Happy New Year
In my preparations for this article, I was researching what New Years might mean to farmers and ranchers. As you can imagine, there were a myriad of search responses on the world wide web. Many talked about planning and this year they mostly talked about planning for a down market for crops, while others talked about setting goals. They mentioned setting goals for where you are now, making reasonable due dates for your goals, starting with small goals, and revisiting/ revising goals. Some mentioned exploring more innovative technology and several emphasized keeping better records in the New Year.
Some articles that made it into the search talked about what the farmer brings to everyone on the holidays and throughout the new year. Think a little about the following: Your holiday meals- all the delicious foods started out on a farm somewhere.
The Christmas sweatersmany will include cotton and wool were all produced by farmers.
The beautiful Christmas cards- the paper, card stock, even the table and chairs you served your meals, they all got their start on a tree farm.
The amazing desserts with cream, buttermilk, sugar, and perhaps some fruit, all came from farmers.
It is easy to forget just how much a simple farmer provides not just on the holidays, but every day.
Lastly, a few articles mentioned what is most important of all for farmers. Take better care of yourself in the new year. Exercise when you are not already too tired. I joke, but it is important to make time for routine exercise, if nothing else, just an evening walk. This one was interestingmaking some time for yourself at least once a week, doing something you enjoy away from farming. Perhaps the most important New Years resolution might be to spend more time with those you care for such as family and friends. It is very easy to get wrapped up in the next crop, calving, or hay season, but in the end your family, friends, and your health are most important of all. We appreciate all the farmers, and we do have a diverse lot of them in Comanche county and the surrounding area. Happy New Years to everyone from your local County Extension office.