Editorial / Opinions

Late in the summer, I finally succumbed to pressure from my wife, and agreed to meet with a surgeon concerning a health issue that has been bothering me for the past year.

Agriculture continues to come under fire from those who have no understanding about our industry, but the fight is nothing new. Our way of life has been questioned for decades by those who “think” they know about life on the farm.

An old poker player once told me that, given the choice between being lucky or being good, he’d choose lucky every time. When I asked that same old poker player (who happened to be a pretty big farmer, as well) why he continued to farm well into his golden years, he stoically replied, “I love to gamble.”

I believe in the future of farming with a faith born not of words but of deeds – achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.”

Fall colors are alive and well in Northwest Arkansas. I can look outside and see the majestic changes happening right before my very eyes. It’s such a short “season” in this part of the country, I feel like I have to savor every second of it. Soon we’ll all be freezing.

A lot of people will probably be surprised to find out that, even at my advanced age and despite the fact that I have been involved in agriculture my entire life, I had never set foot in a combine until about a month ago.

I believe in the future of farming with a faith born not of words but of deeds – achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.”

A lot of people will probably be surprised to find out that, even at my advanced age and despite the fact that I have been involved in agriculture my entire life, I had never set foot in a combine until about a month ago.

While perusing through social media the other day, I came across a post about a new “milk beverage” that is promoting less sugar, fewer calories and more calcium than “regular” milk, so I thought I would do a little research.

I haven’t always been a farm kid.