Coming from a farming family, I have seen the hard work, dedication and the diligence portrayed by farmers, like my dad and grandfathers. But what we often forget is the woman behind them. I have seen my mom and both of my grandmothers display just as much hard work, dedication, and diligence as the farmers.
Farmwives must have patience, be gentle, be great multi-taskers, hold the fort down, be independent, and most importantly, hold a confidence. Talk about powerful women we have amongst us, yet they are rarely recognized.
Full of grace, strength and faith, farm wives are the glue that holds us all together.
“No one works harder than a farmer except maybe a farmer’s wife.”
Here are some of the things that farm wives deal with on a daily basis:
Planting Season: when your husband is anxious and giddy to get in the field
Harvest: will it ever end?
Taking Meals Out to the guys… how much could they possibly eat?
Dealing with a Cranky Man
Driving trucks that are impossible to park when you go to town.
When he forgets to inform you about the $100,000 tractor he just bought…
There is dirt all over the freaking house
Listening to him vent about something you don't understand
There is no time for vacations
When you see your 8 year old driving a vehicle
Cooking meals at 10pm just so the husbands can have a hot meal.
They take care of the kiddos and all of their appointments; Dad would not know my doctor or hairstylist
Dealing with all of the hunters who want to hunt on your ground that come to your door
They know the parts supply store staff more than the farmer does. Being sent to go get parts is a full time job in itself.
Independence is vital, running the forklift for a customer wanting seed, wrangling cattle that got out and calling the vet to come to the farm are just part of the job.
When the farmer is busy, it is up to you to kill the snake or the mouse in the house.
You haven’t just bottle fed your children… calves and kittens have experienced your motherly nature as well.
“Is our carpet that brown or is that dirt?”
Do not sort cattle with your hands in your pockets, husbands do not like that one bit.
Keeping farm records provides news to you constantly.
The weather basically dictates your life