August 31st will be my last day in the the field of agriculture. Our farm was sold on July 22nd, and my father will disperse all of his cattle and equipment before the first day of September. Three days later our family will take our first real vacation in 15 years.
Even though we have another month, I already have this incredible feeling of freedom. It’s called NO JOB!
When I was 7 years old my dad took me to the Farm Bureau on Grace Street and bought me my first pair of Carolina work shoes and I thought I had hit the big time. I’ll still be wearing the Carolinas out of respect for the generations of my family who worked like dogs to make ends meet. I’m thrilled for my dad who is completely worn out after a lifetime of sacrifice. I hope he enjoys the remaining years of his life. He’s definitely earned it.
On a side note…If production agriculture continues the road it’s on, it will soon be unaffordable to participate in. The thing that will allow this area to hold on longer will be the worship of farming by Old Order Mennonites, their “old money”, and their giving of the land to the next generation cheap. In Pennsylvania, the Amish are starting to run out of money, and we are usually about 10 years behind them. The new Chesapeake Bay restrictions, high input costs, state and federal permit requirements, and taxes is going to be the ruination of a great thing.