November is here, and while we’re still trying to wrap up milo (grain sorghum) harvest, the month is a good reminder to count your blessings.

I’d like to tell you something I’m most thankful for--sharing our farm family life story with others.

Recently we had family friends from a suburban city of Washington D.C. visit the farm. Karen is a high school friend of my mother’s. She grew up in Kansas, but married and moved to the D.C. area many years ago. Her husband Evy is from that area originally. Actually, his family has an old family farmstead they still own from the Colonial days, right on the Potomac River area. It is no longer a working farm. Their two children have grown up in suburbia around many people and buildings and not a lot of wide-open space like we enjoy. 

We looked forward to having them join us on the farm.

I could tell the kids were excited and overwhelmed at first glance at the equipment and the surrounding farm ground.  We allowed them to get acquainted with our kids and the surroundings before surprising them with a ride in the combine and grain cart. Even though they were quiet, their eyes told me more. It was a new world to them.

This world is something we take for granted sometimes and so do our children.

Pure joy was what I could see as I saw them in both machines with my husband and father. Each telling them what we were cutting, how it came out of the combine and where it was going. They were like little sponges soaking in everything this experience was bringing them.

While the kids were in the combine and grain cart I had their parents in the truck with me. I usually try to explain what we’re cutting and then that’s it. I let them ask the questions. They were just as excited for their children to be experiencing something new. They took pictures from their phones and told me this will probably be the highlight of the kids’ trip.

When the kids were done with the rides, they got out and were still smiling from ear to ear. They were still quiet, but I could tell it was all still soaking in. The pure pride in the picture in front of the combine tells it all. I asked them what they were going to tell their friends when they got home. They both said they could now brag about it and they got to ride in a real combine and tractor. Not only ride, but also watch something being harvested.

The day ended at my parent's place with a home-cooked meal.

Everything  came from either my parent's farm or our farm. The beef was from my parents, and the vegetables were from both of our farms. But it’s not just about the food at these times. It’s the moments of sharing with friends and family of our joys of what we provide every day.

This life I live with my family is not always easy, but the beauty in sharing what we do with the next generation is all worth it. We can make all the excuses in the world to not share what we do, but I believe our story is most useful with the ones we know. Our family that lives in the city or friends who see agriculture from a distance but have never seen agriculture up close.

That’s where I’m most thankful. The curiosity, excitement and amazement in the eyes of those who are our consumers.