Tradition

Friday evening Jan and I braved the chill and showers and went to Tulip Time in Pella. As usual toward the end of the parade are the antique tractors. However traditions are changing. Instead of all A and G John Deeres and F-20 and H Farmalls, the antique tractors are now the ones I grew up on and even used when we first started farming. Interesting. Must say something about my age. 😊

We actually went to the parade to watch family. Kurt, Emily, and family pushing a cart, the grandkids in the band, and Hazel. Hazel is a 2nd grader. She is Brian and Becky's youngest. She was a flower girl and rode with Queen Addison in all 6 parades.

For the last 30 years I've had a tradition of collecting obituaries of visitations or funerals I've attended, traffic warnings and tickets I've received, and church history where we're members, in one of my office drawers. An interesting combination. When I went to put Brant's obituary away I did some counting of my collections, and found I had close to 300 obituaries of folks and friends I knew.

Traditions are a cultural, religious, vocational, or family practice or habit people have continued to follow for a long time. Many are good, and keep us rooted on firm footing. Others are bad, and keep us in a rut because that's where we're comfortable.

A farming tradition that often gets neglected is cleaning up equipment before it gets put away for another season. I spent Friday morning cleaning up a field cultivator. And Saturday asked Elliot, a grandson, to clean up the tractor that pulled it.

For decades in southern Iowa, ideal corn planting dates were late April till May 10. And soybean planting from mid to late May. However this tradition is changing, and more farmers are becoming comfortable starting earlier. Dry soil is a gift in this neck of the woods during planting. Soil temps will take care of themselves and warm up with the calendar. So with all the dozens of things our seed is treated with these days, you plant when soil moisture is ideal rather than waiting on the calendar. Both the corn and soybean field below were planted April 9. We also have a few March 28 planted soybeans that look good.

Custom work is a demanding profession. It takes long hours, up to date equipment, a respect for the customer and their job, and it takes good help. However custom work is also rewarding. In helping and serving others, in the ability to do a job well and timely, and in the comradery in getting things accomplished. As we stopped for breaded mushrooms, grilled asparagus, and burgers one noon, I couldn't help but feel thankful for a tradition of 50 years of working for others. Some as businesses kids have on their own, some as a family. Seated below is my wife Jan, 5 sons, a grandson, and 4 hired helpers.

Jan and I took off one wet afternoon to attend a retirement party and then head south to greenhouses southwest of Centerville. Brian has been our banker for over 20 years and was one of the best. He not only did the numbers, but respected my worldview, my beliefs in family, and my wanting to be diversified. Thanks Brian! Not only for being a business partner, but also a friend.

As Jan and I made it to Amish country we went past a farm with 100s of folks with hats, suspenders, long dresses, and capes on the yard. We stopped and asked the two bishops what the occasion was. It was a wedding. The gal was local and her groom was from Missouri.

The Amish have a tradition of Thursday morning weddings at the home of the bride's parents (fraa and mann). Followed by a "gute" huge lunch. Then an afternoon of games, "singeon", and fellowship for "die youngie".

Large families are also a tradition and a blessing in Amish communities. "Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children". Proverbs 17:6

"Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it will do no good. It is useless to work so hard from morning till night anxiously, for God gives rest to His loved ones. Children are a gift and a reward from the Lord; Children born are like arrows in a warrior's hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates." Psalms 127 written by Solomon.