Farming right now sucks. It’s hard and families are scrambling to diversify and keep their operations afloat amongst the low commodity prices and high outputs. Every convention, farm show, meeting, or casual conversation it’s always the same thing being said: How is everyone surviving these prices?

All of the older generation that made it through the 80’s say you have to diversify, and most people are doing just that. But you can only diversify yourself in so many ways when you’re the one putting in the sweat and there are only so many hours in a day. Everyone I hear has the same question in their voice of is it even worth it. Are all of these families working this hard and spending this time away from home just to pass this mess down to their children? They feel the pressure of being their families 5th or 6th or whatever generation they may be, and there is no way they’re going to be the generation that let’s it fail. But they also wonder if it’s worth it? Are these hours and stress and bills worth it? Is that what we want to give to our children?

Yes. It is. Because we know that every generation had to go through the hard times and dig their way out of it. We know that nothing compares to the feeling of harvesting that crop that you poured your heart into. The hard times drift to the back of your mind when you watch your kids play in that wheat field and roam on acres and acres of ground that’s been in the family for generations. We know that these lessons we are teaching are kids are extremely important, and that one of the best places to learn work ethic, integrity, responsibility, and compassion is on the farm. We know that the bad times don’t last forever; or at least we pray they don’t.

This morning I sat down with my cup of coffee and I watched the sun try and peek over the horizon. I felt that hole in my heart trying to grow and knew the one thing that could fill it. I flopped my bible in my lap and flipped it open. The page it landed on was Isaiah 40: 28

“Do you not know? Have your not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”