Holding Responsibility

Jan and I were reminiscing back 40 years ago. We had just had our third son in two and a half years. Folks were saying, "Oh we're sorry you didn't have a girl". We didn't feel sorry at all. We felt blessed. We weren't to have our daughter Becky until 3 years later. She and her husband Brian had four boys before they got little Hazel. Then 6 years after Becky we had two more boys, one of which is in the picture below. Thanks for the picture Emily. 

 Kurt and Emily had their third son last Saturday. His name is Lane Henry and he joins his brothers Jackson and Jayden.

30 years ago during fair season and small community celebrations our kids used to compete and do well in pedal tractor pulls. Our grandkids are continuing the tradition. Thursday evening at Oskaloosa's Sweetcorn Serenade Mark and Stacy's Elijah won, and his brother Anton got 2nd in their age classes. Thanks for the pictures Mark.

Raising kids starts with those responsibilities of a home, food, clothes, an education, etc. My experience however was as time went on, we had more children, and I held our  new little ones as Kurt is holding Lane in the first picture, that there came the realization that I as a parent had been given more responsibilities than just providing for these children. We were to train them to give their best. We were to teach them to handle their own responsibilities. And we were to show them to care about others so they wouldn't become self-centered.

On the farming front the corn fields are starting to distinguish themselves  when it comes to dark green color and adequate nitrogen. This is the time in a corn plants life when things are really happening. Reproduction has happened and now the corn plant has the responsibility and is putting all it's energy into making grain with growing ears.

I have always said that by fair time folks will be able to distinguish the men from the boys when it comes to corn fields. Yellow plants of corn just do not have the horsepower to make significant ears. That horsepower is fueled by nutrient uptake (mainly nitrogen) during pollination and ear growth. Weather, possible weeds, disease, and field conditions have an impact on availability of those nutrients. We as farmers had the responsibility all growing season of providing the nutrients for these corn plants and helping them prevent or overcome the obstacles that keep them from being productive. Now we have a few weeks to watch and wait for the outcome at harvest.

You never want corn to have a bad day. Soybeans are a little different child when it comes to raising them. They need less attention early in their life. They are more forgiving. They like dry feet. They like clean fields meaning no weed pressure. And they like attention and moisture in late July and early August when the soybean pods are setting on and growing. We give that attention in the form of a third pass spraying using fungicide for disease prevention, insecticide to keep the bugs out, and a foliar treatment for extra nutrient uptake. Kind of like an IV of fertilizer directly into the bean leaves. The soybeans below were planted April 24 and are rubbing the bottom of the sprayer.

Mark and Stacy's family poured a couple of loads of cement last Monday getting ready for the kid's livestock projects.

We continue to mow, rake, bale, and move bales of hay from waterways, field borders, and second cutting alfalfa.

We continue to mow road ditches and waterways to prevent weeds and trees and keep things looking neat. The mower tractor has a rough life and often gets flat tires.

We continue to work on technology and data. Data is basically a record of what we do. It's used to compare what does and doesn't work. New changing rules also require us to keep a log. Below BJ and Kasey are installing a new phone app that records all our sprayers application acres and products used.

It's sweetcorn season. Yes, that patch we have visited about a couple of times has blessed us with corn for our appreciation supper, for freezing and eating later this winter, and for sharing with others.

We took an afternoon off as a crew, the grandkids, invited some friends, and rented the Slideways Racetrack just north of Knoxville for a couple of hours. We had a great time with Alex winning the A-main edging out Jim in lap traffic. We enjoyed supper together at the track after the race. Thanks Logan and crew for accompanying us. 

Lane was born with the same complications as his older brother Jackson. His blood loses platelets which could cause inner bleeding. He and Emily went to Blank Hospital where he was admitted and given an IV of something to get rid of whatever was destroying his platelets. Thanks for the picture Emily.

Lane did return home in a couple of days with a higher platelet count. Below older brother Jackson takes a break from riding his motorcycle over dirt hills from their new basement to hold his new little brother. Lane will be joining his brothers and cousins before you know it riding, racing, working, playing, and just growing up.

Last evening we joined Mark and Stacy and their family and went to see the new movie, The Lion King. In the story Simba's father is killed and Simba is told by his Uncle to run away which he does. While gone he meets this warthog who tells him not to worry about his responsibility back home and teaches him a song called "Hakuna Matata" meaning no worries. After growing up Simba remembers his father's instructions about responsibility, goes back home, beats the bad guys (the hyenas and his Uncle Scar) and learns the true meaning of responsibility and bravery.

Holding responsibility is not just a job. It's a God given privilege. Watching crops grow, mature, and become productive as a farmer is a blessing. Watching grandchildren grow, mature, and become productive as a grandparent is a blessing. Watching our children take the responsibility to raise their children as assets in society and in God's kingdom as a parent is a blessing. Have a great week.