This past week I attended Diane's funeral. I mentioned to you last week that her family and ours were friends. Her husband is our lawyer. I think I also mentioned Diane's father Howard and I were friends before he died. Well during the funeral a couple of folks were asked to speak about memories and in one of those talks Jolene talked about the Mottet 40, a small farm east of town that she and her husband Mark, and Diane and her husband Mike, had partnered together, bought from Diane's parents, and developed. Both couples built homes there.
Jan and I farmed the Mottet 40 for 28 years for Diane's dad prior to it being turned into a neighborhood. So when Jolene mentioned the farm it brought back several of my own memories. I'd like to share four of those memories with you this week. This week's pictures were captured from the sprayer cab as I sprayed crop ground all week in a three to four county area. Although they are probably boring to most of you, the pictures taken reminded me of the machinery I used some years ago to farm the 40.
1. The year was 1975 and it was my first year out of high school. Jan and I had been married for 1 month. Now that I had a bride it was my responsibility to make a living so I went to the local Farm Service Company to ask for some custom work. The general manager's name was Howard. When I walked in his office at 18 years old I thought he looked like a general.
I introduced myself and told him why I was there. As he started asking me questions it soon became obvious I had very little experience and less self-esteem. I remember him saying "son, never put yourself down." He told me he might have some possibilities for me. Encouraged by that visit I went out and bought a used set of duals for $150 just in case. That was the beginning of a career in custom farming. It was also the beginning of a long friendship. Not long after that visit Howard asked me to farm his 40.
2. 1986 was a rough spring. Jan was in the hospital with back problems. Our hogs were sick and dying. And my local banker said I was no longer an asset to them and was reluctant to give me a crop loan. The Mottet 40 as well as the rest of my crops were already planted. The inputs were purchased with a handshake and a promise to pay. Late one night in June after checking on Jan, putting the kids to bed, loading the dishwasher and the clothes washer, I went out to mow hay. Mowing over mature, tangled up alfalfa is a chore on a dry afternoon, let alone late on a wet, dew covered night and it wasn't going well. Finally I gave up. I got off the tractor in the hay field on the hill, sat in the rear tractor wheel, told God I couldn't take all the stress and pressure anymore, and asked Him what I should do.
Although I didn't get any answers that night God sent help. We were referred to a doctor that fixed Jan's back. I sold my hogs and started feeding for someone else. Our local bank finally gave us a loan. Interest rates were starting to come down from their high of 15-22%. Corn was $1.80/bu. Beans were $4.50/bu. I had shared my struggles with Howard during this time. He said in his booming voice,"you need a different bank." I told him I didn't think there was a bank in the country that would do business with me. One day Howard called me from one of those new fangled car phones that took up the whole middle of the front seat and was run from equipment in the trunk that was as big as a suitcase. He said," I'm calling to tell you I have made you an appointment at a new bank in Albia. Be on time and don't put yourself down." Jan and I still bank there today. Also I still go on the hill where the hay field was to talk to God. It's just up from the cabin behind the pond.
3. It was April 26,1989. I was planting the Mottet 40. It was dry and my cyclo planter could hardly get the seed deep enough in moisture. I can still remember exactly where I was in the field when Jan called me on the 2-way radio. There were no cell phones. She said she had called the doctor in Ottumwa already and said we could go in any time to have these two babies. The forecast was for a possible shower and I asked Jan if I could finish planting the the 40 first. What a gal. She said ok.
We went to the hospital in the early evening. I remember there was a tornado watch so they would not let Jan use the elevator. She delivered in the operating room in case of complications. There were none. Kurt was born at 10 pm and weighed 8 lbs. Karl wasn't born until 11:45 pm and weighed 9 lbs. I remember driving home in the rain thanking God for two sons and two inches of rain in the same night. Happy 23rd Birthday Kurt and Karl.
4. It was the summer of 2005 and Howard and Mike, his son-in-law, stopped by to see the pond we were building. After visiting a bit Howard asked if I would drive him around sometime to see crops. Howard had been diagnosed some time earlier with Acute Leukemia. Later that summer as I picked him up to show him a few farms, I was reminded of his weakening health as I had to help him in the pickup. He was embarrassed and mentioned something about it. I assured him they just make pickups way too tall these days. As we drove He seemed preoccupied and quiet so I shortened the trip but when I stopped to drop him off at Mike and Diane's home he didn't attempt to get out. After some quiet conversation he asked if I would do a favor for him. I said of course. He asked if I would sing at his final farewell and it took me a second to process that he meant his funeral. Instead of talking farming on this visit we talked about faith, purpose for living, and dying. We agreed acres, bushels, and red and green iron met nothing compared to our relationships to our family and more importantly our Lord.
Howard and Joann sold the Mottet 40 to their daughter Diane and her husband, Mike, and Jolene and her husband, Mark. The two couples built a large pond on the farm, developed it, sold lots, and built beautiful homes on it. Today the Mottet 40 is a neighborhood called Otter Hills. I thank God for memories. I thank God for friends. I thank God for His help in life, while we are here on earth, sometimes through others to us, and sometimes opportunities through us to others. And finally I thank God for His help and assurance of eternity with Him in death.
It is ironic that as I am getting ready to publish this post. I get a call from my brother who tells me our young friend TJ who we wrote about earlier this spring died early this morning after a battle with brain cancer. Our sympathies to his parents, Jon and Tammie, and the rest of their families.
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