Founded And Forged

We in America still live in the best country on earth. A majority of us still believe we were founded in faith. Our nation's strong and productive character has been forged through history by cycles of struggles. We have this sign in each of our farm shops. This Independence Day we are at a crossroads.

In the westerns I read most of the stories are fictitious. However the history and geography around these stories are real. The stories are about folks whose character were forged by struggles. 

This past week I mowed an abandoned railroad right of way that runs through our farm on the Eddyville flats. This railroad was active in the 1870s.

Following The War of the States (Civil War)  life was booming in the 1870s. 33000 miles of rail were built. Speculative investments in those railroads were rampant. American inflation was in high gear. Money was devalued. There was corruption in government. This was followed by the Panic of 1873, and close to ten years of what was called The Long Depression. This was the struggle that forged pioneers' character and moved them west to a new frontier.

There was excellent 2nd cutting hay baled this past week.

Fifty years later was the roaring 1920s. It was a decade of economic growth and widespread prosperity. There was a boom in construction, electricity, and automobiles. It was a time when the lines between gangsters, business, bootlegging, and politics were sometimes blurry. It was a time when many of our grandparents saw America as a new frontier and immigrated here. This was followed by the stock market crash in 1929 and ten years of what was called The Great Depression. This time was character building for many of our grandparents and when our parents were born.

New pasture fence has been a major push this summer after a new pond and terraces.

Fifty years later was the 1970s. It was a decade of soaring inflation, high gas prices, political upheaval,  and the start of cultural change. It was the start of the "What about me" culture. I started farming my senior year in high school in 1974 with an FHA loan. Jan and I were married in 1975. This was followed by the farming crisis and recession of the 1980s. This time was character building for me. God used this struggling time to change me from wanting to be successful to wanting to be faithful. It was during this struggle our kids were born or being raised. The struggle of providing for family during this time was humbling. I went from, I'm gonna do this, to God, please help me. This is when we had to learn projected cash flows, and when we saw a small profit, we forward contracted crops so we could prove to the bank we could operate another year. We still do this today.

Friday our daughter Becky, Brian, and family poured concrete in a building so their boys can do their repair projects inside.

Fifty years later is the 2020s. We have everything the previous 50 year cycles had including high inflation, soaring prices, and government corruption. We've added a lack of work force due to unwillingness, enablement, and ability, which is causing our shortages. I would call it a decade of disruptions. The lines between business, culture, media, medicine, and politics are once again blurry. And much of our country can't see the difference between the villains and the victims.

We got another tire mowing this past week. Thanks for the picture Mike. 

Our country is on an unsustainable projectory at a very fast pace. History guarantees we will have a time of character building correction. We have choices. We can do nothing or be a victim and say "Oh me Oh my". Or we can say God has put us here for such a time as this, roll up our sleeves, and make a difference Founded in Faith and Forged in America.

BJ continues to work on cleaning up pastures this summer.

In the media, the story about the Amtrak derailment centered around who was to blame and the pending lawsuits. I would like to share with you the rest of the story I read of our neighbors in northern Missouri who rose to the crisis occasion. After the Amtrak passenger train hit a dump truck at a rural crossing over 100 folks including neighbors, farmers, law enforcement, firefighters, 16 helicopters from a multitude of flight services, and ambulances from 6 hospitals, converged on the disastrous and fatal scene. They had 287 accident victims, about half of which were injured, taken for care in just two hours. Rural communities often have less equipment and professional people. Yet everyone there pitched in and selflessly served others. This is America, founded and forged, at it's best.

Last evening grandson Gideon and his friend Emily had guests over for Ranger rides around the farm, and tractor rides around the yard.

Friday evening we enjoyed an Independence Day parade in Leighton. Small town Iowa parades are kids, candy, fire and law enforcement vehicles, local politicians, tractors, old cars, businesses in pickups or Rangers, and fireworks. Nobody worried about pandemics, mandates, or transgenderism. Just good folks enjoying each others company.

As you celebrate the holiday tomorrow, and think about past Independence Days, What do you want you and your family known for? And how do we become better examples in our failures and successes? If we take God with us through the our different cycles, and be founded in our faith, we will see a positive outcome. And if we forge forward and stand up for our values and freedoms, we will be a part of that positive and character building outcome. Enjoy your 4th of July.