March 23, 2021
Many of my professional colleagues on social media are posting on their personal pages today in appreciation of the local farming community in their network, region, state, nation and abroad.
When I look back on my agriculture journal of appreciations, I think of the integrity and ethics of the following:
- My father, an agriculture young farmer teacher who was beloved by his community of farmers
- My dairy neighbor, who despite his diagnosis of MS at an early age, found the will and the way
- My livestock veterinarians, who allowed me to job shadow to learn how to care for my own
- My extension 4-H livestock agent, who went above and beyond to educate entire families
- My first Ag employer, who started from scratch a new venue in Gouda cheese
- My second Ag employer, who tirelessly harvested hay for the mushroom industry
- My college experience at Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture where I learned, interned and aspired to emulate the faculty, staff, and employers in sheep, dairy and equine
- My ‘4-H fathers’ and ‘mothers’ who treated me as their own and instilled in me values I share
- My producers who valued and trusted my services would be of benefit
- My livestock mentors who willingly and unselfishly helped my enterprise succeed
- My University Weed Science professors and mentors who excelled at leadership and instructional abilities
- My state policy makers and adminisrators who have devoted their careeers to preventing and protecting
- My friends, both here and afar who support each other in times of success, failure and in times of disasters
- My reader and followers who appreciate and support farm to fork connections and advocacy
- My diary farmer, whose passion and compassion for cattle and agriculture promotion matches my own
Thank you all, each and everyone of you, past, present and future. You are appreciated, more than you know.
May 2021 be a blessed agriculture harvest year for all. – Melissa