Hay Scratches

So I got an e-mail tonight... I LOVE e-mail (hint, hint, wink, wink)!!!  

This one is from Jerica:

I was driving home this past weekend and saw a field with people getting ready for this next years crop growing. I couldn't help but think of all the times we would roll bales, stack the trucks, or even transport the pipe from one field to another. I starting thinking more about the whole process from when the hay is cut to when it is fed to the cows. Then I remember sitting on top of the hay stacks getting my feet in the right position to push the whole front of the stack off. My favorite part was watching it fall and hearing the loud thunks each bale made. Every time that happened I would smile as the whole front fell then (on more than one occasion) I would look down and wonder how I was going to get down off the stack. I was never the adventurous type to just jump from the top of the stack. I will admit it took me a good self-talking-to to get myself to jump off 4 layers. There have also been a few times where I would just pull a bale from near the bottom and get the front off  that way and (again, on more than one occasion) I didn't move fast enough to avoid the falling bales. Just have to say, hay scratches are not my favorite scratch to have but I sure was proud of each one of them.

Thanks Jerica!  

P.S. I love the sound of a well choreographed "thunk" as well!

Do you miss it?

About a year after I left home, I received a letter from Utahna and Crystal containing pictures of them in their pipe moving garb with sarcastic notes attached.  I put them in my scrapbook and wrote my response to my sisters:

Written Summer 2003:

Do I miss it?  A few years ago the answer may have even surprised me... YES!  I miss most everything about it.  I miss getting out in the open and working, I miss getting on the back of a hay truck and throwing bales around, I miss the thinking time I had while milking the cows, I even miss moving lines once in a while (I know my biceps do anyway).  I don't think there is any work that gives more satisfaction than farming... there is a definite sense of satisfaction in this career.

Yes, I miss farming, but not nearly as badly as I miss farming with my Dad.  I miss that every day contact with my hero.  I miss talking to my best friend each day as we worked in the barn or the field.

Dad taught me so much on the farm.  He taught me to work hard and take pride in working hard.  One day I was particularly upset as we were hauling hay, it seemed everyone else was on the back of the trailer just riding around as Dad and I picked up all the bales.  I expressed my frustration to Dad and he turned to me and said, "Jami, take pride in kicking someone else's butt!"  Of course as I approached dating age he changed his story, "Jami, if you want to date any of these boys, you're going to have to stop out working them!"

I learned many gospel principle's while working on the farm.  Who knew the barn could be such a spiritual place?

I am so proud to be a "farm girl."  I am surprised every day at what those two little words mean to people.  It means I come from a good family; it means I know the value of a dollar; it means I am not afraid of working hard; it means I know how to be part of a team.

I miss it... and I know the two of you will too!

You can take the girl out of the country...

From Juel:

Wish I could write as Jami does, but guess you’re stuck with my style.  Right now my thoughts turn to each of those whom I have had the privilege of working with.  I truly did enjoy my time working with each of you and have many special memories that are near and dear to my heart.  There was a lot of hard manual labor done and with each of you the tasks became almost fun.

 I think we’ve all split our pants out and had to work through it.  Two I particularly remember, one was Jami, at the beginning of a hot hay hauling day and the second Crystal in the same situation.  I just remember that they both got lots of hay down their pants on those days, but neither shirked from their duties, embarrassed as they may have been.  When it had to be done they just did it.

Becky and Esther were two of the absolute best pipe movers.  They were kinda short and the barley kinda tall.  But that did not faze them one bit, even when they had to carry the pipe over their heads.  

Sara & Beth, many memories of them feeding in adverse weather; but with their great attitudes, they took a lot of crap in fun and never failed to give it right back with interest.

All of Ross's girls took their turn feeding calves, and I think they all drove truck for us at one time or another.

If any of you men or children want to know what made your wife or mother the wonderful strong devoted person they are.  The answer in large part is growing up in Juniper.  They always had it in them; they just got to exercise it.  And find out exactly what they were made of in a little patch of hallowed paradise we like to call Juniper.

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FYI, for anybody who has not had the privilege of splitting out their pants, it is not the hay going down your pants that is the problem... just sayin.  

P.S. I swear I split my pants out every day for a week that summer... good times.

Confessions of a Farm Girl

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: For protection of the innocent (cough... oh, excuse me) it is IMPERATIVE that Uncle Ross not be allowed to read the following.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Signed,
The Management


From Jami:

So, being a "girl" in the farm-world is no small thing.  First off, no one thinks I belong (ask Grandpa Hurst) and secondly, no one expects me to be able to keep up and pull my own.  So I am already at a disadvantage and have to prove myself an asset.  I had to put forth 150% effort to be able to hang with the guys.  Up until now, I have been reluctant to concede that I may have gotten a little a tiny bit a smidgen of an iota of special treatment.

Aaron and Jim, you are gonna want to make sure you are sitting for this.

One hot summer day (I believe I was 14 going on 15) Jim, Aaron and I were loading the truck (I wanna say Old Blue, but why were there 3 of us loading Old Blue?).  I may have taken a few bales from the boys (WHAT???  Ross and Dad did it to me!!!)  Fed up, Jim and Aaron united in letting me know "Fine!  If you think you can load the truck by yourself, do it."  They both sat down and folded their arms.  

I'm sure they expected me to get backed up and beg for their help... Ha!  They don't know the determination of a farm girl.  I was loading that truck just fine by myself.  

However...

Not too long after they sat down, Ross happened to drive by to check our progress and found two strapping 16-year-old young men sitting idly with their arms folded while one ultra determined 14-year old girl carried out the work of two grown men.

He wasn't happy.

Like at all...

What was I supposed to say?  I apologized to them after Ross left...

Yeah I didn't.  

I giggled and smirked as the three of us finished loading the truck.  I probably didn't take their bales though...for the rest of that load...who can really remember though?