Editorial / Opinions

I just finished reading the August 29, 2011 edition of Ozarks Farm & Neighbor and in particular “Life is Simple” by Jerry Crownover. What were you thinking when you published this? If it was meant to be humorous, it failed on every level.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an agricultural tour of the seventh congressional district with Congressman Billy Long. The tour was very educational and believe it or not, I had never been to any of the operations that were on the tour. So not only did I get to meet Congressman Long and other people from the Ozarks, I also got a chance to learn something.

The front tires on the old ATV that I’ve owned for the past nine years have become so imbedded with thorns that they are impossible to keep inflated. Every time I need to use the vehicle, I have to make a pass by the farm shop and add another half-can of tire sealant before adding air. Even if I use it twice in one day, I still have to follow the same routine and wonder when the tires will eventually become a solid core from all the spray foam I have put in them over the years.

Times are getting tough for everyone. Recent occurrences on my parent’s farm have reminded me of this. No, I’m not talking about the effects of the drought – I’m talking economically.

As yellow school buses hit the road morning and night, it is obvious that summer is coming to a close and hunting season is arriving upon us. I can recall the first deer season I spent in Arkansas in the fall of 1960. Deer season reminds me of a local jokester, Hugh Smith, a grocery store owner in Winslow.

Granted, I don’t hear as well as I did in my younger days, but I swear it’s getting more difficult for me to understand people who have thick accents in their speech. And by thick accents, I really mean people who were raised somewhere other than the Ozark hills.

Times are getting tough for everyone. Recent occurrances on my parent’s farm have reminded me of this. No, I’m not talking about the effects of the drought – I’m talking economically.

Granted, I don’t hear as well as I did in my younger days, but I swear it’s getting more difficult for me to understand people who have thick accents in their speech. And by thick accents, I really mean people who were raised somewhere other than the Ozark hills.

A familiar name is buzzing around the Ozarks Farm & Neighbor world and I must say it seems I have some pretty big shoes to fill if I'm going to live up to the "Lynzee/Lindsay" name. I've experienced every emotion known to man in my first few days here but mostly I am just flat out excited to be joining the OFN world. I already feel right at home here – maybe because everyone has welcomed me with arms wide open or perhaps it's due to the cattle across the road that I can see from my desk – either way I think I'm going to like it here.

Early August is the time of year for class reunions. My wife, Pat, went to school in Huntsville, Ark. When I came to Arkansas in 1960, I taught school in Madison County. I taught my wife’s younger sister, Rita, who was in my biology class. She always took credit, or the blame, for getting Pat and I together.