Not just a living...
By Jason Topp
There is an old saying in farming and ranching that it's “not just a living, it’s a way of life.” As I reflect on that old saying on a rainy afternoon, I find myself thinking about this double-edged sword.
Farming and ranching have always been something of a battle with Mother Nature; whether it be calving cows in February blizzards, planting nearly around the clock to get the crop in before a rain, or running the combine until 2:30 in the morning to finish the last field of soybeans before the rain sets in. I have always said that harvest in the north has the added element of winter weather potential that our southern counterparts hardly ever worry about. Around here, you never know when it might snow, and some years that could stick around until March, so harvest can get especially hectic. This can push many of us to the edge of what we can bear, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally.
I listened to a podcast about a year ago that discussed how agriculture is filled with “over-functioners.” This is a recent term that refers to individuals who take on more responsibilities or tasks that can take a toll on their long-term physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Many of us who grew up in farming and ranching were taught from an early age that our well-being was secondary to the needs of the farm or ranch. We were taught to “soldier on” and keep grinding until the job was done, and then we could take time to heal up.
Over-functioning can be useful for a short season, but it is also very important to know yourself well enough to recognize when you have pushed yourself to the edge and are running on fumes.
You can’t put the needs of your farm or ranch before yours forever, because when the burnout happens, you’ll leave those around you trying to pick up all the pieces and keep things together.
Find a hobby, don’t hesitate to call a friend or colleague if you’re feeling down, or find something that can always put a smile on your face. It can be something as simple as watching your two- and four-year-old daughters sharing the tiny shopping cart around the grocery store on a drizzly afternoon and reminding yourself that they are the reason that you push as hard as you do.
That filled my tank and helped remind me that what I do is not about a paycheck, but about truly showing my children that this is a wonderful way of life.
Jason is the District 5 NDFB Promotion and Education Committee representative and farms and runs a ranch near Grace City with his family.