Snow-Day on the Farm

Today, we have a snow-day on the farm. It is coming down hard now. Forecasts have predicted up to a foot of snow for our area.

Nearly 100 area schools ranging from preschool to universities are closed down. Close to 100 businesses and non-profits have closed for the day. Church activities are canceled or postponed due to the dangerous weather conditions. Plow trucks have been taken off of county roads because of poor visibility.

Snow days come with many varying kinds of emotions. Students may have enjoyment skipping a day of school unexpectedly. Employees may feel a sense of relief in staying off dangerous roads.

On the farm, there is extra work. It is not fun at all. We have been eagerly waiting for the milk hauler to arrive before the drifts prevent him from getting in or out of the farm when he comes to get our milk. We pray for him and his safety as he travels the roads with many gallons of milk in his tank.

We pray that electricity will not fail as it does in some heavy storms. Electricity keeps the milk the proper temperature until the milk hauler picks it up. Electricity enables us to milk the cows. If it should go out, our lives become more complicated and inconvenient.

Besides that, cows need to go outdoors for a stretch, but the snow can create slippery and dangerous footing for cattle. It was a day such as this when one of the milk cows fell and broke her pelvis. That tragic event hurt our annual income in one fell swoop. So the farmer plows out the barnyard to clear away the deepening inches of fluffy or heavy, wet snow. After all of the plowing, there is the barn to clean before the cattle come back inside. This all takes time and more effort than a normal work-day on the farm.

The weather is controlled by our Heavenly Father. This snow-day reminds us that we depend on Him for everything. It prompts me to pray to God for protection during the storm. It also motivates me to bake my husband a pie. He works so hard and will need a treat for lunch.