This post started out as a “Top 10” kind of post. But, as I've sat and thought about the many facets we've learned about farming, the list definitely exceeded 10. Which, in turn, means that I knew very little when I began farming, but I've learned a whole boat load since. I'm very encouraged by this even though I still have a long ways to go.
The list grew so large, that we'll break this post up into a few series of posts. So, here are just a few of the things that farming has taught us.
1. Even if you are having a bad day, the animals have to be fed and the chores have to be done anyway.
They don't know it's Christmas, you have the flu, or that your best friend has died. Nothing has taught me responsibility more than this simple realization that I have a few thousand animals around the farm that solely rely on me.
We don't even do the dairy side of farming, but I can tell you that I truly admire dairy farmers. Milking is something that has to get done sometimes twice a day everyday. Farmer Bob at Stryk Dairy is one of the hardest working farmers that I know.
2.You can't always control the results, but you can control the activity.
As I mentioned in the previous post, weather is something entirely out of your control. There was no way to predict the extent of the drought that took place this past summer. But, it was one that will go down in the history books. Our farming didn't come to a halt. There were (and still are) tons of animals in the pastures. For example, we had meat chickens that were dying due to scorching heat temperatures. So we had to figure out how to put misters in their shade structures to keep them cool in the shade. We couldn't have afforded for everything to just stop or throw our hands up in defeat.
Whether it be weather challenges, predators, sickness, or a logistical challenge, we've had to continue to press forward and make adjustments accordingly. One of the biggest things we've learned since becoming farmers is to adapt and overcome.
3. It might be a smelly job, but someone has to do it.
I will not ask someone else to do a job that I'm not willing to do myself. I think this is a good life lesson in general to learn. The stinkiest, dirtiest, and nastiest jobs on this farm (and if I'm honest, there are lots of those around a farm) are all something that I've done and still do. There are no options for me not to do them because at the end of the day, they have to get done.
4.Make friends with old timing farmers.
There is much wisdom to be gained in learning from these farmers. I've greatly benefited from befriending neighbors of mine who have been ranching and farming for generations. And their willingness to offer information and knowledge is a treasure.
Farming is becoming a lost art. If you don't believe me, listen to this shocking statistic. According to a census taken in 2007, the average age of a farmer has increased roughly one year in each census cycle, from 50.3 in 1978 to 57.1 in 2007. The majority of farmers are between 45 and 64, but the fastest growing group of farm operators is those 65 years and older. This statistic is worrisome. We know this to be true when our family attends farming conferences and seminars. We are by far some of the youngest people in attendance.
One of the main reasons why we have chosen to be a transparent and open farm is to bring awareness and advocacy to the american family farm. We want to play a small part in empowering the next generation of farmers. The good news is that these small farms are possible and we want people to be encouraged by this. More and more people are turning towards locally grown and raised agriculture. Farmer's Markets and CSA's are on the rise. Our customer base is growing which indicates to us that this is all worth while. In turn, this makes us feel good about the food we are putting on people's tables.
5.Chupacabra's DO exist.
Not really.....sort of. Along with the drought this summer, came a series of 2 weeks worth of predator attacks and a loss of 140 birds. For a small farm, that number is a pretty big blow. After several nights of lost sleep from all night stakeouts, Oscar (our right hand farm hand) killed a weird looking creature of some sort. What we determined this beast was based on the photos we took and a quick google search, was what some out there were calling a Chupacabra.
It was fun for a brief moment to think that we trapped and killed a legend. We know that Chupacabras are basically folklore fiction of a cryptid creature in the americas rumored to prey on livestock. But, we still sent the photos off to Texas Parks and Wildlife who gave us the honor of replying a one-liner email that stated “It's a mange coyote.” The end. We believe that to be true as well, but we still wanted to make sure.
On that note, I'll close with this lovely gem of a photo that hopefully won't give you nightmares. It may however at the very least induce goosebumps. This thing was nasty! 
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