I am a camel...

I try not to complain about the weather, but this winter has been rough. The storm we just had in Maine is the straw that literally broke my back. Okay, so "broken" may be a slight exaggeration of the intense knee-buckling pain that fires across my back when I stand up, sit down, turn, attempt to walk, breathe, or use any part of my lower back.  It will heal, almost certainly before the first crocus pops up in the early spring sun. Still, I don't know if I can handle another storm, physically or mentally, until 2015.

Normally, with a pulled back muscle I deal with the pain and after a few days, things are back to normal. In addition to the pain this time, however, is the fact that I am primary caregiver for my grandfather, my mother as she recovers from shoulder surgery, a hyper dog, a finicky cat, one temperamental house rabbit and 17 Simmental beef cows. Timing could not be worse - there is an awful lot of snow that needs to be moved.

Although I am begging Mother Nature for mercy, and feeling miserable for not being able to perform the tasks that I should, I try to see the positive in my situation. I hate the feeling of being dependent on others; I wish my cousin didn't have to put out round bales for the cattle and the neighbor didn't have to navigate treacherous roadways late in the evening to feed our bull and steer in the barn. Yet, I'm sure the opportunity will arise when I will be able to help them. It's the cycle of community, through good weather and bad.

Food for thought

I wouldn't change my background for anything in the world. It's not "easy" to live on a farm, financially, but the trade-offs reap multiple benefits throughout one's life.  Responsibility, hard work, and commitment are just some of the values one learns.  You have to show up to work, or the animals don't eat.  A lot of farm families understand the meaning of sacrifice as they sacrifice time and effort to ensure the welfare of the animals before their own.

One drawback of being a farm kid is being in a minority, and when you're in a minority, your voice is not often heard among the shouts of the majority. Misinformation, myths and stereotypes permeate the media regarding agriculture today. Traditionally producers have shied away from the media, but thankfully there is a shift in the advocacy for agriculture.

I am fortunate that my experiences provide me with greater appreciation for the daily contributions of farm and agricultural workers to our nourishment.  If the general population could experience such a lifestyle, it would understand animal behavior, crop science and  a multitude of other complex issues that affect food production. A greater understanding would lead to a greater support network for the agricultural sector, ultimately bolstering industries and protecting the American food supply.