Why a Family Farms and Ranches

Photo by Ell's Angle Photography

The air filled with the smell of animals and the powdered dust kicked up by the sheep's tiny hooves. Adela's ponytail swished back and forth in the air. I smiled and shook my head as a lamb, near the size of her mother, tried to nurse and her eager movements almost lifted the ewe off the ground.

It was a good thing today was weaning day. 

I love working days. We begin with a family breakfast that usually involves extended family and friends coming over to help with the work and enjoy each other's company. As we work, everyone has an oportunity to be involved. The pastures and pens are a flurry of activity as the animals are gathered and sorted. The lambs are given booster vaccinations and taken to different feeding grounds. The mothers are given rest and a chance for their bodies to recover from the work of nursing lambs before they are bred again. 

So many families are busy these days. We live in a "divide and conquer" world. Parents work. Kids go to school.  However, on a farm or ranch, we literally live where we do much of our work. Our kids get to go out with us. We can share a huge part of our lives together. I grew up on a ranch about thirty minutes from where I live now. My weekends were spent checking cows with my dad or tying fence. I still enjoy the close relationship I have with my father. 

I am blessed beyond beleif that as we share our life and our work with our children, we get to build relationships with them that will last a lifetime. 

It is just another reason that while farming and ranching isn't easy, it is beautiful. 
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He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.
Isaiah 30:23, NIV

What part of your life are you blessed to share with your family?