Our youngest is 14. He eats, sleeps, and breathes farming. As example, he scours farm sales and presents us plans for things he thinks we should invest in.

His latest plan resulted in us buying him a used wagon with a drill fill so he can plant oats on his own. It’s not home yet — and IT’S ONLY MARCH, so those of us focused on calving season and the cows we like better don’t give two hoots about farming. 

But, after a rough day at school yesterday, our youngest needed a task that reminded him of his abilities.

To that end, he left the house with the service pickup, tinkered on maintenance for an hour, and emerged from the storage shed with the planter. He proceeded to clean and prep the machine more before turning his attention to detailing the payloader.

It was well after 9 pm before he returned to the house … filthy, exhausted, and most importantly, fulfilled. He was no longer burdened by what he didn’t know yet. He was emboldened by the reminder of what he knows already.

That’s the secret to life, in my book, and I hope each of our kids learns it well.

Too many of us don’t have what he found … an interest, activity, or calling that fulfills us even when (or if) no one else thinks the same.

Here’s to agriculture and the lessons it can teach us all!