Every May comes a day to celebrate all kinds of mothers. This day is a day to celebrate Mothers and all that they do. Did you know Anna Reeves founded Mother’s Day? It is a day to promote the friendship and health of women. For many, Mother’s Day is about greeting cards, flowers, and candy. The white carnation is the official Mother’s Day flower.
On the farm, Mother’s Day can look different depending on what Mother Nature decides. Some years, it can look like tractors and corn seeds going into the ground, while others can look like a family day.
As a child, I remember Mother’s Day when my whole family spent the day doing what my mother wanted. I have memories of packing a picnic and hiking in one of the many Minnesota State Parks and some years, trying out a new playground. Other years, we would take my great-grandmother out for a fancy brunch and get dressed up. There were years when we would pack a snack to visit my father in the field planting corn because Mother Nature allowed us to get the seed in the ground. My mother would never complain, but I knew she enjoyed Mother’s Days the best when farming took a break, and we could spend time together.
This Mother’s Day is full of baby beef calves being born. We currently have calves born within the last month running around the green pastures on the farm. They are playful and full of energy. It is so enjoyable to watch them play with each other and have their mothers watch from not far away. There are other expecting mother cows waiting to have their baby calves. Calving is the birth of a baby calf on the farm. This process takes lots of planning almost a year before the birth. My husband Ted and I look at genetics and prepare for what cow we will breed to what bull. Then, we wait in anticipation until the baby calves are born. As the baby calves grow, we get to evaluate our breeding decisions. The process of making genetic decisions starts all over. It is a continuous cycle. Watching the beef cows take on the mothering role is so fun. I celebrate them on Mother’s Day as they work hard to protect, feed, and teach their baby calves. They do not get cards or flowers, but I give them extra hay as a sweet treat. I thank them for all that they do in providing beef!
What I love the most about Mother’s Day on the farm is all the new baby calves, the smell of freshly tilled soil, and the excitement of watching plants and animals grow. This growth confirms that farming is critical for everyone. I will not spend Mother’s Day in Minnesota State Park or a family brunch at a fancy restaurant this year. Still, I know that I get to spend time doing what I love to do, and that is being on the farm with my husband and growing food for others!
