Spring always takes me back to the more leisurely days on the farm when the chores were finished (that’s a joke) and the school day was done.
I’d undoubtedly make my way into the pasture and walk the Wing River for signs of life. I never had to look far. The river was often running with red horse and white suckers on their way upstream. The first frogs would be making appearances at the water’s edge. The swamps would be greening and filling with the first flowers — marsh marigolds.
It was tradition that Dad would remind us to gather up huge bouquets of the bright yellow flowers to present to Mom for Mother's Day. It was the only flower that would almost always be peaking for the special day, aside from the flowers coming up from the flower beds surrounding our home. Considering Mom was the one who labored to put them there, it made sense to let them continue to beautify the home’s exterior.
Fishing on the banks of the river often revealed the nests of Canada geese or wood ducks, who did their best to go unnoticed until you were just too close for comfort. The peace and quiet of the river valley would be abruptly awakened when the old goose launched from her nest with a frightening “honk!”
I don’t have quite as much time for these moments to get lost in the natural wonder around me, but I still try. I encourage anyone to do that, especially the private landowner who has a little piece of that heaven on earth in their backyard. You are truly blessed.
Farm owners are a small percentage of the U.S, only about 2% of the population. Yet about 40% of our country is farmland, according to the USDA. That’s a big chunk of property owned by a small number of people. Being a farmer is no easy task in itself, but it’s important to remember that farmers also have an integral responsibility of caring for a great deal of land, not just for continued profitability, but for the life-giving resources they provide to people and wildlife in and around it.
I know, I'm preaching to the choir when I say that because many farmers are phenomenal conservationists. They truly care for their land and the water that flows through it. Those who care little about protecting resources make up a very small percentage of the total.
I don’t have to remind farmers of how busy this time of year is, but I do want to remind them that this is a great time to also take notice of the ground around them. If it works, take a walk. Put boots on the ground and listen. I can hear that chorus of frogs in the slough. The red-winged black birds are readying their nests. Gophers are popping up fresh dirt where you wish they weren’t.
This is what many would consider the “paradise period” in the Midwest. It’s that golden week when the snow is gone. There’s barely a mosquito to be seen. It’s not too hot and not too cool. You can sit outside beneath that tree that’s starting to leaf out and really appreciate it. We’ve been waiting for it, and yet, the ones who have an abundance of land to enjoy are often too busy to do so.
The busy life of being an adult helps even the best of us forget what wonders can be found in a place with a little bit of wild left in it. If you’ve forgotten about the beauty that you are entrusted with, I ask you to take a moment to appreciate it and think about how you can continue to protect it.
Sometimes it takes a curious child to remember that farmland is so much more than just profitability. Yes, that’s necessary in order to make a living and pay the often exorbitant property taxes on that land, but let's not forget that the land is life-giving to more than just the one farming it.
So, when you are out doing what must be done this spring — checking fences, picking rock, or trimming trees encroaching on your dirt, breathe it in and know how lucky you are to be managing something most of the world will never get to enjoy.
With that being said, I want to wish all the moms out there a wonderful Mother's Day! May your sons or daughters bring you big bouquets and share an abundance of appreciation for all you've done to make them who they are today.