Paying Attention

 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 that he would like to get his Friday delivery unloaded the night before so he didn't have to sleep in his truck on our farm. So I dressed as warm as one can when it's below zero at night, got him unloaded, and on his way.

9th graders and cousins, John and Amelia, got ready for their first FFA competition on Friday morning only to find out someone forgot to tell them the event had been cancelled due to bad weather. Thanks for the good looking picture Stacy.

We lost a couple of friends this week. Dana's father Roger used to come and pick up seed for the family farm back in Lytton, Iowa. I enjoyed Roger. He was a community leader and used to tractor pull when he was young. My favorite quote of his was, "Folks won't remember who won a tractor pull, however they will never forget who had the most smoke".😊 Dana lost his Dad just two months after I lost mine. Our sympathies to Roger's wife Marlene, their four children including Dana, and all the rest of the extended family. Dana was my boss in the seed business for 20 years.

Mark was a crop insurance expert, an agronomist, a pilot, and a friend. He immigrated to America from New Zealand in the 1980s. Mark was an exceptional person who loved to help others. He had a big picture view of life and farming. And when I needed his advice and outlook we would have long conversations. Below Mark is speaking to our customers at an event we had in our farm shop in late May of 2019 when we weren't able to get in the field. Mark died this past week of a heart attack at his home in Grinnell. Our sympathies to his wife Marilyn, his daughters, and the rest of his family.

I'm not paying attention to national politics as much as I should because our country is sliding down a slope of evil, lies, and corruption. However at coffee and mealtimes in our office the subjects of impeachment, executive orders, killing American energy jobs, killing babies, multi gender bathrooms, undermining girls sports, and punishing those who disagree, does come up. It seems we are a distracted generation that is being intimidated, frightened, and muzzled. We are not hearing push back on these things in Washington. And we are not holding our national leadership accountable. It seems our last line of defense is a few, brave, conservative governors who are being threatened to be punished for not falling in line.

I have shared with you often I love being part of family. Earlier this week some of us sat down and talked about communication, opportunities, time management, organization, growth, parameters, direction, and goals. My goals are that our faith shines through everything we do. That our family shows that we not only care about each other, but our friends and the folks we work with. And that our farming operation is cutting edge, stewardly, progressive, and sustainable for the future.

It's cold in Iowa this morning with wind chills around -30 below. We have piles and piles of snow. However I'm thankful and feel blessed for so many things. These cold days are to remember where we have been, pay attention to and evaluate where we are, and look forward to where we are going. And not just for ourselves. We need to pay attention, to be observant, and be willing to give others hope for another day and a promise for a brighter(and warmer) future.

Today is Valentines Day. Yesterday I asked Jan if she would like flowers. She said she was fine, She had ordered herself new flower bulbs for spring and her plant on the kitchen table was just blooming. Anyway. Happy Valentines Day Jan. I love you and would be incomplete without you. Thanks for the visit and friendships folks.