Farm For Fun: A Fun Field Trip

In a small town in northern Utah lies a family farm, that has ultimately withstood the struggles time. It began when a newly married couple made the move from the Salt Lake Valley north to Fielding Utah. They decided to keep the farming tradition alive that the husband had grown up in. In 1960, a young farmer and his wife bought their first six acres, that would eventually triple in size throughout the next 10 years. This farm was the place that they taught their children the true meaning of work, sacrifice, as well as what it truly meant to struggle, as well as reap rewards.

At first the farm was only grain, but as the amount of land that they owned grew, the more they could branch out. A love that the Miller family had was horses, and to keep their horses fed without buying hay was to grow it themselves, and they continue to do it today.

The coolest thing about Karen Millers farm, is the purpose and reasoning behind it. She always just wanted to be as self-reliant as possible. The cows, chickens, pigs, horses, all take a tremendous amount of work as well as money to ensure that they are properly fed. To make this happen they grow their own food for their animals, as well as selling the extra animals that they have for meat, and using that money to cover other farm expenses or improvements.

When I asked Karen what she liked most about her farm, she didn’t have an answer for me. She preceded to tell me she couldn’t pick just one thing, she loved it all. She really is an inspirational lady as she now runs the family farm on her own with the help of her sons when she can’t possibly do it herself.

As I walked around the farm I could only imagine the amount of work that went into this farm over the course of several years. It had literally been built from nothing. I was in complete amazement. It was beautiful. Green pastures everywhere, horses and cows in the fields eating, and a chicken coup.  The peacefulness of the country air was an incredible thing as well.

Karen also shared with me her love for gardening. She has a specific place on her acreage where she can plant the fruits and vegetables of her choice for herself. She spends many hours outside either in her garden or on her farm. She gives away a lot of the food that she grows in her garden now because it is just her at home, but in her earlier years it was a huge help and lifesaver while raising kids.

The kind of farm that Karen has, is the kind of farm that I one day would like to have. She farms because she loves it, because it’s fun for her, not because she has too. I feel like a lot of people in this area that is around hers probably farms for the same exact reason, because they want to be reliant on themselves, as well as enjoy being outside and working with animals and agriculture.

Visiting her farm inspired me not to give up on my dreams. That although right now my husband and I may live in a tiny apartment while attending school, that one day this dream of mine can be made a reality a little bit at a time. I truly am grateful for the opportunity that I had to go out and see exactly what makes her happy, as well as something that has brought her family closer together. I have only been able to hear about the adventures from one of her sons that is my boss, so seeing it and learning about it first-hand really opened my eyes.

Although her farm does not bring in millions of dollars a year, it does its job and its purpose. I believe especially after learning more and being around a farmer like Karen that we need more people willing to work for what they have and these types of farms. Her farm is not huge, nor does it bring in a ton of money, but it is perfect for what she needs to live. This is huge for me, and is exactly what I would like in my own farm someday.

Karen’s memories of a Sunday night drives around the hay field on a four-wheeler with her husband, as well as moving sprinklers are some of the precious moments she will treasure for life. Although it has not been easy she would never trade any of it. It was a pleasure to be able to go on my “Farm Field Trip” to her farm and see the many accomplishments as well as hard work that it takes in order to be successful at farming.

Citation:
Miller, Karen. Telephone Interview. 29 Apr. 2017

What Would You Sacrifice, In Order To Survive?

Review of A Day No Pigs Would Die

By Mishae Hare (February 26, 2017)

Written by Robert Newton Peck

192 Pages

               As I came to the end of this book I reflected on the feelings that I experienced throughout this journey through a small, but highly influential, part of a poor farming family’s life. There were moments when I laughed out loud at some of the stories that were told. However, at other times I felt extreme sorrow to the point of tears when hardship and challenge swelled in this family’s life to the point of bursting. The book, A Day No Pigs Would Die, teaches us far more than the story line itself may entail.  As we dig deeper into the life of a young boy, we begin to relate the lessons that he learned to our own lives and be grateful for the hardships that most of us didn’t have to face that this young boy did at the age of only twelve. However, we also begin to gain access to the reality of growth that came at a young age on an olden day farm.

               Robert Peck, the boy spoken of in the above paragraph, left school early one day due to bullying. On his way home, he encountered a cow that was having troubles having her calf on her own. He managed to help pull the calf, and save the cow. Mr. Tanner, the farmer who owned the cow was greatly appreciative of this and wanted to give Robert a pig in return. Although he did not accept the pig as a gift, he told him he would work for it instead. He was the happiest boy in the world to finally have something he could call his own. Pinky the pig was his best friend. It was better fed and taken care of than even he was. Robert new they would be lifelong friends because Pinky would be a sow and wouldn’t have to be used for meat. After trying multiple times Pinky was not able to have piglets. Robert new what would have to happen to her because of this. When hardship struck and there was no other option Robert and his dad butchered Pinky. Life as Robert new it changed, and even more so when his father died shortly after. He became the man of the house, and the now 13-year-old boy that would run the family farm.

               In this short chapter book we can see many literary themes regarding agriculture that relate to historical views in the past and the present day. For example, the Peck family lived and farmed on a land that they were so close to paying off, only five more years to be exact.  Many other families share this problem with the Peck’s. We just read from our textbook about homesteading. I am not sure if this was the case for the Peck family, but nonetheless they were farming to pay off their debts in order to be free essentially. Money and finances are issues for a lot of farmers. It is hard to make a living with only a small amount of land and equipment. Although Robert and his family struggled, they always had what they needed, even if it was less than what others may have thought was a necessity. I feel like this is an example of all farmers. They go with little or nothing so their kids can have it, or so it can be re-distributed into their work in order to be more successful another year.

               Another example that we see is in relation to the death of the father. Robert Peck was left to maintain the farm and take care of his mom and aunt all on his own. His father personally gave him that responsibility before dying. He was only 13 years old. Death at a young age was very prevalent in earlier generations. They did not have the medicine and the healthcare to prolong life and prevent illness.  My dad had a similar experience as Robert. His father died when he was only 15 years old. His mother had cancer and there were still several siblings left in the home. He was forced to grow up, and go to work on the farm that his father taught him how to run and maintain. It was also necessary for him to do other jobs to insure his mom’s healthcare as well as providing very little food and clothing for him and his siblings. I feel like this character of Robert is in my dad, as well as Robert’s father. He works harder than I have ever seen anyone work, without being asked or it being expected. A lot of the reason people are the way they are and especially farmers is because of the expectations and the responsibilities that are placed upon them at such a young age. Instead of sleeping in and watching cartoons, they are up early milking cows and mucking stalls. This is their life. They don’t need worldly things to make them happy.

               A day no pig would die and an everyday farmer go hand in hand. I believe that Robert Peck as well as farmers of today are who they are because of the roots from which they come from, and the hardships that they have overcome. Not just anyone can be a farmer. It takes a special person that is willing to give it their all and watch it fail, then pick themselves up and do it again and again. This is exactly what the Peck family did. They are a family of farmers. They refused to crumble, like farmers of ancient times, as well as today, and that is why they succeed, and that is what makes them a farmer.

Peck, Robert Newton. A day no pigs would die. New York: Knopf, 1972. Print .

A Farmers Plea for Rain

Prayer for Rain

1938

James E. Allen

Born: Louisiana, Missouri 1894

Died: Larchmont, New York 1964

image: 10 1/2 x 14 1/8 in. (26.5 x 35.9 cm)

Smithsonian American Art Museum

As I place myself in the shoes of those in the painting in my own heart I begin to feel those same feelings of fear, frustration, sadness, and defeat. I believe the artist was trying to portray these feelings first through the more practical observations of dark skies, black and white picture, the bones of the animal, and the level of the dust. In a deeper sense, I believe the artist portrayed these feelings through the knees that hit the dust and the pleas of a family that must have been solemnly pronounced to their God. 

I see in the painting the social statement regarding farming and spirituality. In the paintings world of dark colors and gloom we see a family who relied on farming as a way of living and life, turn to the last source of hope that they could find. How does this relate to today’s society? Although we don't face a drought or major dust bowl, we have our own "major dust bowl" or faith shattering trials that drive us to our knees in hopes for a bettertomorrow. For example, family farms having to shut their doors do to major industrial mass producing farms. 

Through the artist’s eyes we see an array of emotions and a source of strength that farmers have relied on for generations, and will continue to have to rely on to come. This artist’s rendition of a perilous time in farming history shows me that although these farmers and farms may have suffered, we can see their legacy and life live on today in the farming industry. 

In conclusion, this paintings depth goes far beyond what we can see. It allows us to feel for this farming family, the challenges that they faced, and the despair that they encountered day in and day out. Although there may not be a dust bowl right now, I feel that it helps me see personally the struggles that lay so far beyond the surface that farmers experience every day. They continue to fight and push on, and trust that God will deliver and bless them for a better tomorrow. 

Allen, James E. Prayer for Rain. 1938, Lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C. 

Mechanics and Farming.... going hand in hand

In my family farming is something that you just kind of do. You don't have to look very far to find the history behind it all. My Grandpa Nelson played a significant role in farming, all though he wasn't technically a farmer. He was a mechanic, and specifically worked on farm equipment. He would be called on at all times of the day and night to different farms, and fields to get a tractor or machine of some sort up and running so that the farmer could finish his days work, and make sure that the crop was going to be harvested or planted at the perfect time. 

A major reason why he was able to have the occupation that he had though was because of a man named John Froelich. John Froelich was the man that first built a gasoline tractor. This literally changed everything. Because of his idea and ability to create such a technological advancement it allowed my grandpa to be able to provide for his family. I believe that this could be a reason for John Froelich's invention. He needed a way that was quicker and more sufficient to grow and produce crops, in order to provide for his family. 

Another comparison that I can make between my grandpa and John Froelich's invention of a gas powered farm machine, was the amount of frustration that each of them faced while going about their work. For example John Froelich was tired of using a steam powered machine. It was dangerous and had so many risks involved. One bad move or spark and all of his crop could be burned or ruined. He had a plan to come up with an easier way of life, but that doesn't mean that this plan came easy. I can only imagine trying to invent something, let along something as complex as farm equipment. I imagine there was many failed attempts, many times something would go wrong and he would have to go back and try again. This is very similar to my grandpa. There was no teachers to tell him how to fix a tractor. He would be lucky if it came with an owners manual. Everything he did on those tractors in order to fix them he had to figure out himself. I can imagine it being very frustrating at times. Him wanting to please the farmer, as well as help him keep his work going and not being able to figure it out a solution.

Finally my last conclusion about these two men in my opinion is the most important and shows the character of both. Neither one of them quit and gave up when times got tough. Although the things they were doing were some what different, they each had a task at hand that needed to be accomplished. Both of them brought about good, and change, and ultimately impacted the entire farming community of today. 

"The Froelich Tractor." The Froelich Tractor. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2017.