deeper as I become more and more responsible for things on the farm. This is what I want, and someday the linear won’t be what keeps me up at night, it will be something else that I probably can’t even imagine up right now. The linear…”Ha” I’ll scoff, “piece of cake!”

Wordless Wednesday…End of May 2012

Taking Yukon on a walk along the Crimson Clover & Filbert orchard.

Great day to be a farmer!  Backpack spraying in the baby filbert orchard.

Honey Bees Pollinating our Crimson Clover.

A Well Deserved Rememberance…

For this Memorial Day holiday I wanted to say thank you to all of those who have served and given up so much for our country.  Keep your heads high, because we appreciate all that you have done for us.  You’re so unselfish and have been called to do something so incredible for everyone else, you should be so proud!

(From the Lens of a Farm Girl)

There is a good reason why rural Americans feel such a connection to the military and all of their service…just look at the picture above and those statistics.  I think this says a lot for our hardworking mindset out here.  Nothing is really handed to you, you have to work for it, sacrifice for it and then pass it on to another.  This is how good things come to us in a country that is filled with such fortunate people (and I don’t mean the rich…I mean all of us everyday normal folks!)  So thank you again for all the military, their families and friends.  The sacrifice goes on and on, and it’s all our freedom!!

My sister and I with a few people that I will be remembering this weekend. 
Grandpa & Grandma Kirsch.

Memorial Day is also about remember those that you have lost, maybe not to a war or fighting, but maybe it was just their time to go.  My Grandpa & Grandma Kirsch will be a few that I think about on this weekend.  I think of them often actually, and how much of an influence they still have on my life.  My grandpa’s love of farming, clearly, has been passed down and my Grandma’s cooking is still always on my mind!  So to you and yours on this holiday weekend, I hope you enjoy an extra day off of work, but also take time to thank those who have made your life better!!  Happy Memorial Day!!