Last month we wrote about the serious, but boring facts about the cost of food. Everywhere we go the two main topics on people's mind   are the price of gas and cost of food. We felt as farmers is was only right to try and address this issue, because as previously stated the farmer surely isn't getting rich as prices continue to rise.

I told Keith this month we'd write a fun article. As my mind began to compose this article I reflected on the activities around the farm and questioned myself are they really fun?   I know they are time consuming and difficult at times, but are they fun? It's for certain you experience things on the farm that “city” life does not offer. You become very familiar with the animal kingdom and one certain experience comes to mind. One early morning while cleaning, I reached down to pick up a balled up blue sock. Well to my dismay, the sock scampered under the couch. After many screams and further inspection, it was determined the sock was actually a baby squirrel that was now running around our living room. What surely would have won us $10,000 on America's Funniest Home Videos, if we have only been smart enough to film. Keith, being the hero of the story, cornered the squirrel using a fish net and armed with gloves safely return the unwanted guest out side. All of this occurred while our family pet, Junior, part Jack Russell, never moved from his favorite spot on the couch. Any other time, this dog would scale a pine tree in hot pursuit of a squirrel. In fact he spends day after day after day trying to climb trees just to get at a squirrel. Who can figure animals out?

Another experience is the joy and excitement of new life. Being with your children as they watch a baby cow, that is less than an hour old, try to stand. To see a baby donkey that is one part body and three parts legs run circles around her mother. Explaining to your child how the mommy pig is able to nurse ten babies at once. Watching a hen lay an egg and seeing it leave the chicken. Then watching your child holding that same egg while it is still wet with sealant and warm.

Along with life comes the experience of death. We teach our children, and the ones that visit, that life has a purpose. The animals on the farm are no different. We explain that we raise our animals humanely and treat them well and their purpose is to provide us food and nourishment. They understand that and accept it. It is the unexpected deaths that are hard. It is when you find a still born baby donkey who came earlier in an ice storm or the baby pig that is the runt of the litter who struggles to live but dies or when 100 plus hens who die in an attack by dogs that brings the children to ask why?               

Farming provides unusual opportunities too. We've had the privilege and I use that word loosely to bottle feed a goat, pig and a calf. Each animal providing a unique and different experience to the substitute mom. Each species treats the children in a way that is very similar to the way they would their real mom. The baby goats will love you and follow you any where. A baby pig will run to you like a puppy and sleep in a cat's bed. But the strangest is the calf. Our children were complaining about how it hurts so much to have the calf step on their feet as it walked circles around them. We could not figure this one out until we watched a calf with its mother. The calf walks around and around until it can position itself just right to nurse. Once we realized this, feeding became much easier and sore toes felt a whole a lot better.

Farming is hard work but makes for creative play. Dried cow patties in the field can provide hours of fun. It is amazing how far you can kick it or throw it. Warning: not all brown patties are dry; they do not kick very well and can be very messy. Hay is not just for feeding. Running on the top of the rows of the large hay bales and jumping from row to row can provide a great reward to a long afternoon of chores. Never forget the quick swim in the pond on a hot afternoon.

A great and simple joy of farm life came thru the eyes of our 4 year old, when she asked over and over to go to the brooder to see the baby chicks. When we arrive at the brooder and she looks with amazement and wonder as she holds the baby chick she had caught in her hand. She looks up from the fluffy ball of yellow down nestled contently in her hand to see you with her filled to the brim with thrills and excitement and says “I farmer girl”.

The question has been answered. Yes, life on the farm is fun. For here, on the farm, our family is living life together. We are making memories and continuing for the fourth generation a legacy, which hopefully remains long after we are gone.