Connections

I'm sure you have either heard or been part of a conversation that goes something like this: Person 1: Oh! you know Fred? Person 2: Fred? yeah! he's my cousin. Person 1: No way! he's my wife's cousin too on her Mom's side! That my friend is called Dutch Bingo. We enjoy creating links. We were built to have connections, kinships, relationships.

God created family so we would have connections, so we have folks to appreciate and care for, to lean on when times are tough, and to thank and be generous to when times are good. Family not only happens at home. It happens at work. It happens at church. It happens in community. 

Connections are vital in business as well. Connections bring opportunity. Connections are the hook-up that help us with purchasing. Connections help get things done and make things happen. Connections are the link that help market our products. Connections are relationships. 

Well, Mike and BJ did some landscaping earlier this week around BJ and Cassia's new home. Cassia and friends have been busy painting on the inside. Later in the week Mike and Mark moved north and are currently digging a pit for a new hog shed for Sherwin and Kristin. 

BJ and Cassia's Gideon and John took down a silo this week by going around and breaking the lower staves with a sledgehammer. You would be surprised how far you have to go around before it drops.

We had a big week of spreading dry fertilizer for others. It was cold enough things needed jump started occasionally. Thanks Kasey for spreading and Pablo and Jim for tendering to the spreader. And Kathy for loading them.

We are not quite finished seeding yet however we've come a long ways. Thanks Matt for the help.

We had another busy week of applying NH3 for others. Thanks Alex for making that happen.

Wow Karl. I know your IH 1566 has a lot of stuff however I think this would be a load. :)  Actually we just used it to move this cultivator across the road. Thanks Andy for excelorating stalks getting fields ready for soybeans.

 Karl and I, mostly Karl had a good week staging, loading, and delivering seed to our customers so they will be ready when the ground warms up. Thanks for the visits from the friends and customers who stopped by and picked things up.

Thanks to Nathan, Jared, and Cole who joined us on Friday. They are our precision planting folks who help us dial in the technology stuff. It was cold enough Jan brought cheese chowder to the office for lunch. Just another example of connections turning into relationships into friendships.

And yes, you can't dial in a corn planter without planting corn. So we planted 25 acres. We dropped the seed a full two inches deep so it would not be effected as much by fluxuating soil temps. The ground moisture conditions were perfect. The field had been cultivated the previous day. The soil temp had dropped from 43 to 38 degrees and may get snow covered today. A few used social media to share how stupid they thought we were. However it will be fun to watch. We put a couple of 105 day hybrids with good emergence scores in each half of the planter. Lets see what fall brings before we judge.

Friday evening a number of us attended the Joshua Christian Academy Banquet. JCA is an inner city Christian school in Des Moines. Kindergarteners- 3rd graders had memorized and recited 1 Corinthians 13. 6th -10th graders had memorized and recited Hebrews 11, a long chapter. Thanks Chris, Cheryl, and Dr. Radcliff for all you do for this school.

At this banquet Simon and Don were honored for their giving spirit to the school. Simon was born in Centerville, Iowa and has had a world wide baratone opera singing career. Don and Charlene started a grocery store in Boone, Iowa when he was 22 years old. He is the co-founder of Caseys General Stores and owns the Iowa Barnstormers. The Barnstormers used to spring practice at William Penn here in Osky and have been to our cabin many times for Mahaska County Cattleman steaks for supper. More examples of connections.

For many years I have prayed for our children and now our grandchildren that God would use connections for them to honor Him and help others. Below Kurt and Emily's Jackson is getting a drink from a farm hydrant. Just one of the many advantages and memories of growing up and living on a farm.

When Mark and Stacy's oldest son Ethan was in grade school one of his assignments was to write a letter to someone about something. He chose to write Successful Farming about the controversial airport around these parts. Retired editor, Loren, and our family have been friends for 30 years. Well, SF must have filed that letter because they called years later and asked if they could come and interview Ethan. Keith and Jack were part of the interview as well.

 This is helper Kasey, and BJ and Cassia's oldest son, Gideon. They went to the rodeo together last evening in Des Moines where Kasey was a participant in the bull riding event. Gideon has an interest in riding bulls. I'm so thankful for the connections and interactions between our family, our help, those we farm for, those we work for, and community.

 There is a lot of talk these days about wireless connections. I'm here to tell you our number one wireless connection is our prayer life and our relationship with our Creator. Be intentional. Have a time every day to talk to God. It helps to make a specific place. Mine is in the shop early in the morning in front of the knipco when it's cold. On the hill behind the cabin when it's warmer. God made us for a purpose. To have a relationship (a connection) with Him and others. Have a good week.