Hay Season, Hard Days & Faith - Raking and Baling 🌾🤍

The hay season is officially underway, and today we're diving into the real work - raking, baling, and navigating the complexities of running a hay operation while processing grief.

The Work:

We're starting the day with a tractor and rotary rake to process alfalfa, aiming to get it dried and aired out for baling. The goal is simple: keep moving, keep producing quality hay, keep the operation running.

But farming is never as simple as it sounds. We ran into a technical difficulty - a system update issue with the baler that required some expert assistance from Canada. It wasn't ideal, but we worked through it. Because that's what farming requires - problem-solving, persistence, and the willingness to keep going even when things don't go according to plan.

The Reality of Growth:

As our hay business continues to evolve, I'm reflecting on the complexities of scaling an operation. One change - like expanding capacity or bringing on new help - often necessitates several other adjustments. I'm honestly uncertain about the future scale of our operation. There's a desire for business growth, but the reality is that this work is significant and hands-on. It requires everything from us.

Remembering Keaton:

Throughout the day, there are moments where I reflect on Keaton. He was deeply involved in our hay seasons. He loved this work. And some days, doing this without him is incredibly hard.

But we keep moving forward. Jason and I keep moving forward. Our faith guides us. Our personal testimony sustains us. And we truly believe this work is what Keaton would have wanted us to do - to keep the farm running, to keep building, to keep sharing our story.

Looking Ahead:

As the day progresses, we're noticing positive regrowth of the hay. Our plan is to apply fertilizer before upcoming rain to support the next cutting cycle. It's all part of the rhythm - work, wait for nature, adjust, work again.

This is what hay season looks like for us. It's the equipment, the weather, the timing, and the heart. It's honoring the past while building the future. It's moving forward through hard days because faith tells us we can.