On Saturday we visited the first farm which was my grandparents' farm. We fed the chickens, went up in the hay loft and looked at the rectangular bales of straw . My roommate was enthralled as we meandered about the farm and into the pasture where the cattle were. We walked past the cattle with the three calves, and headed into the woods where we made a large loop and saw where my grandfather keeps his round hay bales. We also had the opportunity to show her the various tree stands that hung in the trees for the many hunters that patrol the woods each year. My cousin was also with us and remarked that it was good that I was in my bright orange shirt. I'm doubtful that there were any hunters in the woods in the middle of the day, and if there were I'm sure that they didn't stick around when three loud girls came trampling through.
On Sunday we made last minute plans to visit another farm before we went to the dairy farm. We went to a farm where they had chickens, a duck, 2 pigs, a few goats, 3 horses, and 2 calves. While there, the owner offered to let her ride a horse. That was the plan until someone else arrived and he decided that she should try to drive the tractor. My roommate drove his tractor with his instructions. She drove it through the pasture and the horses followed behind, anxious for a chance to enjoy the open field. When the owner of the farm and my roommate arrived back at the barn, he informed us that the horses would be hard to catch now that they were in the pasture. He told us that we could come back later in the day if she wanted to ride.
From there we went back to my house to watch "The Princess Bride," one of my family's favorite movies.
After the movie, it was time to head to the dairy farm. They were milking and my roommate enjoyed watching the process of cleaning the udders and attaching the milkers to the udders. My friend from the dairy farm proceeded to fill a couple of bottles for my roommate and me to feed to the 2 calves that needed to be bottle fed. My friend filled a couple of buckets to feed to the other 2 calves in the same pen that could drink out of the buckets. The calves quickly drank the bottles and we were informed that each calf got 1 bucket or 2 bottles. My roommate and I headed out to give the calves their last bottle and my friend from the farm occupied the other 2 calves in the pen who had already eaten but would get in our way if they were not kept occupied. Basically, my friend let them suck on her fingers. Once the calves were done with their bottles, we decided to stay and help my friend finish feeding the rest of the calves that could all drink from buckets. After feeding the 20 calves, it was time to head back to the previous farm to ride one of their horses.
We thanked the dairy farmers and proceeded to the second farm where a fresh load of laundry was blowing in the wind as it dried on their clothesline. Seeing that, I wondered when my own mother would start using her clothesline again, as it is now warm enough that the clothes don't just freeze on the line. The owner quickly brushed and saddled his horse. My roommate struggled a little bit to get into the saddle, but from there she sat in the saddle as the owner led the horse around the yard while I talked to the owner's wife. I got my own chance to ride the horse and accepted, as I'll take any chance I can to get into a saddle. We then thanked the owners of the farm and headed on our way.
When I first started this process of finding farms that my roommate and I could visit, I assumed that she would be able to learn a lot about Midwestern culture and farms in general. However, I have discovered, that I have also learned a lot. Not necessarily about Midwestern culture, but about my community. As I drove around our town, my roommate was amazed at the variety of houses we have. Almost all of them have a unique design. Not only that, but all of the farmers have been great. They've let us come in and walk around on their property and ask lots of questions about how things work. I've always known that I'm blessed. It's something that I've been told while I grew up. But visiting these farms has made me realize how blessed I really am. I live in a community with people who care about each other and love each other. My grandmother took my roommate and I to Happy Burger, a local restaurant. While there, the owner came and visited with us. The certainly doesn't happen in every community. Sometimes it can be frustrating to live in a community where it feels like you know everyone. Over this spring break, I've realized that it's really a huge blessing to know my neighbors and my community as a whole. And it's only Monday.
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Romans 12 :4-5
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