I've Gone and Married the Farmer's Daughter!

I’ll admit it. Growing up I was naive to how my food actually got to my table and what farmers went through on a daily basis. I understood neither the struggles nor the joys they experienced in everyday life.

My dad grew up on a pig and beef farm, and eventually a dairy farm, but I never had the opportunity to experience it since a fire destroyed the farm three years before I was born, and was sold. As a result, I was born a city kid. I've always heard the tales of life on the farm; all the trouble my dad and his brothers got into and my dad’s notable line, "Everyone should have to grow up on a farm."

I met Amy Manske in college and we eventually began dating. She was a farm kid and while I heard stories about farm life, it wasn't until I actually visited that I understood why her weekends at home were far from relaxing. There's always something to be done on the farm. The very first time I visited Amy’s family farm with her, her dad asked us to pick rocks. Yes, you didn't read that wrong. We had to go out to one of the fields and pick up any rocks we could find; and some of them were quite large!

October 18, 2014 I officially joined a farming family (And became a forever rock-picker) by marrying Amy. Talk about full circle.

Farmer-in-training

I've been fully immersed by the "farmer schedule," and as someone not used to long, physically laborious days, it’s exhausting. When at Manske Farms, I help milk and feed the cows, feed calves and clean the parlor. Feeding calves has grown to be my favorite task. I find them so relaxing. (I've heard of puppy therapy, but is calf therapy a thing?) I've gotten to name a few of the calves, and Amy’s mom gives me regular updates on how they are doing and how many calves we’re up to now. I even get the occasional calf photo with captions like, "Lucy pouts when she doesn't get fed first." To which I respond, "I taught her well."

Calves are my favorite because cows can be rather stubborn and cleaning the farm seems to be endless. For example, on one of my visits to the farm, I scrubbed and I scrubbed on the parlor walls to get them all nice and shiny. They sure did look good, if I do say so myself; that was until I caught one of the cows aiming her butt at it…let's just say it was quickly dirty again.

I've learned that farming is a constant cycle, with curve balls here, there and everywhere. While there are the scheduled things that need to be done, there are also the unscheduled things like when the silo breaks and this new guy gets recruited to haul what felt like hundreds of wheelbarrows until 1:30 a.m. because the animals can’t go hungry.

Those are the days I can't believe farmers keep farming.

A small piece of the puzzle

I now know where my dad became so knowledgeable—his years on the farm. And my father-in-law is one of the smartest men I know. Seeing—and sometimes helping with – the labor that goes into each day gives me so much more of an appreciation for farmers. The farmer is a caregiver, a veterinarian, a midwife, a mechanic, a business man and a family man.

The ag industry is lucky to have men and women knowledgeable on so many topic. The education, diversity and passion I have seen as an onlooker in the Wisconsin ag community is impressive. In my day job, I work for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, promoting everything that is awesome in our state, which includes ag-tourism. I have met some remarkable people involved in the ag industry, and along with that and learning about the diversity and opportunities we have, Wisconsin agriculture never ceases to amaze me. Tourism and agriculture are two of our leading industries in Wisconsin and it's an honor to be involved with both.

Respect

I never thought I would grow to like farm smell in my car or the dirt under my nails. I enjoy spending time at the farm and I think that shocks the heck out of Amy. She may not say it, but I know she is impressed when I ride by on the tractor or put a milker on a cow. She does however roll her eyes when she finds me out back by the calves… as someone who grew up feeding them she doesn't get my fascination. I also know for a fact her family (and especially my family) are surprised at my willingness to help out where I can too.

Farming gives you a perspective of life you often glance over. As the average consumer, you don’t understand what all goes into producing that milk or that cheese.

With that being said, I could not farm every day. For those who do, I respect you.

It’s true what they say: agriculture is more than a part of life; it’s a lifestyle, a passion. I like to think I’ve become a component of this community as a part-time farmer—what I call myself. And I’m officially a Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation member too!

I’m so fortunate in more ways than one, to have married the farmer’s daughter.