Samantha Johnston – Johnston Farm and Ranch, LLC
This year I decided I was going to invest a little more time in observing the growth of our crops. I find myself always taking photos during planting and harvest, so I asked myself, “why not have images in between?”
Everyday, minus a few, I go to the same spot at the edge of one of our wheat fields, using a hot wire post as my guide, to ensure I’m in the near vicinity of the day priors image and snap a photo. Nothing fancy, just an iPhone picture, that I can add the date to and save for later.
We must appreciate what Mother Earth presents, and recognize what our crop goes through to sustain itself.
We planted a variety of Hard Red Winter Wheat semi-early for us, but only to experience large quantities of rain a week after we rolled equipment out of the field. Coming out of a drought, we received a flood. Feast or famine they say.
This flooding was much appreciated to restock our ponds for cattle, however it put a damper on the freshly planted wheat, washed terraces and made it challenging to get equipment in and out of fields for sowing the next crop. The presence of army worms always gives us a scare, especially after so much rain. Yet, another cost is added to the bottom line of our inputs, spraying pesticides to rid the devastating caterpillars.
Wheat has been in the ground about two months now, sixty-four days to be exact. I have an ongoing video that I’m working on—with the daily images, growth and changes of the crop, addition of cattle to graze and more to present after harvest, so stay tuned.
Without hesitation, we thank the good Lord for the precipitation, and persevered. All crops are in, cattle bought and processed. Now to grow healthy herds and wait for the wheat to turn golden this spring.
Alas, this is possibly one of my shorter excerpts from the farm and ranch life, but I hope you all enjoy this fall season and remember there is always, always something to be thankful for.
1. Be ready to go at the drop of a hat...sometimes without a lunchbox.
2. Has removed the word impossible from her vocabulary!
3. Can hold a baby, take care of a toddler and drive a tractor or combine all at the same time.
4. Must be able to cook for a crew - large or small.
5. Must be able to read minds.
6. Must be able to banter with a parts man until he realizes you DO know what you're talking about.
7. Must be the entertainment director for those rainy days.
8. Be a wife, mom, friend, helper, cook, problem solver, taxi driver or extra crew hand at all times.
9. Can handle the call that makes you react, "You need what? When?" Dropping everything you're doing to make it happen.
10. At the end of the day say, "I really do love this life".