TWO FUN DAYS AT THE BONNEVILLE COUNTY FAIR

                                 Kira showing her chicken at the Western Idaho State Fair in 2010

                                Published in the Intermountain Farm and Ranch on August 19, 2011 

            We spent two enjoyable nights at the Bonneville County Fair this year. On Tuesday, August 2, we watched as the participants presented their beef to be judged. I am always amazed at the ability of our young people, their perseverance, patience, and courage in working with animals. Some of the youth couldn’t see over the animals they were showing, and those animals outweighed their owners probably ten-to-one. Then on Thursday evening, August 4, we observed the sale of these animals. The businesses in and around Bonneville County were most generous in their support of this sale. And it was fun to see the excitement and radiant smiles of those youthful animal owners as their beef, pigs, sheep, and goats were sold.

            Doing some research to find out more about the 4-H program these youth are involved in, I discovered that in the late 1800’s, researchers at universities were aware that farmers did not easily accept new agriculture methods being developed. However, the young people were open-minded and willing to experiment with new ideas and then share these things with the adults.

            The idea of 4-H using practical and hands-on learning came from the desire to make public school education connected more to the country life. A.B. Graham started one such youth program in Clark County, Ohio, in 1902, which is considered to be the birth of the 4-H program in the United States.  That same year, T.A. “Dad” Erickson of Douglas County Minnesota, started local agricultural after-school clubs and fairs. Jessie Field Shambaugh developed the clover pin with an H on each leaf in 1910, and by 1912 these clubs were called 4-H clubs.

            Those four H’s on the clover pin stand for: Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. The motto of the 4-H club is:  

            I pledge

            My Head to clearer thinking,

            My Heart to greater loyalty,

            My Hands to greater service,

            My Health to greater living,

            for my club, my community, my country and my world.

            I was especially touched both nights we attended the fair by Mason, a young man who suffers from Muscular Dystrophy. Mason showed his steer on Tuesday night, and walked him around the ring on Thursday night. He had a friend who helped him, but Mason was the one who held the halter most of the time. The friend was there in case of problems, to help when needed, to use his Hands for “greater service.” The night of the judging, the judge acknowledged Mason and his helper, saying that they were true examples of the teachings in the 4-H program, emphasizing service. Mason showed courage in ways many of us can’t understand. In his struggle to walk, he walked tall and proud. And not only did he show and sell, but he had worked with the steer for at least five months. He persevered; he did what he wanted to do even if it was hard.

            Mason, maybe you can’t run and play liked the other children your age, but you have shown a maturity beyond your years in your ability to accept your limitations and your desire to push yourself as much as is physically possible. You are an example to all of us.   

            My hat goes off to the volunteers who lead this youth, encouraging them, teaching them, and spending time with them. What a tremendous service you do, not only for the youth but for the community, country, and world. You are training future leaders to take responsibility, to realize that to gain anything work has to be involved, and to give them self confidence.

            Also, the parents must be recognized. They work side by side with their children, drive them to meetings, encourage them, push them, nag them, and then spend hours helping them at the fair. I saw many tired but proud and smiling mothers and fathers those evenings.

            Yes, we had two evenings that were wonderful, enriching, and educational. I hope I remember the lessons learned there.

THOSE LAZY, HAZY, CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER

Lunch at the ranch.
Published in Intermountain Farm and Ranch on August 5, 2011

“Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer,

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer.

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.

You’ll wish that summer could always be here.”

Do any of you remember hearing Nat King Cole sing that song? He was one of my favorite vocalists back then. The words of that song, as I look at summer, make me wonder who has a “lazy, hazy, crazy” day when living on the farm. Let me take that back, there are a lot of “crazy days.”  But once the tractors pull into the field in the spring, there is no such thing as a “lazy” day on the farm.

The long days and the warm weather when you can do so much more outside, are something to look forward to, yeah those things are good. But lazy? No such word in a farmer’s vocabulary

            As we drive home from the ranch in the evening with a load of hay, we pass a lot of our urban cousins in vehicles towing boats either to or from Black Tail for a “lazy, hazy, crazy” summer evening on the lake. Is there a touch of envy in this for me? Sometimes. But there is also contentment in our way of life.

            I’m transported back to my teenage years and the fun and “crazy” things we did. Mother used to make homemade root beer. (Those bottles have been known to explode on the fruit room shelves on a summer night. Maybe that’s one of the “crazies”.)  When we worked in the hay, she would have a quart or two of that special brew in the fridge at all times. My mouth waters right now as I think about that cold homemade root beer.

            As kids we would work in the fields and then spend our evenings running around with our friends. We had endless energy, but no money. Of course, gas only cost $.20 a gallon so we didn’t need much money. We would go swimming in Sand Creek, play volley ball at Tautphaus Park, or sit around and visit. Sometimes we would be out late because of the long days. Then it would be hard for us to get up in the mornings so we could get our work done.

            Dad made homemade ice cream – well actually Mother stirred up the mix for the ice cream and Dad and the kids did the work of turning the handle of the ice cream maker. We would go into Idaho Falls to get the ice and then each of us six kids would take a turn turning the handle. We looked forward to when the paddles were taken out of the can and we could get our first good taste of that cold, smooth, treat. No store purchased ice cream has even compared with Dad’s homemade.

            If it rained enough that the farm work stopped, we would pack up and go to Mack’s Inn in Island Park, rent a cabin, and spend a couple of days. Uncle Lawrence, Aunt Zola and their family usually went with us. Dad and Uncle Lawrence fished while we kids played in the river. This tradition of a rainy day activity carried over into our married life. Our youngest son, Jon, mentioned just the other day that he never remembered going to Mack’s Inn during good weather, it was always raining. Maybe it’s because of these memories that I love to travel in a storm!

            Summers are full of hard work on the farm – early rising, many times late retiring; and if irrigating there is the nocturnal work that goes with it. But there’s usually is time for a picnic out on the deck, or a ride to see the wild animals in the evening at the ranch. These are our “lazy” times. We are blessed to be farmers!