The end of the year is often a time to reflect on the past weeks and months. This year, I really don’t want to detail what happened. The short version—A family member became an enemy, my Dad died, Clark County burned, and we’ve had to rebuild.
I won’t remember 2017 fondly, but what I will remember is all of the lessons I’ve learned.
In January we had a horrendous ice storm. We didn’t have power at our house for days and I can tell you just how quiet it is in a house with no electricity. With the exception of a generator running outside. We didn’t lose any livestock and because of our diligence and preparation. Our freezer/refrigerator contents, our pets and animals were safe, fed and happy. I’m not real sure the dog even knew we were without power.
By February things had dried out some. Wind howled like it does this time of year and we delved into drought conditions once again. Never take Mother Nature for granted. She holds all the cards.
In early March I attended the K-State Cattlemen’s day for the Journal and brought my husband along so we could also watch a basketball game. It was a welcome distraction from my Dad’s passing on March 1. The day of Dad’s funeral (March 6) it was supposed to be 80 degrees and the wind was going to blow 50 mph. We never expected to finish the day with a wildfire consuming the Scott farm. I learned you can never be prepared enough for a disaster like this. You have to depend on people. There are good people still out there.
April brought a story about a thoroughbred horse with Kansas ties running in the Kentucky Derby and a chance to chat with the son of the breeder. It’s not very often a horse “from” Kansas gets to the Kentucky Derby. McCraken didn’t run as well as everyone had hoped, but that’s horse racing.
May brought more heart break in my personal life as the cattle herd my husband had worked so hard for went to the sale barn. Disagreements with family lead us down the path of mediation and settlement. What I did learn from this ugly situation, prompted me later in the summer to write a blog post, “At what price.” I hope someone can learn from it too.
June again brought wheat harvest in my part of the world. It made me think about my Dad and the hours we spent together in the wheat field. Man the lessons a kid learned from those times.
July is one of my favorite months. The heat, events and county fairs. I love it all. I witnessed a group from Michigan giving several scholarships to Meade County 4Hers who selflessly helped care for orphaned calves after the March wildfires. I could learn something from those kids.
In August work was busy with meetings and field days. One event was about cover crops and no-till practices. I’m not very familiar with either and tried to soak up as much information as I could. I also took some pretty neat photos.
In September, I helped cover the Equine Infectious Anemia outbreak in southwest Kansas. At the meeting in Finney County I could tell by the emotions how concerned horse owners were, myself included. Don’t step between a concerned horse owner and someone who doesn’t know horses.
By October, things began to settle down a little. I wrote a story I’d been meaning to write for years. I’d just never had the time I wanted to get it done, but I finally got to sit down with the parents of my brother-in-law and discuss farm toys. Doyle Neher has more knowledge about farm toys than anyone I know.
November brought something new to our place. Our own cows! They were delivered mid-November and we’ve gotten one calf so far, with the rest to start calving in January/February/March. It’s a scary proposition to actually sign the loan papers on livestock, but we’re going to give it the old college try.
We finished the year with the holidays and bone chilling cold. Hopefully we can take the lessons we learned in 2017 and move forward.
