The Company We Keep

Hard times make strong men. Strong men make good times. Good times make weak men. Weak men make hard times. 

7 strong young men (grandsons) came to help Grandpa yesterday. Lane's cousins are explaining to him that some old folks still write in cursive, as he looks at his paycheck for the day. Cursive writing is a dying art for most anyone under 40 years old.

The people we spend time with have an influence on us. Our character and actions are often shaped by those we associate with. Our help is good company, and we had a busy week wrapping up the last 7 NH3 jobs.

On Wednesday morning Dean, Kasey, and I loaded up skid loaders and went to pile brush. Afterwards we stopped at Applebees in Pella for a late lunch.

With the rest of our crew preoccupied, two older fellows (Dean and I) worked together to put in a string of tile. Mike came to build the terrace before we even had the tile ditch filled.

Mike and brother Doug donated their time, equipment, and fuel to do clearing and dirtwork for "Developing Great Relationships" north of Pella along the South Skunk River.

"Folks will ask, Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or alone, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and help? Then the King will answer, when you helped (kept company with) the least of my people here on earth, you were helping Me". Matthew 25:37-40.

Thanks to grandsons, Ezra and Elijah, for helping high-speed disc ground going to soybeans. If the weather holds, spraying pre-herbicide could start next week. 

Since Ezra, Elijah, Elliot, Zach, Jackson, Jayden, and Lane came to help yesterday, we went to Walmart and loaded 140 bags of brown mulch. We re-mulched Jan's flowers and bushes along the north side of our shop with 100 bags.

Then we went out and picked up over a dozen loads of roots and rocks. You've heard folks say that the 1st generation "makes things happen". The 2nd generation "watches things happen". And the 3rd generation "wonders what happened". If older generations give opportunities (not things) to the next generation. And then keep company with the following generation; with God's help, future generations will continue to "make things happen".

A song from my younger days came to mind Friday evening as the rain and dark clouds rolled through. "Many times Satan whispers, There is no need to try. For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by". 

That same song finishes, "But I know you are with me, and tomorrow I'll rise... Keep me safe till the storm passes by".  Our God reigns. Thanks for the picture of our place Mandy.

We will have storms in 2025. We are in the midst of a spiritual battle that's getting more intense. We have a choice. Will we listen to the devil saying there is no hope and no need to try. Or will we keep company with God who tells us, "I will not keep you from storms. They help you grow. However, I promise to walk with you through those storms". Blessings.

Generations

Every couple of decades, just as sure as the seasons; families, communities, and cultures, do a generational shift. When our children start having children. When new young business leaders emerge. When teenagers that used to say, "You just don't understand", think back and say, "You were smarter than I remember".

Below, Uncle Mike stopped in at Sully Locker and Market, to visit with new business owner and nephew, Gideon. Thanks for the picture Kasey.

A generation ago Mike was grinding feed, helping his father. Mostly because he was the oldest. Once in awhile as a learning experience for not listening or obeying. 😊

The shop crew worked on getting sprayer tenders ready. Spraying pre (1st pass pre-plant) on ground going to soybeans often starts in just a couple of weeks.

On Tuesday, after Alex's grandma's funeral on Monday, everyone helped Alex tear-off the old roof on his house getting ready for new shingles. Thanks for the picture.

First thing yesterday during morning coffee, Kurt and Emily's younger kids, 7 yr old(I'm guessing) Jayden and 5 yr old Lane, and their friend 5 yr old(I'm guessing again) Logan, wanted a job. So I gave them each a can of glass cleaner and asked them to clean the windows, inside and out, on the JD 8420.

Thanks to Kyle who made time to come with his crane and hang the star/cross, and Brad and Kasey, who climbed the leg to attach it to the platform.

A blessing and benefit of being a grandfather is remembering the past, like still having some older tractors around. Then watching the present, having our children in charge. Finally having a hand in the future, teaching and working with grandchildren. 16 yr old Ezra, 15 yr old Elliot, and  11 yr old Jackson washed 7 older tractors yesterday.

Jan and I were invited to West Point, Iowa on Friday to Jesse and Leah's farm. Leah is a doctor and practiced for close to 20 years before raising a family on the farm. Jesse crop farms and raises cattle. Together they sell Wagu beef on-line. I was asked to be a guest on their new pod-cast called, The Farmers Greatest Asset. Check it out on most social media sites including FB. After Jesse's serious farm accident in 2023 they are devoted to helping farmers be prepared for the next generation. Thanks for the invite and the friendship Jesse and Leah.

What can I say? Jan also very much enjoys her grandkids and asked that they pose for a photo in her 50 year old wedding and bridesmaid dresses. Amelia has an amazing resemblance to Grandma Jan when she was 19. Elliot, although much better looking, resembles his grandfather when he was that age. And the bridesmaid dress fit perfectly on Allison.

You've heard me say before that one needs a logo that has a story, and then a platform that tells that story. Between 80 and 90 generations ago Jesus came to earth as a baby. We celebrate that birth at Christmas with the Bethlehem star. At 33 yrs old He was rejected by the Jewish church leaders, wrongly accused of blasphemy, and crucified. 3 days later He conquered death by raising from the grave. We celebrate that resurrection at Easter with an empty cross. This combination logo represents and reminds us that Christ came, lived, died, and rose for us to cover our wrongs if we accept this gift. We hope to keep the star/cross lit during evenings through Easter in 5 weeks. Blessings. 

Light

During the frontier times of the southwest, pioneers would often only travel during the daylight. Many felt safer together when they formed and moved to a town. However crime and fights became a growing problem, particularly at night. Street lights changed everything. Folks felt safer. And commerce exploded. Today Yuma, Arizona, has around 100,000 permanent residents year around, and 250,000 during the winter months.

Yuma, AZ is an agricultural area overlooking the Colorado River valley, next to California and Old Mexico. The Colorado River irrigates close to 6 million acres of crop land! Agriculture and the military bases are the 2 largest segments of the economy.

Russ is the voice of conservative talk radio in southwest Arizona. He has a daughter in the valley with 6 children whose husband is a helicopter mechanic for the US border patrol. His son is a squadron commander in Sicily.

I was fortunate enough to meet and visit Russ. We enjoyed conversations about Yuma life, state and national politics, and culture in general.

126 miles of the 370 mile Arizona border with Mexico has a 30 ft. wall. Jan and I drove along 35 miles of the border fence.

We visited with 4 different border patrol officers while on our drive along the wall. They were all friendly and informative.

During last year's Arizona trip we were sent back to Mexico by US Customs for taking out too much vanilla. This year we got out 24 bottles in 2 trips to Old Mexico along with medications and antibiotics for our family for the year. We share both the vanilla and medications.

A visit to Yuma wouldn't be complete without catching up with Pastor Tom and Erin. Tom had just returned home the day before from a 6 week mission trip to Sierra Leone, Africa.

We left Arizona midafternoon Sunday arriving home Monday night just in time to get ready for a blizzard. The light of the sunset Wednesday evening promised warmer weather ahead.

Kurt and Emily are gearing up for another season of of feeding folks at venues and events with their Boonies wood fired pizza trailer.

On Thursday Karl and Kristin (K + K Seed) hosted a lunch in our farm shop. The menu was Boonies pizza and Kristin's desserts. Becks was there for seed questions, and NewFields Ag was on hand for information on planter box biological seed treatments for our upcoming crop.

We all have the ability to either brighten someone's day or darken it depending on our attitudes.

When Jesus was on earth 2000 years ago He gave a very practical message called the Sermon on the Mount. He told the crowd (Bible says multitude) "You are the light of the world. Like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Rather on a lamp stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your good deeds shine for everyone to see, so that folks will praise your Heavenly Father". Matthew 5:14-16 Thanks for the picture Kasey.

This morning's visit would not be complete without sharing that as of this past Friday evening (3/7/75) Jan and I have been married 50 years. According to the US Census Bureau 6% of marriages in our country last 50 years. I love you Jan. And one of my brightest memories is meeting you the summer after my junior year in high school. Thanks BJ, Cassia, and family for making our day special.

Five Things

What 5 things did you get done this past week? This question was asked to federal employees from Elon Musk working on DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency). A number of employees have not been back to their workplace since Covid. The question set off a firestorm. 

Back home our crew worked on finishing the Hybrid, putting it back together after painting. They also worked on Flames, our dump truck. Replacing an air cylinder, new brakes, and an oil change.

Kasey and Dean are building metal pallets to store sprayer tires on. In the spring we run floater tires before the crop is up. Then run skinnier tires in the summer during poast spraying. 

Kasey and Kurt have been mapping field borders with our Ranger. They also border terraces and waterways. Like we talked about last week, this allows the satellites the responsibility of turning the spray on and off when spraying crops. 

The 5th thing they worked on was emptying the shop across the road so Elliot could power wash the floor yesterday. We are getting ready for and looking forward to customers and friends coming next Thursday, March 6 from 11 to 1 for lunch and round table discussions about the upcoming crop season. Kurt and Emily will be serving dinner from Boonies, their wood-fired pizza trailer on site. 

This has been a week of firestorms. This is our new Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, and her USDA team. They found and cancelled a $324,671 grant to Iowa State University for DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility).

This firestorm is a movie from respected doctors about the manipulation and propaganda our country's media has used over the last 5 years.

Of course you've all heard the political firestorm of the meeting in the White House on Friday between President Trump and Zelensky. I surely don't know the whole story. But I know enough to tell you that the photo below of Mr. Zelensky and President Biden is intentional. 

Last weekend over 500 young people attended the Awake Conference at The Bridge Church in Oskaloosa. It was a huge success. As parents and a church, how do you handle young people? You love them. You show them God's intended way to live. And you set boundaries for them.

The 5th firestorm this past week. The Iowa Capital was overrun with folks that think they are a different gender than God made them. As citizens and a state, how do you handle transgenderism? You love them. You show them God's intended way to live. And you set boundaries for them.

 

I'd like to wrap up with 5 things for living through firestorms from the Bible. The first 3 are on our farm office wall. "And what (things) does the Lord require if you? To act justly, to show mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" Micah 6:8. The last 2 (things) are a summary of the gospel when the Pharisees, in a firestorm, asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment. Jesus replied, "The first is you must love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And a second is equally important: Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. Matthew 22:37-39

Blessings from Arizona. More on that next week. We'll be home soon.

Making A Difference

What do success, significance, and sacrifice all have in common? They all have different definitions by different folks. They are all achieved by doing what you can with the options you're given. And they all have the potential to make a difference.

                             

With the doldrums of February making for a slow news week here on the farm, let's share 9 ideas or goals that will help us make a difference in 2025.

1. Start with the right kind of outlook. Smile and stay positive. Help folks feel better about themselves. Compliment others. Proverbs 15:23 says, "Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time".

2. Always be willing to learn. How do you handle mistakes? Be willing to take advice. In Exodus 18 Moses father-in-law, Jethro, said to Moses, "Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice", when Moses was wore out from settling disputes with Israelites in the wilderness. Verse 24 says, "Moses listened to Jethro and followed his suggestions". Also, never lose your curiosity.

3. Be a person of vision. Believe in something. Focus on the big picture which often means looking ahead further than tomorrow. Proverbs 16:3 reminds us to, "Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed".

4. Be persistent. Don't quit or come up with excuses. Finish as strong as your health and abilities allow. Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 9:10, "Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom".

5. Know how to be yourself. The older I get, the more I realize it's a waste of time to worry about what others think of me. And trying to impress others is not authentic. "God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please Him". Ecclesiastes 2:26.

6. Know how to love. This includes yourself. Your family. Your friends and community. Yes, even those who don't love you back. Get comfortable with telling those close to you you love them. Use a hand shake, a fist bump, a hand on the shoulder, or a hug, depending on who your addressing. If you're blessed to be married, don't forget to tell and show your spouse you love and cherish them. I Corinthians 13:4 says "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud." Thanks for the picture Emily.

7. Know how to laugh. You can't laugh and worry at the same time. It's ok to laugh at yourself. There is nothing harder on a conversation or a relationship than being a sour puss. "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength". Proverbs 17:22

8. Know how to forgive. Pray everyday for your rival. Don't keep score. Refusing to forgive is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. Forgiveness sets us free. "Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses". Proverbs 10:12

9. Know how to be generous. Contentment produces gratitude. Gratitude produces generosity. When we shovel out, God shovels back, and God has a bigger shovel. Proverbs 11:25 "The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed".

Children are a gift. And there is a giving in faith, and receiving from God in a big family. Congratulations Andy and Amara on welcoming Bensen Beau into this world. Success, significance, and sacrifice are all wrapped up in children. 42 years ago Jan and I had 3 boys and a girl under 6 years old. Then 6 years later we were additionally blessed with twins.