Farming and Fun

When most people think about farming, they picture long hours, hard work, uncertainty, and a job that never really ends. The truth is, they're not wrong. Farming can mean 18-hour days, weather delays, market fluctuations, breakdowns, and schedules that change at a moment's notice.

As a farm family, our plans are often dictated by the weather, an unexpected repair, or simply the workload that needs to be accomplished that day. Some weeks feel like a marathon, while other days a rainstorm forces us to slow down, catch our breath, and enjoy a little extra time together.

You see, I (Angie), did not grow up on a farm.

I was accustomed to my parents' world of predictable 8-to-5 jobs, planned vacations, and weekends that could be scheduled months in advance. Farming was a completely different lifestyle than anything I had experienced. When Dan and I got married in 2001, I had a lot to learn and even more expectations to adjust.

This year we celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, and I can honestly say that what I thought farm life would look like back then is nothing like what we get to experience today.

Over the years, our operation has adapted and evolved. Agricultural markets change, opportunities arise, and family farms learn to adjust. Our workload has changed. Our products have changed. Our business has changed. And now, as our son returns to the farm full-time following graduation and begins working alongside us we're entering yet another new season.

What hasn't changed is the value of doing it together.

Many people know Maple Crest Farms through our retail beef business. We love providing beef for your family's table, and we're grateful for the relationships we've built through our Farm to Table program. But there is so much more happening here every day.

Our farm is deeply connected to Indiana's dairy industry. We raise more than 450 acres of alfalfa that becomes feed for dairy cows producing milk right here in Indiana. We also operate a custom chopping business that helps those same dairies harvest and store corn silage each fall. In addition, we raise corn and soybeans and care for our cattle year-round.

Needless to say, there is always something to do.

Summer brings what we call "hay days." During those busy weeks, a crew of seven or eight people work together to harvest all 450 acres of alfalfa over a 3 day period. In total we have five cuttings throughout the growing season.  Those days of mowing , chopping, and packing are the start. The haylage is then covered and given time to ferment properly till it is ready to be delivered to dairy farms right here in Indiana.

Yes, even covering the haylage stack is a family job.

All of this work supports our farm financially, but the rewards go far beyond dollars and cents.

Farming gives us the opportunity to work side by side as a family. It gives us chances to learn new skills, solve problems together, and build relationships with seasonal employees, truck drivers, and team members who become part of our extended farm family. It provides experiences and memories that simply can't be measured on a balance sheet.

I'll admit, for a long time I wasn't a fan of the farming lifestyle. It required some heart work. It took time to understand why the work mattered and why so many farm families choose this way of life generation after generation.

Today, I wouldn't change a thing.

I am incredibly grateful that our children have grown up alongside us working, laughing, praying, learning, and experiencing life together. The days don't always look like everyone else's, but they are never boring. Somewhere along the way, we discovered that fun doesn't have to wait for a vacation or a special event. Fun can happen during a hay harvest, while covering a silage pile, fixing equipment, hauling feed, or simply sharing a meal after a long day.

We've learned that joy can be found in the everyday moments when we're together.

So the next time you drive by and see tractors in the field or a crew hard at work on a "hay day," know that what they're doing affects you too. Farmers provide the food and fuel that support our communities every single day.

Take time to get to know a farmer in your area. Ask questions. Learn their story.

I promise it will be a learning experience.

After all, I've been living and learning it for 25 years.