What Is The Most Satisfying Occupation In America?
How can the work associated with agriculture, which most farmers feel is highly stressful, also be associated with happiness and meaningfulness? Agricultural jobs are among the most dangerous, according to OSHA, in their annual reports of occupational injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
“Giving It” to Robots
Even if the technology we use changes, its nature seldom does. New advances will always make our work easier, while at the same time changing our relationship with it. It’s alright to take a moment to miss what is gone.
A Whitman’s Sampler of Joy
Life is full of every emotion. Yet, for many, the recognition of joy is elusive. If you were to look up joy in the dictionary, it is defined as extreme happiness. Yet that ignores the root of the word happy based on circumstances. To find the meaning of joy, the Holy Scriptures need to be referenced. Joy is expressed without speaking.
Moving Day: An Emotional Event For Farm People
Moving, whether from one farm to another, to a different occupation, retirement, or something else, is a highly emotional event for every individual on the farm and even more traumatic when the next home is away from the land.
The 1940s “Cure”
Until partway through the 20th century, the people of Ireland, not always having access to or being able to afford a doctor, took to addressing their infirmities themselves. As a result, many ailments required searching out “the cure.” Here are a few examples of old Irish folk remedies, some of which are still used today.
The Inflection Point
There is no doubt that we are in interesting and conflicting times in agriculture. Unfortunately, many of us make matters worse than they should be since we do not modify our business’s thought process and approach. We fixate on crop prices and ignore the changes we can make to succeed at the current price point.
LandLogic℠: Connecting Farmers’ Health with Their Identity
Dr. Mike Rosmann requested special guest author Kaila Anderson to write this column. Kaila is a social worker who currently resides in Denver, CO, and enjoys staying connected to her farm roots by speaking at conferences and training providers in LandLogic℠ .
Throwing Down Cards
I walked gingerly up to the table with my registration slip. The eight men sitting there turned towards me. They looked me up and down, making calculations. Rural poker sharks do not look like the Vegas typecast seen in movies.
Over-the-Coffee Discussions are a Tradition In Rural and Farming Communities
Morning and afternoon gatherings of farmers take place mostly when they aren’t engaged in necessary work, such as planting crops. The attendance varies according to the season and the needs of these farmers for a sounding board. Most gatherings are friendly, but volatile feelings can emerge.
Well Done, Faithful Friend
Life has taught me that time is akin to Goldilocks’ assessment of her porage. Whereas the storybook character would state that her breakfast was either too hot or too cold, time goes too slowly or too fast – it never seems to be just right.
Wait, These Wasps Were Here the Whole Time?
Wasps receive attention no matter the time of year. However, they are especially noticeable in late summer and early fall. Wasp management should be attempted only with great care and preparation.
Calling all Cars
With necessity being the mother of invention, sometimes other things ride in on her apron strings. This was the case a few years back at the Bohacz Farm when we got the TV working again. You may think it is 1945 instead of 2022, and the Rural Electrification Commission finally pulled some wire to us.
The Man Who Rock ‘N Rolled
Last November, my father passed away at the age of 60. My father was often the subject of this column – he was generous in allowing me to share his life. He taught me how to be strong and kind at the same time. Now he’s teaching me about loss.
When it’s Time for Change
Most but not all in agriculture are too good with engine oil changes, hurting nothing other than the pocketbook. Yet, they tend to neglect other critical fluid changes, including hydraulic lubricants. Fluids break down from the heat, absorb moisture, and introduce dirt into even a sealed system. They all need servicing on all your road vehicles – and every piece of equipment you have.
Accurate Perceptions: Necessary For Forming Opinions
How people form opinions is well-researched and not terribly complicated. Opinion formation is an established field that many marketers and the news media use to influence what they want people to agree with. It’s hard to know what is accurately portrayed in the media these days.
When Superman Drives a Chevy
Farming can be a balancing act, especially regarding managing cash flow. Once in a while, sacrifices have to be made. Sometimes that’s attempting your own vet work or maybe putting off updating equipment for summer. For my father, one winter many years ago, that meant not putting any money into the old Chevy pickup he drove.
ADHD Receives New Scrutiny For its Benefits, Particularly For Farmers
Scientific evidence indicating benefits from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is mounting, contradictory to the long-held assumptions that ADHD limited the well-being and achievements of persons with the diagnosis.
In the Lap of Luxury
I am not a fan of Hollywood, but I do like to watch James Bond 007 flicks. Since I was a boy, I have enjoyed 007 regardless of who played Bond. The international intrigue, cool gadgets, fast cars, and scantily clad beautiful women keep me glued to the TV screen. I proudly admit this even in the WOKE world we live in today.
Rural Deaths Attributed To Despair are Increasing in The US
A recent report indicated mortality for adults is “steepest for white adults in rural areas who tend to be the least educated and have the lowest income, dramatically reversing the centuries-old pattern of lower mortality in the countryside and higher mortality in cities.”
Aging into Farm Chores
One of the cruel aspects of getting old is requiring care from someone else. Nursing homes, in addition to being expensive, are the biggest fear of the elderly heading towards dependence. Trying to figure out how to provide the best care for loved ones can put a strain on a family. Since the late nineties, Dutch farmers have begun been providing social services on their farms in addition to traditional agriculture.
I Got Me a Duke!
In the South, the best hot rodders were usually moonshiners or those that built their cars and engines. The history of NASCAR is a testament to that. I found it very interesting that there were so many Chrysler products on the show and a few AMC models.
Dealing With Alcoholism: How A Farm Family Is Recovering Ten Years Later
This ongoing saga of a farm family dealing with alcoholism began in Farm and Ranch Life articles in October 2013. This is the twelfth report about Dan and Darla (not their real names) and their two children: a 15-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son.
The Dirt Road of My Soul
The human thought process changes little as the pages of the calendar of life flip by. Our DNA is coded to accept what is before our eyes as being as it always was. Subliminally, the elderly person was never young, the kitten would never grow into a cat, and the shopping center was always there.
The Walk of Shame
My parents probably thought they had raised me better. They had tried to give me the decision-making abilities that would prevent such disgrace. For it to happen once or twice is one thing, but after too many times they knew I would get a reputation. Still, I took the Walk of Shame over and over again.
