Below is a piece I wrote about farmers. If you like it or would like to share it, publish it or broadcast it with those you know, feel free to do so. Just be sure to include the entire text of the piece. Thanks!

FARMERS AREN’T STUPID

I have a friend who designs web sites for the agri-tourism industry. “Web sites for what?” you ask. The agri-tourism industry: “agriculture” plus “tourism” equals “agri-tourism.”

You see, in order to stay afloat financially, many family farmers have been forced to find new ways to generate income. The traditional ways of family farming just don’t generate enough income. Those who live close enough to a large city-slicker population are turning to agri-tourism, a concept that involves farmers inviting city-slickers to spend a day – or just a few hours – on a working farm.

Now, contrary to what some people might think, two things are undeniably true about the vast majority of people who call themselves family farmers: They are not stupid, and they are not lazy. Let’s look at each of these statements:

First, farmers are not stupid. Their research tells them that the vast majority of people in America today are growing up without ever having set foot on a real, working farm. They also know that the average city-slicker parents of small children would love to pull their kids away from the video game screen and give them an opportunity to experience something as wholesome as a day in the life of a working farm. Think “Reality TV” without the TV – which is just reality.

Second, farmers are not lazy. Some people have the impression that farmers plant in the fall, harvest in the spring and summer and sit around collecting subsidy payments the rest of the year. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Most of ‘em work from well before sunrise to well after sunset – holidays included. Enough said.

Now, when you combine “farmers are not stupid” with “farmers are not lazy,” you find out why agri-tourism works: It allows farmers to make money coming and going:

First, they charge admission;

Second, they “let” others do the work of harvesting whatever fruits or vegetables happen to be in season; and,

Finally, they charge their “workers” – by the pound, usually – for whatever they pick and send them home. No paycheck. No benefits. Just a smile.

No, farmers are not stupid, and farmers are not lazy.

This is precisely why farming is a wonderful classroom for the homeschooled child. You don’t have to go far to get a diverse education. When we say farming is our classroom, some give us that same look. You mean they don’t get math. How about figuring out the estrus cycle of a cow? Math. How about calculating how many fence posts you need to fence in those bovines? Math. How about keeping track of all the products sold to customers to pay dear old Uncle Sam? Math again. There is so much more. Praise God for the diverse complex and sometimes challenging aspects of agriculture!!

I guess in your case, ’should be able’ is the operative phrase. Provided that you’re human of course.