When you have plans and need to be somewhere, what do cattle do? They get out, are sick or do something that requires immediate attention. Easter Sunday I was scheduled to play piano at church, then our family dinner and potentially some field work. Our spring herd hadn’t started calving, but were slated to any day. I had about an hour of chores and checking cows to do before church so threw on some old clothes and headed to the cows. Upon arriving, I fed them, counted them and then noticed a cow that had recently given birth. After driving around, I finally found the babies, yes twins!, right in the corral. By the time we hauled the cow to the barn and got the babies fed it was too late for church. We decided to move the other group that was also going to calf off the mud road and to our house. To do that, we moved our fall herd as well. We rolled into our family dinner 30 minutes late, but had a really great afternoon with family.
This winter rolled in like Easter Sunday did for me-not as we had expected. It was cold and much more snow than we’ve had in a long time. This winter was very, very tough in Northeast Kansas as in a lot of places. We came out of a drought during the summer and ran right into a premature winter with lots of snow, wind and harsh temperatures. With 50-66% of our normal hay supply and an early and harsh winter, stress levels were high about what we were going to feed. A lot of cattle got shipped due to the lack of feed.
We moved right into calving weather with no relief from the frigid temperatures. So many don’t expect the negative wind chills and snow for calving season and lost a lot of babies being born. Field work that never got done last fall was again delayed with a wet spring that didn’t allow farmers to get into their fields. With April trying to clear up for us, there was a short window to get corn into the ground before more rain arrived.
I don’t know about on your farm, but stress levels are high on ours. When the weather turned right, corn needed to go in, fertilizer applied to the ground, cover crops to be sprayed and killed and cows that needed to go to grass that wasn’t growing yet. It meant long days. We are now getting rain again with colder than average temperatures.
How do we crawl out of the dark days, the overwhelming amount of work in front of us and a summer that is projected to be warmer and drier than normal again? All the while farm income has dropped and is expected to be another harsh year for the farm economy. It makes you want to throw up your hands and walk away. A 9-5 job looks so inviting at this point. But as farmers and ranchers we will not do that. It’s a lifestyle. You have been through times worse than these and got through. You will get through again.
What are some steps you can take to get back on track? First and foremost, I’m going to always go back to your dreams and goals. When was the last time you imagined your ideal life? Why not take some time to do that now.
Is your ideal life the one you’re living? Yes, last summer’s drought sucked, this winter sucked. This spring was really not a lot better. But are you doing what you want to be doing? Are you happy to be taking care of cattle, setting your own schedule (or what the cattle set for you), feel the pride and accomplishments when those calves are loaded on to the truck? Do you feel the rush of adrenaline when it’s “go” time? Do you lose sleep wondering how you can improve your operation?
Or…
Are you tired of the cold? Tired of making huge decisions that affect everything from the health of your cattle to the health of your bottom line? Are you tired of getting phone calls that your cattle are out? Tired of wondering whether the check that comes in will be enough to cover the checks that are going out? Weary from years of hard work and not enough rest time?
If you’re agreeing with the second set of questions, you really need to put some thought into why you’re doing what you’re doing. Y’all we only get one shot at this precious life. We never know when it’s going to be game over. Tomorrow is not promised. Just because you have been doing it for your entire life is not a good enough reason to continue doing what you’re doing and not enjoying a second of it.
What is the legacy that you want to leave behind? My parents just got done with their estate planning and told my sisters and I and our spouses who is getting what when they are gone. They also told us a little about what they want to do with the rest of their lives. They built their operation from the ground up. They raised three daughters on a farm that they grew together. My sisters and I are all smart, talented, self-sufficient individuals. We are going to be more than okay if we don’t get anything from them. It’s so important that you aren’t working yourself into an early grave just to give it to your kids. Make sure you’re enjoying life. Take the time for yourself. Hire the help so you can go see your kids or grandkids’ events. Stop waiting for tomorrow to enjoy life.
After some soul-searching and you decide that you really love what you’re doing and want to keep doing it, do some inventory. Be prepared for the worse and when it doesn’t happen, you’ll be ready. If we have another drought this summer, what cows are going to have to go? Do we need to re-think our grazing options so we can get the cattle to the pastures without good water first? If the winter is another nasty one, how do we stockpile enough feed to feed them? Do we need to look at putting the corn into silage instead of selling the kernels? Can we put up an inexpensive shed to house them once the babies start coming?
What equipment purchases can we absolutely not live without? What could wait another year? Make a list. Write it down. Just like Dave Ramsey does with his budgets. Top to bottom what is the absolute most important thing that must be done? Insurance protects us against the risks that we cannot afford, what coverage do we need to up? What could we let go?
I have spent hundreds of dollars on therapy. I wholeheartedly believe in going to experts to help with problems whether that is your agronomist, seed dealer, nutritionalist, doctor, personal trainer, etc. We cannot be expected to know everything about everything. Let others help. Let them share their experience. One of the biggest things I’ve learned from my therapist is to simply breathe. Breathe deep in for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts, hold for four counts. Our brain needs oxygen and when we get stressed and overwhelmed, often they don’t get enough. Simply breathing helps tremendously.
Next, plan something fun. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg. If you’re married, plan a special date with your spouse. At the end of your life, don’t regret the time that you didn’t spend with the special people in your life. I completely understand that “go” time is important and sacrifices have to be made. But so often, we don’t take the time for celebrating. Y’all we have survived a horrendous summer, fall, winter and spring. Times are going to be are hard in the future, but celebrate the fact that we’re here. That this too shall pass. That no matter how many valleys there are, we will climb up on that mountain and the view will be the sweetest you have ever seen. My dear fellow agriculturists, we will make it and we will make it together! You are needed! One foot in front of the other!
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