One of the ways that a farmer’s job is different from those jobs that most of us have is that there are distinct tasks to be completed and timeframes in which to complete those tasks.

Spring is for planting or calving.

Summer is for spraying or haying.

Fall is for harvest and selling.

Each season has a cadence that leads to the next. Without doing the first task well, the result of the second is going to be poor, leading to failure at the end. And nobody wants that.

At the same time, farmers are working with conditions they can’t control: biology that they can only help along in the best of times; weather that does as it pleases. 

But one thing I’ve noticed is how often farmers give thanks. They are thankful when they’ve gotten all the acres planted. They rejoice when all the seeds emerge and grow like they are supposed to.

They walk their acres and see little miracles, and perhaps little pests that they need to get rid of, and they are then grateful for chemistry that exists to kill the little buggers.

They admire the sun that sets on their combines or herds and say thanks for another day in paradise.

Thanksgiving for many of us is just one day a year. For farmers, it’s 365 days every year.

May you and yours have a bless-ed (as they say here in East Texas) Thanksgiving Day and every day.