I am not a farmer. Nor do I want to be. Every day I watch my farmer brother, farmer niece, farmer nephew and his farmer wife work long hard hours at a job they love, while losing money every single day. It has to be extremely frustrating and I see the weariness on their faces. I wonder how they keep going at the pace they do and I pray for them fervently.
Farmers get hit on every side. Equipment is quite expensive and it takes a lot of different and large machinery to do what they do. To pay someone else to make repairs is costly; therefore, they repair as much as they can themselves. When ordering parts or equipment they have to pay for shipping and handling, but they also have to pay shipping on the milk that is sold and hauled from the farm. They cannot set the price for their milk or grain, having to take whatever is the market value. They depend on the weather for the crops, asking for sun when it's too wet to plant and praying for rain when it's dry and the crops are burning up in the fields. They let go of farm employees and work more hours themselves to try to stay afloat. Farming is not for the faint of heart.
Yet, farming is in their blood and the call of the great outdoors, the baby calves, and the milk herd cannot be ignored. This love of the land and cattle, plus working side-by-side with family beckons them to continue to rise before the sun, put on their boots, hop on a tractor, plant & harvest, clean out the barns, bottle train a newborn, milk those cows and head home about dark - one more time. The alternative is unthinkable, yet many small farms just like ours have lost the battle.
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| Exciting day! First time bottling milk! |
I am also not an entrepreneur, or risk taker, but my niece is. She dreams big and for years has wanted to build a creamery. As the farm began to struggle more and more, she saw it as a possibility to save the family farm even though it would require a huge financial risk. With the support of the rest of the family, she visited other creameries and spent a year researching and planning.
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| Our matriarch approves! |
In March 2018, the ceremonial groundbreaking was held for Richlands Creamery. The dream was coming alive. It would be several months before the actual groundbreaking and after many delays, overages, permit waiting periods, problems, frustrations, phone calls, bills, bills, bills, loans, loans, loans, work, work, work, it's still not open. BUT, we're getting close. The first run of milk and ice cream for testing was May 28 and they each met with approval from the necessary government agencies. Praise God! Please pray that the remaining necessary permits come this week so that we can open.
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Top photo was about a year ago. You can see the large white
pack barn on the right-hand side. Bottom photo after storm.
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The day after the successful bottling run, May 29, the farm was dealt a devastating blow. A fast and furious storm passed through about 7:00 p.m. ripping off 2 roofs and destroying our largest pack barn. The pack barn was basically where the cows hung out, kept cool, ate and slept when it was too hot to be outside. It had a very high ceiling that was open in the top to allow heat to escape, had huge fans and sprinklers, plus comfy bedding which kept the cows cool and comfortable. A large part of a dairy farmers job is to keep the cows pampered and happy and we have some very contented cows around here. Cows don't like hot weather, so the destruction of the barn presents a dilemma and more work.
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Top photo after storm passed through.
Bottom photo the following afternoon. |
We are extremely grateful to God that no humans or animals were injured or killed during this serious storm. The cows that were in the barn were huddled in the one corner that did not fall. Thank you, God! Within a very short time, neighbors, farmers, and the veterinarian were here to see what they could do to help and assisted our farmers in moving the cows to safety and repairing fences.
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Top photo shows missing roof.
Bottom photo 2 days later, under roof again. |
The next day, two master carpenters who heard of the devastation came and had one roof replaced before lunchtime. The ladies from the Tuesday Afternoon Bible Study (TABS) that I attend, brought enough lunch for everyone for two days. Our cousin, who is also a dairy farmer, took time off from his farm and took over planting soybeans so that our farmers could concentrate on caring for the cows, repairs, and meeting with insurance representatives. A young lady employee and her mother brought a complete fried chicken dinner for everyone with enough that spilled over to the next day. On Friday, the crew that built the Creamery came and replaced the other roof. Lots of people wanted to help in any way they possibly could.
As I thought about the devastation, I also thought about how much worse it could have been and I praise God. All our homes and lives were spared. All that expensive machinery and milking parlor equipment was also spared. The dump trucks that were in the same path of the storm were not touched. The animals were all well. The brand new Creamery building was not damaged. Then you see the outpouring of support and physical help by our family and friends and it's easy to see the true beauty of this farming community, God's provision, and another reason why these farmers keep going.
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| My gardening supervisors. |
I am a caregiver, a bit of a writer, and the Creamery bookkeeper. I want to help, can tell what I know of our farmers' story and I see the deep financial hole. I am here not to farm, but to take care of my mother and the flower gardens and yard. During a time like this, I want to help my farming family, but there is little I can do. Provide food, drinks, snacks, pick up the debris in the yard, make things look pretty where I can, and pray. I can help tell their story knowing that the more it's shared, the further it can go and trusting the Lord to do with it what He desires. The disaster has already brought more media coverage to the farm and the Creamery; we simply never know how God will work in His mysterious ways.
My farming family is accustomed to pulling themselves up by their bootstraps and taking care of things themselves, but this pack barn is not something they can remove on their own. It will require big machinery, engineers and money. There was some insurance but not enough to replace what was lost. Everything has been put up as collateral for the building of the creamery, so there are no reserves to pull from in order to replace the barn. They are making phone calls, talking with the Governor, checking with the original builders of the barn, and going on with all the day to day chores, while feverishly gearing up for the Richlands Creamery opening.
There are lots of prayers going to our all-powerful God and He may move in the hearts of other people that would like to be part of helping a farm to stay around that has been here since the mid 1700's and been dairying since the 1950's. My farming family only asks that you buy more dairy, check out the facts regarding real dairy versus alternative drinks marketed as "milk", and if you live locally buy Richlands Creamery products. If you aren't right here, but not far away, then ask your grocer to carry our products.
I know God works all things for good and desires to shape us into the image of His son as it says in Romans 8:28 & 29. Often that comes through trials. He also tells us in Proverbs 3:25 & 26:
Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
Sudden disasters will come and the Lord promises He will be at our side when they do. I have certainly found that to be true and I am confident that as our farming family continues to honor God and look to the Lord for strength and wisdom, He will provide what is needed in His time and His way for...
Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17
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Our farming family after the first successful run of bottling
Richlands Creamery, Inc. milk!! |
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I've worked on this post for a week, but our farmers have been telling their farming stories for years. To really have a look into our farm, hear from the experts, and see updates on the creamery, please visit and follow:
To see news coverage of the storm damage and a video from our farmers, follow the links below. All of these videos can be seen on the Richlands Dairy Farm Facebook page shared above.
We still don't do much together and we now live about 180 miles apart; however, he has been such a support to me since Mike's accident. He would text me or call me to let me know he was thinking of me and ask if he could help in any way, plus he did a run in Mike's honor. When Mike was in a facility near his home, he offered me a place to stay, but his girlfriend lived closer to the facility and she invited me, a total stranger, to stay with her. We quickly became friends and now this lovely lady is his wife. Todd & Silvia are indeed a precious couple. I had the privilege of sharing in their very special day and meeting Silvia's family and children for the first time. I fell in love with the whole bunch!
