I’m sure by now that you’ve noticed that for the last few days, I’ve been absent from content on the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network. Last Wednesday, I turned 42 years old. Since I joined the workforce at age 16, I have always taken my birthday off. I am sure it’s hard for you to believe that the life of a farm broadcaster could be stressful. My wife is one of a few people that think it’s absolutely silly that at 42 years old I still want a day to myself for my birthday. If my birthday fell on a weekend, I would take an extra Friday or Monday off to extend my weekend. Every year when I announce my birthday vacation, my wife always asks, ?are you 12??
I know that my wife means well when she asks a question like that. She’s trying to tell me to grow up and realize that birthdays aren’t that special when you get to be this age. I counter with two arguments. The first is it’s my birthday, I only get so many of them, why not enjoy them? The second argument I always come back with is that it’s a much-needed mental health break. I use my birthday as a milestone to take that break every year. It’s something I can look forward to, even now, with it being 51 weeks away. It’s just a gift I always give myself.
While I’ve been on this five-day hiatus, I did take the opportunity to notice that harvest is progressing so rapidly here in central Iowa. I’m sure many farmers are going as fast as they possibly can to get the harvest in while the weather is cooperating. Many farmers have a slower window because they planted later. Some had a rapid window because they planted earlier. Either way, I am pretty sure that many of these farmers are still going at that rapid pace. You just never know when the weather is going to turn against you.
It’s in this vein, not my birthday, that I’m writing this piece. If I learned anything over the last five days, it’s that mental rest is essential just like physical rest. It’s not new to hear of the calls for mental breaks as well as physical breaks during the harvest season. It’s something we’ve become used to in the last decade or so. However, there’s a lot of truth to that message. It’s something that is needed. We go at such a rapid pace this time of year and under a lot of stress. We’re worried about making sure we get through the harvest safely and with minimal breakdowns. But our minds are not only on what’s going on in the combines. We’re worried about next year as well. This just adds to the worry we’ve already got trying to bring in this year’s harvest.
?Am I gonna have enough money to fund next year’s operation??
?How much is it gonna cost to plant my crops next year??
?Is there gonna be enough supply available for me to plant a crop next year??
?What happens this year if I break down, and we can’t find any parts??
These are just several of the questions I have heard farmers and producers ask in the last several weeks. There’s a lot of concentration on bringing in this year’s harvest and planting next year?s in the spring. But if you look at that list of questions one more time, you’ll see something glaringly absent. Nowhere is anybody talking about their safety or their health. These are things that we take for granted more than anything else throughout the course of the year. We just assume that our body and mind are going to be up to the task every single morning.
Obviously, nobody plans to be sick. Nobody plans on an injury. But what are you doing to keep yourself healthy and aware during this time? As a farm kid, I completely realize that you have a short window to get things done and you need to work as fast as possible. However, you’re also putting your body and mind through much stress that it needs to let go of every now and then. What are you doing to take care of yourself, your family, and your employees? Are you taking the opportunity of having a few days of massive harvest progress to take an afternoon or an evening off to do something to relax?
It’s something to think about as we progress through this harvest season. If the bin is full of corn that needs to be dried, take the afternoon off. Go for a drive and see how other people are progressing in their harvest. Take the time to clean and re-grease some of your equipment. Take a few hours and watch a ball game. Play a round of golf, go fishing, hunt, or take up a hobby. Do something that can let your body and mind relax from the stress that you have day-in and day-out. We have enough to worry about and only a short time of life available in which to worry about it. There is so much importance to taking mental and physical rest to clear your mind and come back better than you were before you took the break.
I can assure you that after five days, I would like to have had a few more days off. However, I am also ready to go and recharged to do my job. Now, I’m not saying to take five days off. I know the harvest season is a very narrow window in which to get everything done. However, when the pace requires you to slow down for just a little bit, take the opportunity. Doctors, health experts, and farm experts have been telling you this for the better part of a few decades. There’s nothing wrong with taking a break. You’re not being lazy. You’re not wasting time.
Your body is the most important piece of equipment you own in any farming operation. You don’t run your combine 24 hours a day. If the tractor starts to overheat you give it some time off. Stop treating your equipment better than you treat yourself. Take the time to do a little mid-season maintenance. The corn will be there tomorrow. The soybeans will come out just fine. We always seem to make it through. Taking a few moments for yourself is not the end of the world and it certainly isn’t going to kill you. In fact, it may do wonders to help keep you around for a few extra years.
To that end, I hope that you have a safe and prosperous harvest season. If you’ve crossed the finish line already, congratulations! If you’re just getting your fields opened up, good luck. Whenever you cross that finish line, make sure you take the time to thank those who made everything possible. Your family, repair people, elevator employees, those who deliver the things you need during the season, and most importantly yourself.
Let me quote the great philosopher Red Green, ?I’m pulling for you we’re all in this together.?
