How long does it take you to drive 26 miles in Iowa? Not very long compared to driving 26 miles in a big city, right? Have you ever paid attention to what was in that 26-mile drive? My job in education takes me on the roads quite often and one of the schools I frequent is a 26-mile drive from dropping the girls off with Grandma to the door of the school. It was on one of those drives late last summer that I started to really contemplate my why, why I share my stories, why I post and share on social media, and why I write in general. My why? There are stories to be told and I want to make sure they are told with facts once they appear in the social media feeds or inboxes of people all across this country.
The Drive
I know people reading this may not live somewhere where this is their typical 26-mile drive. That is okay, you are the reason I compiled this piece. You see, where I live, you cannot drive 26 miles without seeing, breathing, hearing, and smelling agriculture. It surrounds us. The men and women working to feed America surround us. You may not see it in your everyday world, but I do. As you take a look through these photographs please know that behind each photograph are men and women that work in the business employed that supports agriculture in some way.
The Stories
Part of the reason that I want to help others tell their stories if they don’t have a platform to do so is that I don’t want those stories to perish with them when they leave this earth and move on to greener pastures. We need them to stay here for the next generations to read, see, and understand just what went into the operations and businesses that feed our world and provide employment for so many.
The Photographs
To get my point across I decided I was going to share 26 photographs with all of you that were of the things I see on my 26-mile drive. There are way more than 26 photographs that I could have shared with you and that doesn't even count the countless number of semis and trucks I meet each daily that are absolutely related to agriculture. Some days were sunny on my way to work and some days they were rainy on my way home, but I think it just confirms the fact that that is what people working in agriculture deal with every day. I present you with 26 miles of Agriculture in 26 photographs.
Farm, Agriculture, Ranch Friday
While today’s version of Farm, Agriculture, and Ranch Friday wasn’t about a specific person it was about specific people. The 26 miles of people that do the work, day in and day out.
I look forward to sharing more stories with you on Friday's to come. Know someone that you feel should be interviewed for Farm, Ag, Ranch Friday? Fill out this form to make your recommendation.
From the gravel road,
Jen
Great, great article Jen!