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.