Where Are You Heading?

If I were to ask you where are you headed? Or where are you heading? Would it seem like the same question? I'm thinking "Where are you headed" is a place and you haven't left yet. Whereas "Where are you heading" is a current action and you're on your way.

Our country today tries to coddle and micromanage us. When that happens we miss out on a relationship or adventure. Recently our country has also tried to mandate and manipulate us. When that happens we become dependent on government instead of God. 

Ezra, Elijah, Jackson, and Jayden are helping Grandpa put up Becks seed signs.

Earlier in the week Jim, Dean, Ezra, and Elijah helped put new unload augers in a 1050 Kinze grain cart. Harvest is headed our way sooner than we think.

Every year I grumble about a poor sweetcorn stand. And every year I'm surprised how well it turns out.

In between machinery maintenance, haying, hogs, and dirtwork, I still enjoy mowing.

Elijah and Ezra helped me clean up our last combine. I raised them up with a forklift so they could start at the top and work their way down cleaning.

Most of you have heard of our helper Jim by now. What you may not have known was he was a very competitive and popular dirt track race car builder and driver for 40 years. This past month he was voted and inducted into the Southern Iowa Speedway Hall of Fame. Congratulations Jim and Barb. We appreciate you.

Believe it or not it's time to start the thinking process of next year's seed needs. Karl, Kristin, and family spent some time evaluating crops and putting up Becks seed signs. Between hog chores and family life they are headed to St Louis soon for Becks Summer School. A little about next year's lineup, and a lot about culture in the seed business as well as life. Thanks for the picture.

Every year I talk about the June market cycle in the commodities. I always tell the crew to sell on this rally. This is a 52 week range chart showing the last 3 months of new crop corn. It generally peaks between my birthday and the 4th of July. This rally went from 7 cents of it's yearly high to 5 cents of it's yearly low in 10 days. The market is always headed somewhere. Where it is heading from here is a guess. Marketing is managing risks, knowing your inputs, and being satisfied with a single rather than waiting for a homerun. We have started marketing our 2024 crop as well as 2023 in the field.

Our families billboard in the background shows Kurt holding one of his sons. The heading reads, "Take the time to be a Dad". This is so important in getting the next generation heading in the right direction. It's good advice for Granddads as well.

This is Ben and Kelita and their 4 kids. Kelita is Cassia's sister. This family is headed for Honduras on Wednesday for a number of years to do mission work. We told them goodbye on Friday at Micah and Rupa's wedding. Blessings as you head our fulfilling your God-given purpose. Thanks for the picture Kelita.

Yes, we're on the yaack again. Jan and I left for northwest Colorado Thursday. We stayed in a small campgrounds in Routt National Forest just south of Gould, Colorado. We were invited to this Ranch by owners Mark and Debbie who we had become friends with a couple of years ago when we camped up here in September of 2021 while our corn processor was on shutdown. Thanks Mark, Debbie, and family for your hospitality.

On Friday afternoon on an Elk Ridge Property Ranch we were blessed to be invited to Cassia's youngest brother's wedding. Micah and Rupa will be heading to Austrailia to start their lives together. What a testimony to watch both fathers of the couple to come forward and pray a blessing of God's love and mercy as they start heading down life's path together.

 So after our purpose here is finished where are you headed? It doesn't matter whether your life's trail goes through a corn field, mountainous and rocky pine trees, or a 4-lane concrete, we are all heading on a journey to our next destination. There was a song from India we sang at the wedding, "Send Me". "When I'm heading to your glory I'll be glad I chose to say, Here I am Lord, send me. Well done good and faithful I live to hear you say, Here I am Lord".

One more thing. Remember "headed" means a destination. "Heading" means we're on our way. If we choose to have the Lord in control of our lives instead of ourselves, we can experience a little Heaven on earth, no matter what the circumstances. Live life to the fullest. Experience adventure and relationships. The groom Friday was in a wheelchair because of a motorcycle accident 10 years ago. And he has never slowed down. Way to go Micah! Thanks for your exuberant example.