By: Gilbert VandenHeuvel

July 20, 2016

Living and working on a farm has a certain charm to it.  It’s unlike any other way of life.

Generally the transit to work is simply a walk down the lane or an ATV ride to the other farm.

The independence is fulfilling and daunting at the same time, the hands-on work lets you see exactly what you did at the end of the day and often makes your muscles ache.

Being a Food Producer has been an honour for me, I hope you see the importance of feeding the world as a calling as well.

Just like every job, every day isn’t a joy.  Some are great, like seeing the newly emerging corn at sunrise, the smell of newly cut hay or a newly born animal walking for the first time, but other days seem to drag on and on making you wonder why you got up this morning.

Weather you believe farming is a way of life or strictly a business, it influences who you are.  You develop patterns and habits that you think are normal.

I have news for you, Your Not Normal.

Don’t worry though, being normal is not something to be desired.  Be yourself, be unique, be a FARMER!

The metal of a farmer is aptly described in this video:

Here is a list of actions that show that you have farmer in your blood, how many fit you or a farmer you know?

You know your a farmer when:

• Having lunch in the field is as close to a picnic as you get.

• You’ve used the line, “Sorry I have to do chores”, to get out of a bad date.

• You see a good looking person in a truck and only check out the truck

• “Lacey” or “Frilly” refers to a farm animal but not your nightgown

• You’ve never thrown away a pail

• Quality time with your hubby means you’ll have a flashlight in one hand and grabbing tools with the other.

• You wear specific hats to farm sales, livestock auctions, and holidays.

• “Sharing a cab” has nothing to do with a taxi and everything to do with the kids spending time with Dad or Grandpa.

• You have used a chain saw to remodel your house

• You can remember the fertilizer rate, herbicide rate and yields on a farm you rented 10 years ago, but cannot recall your wife’s birthday

• Family weddings and special events are planned around sowing and harvest time.

• Your family instantly becomes silent when the weather comes on the news

• You consider designer clothes to have labels like “Massey Ferguson”, “Ford” and “John Deere”

• You and your dog use the same tree

• You buy your Christmas presents at the hardware/feed store

• You consider a three piece suit to be coveralls, jacket and a cap

• You give directions to your home by including the type and size of trees, and the breed of the cows located in the field and big rocks.

• Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor