So right now my life is crazy! Absolutely nuts! Next week is finals and I'm supposed to be studying and packing but guess what...I'm procrastinating. Today I'm going to tell you about how I became involved with agriculture.
I grew up in South Dakota, which as you've probably gotten from the random facts I've posted, isn't very big. There aren't a lot of people but I did grow up in Sioux Falls. I attended a Christian high school and am very thankful to God for that education that I take for granted so easily.
I went through life believing I would be anything from a nurse to a teacher and back into something medical. If you had asked me when I was a freshman in high school what I wanted to do, I would have said I wanted to be a chiropractor. Agriculture had very little relevance in my life. My grandpa owned a dairy that I really liked to go and visit, but I never dreamed that I would end up wanting to be there most of my free time.
Following my freshman year, my parents told me that I needed a part time job. My dad recommended that I work for Grandpa. Well, let's just say that I fought it. I didn't really want to have a job in the first place, but I didn't feel like the farm was the place for me. I lost that battle. (Okay, I'm exaggerating. It wasn't anything near a battle, or even a fight, but there was some resistance.)
I ended up working on the farm that summer on Mondays and Tuesdays. My dad would drive me to my grandparent's house Sunday night and I would stay over until someone came and got me on Tuesday. While I was there I helped with the weekly vet. checks and BST shots that are given every other Tuesday to selected cows. (I may get into the BST/hormone discussion later.) During any free time I had I drove the Monster. The Monster happened to be a 76" riding mower with a 12-horse power engine. That thing could eat grass! Still can, actually. Along with that I helped with random jobs around the farm and became my grandpa's gopher (go fer this, go fer that). I learned so much, and when the next summer neared, I asked if I could come back. This continued through a third summer when I began to drive myself back and forth the thirty miles around four days a week. Along with all the previous duties mentioned, I was now helping work/process the heifers. That was the summer that I fell in love with agriculture. Checking the crops and cows and learning how to do things like check the oil in different machines and run skidloaders became something that I really enjoyed doing. That summer was the first time that I actually was in the pen helping when a calf needed to be pulled.
I love the sunshine and the smells and the people that are involved in agriculture. While I may not have grown up on a farm, it is in my blood. I love being able to do what God has given me the desire and passion to do. I am truly blessed.
Random Fact #3: A weather man in Sioux Falls, SD predicted that the Sioux Falls area would get 57.3" of snow by the end of April. Actual amount: 57.1" of snow!!
http://www.keloland.com/weather/snowfallpredictioncenter/
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