Since my time at Marquette University and in Milwaukee I have noticed that I am not the typical student. Well, the truth is, I had already known there would be a difference before coming to the city. I grew up on a small farm in northwest Illinois, like the middle of nowhere. Growing up, I never noticed a big difference, but when I started sharing things about my hometown, the uniqueness came to light. Here are 15 unique signs that separates a child growing up in the city to growing up on a farm.
1. You don't know what it means to sleep in.
You are up before the rooster crows each morning. I mean sleep is for weak, as some nights are devoted to laying next to your pregnant heifer that could start calving any moment.
2. You pray for rain... sometimes it just comes at the wrong time.
Rain is a good thing! You under the importance of nourishing the crops, but sometimes it gives the farmer a break. You are able to go register the crops, buy parts for a tractor, clean the calf pens, and so much more. My personal favorite for when it rains is my father has a greater chance of being able to attend events and or come in to the house early for supper.
3. You don't have a gym membership, your gym is the outside.
Nothing gives you a workout than stacking heavy square bales on a moving wagon. Let's not fail to mention that you also have to unload the wagon into the hay or straw mow, where the temperature is tipping above 105 degrees, and you are dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and your hands are in gloves.
4. You know that work comes before school, play, meals, and sleep.
The calves can't be fed by themselves, as no dog can feed all the calves, milk the cows, collect the eggs, fix the tractor, and clean the pens all before breakfast.
5. You aren't scared of birth, but recognizes it as a true miracle each and every time.
You see every newborn animal as a true blessing as these animals are your livelihood. They're your babies.
6. You participated in 4-H, but also cloverbuds. Paired with Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts, 4-H was the best.
4-H goes beyond livestock and crops. Members learn to think big and to be helpful to their community. 4-H is more than just animals and plants, it is a tool that teaches life skills.
7. You wear that blue jacket with a black skirt or black pants regardless how unfashionable it is.
Participating in FFA was following your parents' legacy in the program. You had many SAE Records Books, competed for proficiency awards, participated in CDEs, earned you State Degree, went to convention, camps, and so much more. FFA was just as important as basketball, baseball, and theater.
8. You don't care about fashion when work needs to be done.
You have lost count on how many times you have had to go check on cows before going to bed, or being woken up by the cattle getting out, so you go out like that. Plus, on school days you have to hurry back to catch the bus, so you just decide to wear whatever you slept in and slip on your rubber boots.
9. Your cowboy boots are covered in dirt.
You shake you head in disapproval when you see those girls in their cowboy boots and short Daisy Dukes as they pretend to be country. Last time I wore my cowboy boots I was in jeans doing chores.
10. The words you fear the most are, "The cows are out!"
These words can wake you up from a good dream, make you late to school, and just disrupt the whole day. It is not fun having to find them all and put them all back. However, because it takes many bodies to corral cattle, it kinda serves as family bonding time. Almost like you are at team building event and you are working through those many obstacles and some members start to say things that should never be said.
11. The price of corn, beans, oats, milk, cattle, and hogs are a common topic at the supper table and at all family gatherings.
In addition to talking about corn, chances are one of your family members works for the Co-op or you have a good family friend that buys and sells commodities for you.
12. You drank more water from a hose and spigot then you ever did from a plastic bottle.
The water from the hose is probably the best water you have ever tasted, especially on a warm summer day. Your city friends may look at you weird and think it is unsanitary, but the truth is I have never gotten sick from drinking it and it is better than the bottled water any day.
13. Lunch is dinner and dinner was supper.
This is always a constant argument that makes scheduling meal plans difficult. It is a culture difference, but also a personal definition. Typically, dinner is eaten between 2-5 pm and supper is a meal that is eaten after 7 pm.
14. A lot of your wardrobe comes from your seed or feed dealers and other agriculture companies.
Whenever you buy a new tractor you get a dealer's hat or t-shirt, or whenever you go to a drug trade show at the local vet clinic you get a couple free t-shirts. This is the same for feed and seed companies. The older apparel is rotated to barn clothes and the new is kept for good or just to change into to run errands so you don't get the truck or car dirty.
15. You appreciate the small things a little bit more than others.
Life on the farm is one of simplicity. You learn to cherish the many blessing you have, despite the many toils that happen. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the animals are cared for, there is food for your table, food for your neighbor's table, and your family is healthy.
