I love this time of the year! Spring time! The farmers are in the field for the first time, getting the fields ready for planting. The tractors are going up and down the road, and I even see some in my favorite color, red. Farmers are the heart of America. If it was not for them, we could not eat. There would not be food on our tables to feed our families.
People do not stop and think about that, when they get behind a tractor on the road that is slowing them down as they hurry to get to wherever they are going. They want to cuss them out and give them the finger as they pass them up. Well, I can assure you, coming from a farmer’s daughter! I know, that farmer, sitting on that tractor, is not having no fun holding you up from getting to wherever you are going. And 9 times out of 10 will pull over and let a line of cars get by if he or she notices that they are starting to line up behind him or her, and there is a chance to pull over. They only get on the road when it is the only way to the next field. So be patient with them as they get them fields ready to grow your food!
Farming has come a long way since I was a kid. Daddy used to drive a tractor with no cab in the hot sun. Now look what they have! Just about every one that I see has a cab, air conditioner, radio, you name it, it has it. It just about drives itself these days with the computer system on them.
Farmers and Chopping Cotton
I used to chop cotton when I was a kid, I earned $3.75 an hour for that. It was hard work, and hot too out in the sun all day, but I was used to that. Mama and Daddy always instilled in us 4 kids a work ethic, to always work hard for what we have. And I did. Nowadays, they do not have cotton choppers, not that I know of! I do not believe that I could do it anymore. But if I had to, I guess I would give it a go.
All I am trying to say is that, please take your hat off to the farmers. Give them the respect that they deserve, they are the backbone of this country and they deserve our respect. That is my opinion and I am sticking to it.
And as you are biting into that piece of cornbread or eating your beans. Maybe even that nice big juicy steak, think about where all that comes from. And next time you see a farmer, instead of cussing or giving them the finger, say thank you instead or at least give them a friendly wave. I know that they would appreciate it.
Coming from a farmer’s daughter, I know that I would appreciate it if somebody showed my Daddy a little respect like that. He is not with us anymore, he has gone to be with Mama in Heaven. But I know that they both look down on all of us and expect the best out of all of their children. They taught us well, Albert, the oldest, Kelly,(me) the second born, Jack, third born and the baby of the bunch, Mary! We loved our parents very much. I love each and every one of my siblings and hope to one day reunite with them. There has been a rift in our relationship since our parents moved to Heaven’s pearly gates. I hope they read this one day and reach out when they are ready, just know that I will always love them.
Growing up on a Farm
Growing up on a farm, you have fresh eggs for breakfast every morning, and Daddy took my brother’s deer or squirrel hunting for meat. And every once in a while, there was fresh chicken. Mama never would tell us where that came from, but once I got older, I realized that some of our chickens were ending up in the pot. She always grew a big garden too, with all kinds of vegetables. I remember the giant okra plants, or so they seemed to me at the time, I would have to help pick okra and it would make you itch, if you did not have long sleeves and gloves, which were socks on. I could go on and on about the different vegetables, but you get it, there were all kinds, and we never went hungry, because of that. May not have had meat, but we had vegetables to eat. Mama would can them for eating later or put them in the freezer. And I know Mama would have loved these products here to help her in the kitchen.