2023, what will it be like?

 Changes, challenges and choices!

The year has already started out with changes.  Changes in agriculture, finance, culture & faith.  All of these areas effect our personal lives.  We live in a changing world.  Some are good..... many are bad!  Life is full of changes; I like the good ones...like a new grand baby to our married son and daughter in law, the weather changing from several days of gloomy weather to sunny and warm, a newborn calf, the abundant harvest.  We need to embrace change, realize it is a reality and be flexible to "keep from getting bent out of shape"! 😊

Challenges, they come our way.  A 5k marathon, growing a new garden, trying to master a skill can all be challenges.  They can be used to strengthen us, grow us, or do we can allow them to defeat us.  I want to choose to learn and grow by them.  I personally don't like when things are to challenging but am learning, it is in the challenge that growth comes, and I want more personal growth.

Choices!  This is what it boils down to.  How am I going to choose to respond to the issues of life.  Do I choose to walk in the truth, to embrace the goodness of God and the blessings HE imparts to me in life.  Do I choose wisdom and virtue?  Do I choose to overcome evil with good?  Do I choose to change the course I am on to adapt to the challenges of life?  

I look forward to 2023!  I hope you do to?

It is a good day at the farm!

 

The three amigos'!  These three steers are having a good time eating the yummy hay.  One is going to be leaving soon for Kentucky.  A customer is wanting some AMD's on their farm and we are glad to help them get started with such a great breed.

We have fun teaching agriculture and American history!

 For many people including some in our family, history is boring.  Unrelatable and dry!  Then in 2017 oxen came into our lives unexpectedly.  They created a whole new opportunity to live history.  Wow what an adventure and thrill.  Having the oxen not only took us back to a later day, but it challenged us to research how people thought in those days.  How their economic situation determined their behavior and positions.  How their religious beliefs influenced their behavior and priorities.  We now have the blessing of teaching others some of the things we have been taught.  We educate primarily the American 1760's-1880's timeline.  Focusing on the use of oxen in agriculture & transportation, frontier living, ox training and driving.  We do events all over the Midwest for reenactments, festivals, church groups, school groups, etc.  Here are a few pictures:

A trip to the past by way of oxen!

 It was fun to get the big boys out and put them to work pulling my new/used sleigh.  They seemed to enjoy the beautiful day and brisk winter air.  There is something amazing about working these guys vs. driving a tractor.  Don't get me wrong, I like my John Deere!  The quiet, peaceful connection to our past does something to your mind and spirit.  It has a way of connecting you to what it must have been like to do things the way it was done for thousands of years vs. modern "warp speed" living in 2022.  I wouldn't want to return to full time farming with oxen, but I am so grateful for the lessons these oxen are teaching me and my family!

NEW things coming for 2022!

 We have new changes coming for 2022, please come back and see what is in the works.  Also, check out our Facebook page for updates.  Double-M-Farms | Facebook

What makes him tick?

Have you ever asked the question "What makes that person tick?" or  "Why are they the way they are?"  I have!  I like to analyze or ponder on human behaviors.  My family tells me I should have either become a lawyer, a psychologist or a preacher.  I chose preacher out of that list! 😀  But, I guess what I am saying is I like to see what makes people tick.  Farmers are a group of people that I can relate to, since I am one.  I come from 5 or more generations of farmers on all sides of my family.  Farming goes way back for me in the family tree.  In the coming weeks I want to consider some of the things that I see from my farming family that I would say define "what made them tick."  I have been considering this topic for several weeks and I look forward to introducing you to some of my heritage.  Some of the folks I would call grandpa and great-great grandpa.......!  I will also look at other farmers that I have had the privilage to know and include their behaviors, values and character into this journey to "see what makes farmers tick."  Be sure to come along!

Happy New Year!

We want "Thank You" for helping make 2019 a great year.  We had struggles with things that all farmers struggle with, but each of our friends, customers and family shared a part in helping us make our year what it was.  Now in 2020 we look forward to spending more time with growing even better grass fed beef, pastured pork and other farm products.  Also, lets not leave out the wonderful experience we had with doing living history & other teaching events with the oxen.  We have already been asked to be at more events this 2020 season around the midwest.  We will try to keep you informed with where we are and maybe you can come out and see the oxen.  God bless each of you in 2020!