I’m not always the most candid when it comes to sharing family stories on this blog, but I think this weekend deserves an extra note.
There’s nothing that stirs me up more than the issue of being safe around the farm and livestock. 6 years ago this weekend, my mom left this earth as a result of an accident while sorting cattle on our ranch. It was a week after she moved me into my college dorm Freshman year. I was busy all week and didn’t make a great effort to call home all week. It was a horrible time the following months as my family back home adjusted to life without her and I was adjusting while 3-hours from home for the first time in my life. All I can say is thank the Lord I had long-time friends with me at college.
This week, my youngest brother and step-sister are moving into their college Freshman dorms.
There’s nothing we could have done, but the accident has made me much more aware of the importance of safety when handling livestock on the farm or ranch. I wrote about it on this blog a while back. (Link)
It’s been a long 6 years, but I have such a greater appreciation for life and my passion for agriculture is so much stronger, because I know that when you love something in life you should pursue it with all you have. Time in this life is not forever.
Agriculture is my passion. It’s what I love. It’s also what my mom grew to love. She didn’t know farming as a kid, but grew to love cattle ranching as she worked side-by-side with my dad and family until the day she passed. I think that’s why I find such a passion in sharing my experiences with farming and ranching with those who haven’t had the opportunity to experience it in person. And probably why I take a little more offense and react a little more defensively at times than I really should. Yeah, I take it personally.
After 6 years, I continue to receive many condolences for my family’s loss. That’s all good, but what I really want to see is more people embrace their passions, do what they love in life, give it their all, and share their passions with others.
Tell others why Agriculture is a matter of importance to you. We all have a personal reason why Agriculture is important to each of us. Lay down the facts, figures, and quoted phrases once in a while and tell others why Agriculture is important to you. If we show others that we’re real people more often, it might help open a few more doors.
That’s part of my personal story. I hope to hear part of your’s someday.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prizefor which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3
