There’s something uniquely satisfying having a job well done, especially when it’s the result of teamwork and a shared goal – even after an unexpected hiccup. Today was one of those days, though it didn’t start without its challenges. With the sun shining on our five-acre hay field, it was finally time to get the hay baled and in the barn. However, the baler decided to throw us a curveball right at the beginning, breaking down (it wasn’t tying the twine) and costing us nearly an hour of repair time.
Despite the initial setback, I’m incredibly fortunate to have some of the best friends and family a person could ask for. Jon, Sam, Gary, and Randy arrived with their usual good spirits, unfazed by the delay and ready to tackle the task ahead. Once the baler was finally back in action, thanks to some quick thinking and tinkering, we got to work.
We spent the next several hours, with the (newly repaired) baler humming and the smell of fresh hay filling the air.
After every load, the real work of stacking began. We pulled the wagon around to the barn and started the assembly line. Bales were tossed from the wagon, passed hand-to-hand, and carefully stacked, row after row, all the way to the top. The image of the barn, now with over 300 neatly stacked bales, is a testament to the friendship, family, perseverance, and even a good piece of farm equipment – even if it needs a little TLC to get started!
A huge thank you to Jon, Sam, Gary, and Randy for their help, hard work, and patience with the initial breakdown. It’s a great reminder that while a job can be tough and things don’t always go according to plan, it’s always easier—and more meaningful—when you have good people (and eventually, the right tools!) by your side. Now, after a slightly delayed start, who’s ready for some well-earned rest?