Freedom, Farming, and Firefighting
Author
Published
7/24/2024
During the month of July, farming is in full swing. We’ve been irrigating for a few months and getting used to this new yearly routine. Getting through the first crops, starting the second, and dealing with the breakdowns of both equipment and bodies. I think farmers and ranchers across the state can relate to sunup to sundown hours.
While the rest of the population is going on vacations and relaxing in the shade, and splashing in pools and lakes, farmers are busier than ever and working more than any other time of the year. We feel the blessings of working with the land. We feel the blessing of having our families at our side and making memories to recall for the rest of our lives. We are grateful for the legacy we have been given and the legacy we are passing down to our children and grandchildren. Work hard, play hard, and serve your community.
On July 4th and 24th, our communities gather to celebrate our freedom. In rural Box Elder County, we are farming and like many others do around the state, we serve in volunteer roles -- for us, as firefighters. The days begin early with irrigating, then heading to the city park to cook breakfast with the fire department. After a flag ceremony and a crowd of people with full bellies, it’s time to get all the fire trucks and our families in line for the parades. Is it a parade without a tractor?
Capping off the celebrations are fireworks at dark. We are on standby to put out sparks before they become fires in this hot and dry desert. We’re on call all night, while continuing to irrigate the fields.
We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the purpose and passion we feel watching our efforts grow, feeding others, and overcoming the challenges that bring us closer together. We are agriculture.
This summer, we continue to acknowledge and celebrate our freedoms, the joys and hardships of farming, the firefighters who protect and serve us, and those who do both. Happy Pioneer Day!
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