A Labor of Love
I remember being young and believing that God had something great for me to do. I thought I might grow up to be a missionary or something similar.
I grew up and found myself in situations and relationships where God’s will was not in my mind at all. I started going my own way. Culinary school didn’t pan out. I went to work for my dad on the farm but about 2 years in I wanted to be anywhere but Michigan. Just as I was contemplating which branch of the military to sign up for, my dad received his cancer diagnosis. So at the farm I stayed. I grew frustrated. I did my work, but with half effort. I was going through the motions, clocking my hours, checking my boxes.
In His mercy, God drew me back to Himself.
He rekindled a love for the farm in me. Walking through the pastures gave me opportunity to walk and pray. Early mornings milking let me see the beauty of His creation as I looked at the night sky. The mundane tasks that I skipped over or didn’t do well before became a chance to practice excellence and worship by doing my job well. Farming became a labor of love and an act of service.
This sentiment was magnified by switching from conventional dairy farming to doing herd shares. I had a new opportunity for service to others. As we started and just my dad and I were the only ones doing the milking for our owners, I prayed as we milked the cows for the people who would receive the milk. We take care and thought into everything we do as we know and care for each of the people who get our milk. Our work has become a way for us to truly glorify God and serve others.
My story doesn’t match all famers. Not all are Christian (but a lot are!), nor do all have a direct to consumer farm. Yet, all the best ones truly work out of love for the land, animals, family, and others
Farmers can get a bad rap. Videos go viral of animal abuse, overuse of pesticides, dirty conditions, and more. They can be painted as greedy or mean people who don’t care about others.
But in my years of farming and my whole life knowing farmers, I will tell you that they can be some of the best (and some of the most Godly!) people. Their labor is a labor of love.
Farmers work for the love of land, animals, family, and others.
While equipment has made field work easier, famers still toil long hours during specific times of the year doing crops. These days, many, especially in the crunchy community, crop farmers get a bad rap. But they are doing the best they can with the knowledge they have. They work hard and many are constantly working to learn more and grow in their field (pun intended). They truly care about the soil and about the earth. I am encouraged as many more are paying attention to soil health and stewarding the land to the best of their abilities.
Livestock farmers love and care for their animals. While in every area there can be bad actors, it truly never benefits a farmer to abuse their animals. The toughest guy will weep over the loss of a cow. Farmers work all hours of the day and night to tend to their animals. They often are fed and cared for before the farmer himself even has breakfast. Farmers with livestock are truly some of the hardest working people you will ever meet.
The family is often the center of the farm. Many farmers could get higher paying jobs, but the lifestyle they provide for their families is priceless. While they work crazy hours, they’re able to be with their families more if they’re all on the farm together. The first 3 years are core to having a mother present, and a present father has proven to be key in success in a child’s life. There are many character lessons that can be learned on a farm that will shape a child for the better. It is hard. It’s not all sunshine and roses. But it is worth it. It’s a chance to love God and love our family through hard, honest, multigenerational work.
Farmers feed the world. I know it’s a cliche, but it’s true! The internet likes to make you think that farmers are just working for their own profit and don’t care for others at all. But many enjoy working for the good of others. Especially if you find a direct to consumer farm, farmers are literally growing the food that goes on to your table. For us, it has been a pleasure to know the people who are drinking our cow’s milk, eating our beef and pork, and burning our corn for heat. We love knowing how it has benefitted people’s lives. It’s a honor to serve everyone of our herd share owners and people who patron our farm. We may not serve the world, but we serve our small corner of the world and it’s and absolute joy.
Farmers not only are some of the hardest working people you’ll ever meet, but they’re some of the kindest and most loving. Passion drives their work: passion for land, animals, family, and others. And for a lot of us, a desire to glorify God while serving others and stewarding animals and land. Our Christianity truly drives our pursuit for excellence in our work.
Whether you’re eating a steak from a local famer, drinking a glass of raw milk, or crunching of some lettuce from the store, know that very likely, your food was truly made with love.
