Editorial / Opinions

One of the absolute best parts of living in rural America is having good neighbors and, fortunately, that is true regardless of what part of the country you reside. When I get a truck or tractor stuck in the mud, help is only a phone call away. When I leave a gate open, it’s not uncommon for a friend to call and see if I meant to or, more likely than not, if I messed up again. If my cattle get out, these same neighbors are just as likely to drive them back in instead of calling. But, sometimes, it gets downright embarrassing.

On my first “official” day as managing editor here at Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, I got a little mud on my boots and a little cow slobber on my hands.

In my younger days, when I was setting goals for what I wanted to do and accomplish in life, I never identified landlord as one of my ambitions. Unfortunately, some of the farms I have acquired through the years happen to have decent homes on them, so I started renting them in order to generate a little more cash flow while, at the same time, keeping them from becoming in disrepair.

Waves of emotion are crashing over me as I sit down to write my final column as the managing editor of Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. It’s hard to believe that three and a half years ago I was writing my first column for OFN. It’s been a wonderful journey over the years and I have truly enjoyed filling the pages of this wonderful paper with stories of the Ozarks.

It’s gardening season. I’ve noticed lots of folks still grow their own garden. However, many of us are too busy; many households have two money earners, which crowds their schedules. I think the folks that had gardens as part of their upbringing still plant and harvest gardens.

In my younger days, when I was setting goals for what I wanted to do and accomplish in life, I never identified landlord as one of my ambitions. Unfortunately, some of the farms I have acquired through the years happen to have decent homes on them, so I started renting them in order to generate a little more cash flow while, at the same time, keeping them from becoming in disrepair.

Waves of emotion are crashing over me as I sit down to write my final column as the managing editor of Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. It’s hard to believe that three and a half years ago I was writing my first column for OFN. It’s been a wonderful journey over the years and I have truly enjoyed filling the pages of this wonderful paper with stories of the Ozarks.

My wife says I need to downsize my farming operation because, according to her, “You’re getting too danged old and too stuck in the last century to keep doing what you’re trying to do.” So, last week, I met with an amiable realtor and her client to show them around one of my farms that I have had listed. The prospective buyer was a very nice, middle-aged gentleman from Georgia.

As I write this column it is National FFA Week. Oh, the sweet memories that flood my mind as I remember all the activities that my FFA Chapter hosted and participated in during the week. Chapters across the nation all celebrate in their own ways. For my chapter the week was filled with such events as a businessmen’s breakfast, hillbilly day, tractor day, Food for America activities and more.

I met this lady in an airport lobby who was going on about the weather, saying that carbon must be causing it. I shook my head and smiled.