StillwatersIowa

   There is a story in the Bible written by King Solomon about an overview of life as he reflects back. The story is called "The Teacher" (Ecclesiastes). He talks how life can be meaningless. He says there is nothing new here on earth that hasn't happened already. And then as a teacher he starts giving advice and talks about there is a season (time) for everything.  Tomorrow is the first of March. That date for many of us is the "season" when we owe our landlords cash rent. Cash rent is money paid for the responsibility and privilege of farming ground for the coming crop year. However wintertime is also the season when there is time to share harvest data, to talk about possible improvements, and to thank them for the confidence they have in us to farm their land.  Winter is also the season (for me anyhow) to slow down some, so one doesn't get caught up in a year-around rat-race. A favorite excuse we often hear is, "I don't have time". We need t...

  This past Tuesday morning Jan and I headed south to the Drakesville, Bloomfield neighborhoods. We first stopped at an Amish discount grocery store where Jan regularly does business. This young man with his pony had also driven his mother and sister to the store. Leadership isn't measured by tenure, age, or experience. But rather by actions, abilities, and a work ethic driven by selflessness. The temperature on the morning of our trip was -15 degrees and the roads were totally snow covered. Leadership often happens from the background. Allowing others to "drive the cart". True leaders serve. Just northwest of the little community of West Grove we stopped at a farm operated by Robert and his 15 year old son. Robert and his family sell flooring. He sold us a pallet of lament hardwood for the bunkhouse across the road. His forklift was revised as a walk behind and was powered by a Honda motor. Friday, Jan and her sister Donna went to a Mennonite community in Rutledge, Misso...

 Kurt and Emily's Jackson loves to help the grownups farm. He also loves to hang around his cousins, including the older ones like Ethan. Jackson told his Dad he didn't like school. Kurt asked him how come? He said his classmates aren't interested in farming. Kurt asked him who his best friend was? Jackson says, "Brian". Kurt asks, "whose Brian"? Jackson says, "He's my bus driver and he talks to me about motorcycles". Thank you Brian for paying attention to a 1st grader and for affirming and encouraging him. Pablo pays attention to details when he cleans up a vehicle and spent Saturday helping making this truck look like new. Every year we have to go to different classes for continuing education to keep our licensees and permits current. This is Commercial Manure Application school. As you can see by the lack of paying attention, we're not any crazier about school than Jackson.😊 Thursday evening Karl received a call from a truck driver...

 This past week I had a goal to focus on and enjoy the little things in life. The national and political scene in America can get depressing. We also noticed and tried to support folks that weren't scared and are living as normally as possible. Kudos to the Iowa Power Farming Show who held their event in person in Des Moines. We attended and enjoyed the show with grandsons and a couple of their friends on Tuesday. Thanks to the vendors and machinery companies that participated. Those vendors that chose not to go missed an opportunity. After the machinery show we all went to Perkins for lunch. Because of social distancing we couldn't use our normal long table however we still had a good meal and a great time. We told the grandkid's friends we were adopting them during lunch so we could all sit as a family. 😊 First thing Monday morning we dropped off at Leighton Locker and then drove down to our Mennonite friends in Rutledge, Mo. Unlike our Amish friends in southern Iowa the...