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By: Jim Fitzpatrick |
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Email: jim@nunica.com |
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Local Farmer in Polkton Township writes for the Coopersville Observer. |
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Along Brandy Creek By Jim Fitzpatrick
The Coopersville Observer September 29, 2003 - - No. 14 |
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He steered his green tractor and no-til grain drill into the field right on schedule. "No", said Herb, "if you'll take a look at your watch you will see that I am three minutes late this morning". Bags of alfalfa seed were stacked in the grass under the old maple along the road. These marked the field where he would soon be doing his custom fall seeding work this morning.
Herb and is brother Ken farm more acres than you can count, scattered around this township and others in the area. The land is in their blood, as it was in their dad's and their grandfather's as well. Custom farm work has always been a part of each generations farming practice. These two guys are what you can rightly call "real farmers". They are out there on the land everyday. The lay of the earth, the smell of freshly disturbed soil, wet spots and dry areas, sounds of equipment as it does its job under their guidance; all of it is a familiar part of each day for them as farmers. There is a sense of old time tradition here. A person can feel it by talking with and looking at these fellows. You can't miss it.
It didn't take long to cover that ten acre field. The seed was put in the ground just right. An overcast sky to the Northwest looked like rain was coming in the right direction. "You sure couldn't ask for anything more", Herb commented, as he looked up at the blackening sky and kicked at the dry earth under his boot.
The man and his machinery appeared to float back and forth across the field for a time. Soon he was gone as quickly as he had come. A few drops of rain began to darken the bark on the windward side of the old maple. Next years alfalfa field was almost sure to be a good one. |
