Always a Farm Girl

(Hard working Daddy)

The Farm House

(Waiting for Dad to come pick me up)

On the last day before school started, September 9, I got to go up to the Dry Farm and spend some time in the combine with Dad. I have always loved the farm and riding around in the equipment. My favorite thing to do is ride around with Dad and listen to all of the stories about the farm and have him show me the different things that are up there. Growing up as kids, we would always spend time up at the farm or just come up to bring him lunch. Some of my favorite memories are of building forts in the trees, playing with the toys, riding the putt putt and riding our bikes back and forth on the dirt road. I have learned so much about our family history and am so proud of my Dad for the hard work he always put in to the farm. I know that farming doesnt always bring in a ton of money, and we have had our fair share of disaster crops, but as kids we never had to go hungry or went without. Dad and Mom have always showed me how to work hard and manage money. I'm grateful for the things that they taught me.

One of the ways that Dad always taught us to work hard, was having us come up and help weed the garden with Grandma and roeging Rhye. (sorry i have no idea to spell that). We would wake up around 5 before it got too hot and go up to help out in the garden. I think the thing that I disliked the most was the Rhye! It was hot, sweaty and itchy! I learned an important lesson the first time we went up. I looked around and saw the 1000 acres that dad took care of all by himself, and realized that I needed to be grateful for the hard work that he put in to it.

We all loved playing the game "No Bears Are Out Tonight" while up at the farm, but unfortunately for my parents, we always wanted them to be the bears! I still remember seeing Dad's long legs coming at me as I tried to make it around the house in time, and Mom being so short, she could hide anywhere and we would never see her coming. I was so blessed to have parents who would take the time to be active with us. They were always outside with us playing or doing different things.

One morning Harry, Alison and I decided to get on the banana seat bikes and ride down the huge hill by the house. I want to say that I was about 10 at the time, but I would have to look at a picture to know for sure. We started out going down the what was then a huge hill, laughing and giggling like most little kids would. I was laughing until the bike started going WAY too fast...I remember looking down and seeing my handle bars start to wiggle because I couldnt hold on. Instead of trying to coast to a stop I slammed on my brakes. In doing this, the bike became motionless, but unfortunately I didnt. All I remember is seeing a bunch of dust around me and hearing my little brother laughing (he had an evil giggle that he still has today). The dust settled, I was crying and Harry was STILL laughing! I think Ali was too young at the time to really know what had just happened. He stopped lauging when I looked up and my mouth was full of dirt and blood, my glasses were bent all to heck and I wasnt lauging with him. I must have screamed loud, because we heard the 3 wheeler start up, and moments later, my superhero came to save the day! Dad made sure I was alright, picked me up and hauled me back to the house on the 3 wheeler. I remember all of the dirt that was in my mouth when I washed it out in the sink while Mom tried to fix all of my cuts. I can honestly say that is the only time I ever broke my glasses as a kid.

We always learned a lot about our family history when we went up to the farm. The farm was homesteaded on September 11, 1908 by my Great (). Most of the buildings are still around, and Dad always took the time to show us all of the buildings and tell the story behind each one. One of my favorite people to learn about though, has always been my Grandpa Harry. People have always told me that if I wanted to learn about Grandpa, that all I needed to do was look at my Dad. In knowing that much, I know how great of a man Grandpa must have been. He died in 1985, just 2 years before I came in to the world. When Grandpa passed away, Dad took over the farm and took care of Grandma as well. He still takes good care of her to this day.

I know that I have went off on a lot of different things this time, but it is always so much fun to take the time to remember the different things we did as little kids. The farm means so much to me, and I know that it might seem like something silly, but Im proud of it. I am proud to be a part of the family that I have come from.