Labor Day Lessons
Rice field at harvest
As I sit at my desk waiting on the combines to begin to roll for the day I Googled Labor Day and its meaning. According to the US Department of Labor: “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” Wow! An entire day to celebrate the workers in our country and to celebrate the contributions of strength, prosperity and well-being of our country. This is an awesome day! Without those workers who had struggled before us where would our country be today?
I find my thoughts wandering to the people on our farm who have come and gone. In four generations there have been many people who contributed their time, talents, and efforts to producing a crop on this land. There are even a few who spent a lifetime here with my family working for the common goal of feeding the world one acre at a time. I remember the names and faces of men who were always here with my Dad, like uncles, brothers or cousins of extended family. They watched me grow up and become their peer as I chose to come back to the farm. Sun up to sundown, rain or shine, holidays or regular Mondays we work side by side. The camaraderie of working together to seed a crop and then on days, like today, harvest those seeds for a meal that you may serve your family in the coming weeks.
Men who taught me simple things on the farm such as when you take a person to a tractor always wait until it starts if they need help; always check your tire pressure and how to check the oil; to step OVER a rice levee and not put a big footprint on top for rain water to collect; when you pick up parts take the old one with you to compare; and that many times you need the assembly and not just one part; to keep my hands in my pockets around any machinery and a good one for everyone – give the farm equipment the road when you see them. Many of these lessons I have learned and are second nature to me now. I am thankful to have had the good fortune to grow up around and work with today some of the finest farm family workers on the planet!
My husband Greg and me last fall during harvest
As you celebrate today as the last hurrah of summer I ask you to think of the farm families who spent their days and nights producing the meal on your plate. Each bite you take was cared for and provided for your nourishment by someone who loves their job! A person who takes great pride in providing the safest, most affordable food supply in the world.
Click here for video of a combine and grain cart harvesting
So as the engines on the combines turn over and roar, the puff of smoke exits the exhaust on the tractor pulling the grain cart and the 18 wheels creep forward on the truck to collect the grain I smile. Holiday or not I am smack dab in the middle of exactly where I want to be. I get a front row view of the results of all the labor put into this crop and each rice kernel that will show up in a box of cereal or in your next stir fry. Three times a day (and a few snacks in between!) you need a farmer – be sure to thank them!
-Jennifer