Founding Farmer

Yesterday was my Grandpa's 84th birthday.  Anytime we have a birthday in the family, we all get together and have a party.  Sometimes it is just cake and ice cream, other times it is a full meal, but always involves grandparents, parents, and kids.  We always talk about different things we have done together, and what we are going to do next.

(Grandma and Grandpa at the birthday party)

Whenever it comes up to Grandpa's birthday his story always involves the farm, and surprising to some, canoeing.  Grandpa and Grandma met at Michigan State University where Grandma was studying to be a teacher, and Grandpa was studying to be a farmer.  They went to England for a year while Grandpa was part of the ROTC program, and then came home to my Grandma's family farm in Iowa.  After a few years in Iowa, realizing that the farm couldn't support the three families, they picked up and moved to Michigan for cheap farm land.  The first years were hard, and Grandpa sold the mineral rights to the land in order to keep the farm afloat.  He constantly looked for areas to make improvement.  Even from the start, our farm has made it's own feed, all because Grandpa thought it was a good thing to do.  He is willing to try things just to see what will happen, and is able to innovate because of it.  

Grandpa and Grandma starting canoeing in order to get away from the farm on the weekends.  They had employees who always would call in on Saturday mornings, then on Sunday mornings.  Grandpa had done some canoe races as a kid on the Maumee River, and decided that canoeing would be a good hobby to keep him from working all the weekends.  It was something to get away, and he could race with Grandma.  The farm and paddling have defined the family ever since.  We work and play together.  

A Birthday and a Race Report

Saturday was Mike's birthday.  A benefit of having spring birthday is that there is an outside chance that there will be a canoe race on your birthday, and Mike was lucky enough to have his birthday fall on our first race of the season: the Klondike.

Klondike is just a short, 40 minute torture of a race on a small creek.  The race goes upstream for about 2/3 of the race, and downstream for the last 1/3.  Since the race starts facing upstream, and then has many twists and turns, both of which make it difficult to pass.  A good start is critical for finishing well.  I raced with my dad, and Mike raced with our good friend, Zach.

(Dad and I racing hard)

Last year, Dad and I had a horrible start, and while we recovered pretty well we were never able to pass the final mixed (one man, one woman) team, finishing 2nd mixed for the first time in many years.  This year we thought of trying a different starting spot in hopes of having a better jump off of the line.  Each part of the river has a different current and depth, so some spots are better than others for starting, especially in an upstream race.  Just before the gun went off we chickened out and went back to our traditional starting spot.  The gun went off and by the first corner we were in 5th place!  It was the best start we have ever had.  Since we started so well, we knew it was going to be tough to hold position.  We held off three other very fast teams for nearly all of the upstream, but right before the turn to head back downstream the three teams passed us by crossing the river, or sprinting up to get the inside of the corner.  Finishing 8th place was still fantastic, and we knew that had left it all out there.  We had never even been close to those teams in previous races, so I am looking forward to the season ahead.

(Mike and Zach in the lead)

At the finish we saw Mike and Zach cooling down.  I could tell from the look on their faces that the race didn't go as well for them as they had hoped.  Mike and Zach lead the race until the last 7 minutes, where another team passed them on the inside of a corner.  Neither had beaten that team before, but they had hoped to hold them off and win on Mike's birthday.  Even though Mike and Zach didn't win, it was a good practice in blocking and learning how to race when you are in the lead. They were close, and now they are hungry for a win.

(Mike with his parents, Mike, Michelle, and Jay)

On Monday, we had a get together on the farm for Mike.  Dad grilled out, Mom made cheesy potatoes, and we had root beer floats instead of a birthday cake, just to Mike's liking.  My whole family made it to the party, as well as Mike's parents.  It was a good way to celebrate.