Classic Commodities

Winter just seems to hang around. Oh well. We can't change what happens however we can change how we handle what happens. Remember happy people are more productive so find a way  to have happiness one of your commodities.

My definition of "commodity" today is something or someone that is valued. Since spring is truly just around the corner and since that season gets really busy Jan and I took a week off together.

We usually fly to Arizona a week and always enjoy visiting friends there however when airline tickets were affordable we weren't sure we could leave. So as things fell in place we decided to drive south a week. We ended up at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas. This is a get together of farmers from all over the USA.

Farmers feed the world and there was plenty of good food at the Commodity Classic as well. It seems we were always eating meals sponsored by some company. The National Corn Growers presented awards to those who won yield contest.

There were seminars on best managing practices and new ideas on growing crops. Whether it's our jobs or just life in general occasionally we are content to be average and adequate when in fact God sometimes gives us the abilities and opportunities to be brighter and better.

The Classic floor was full of the latest and greatest in new machinery and technology. At a Purdue University seminar a speaker said John Deere had had a 400% increase in sales in the last 8 years. With current commodity prices that will dramatically change.

Marketing is another key in sustaining a profit in changing agricultural times. One can't wait on last years high prices because they very likely won't happen again for a while. USDA is forecasting 92 million acres of corn and 81 million acres of beans. With normal yields that would cover us up in grain in spite of good demand. Below is John Roach and his marketing team. They help us by reminding us to sell once in a while.

 Landlords are also very valuable assets to a farmer and most times very dear friends. Wilson and Carolyn winter in south Texas. When we called to just pay them a visit they insisted we stay with them. What a blessing to get to know them better as they showed us around and treated us like a son and daughter.

 In Alamo, Texas at 6 am. all the snowbird farmers get together for coffee. The number one discussion is the temp back in their home state. The second topic of conversation is the commodity markets. Thanks guys for including me.

 It's always fun to run into a familiar face away from home. Friends are a wonderful commodity to have. A network of friends from all walks of life help how we view the challenges of life. Make time for your network of friends. Kevin was a classmate of our son Mark and a son of some very good friends of ours. Great time visiting with you Kevin.

 Of course family is another thing we so value. Time away helps a person to realize that. Jan and I can take a week off together because of great partners back home taking care of business.

 I got a text from back home showing that the guys had gotten the lime spreader hooked up and were spreading lime. A good job for a cold day if the lime doesn't stick in the spreader box.

Although I don't tell her often enough I would be lost without my wife of 39 years. Relationships with spouses take time and should not be taken for granted. The older I get the more I realize that.

 We did things this week we usually never do. We went on a boat ride on a river going through the town of San Antonio. We coincidentally sat next to Jordan from NW Iowa who grew up with our son-in-law Brian. Jordan also married a girl from Peoria. It's still a small world.

 After a banquet at the Classic we stayed (for a while) for a concert. The group was called Little Big Town. We are also having a concert this evening after supper by a guy called Joe Nichols.

 We stopped for no reason at a IKEA furniture store. I don't understand the store. You follow a series of arrows in many different directions while walking through this store. It's contents look like a brightly colored version of 1950s furniture with questionable quality. But Jan and my daughter-in-laws tell me it's the in place to shop. The store has Swedish roots. I must say they have very good chocolate although it resembles ex lax.

I'm posting from a UPS store that closes at 4 pm today. Jan and I are looking forward to a 5 pm worship service this evening sponsored by Kinze Manufacturing. Since I won't have access to a computer soon I won't get a picture of that so I substituted. The freedom we have to worship as we please is also so valuable. Being able to serve the same God in a worship service with total strangers is a blessing. Have a good Sabboth Day of rest.