Come Sleet or Snow or Monstrous Blizzards...The Farmer Never Quits!

In Missouri, like much of the mid-west, we are in the midst of a blizzard. We are down to less than a quarter mile visibility, the wind is blowing like crazy, and my husband is out in this weather caring for our pigs.

I hated to see him get out in the weather but he has to make sure the pigs are warm enough, the barn is running properly, and the feeders aren't clogged. The barns are climate controlled and fully automated but we still have to be in those barns every day caring for the pigs. My husband met his brother over there this morning to hang brooders so the pigs would have extra heat. Anyone who claims we don't care for our animals is full of it! You don't brave white-out conditions because you don't care about the pigs, you get out there because you do care!

Nothing burns me up more than a person claiming that farmers are soulless businessmen that only care about making money. If this were just a paycheck, if this were just a job would we be out in this severe weather? Would we be risking life and limb in order to get to the hog barns because this is just a job? I don't think so! For all those people who stayed at home today but still have the audacity to claim that hog farmers don't care think again! The farm doesn't close because of inclement weather, the farm doesn't close because you have the flu and don't want to get out of bed, the farm doesn't close--period.

Hog farming is a business, there is no disputing that, but it is much much more than a paycheck. I don't know a single person who would dedicate this kind of time and effort for just a paycheck. This is our life and I am damn proud of it.