Jul 27, 20223 min read

Agriculture in Action

By: Jordan Ungeheuer

I'm no ag expert.. I'm genuinely impressed with myself if I can remember something my dad explained to me about "no-till planting", what it means to have a draper on a combine header, or what the numbers on the John Deere tractor mean.....It's sad, I know! I've always said the most involved I am when it comes to farming is feeding them or going on part runs. But then again, when you have three capable brothers they don't really need you!

If we shift over to livestock, I feel (whether that makes it true or not) that I know a smidgen more. I love my little red angus herd, grown over the years from showing the heifers at the county fair and putting them out to pasture to become mamas. And not to brag, but I etch the ear tags the best...(don't tell anyone, though!)

But I love it. Farming, ranching, agriculture, living in the country, driving a diesel on a gravel road, all the things. I'm passionate about the way small town living becomes a way of life.

The rancher that stops at the farmers market in his dirty mud boots to buy his pregnant wife a cinnamon roll.
The wife that patiently waits at the field entrance to feed her farmer because he has "just one more pass until the field is finished".
The nieces and nephews that jump in the combine with their uncle just to get a good nap in! (it's me, I was the little niece, haha!)
The gathering at Grandma and Grandpa's house because it's time to put sweet corn up.
The yelling and bickering that anyone and everyone gets to deal with while working cattle..(just my family? yeah okay..)
The rancher that continuously hays his cows and breaks the pond ice to keep 'em alive in the freezing cold.
The "Agvocate" who does their research to share and to help others understand better.
The mechanical brother that gets all the "projects" when something is broken.
The mama who stays home with her babies, loving and serving in that way.
The mama who doesn't get to stay home, working extra hard to do all the things.
The understanding that the farmer will be at the event if it rains, otherwise he's most likely still in the field.
The 4-Her that puts the hard hours in all year to prepare for that one hot week in the summer and love every minute of it.
The tie-down roper excelling in the senior-division at the rodeo because "he's still got it".
The man wondering if it's all worth it when his combine breaks down for the 2,187th time during harvest
The cowgirl who spends her evenings working with her new colt. (p.s. his name is Maverick)
The brothers that get to deal with hay on the ground and a baler burning up (true story).
The woman who diligently works in her garden, knowing darn well she can buy those vegetables at the store.

It's all passion. The love for agriculture comes in many forms and scenarios.

What is the basic definition of agriculture? The science, art, and business of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock; farming.

so why do we do it? why do we love it? For some, it's because it's what their family has always done. For others, they're forging their own path with this new way of life. But me? I love agriculture because #1) The Lord commanded us to steward what he's given, and #2) He's allowed us to enjoy creation and family in this way. It's the backbone of Sweet Harvest. I'm not one to jump in the tractor or offer to back the trailer at the sale barn, but I am more than willing to jump in and serve in the ways God has equipped me. Which, generally are more behind-the-scenes kind of things (kitchen kind of things!)

"The earth and everything in it, the world and it's inhabitants, belong to the LORD;" -Psalms 24:1

"For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine." -Psalms 50:10