What it means to be a Farm Mom

Last month I was honored to receive a phone call from the America's Farmers program to say that I had been nominated and selected as one of this year's National Farm Moms of the Year and today I can finally share it with all of you!

So what does it mean to be a Farm Mom?  I think a Farm Mom is a woman who is not only caring for her family, but also for the land, her livestock and her community.

3 Things I've Learned This Harvest

It is the first of November and this is when I always talk about Comments for a Cause.  Last month I shared about the organization Farm Rescue, which provides labor and equipment to farmers in need.  And since my life has revolved around harvesting our own corn and soybeans this last month, I've decided to continue supporting Farm Rescue again this month by donating $0.50 for every comment made in November on my blog, along with October's 43 comments.

We hopefully, knock on wood, have just a couple more weeks left of harvest and then hope to finish all of our field work by Thanksgiving.  But over the last month, I learned a few things this year:

#1 Always Take Care of Yourself

You know the saying when you're on an airplane that "in the event of an emergency, please put on your oxygen mask before assisting others"?  Well, the same goes for the hustle and bustle and excitement of harvest.

A couple weeks ago I started to not feel well while out in the field doing what I love, driving tractor.  But I carried on, taking breaks whenever I was ahead of the combine.  Well, I ended up pushing myself too much and ended up needing to get help from my doctor because my body couldn't catch up.  Rather than being out for just a couple days for the flu, I ended up being out of the field for a week.

Sometimes being a Mom I feel like I can, or that I should, be doing everything, and as a Farmer, there is a crunch time during harvest where I don't want to slow down.  Well, I learned the hard way that I can't do it all, and this is the first big take away I'll remember from this harvest.

#2 Instagram Stories Are So Much Fun!

So I never got into Snapchat because I never really understood it.  But this fall I have fallen in love with Instagram Stories.  Between sharing little videos, or fun photos with the kids, or happenings out in the field, I've really enjoyed making my own stories and checking out other people's stories.  Instagram Stories have been great to engage with my followers and I love the authenticity of the Stories feature.  If you don't follow me on Instagram yet be sure to follow me and check out my Stories (like the one from earlier today posted above).  You can find me at plaggeval.

#3 The Tractor is the Best Place to be in the Fall

Simply put, there is no place I'd rather spend my days in the fall, then behind the wheel of a tractor, helping bring in our corn and soybean harvest.  Driving a tractor has been something I just simply have loved since I first learned when I was 10 years old.  Maybe it is the cool factor of driving a big piece of equipment, or the inclusion aspect of being a part of my family's harvest crew, or the excitement of bringing in the "fruits of labor" from the past year.  Whatever the reason, out in the field is my favorite place to be.  I've had a great time over the last month helping with the harvest and look forward to our last couple of weeks.

What questions do you have about my family's corn and soybean harvest?  Remember to Comment for a Cause and help out Farm Rescue, who is helping farmers in need harvest during this time of year.

What it means to be a FarmHer

While grocery shopping this week, the girls and I were stocking up on bottled pop that was on sale, as this is a staple during fall harvest.

Miss A started asking questions as the six packs stacked up in the cart, "Are these for you, and Daddy, and Grandpa?"

I replied, "Yes. These are for harvest.  We should be in the field soon so Mom is stocking up now while I have a chance and they're on sale."

A woman also checking out the pop special overhead our conversation (Because really, who couldn't with how loud Miss A asks her questions...  Plus, we kind of stick out in the grocery store at 10 in the morning on a Tuesday with three girls ages three and under as my shopping companions.) and casually said to me, "Oh, you must be a farmer's wife."

Without even thinking about it I responded, "No, I'm a farmer."

She gave me a puzzled look and said again, "No, a farmer's wife."

Driving the tractor
and grain cart during harvest

And I again reinstated, "No, I'm a farmer.  I might not be in the shop right now with my husband working on the combine, but I do take care of the financials for our farm, drive a tractor all fall and spring, and help with daily chores.  So, I think that makes me a farmer."

I kind of stunned the woman and even myself with my quick reply.  So I smiled at her and she smiled back at me and said, "Well, yes, I guess you are a farmer."

I don't know if it was the Millennial in me or what, but it was easy for me to say and confirm that I was indeed a farmer.  But have women farmers always been that confident, or have they even thought of themselves as something more than a farmer's wife?

I got to thinking about this more and more as I tagged along through social media at FarmHer's Grow event for young women yesterday.  FarmHer works to "shine a light on women in agriculture", and for the second year has led Grow events targeted at females ages 15-23 to explore and get inspired about the possibilities in agriculture.  I would have loved an event like this when I was in high school and college!  The thing is, women have always been a part of agriculture, and I believe as time goes on, are becoming a bigger segment of the agriculture workforce, whether it be as a scientist, researcher, veterinarian, farmer, etc.

My Farmer and I working together
this past spring during planting

My husband and I are partners in our farming operation.  We each have our own role and we work together to build our farm.  We talk through marketing decisions together.  We both do our own market research so we can make the best choice for selling our commodities.  We work together in the field.  As harvest approaches, you'll see me driving a tractor and grain cart while you'll see My Farmer driving the combine or semi-truck.  After harvest, it'll be time to be thinking about next year's crop.  We'll talk through our corn and soybean rotations, but My Farmer makes the exact decision on seeds/varieties we will plant.  My Farmer takes care of our pigs at our pig barns on the other side of the section from where we live.  Where along with our son Mr. K, I take care of the goat and pig chores at the home place.  I manage all of our financials for our farm, taking care of bills and deposits, while my husband is the one negotiating rates and rents.  My Farmer does all of the equipment repair, where I'll assist by running to get the parts needed.  We work together.  We are a team.

I am empowered that there are events and programs like FarmHer to confirm with women of all ages that you can be in agriculture.  As a mother of three girls, I never want any of them to think that because they are females they can't be in agriculture.  Maybe Miss A will use her animal handling skills to have her own herd of goats...

Miss A has no fear when it comes to
getting dirty and getting the job done

Or Miss L will drive a tractor and raise corn and soybeans...

Miss L last fall helping me in the tractor
I can't believe how much she's grown!

And I guess we'll have to wait to see what four month old Miss R will decide, but I want to make sure all of them feel like they can.  There are a lot of occupations that I think have gender biases but I believe the world of agriculture is starting to embrace and recognize women.  For that I am thankful and excited, for me and my girls.

My girls and I at the Farm Progress Show
at the end of August

Have you heard of the FarmHer program?  Are you a farmer?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!