Dear Inconsiderate Jackwagon,

You know exactly who you are. You spot any type of farm machinery from a mile away, and suddenly, you're grumbling. You're thinking about how you'll be even later to wherever you're going because your life is clearly more important. You're probably cussing and even throwing up the middle finger because your patience is that terrible. You're trying to figure out how you can pass them as soon as possible. You're beyond angry that the driver is taking up so much of the road. You glare at the driver as you speed by terrifyingly too close. And I can almost guarantee that you're going to post some self-centered and ignorant status or tweet on social media. Something along the lines of how miserable it was being stuck behind that "smelly" piece of farm equipment that you don't even know the actual name of for a whole entire minute.

I know that this might come as a shock to you because you're stuck in your own little world, but you're not the only person on this planet. This means you're not the only person who will be traveling on the roads. Farm machinery has a LEGAL RIGHT to be on the road, rural area or not, just like you do. "But I'll be so late I don't have time for this!" Did you know that being stuck behind slow-moving farm equipment for two miles is equivalent to stopping at two red lights? So cut the drama because nobody is listening. I'll make this crazy suggestion to you, leave five minutes earlier than you usually do during planting and harvest season so you don't have to put your life on pause for someone else.

I'm not sure if you haven't noticed or not but farm equipment is usually pretty gigantic in size. This means there are a lot more blind spots for the driver so why do you think it's a good idea to pass them when they were starting to swing it wide at the intersection? That is usually a PRETTY BIG SIGN that they're making a turn, they're not driving a smart car so it's not going to turn on a dime. Whenever the driver of the farm machinery has a SAFE place to pull over, they will! They're not going to pull over on the edge of a cliff so you can be on your way with your oh so important life, that piece of farm equipment costs way more than you can even imagine. I can't say this enough, be patient and slow down. Accidents can and will happen if you act like an idiot. According to Farm and Dairy, there were 101 accidents and 7 fatalities involving farm equipment in the year 2014 just in Pennsylvania. And according to Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, there were over 1,000 accidents involving farm equipment in nine midwest states (IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI) in 2005-2008.

Now this is a point that I shouldn't even have to make but if you're going to complain about being stuck behind farm equipment, clearly you need a life lesson or two. Without that tractor and the guy driving it you wouldn't have food; FARMERS PUT FOOD ON YOUR TABLE. Modern agriculture provides enough food for 6.3 billion people worldwide. That means that each farmer is providing enough food for about 155 people. And for some odd (and unfortunate) reason, farmers don't discriminate against the people who try running them off the road so you're included in that number. I'm sure that when you're shoveling food down your throat you're not even considering the fact that a farmer worked hard for that food to be there BUT they did. Farmers are up before the sun and they stay up way past when it goes back down. It wouldn't hurt to say a little thanks for that too.

The next time that you find yourself SHARING the road with a piece of farm equipment, take the time to appreciate that farmer for the beyond immeasurable hard work that they put in and all the food that they are providing you. Wherever they're headed is important, and it's not worth risking your life, their life or anyone else's life around you. Make sure to slow down and respect that driver because that's somebody's loved one chugging along, just trying to get their job done and put food on EVERYONE'S table.

Sincerely,

A girl who has loved ones driving their farm equipment out on the roads.