The Simple Life
What would you classify as the Simple Life? Would you say living on the farm, milking the cows, harvesting the crops and providing for your family is the simple life? Or would you say starting up your computer, checking your I-Phone for all the latest apps, or listening to your GPS give you the wrong directions to your destination is the simple life?
I remember my grandmother talking about living through the great depression and how she was only able to go to school until the 8th grade because she had to help provide for her family.
She would love to talk about the “old days” when asked, however, she was a woman of few words. She seemed so content with her way of life, “the simple life”. Growing up in rural IL, farming was her life. Even when she lost her farm when her husband passed away, she continued to work hard so she could buy back those 60 acres of land. One thing that was always there was farming and family.
As we face difficult times now within our agency and around the world, I often wonder how grandma would react. She was able to weather through several storms that came her way and I am sure she would say that this storm too shall pass. With so many things uncertain these days, we can still say that the same two things are still there-farming and family.
I have been blessed to be able to work in FSA and extend my family to the farming community here in Ohio. As the local producers come into our office, I know they have the same expectations as my grandmother did-to take care of their farm and their family. With the storms passing through our offices, the producers still look to us for stability within their extended family.
I also think we need to stick together as our FSA family is going through so many changes. We are faced with new challenges as some of our old friends are approaching retirement and our new friends will find new homes within our agency. You have to remember that NASCOE is one thing that can bind us all together for the advancement of FSA. Helping to maintain membership and recruiting new membership is vital in keeping our FSA family together. Just remember as we are all approaching the “simple life” what is most important to us-our family (including our FSA family) and our agriculture.
“Happy Holidays”
Vicki Olson
MWA Membership Chairperson