A Month For Relationships

 August is a month of relationships. Vacations. Fairs. Visiting about plans and crop inputs for next year. Back to school. And a time to catch up, reflect, and reach out.

Daniel is a helicopter pilot. He grew up in England and currently lives in Alaska. He works closely with his mechanic that fuels him up every two hours. 

Daniel works for a company that services electric transmission lines. He carries linemen and supplies to the top of electric poles with a 50 foot rope. His company asked if they could headquarter on our yard while they install a fiber-optics wire on a transmission line down along the railroad tracks.

Two Sundays ago the Pella Christian Shooting Team, coaches, and parents, just home from Nationals in Ohio, met here at the cabin for root beer floats, to congratulate kids for awards received at National week, and to reflect on the past season.

Last Sunday Jan and I drove from Pennsylvania to Indianapolis, Indiana to attend a two day dealer get-together with Becks Seed. The message was Unstoppable Together. It had a little to do with selling and product. But the emphasis was on honoring God and blessing others in the culture we live in today. In other words, relationships.

It's a blessing to work for the 3rd largest seed company in the country where the family and leadership team know us, our family, and several of our customers. And truly care. They also have the same values and goals we do. Many of them will be in Colfax, Iowa Wednesday for Becknology Days.

Our trip home Tuesday afternoon went fast as we visited with and took an Amish couple home near Kalona, Iowa. We had many questions for each other. They are a wonderful couple, have a great family, and a most beautiful place. Thanks for being ok with a picture Joe and Karen.

At home south of Oskaloosa we had 3 inches of rain from May 24 till last Monday. This past week we've had an additional 9 inches of rain. Overfilling every pond we have. Along with some wind and a little hail. Thanks for the picture Karl.

Back home Mark and family finished a wetlands project near Eddyville and dug a cattle confinement pit for Kurtis, Keith, Dale, Scot, and families. Thanks for the picture Collin.

Karl and Kristin and others of our family are home from some time away and are back with their busy families. Malaki, Sydnie, and Bynn are busy here helping their Dad with hog chores. Thanks for the picture Karl.

Our help, kids, and grandkids, are continuing to get ready for a very busy upcoming harvest season. What a blessing to be able to work together and have a great relationship not only as farmers, but also as friends.

This is a picture of folks in Venezuela. Twenty years ago Venezuela was the 3rd wealthiest and most successful country in South America. Twenty five years of autocratic, socialist, and anti-values rule have left Venezuelans with a bad economy. As well as losing most of their freedoms. After a fraudulent election in July, the country is currently in chaos. Thanks for the picture. Maybe more about our own economy next week. I'm intentionally not commenting on our current election process.

As many of you know for the past 35 years our family has invited customers, folks we work for, folks that work with us, bankers, landlords, and friends, for an annual appreciation supper for families. We value the relationships we have with folks that have trusted our family in many ways including friendships. I value our Sunday morning friendships and want you to know you're invited Tuesday evening here at our farm shop. You might let me know if you have a way of  getting ahold of me.

This visit would not be complete and I would not be a true friend if I didn't ask you about your relationship with your Heavenly Father. He created you. With a purpose. For such a time as this. And He wants to have a relationship with all of us, His children. Blessings.