A lot of people always ask me:
"So what was it like growing up in a farm family and being a farmer's daughter?"
Although it can't be summed up completely I feel like writing about it is a good start. So here it goes.
Being a farmer's daughter is one of my favorite things in the world. Not only is my dad my hero, my best friend, and easily the hardest working person I've ever met in my life; he also has the coolest job in the world. During career day at school growing up people would always say my dad teaches history or my dad is a pastor or even my dad is a doctor. Now, those are all great professions and people we need in our lives but how great is it that I got to say my dad helps feed the world, my dad is a farmer. Yeah, that's pretty awesome.
So since he has a pretty big job, let's talk about what I have to do to help with that job. The first guideline to being a farmer's daughter is to be understanding. Now, don't get me wrong my dad never missed any crucial moments in my life. He went to all the once in a lifetime events and was there when I asked but in order to do his job effectively and efficiently he did miss a lot of my volleyball games and select basketball games. At the time it can be hard because you want him there but you also understand that he isn't not there because he doesn't want to be, he's not there because he's working to give me the opportunity to play those sports and create those moments and memories.
The second guideline to being a farmer's daughter is to be able to take criticism. A lot of people know that it takes a certain "type" of person to be a farmer and that because they are such hard working individuals, that also means they want their children to earn everything they have as well. Well, I'll certainly admit dad's been hard on me before but I know that's because he loves me and wants me to have a better life than he had. He doesn't demand perfection but he does demand giving 110% in everything you do in life.
The third guideline to being a farmer's daughter is to have a good sense of humor. Being a girl growing up in a male-dominated profession, you have to be prepared for any type of joke at any time. Even if you hear things like "It's raining like a cow pissing on a flat rock." Lol in other words hanging out with dad is an interesting time.
The fourth guideline is to be unselfish. Being in a farm family automatically means sharing. Sharing animals. Sharing vehicles. Sharing ground. But most importantly sharing time and attention from dad with your siblings.
The fifth and final guideline is to love. Love unconditionally. I may be a little bias but I think there's something about being a farm family that makes your heart bigger. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that my family loves each other and they love agriculture because of dad. Dad has managed to transfer his love for agriculture to my brother, sisters, brother in law, me, and my nephews. Farming will be in my family forever and I got to say dad's the reason we love the lifestyle.
So life really is better on the farm and everyone who is a farmer's daughter themselves or just reading this should remember: My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived and let me watch him do it. - Anonymous
