It’s a new season in the Coyne household – new teachers, new bus route, new friends and a soon-to-be new sibling. As we weather all the changes this fall is bringing us, I’m brought back to the summer months of slower mornings and carefree afternoons, and also of lessons in responsibility and accountability.
On one sticky July morning, our oldest son Bentley put on his high-vis T-shirt, strapped on his work boots and ran out the door to my husband’s truck with his lunchbox in tow. For that day, Bentley was given the opportunity to work alongside Willie as he helped bring cattle into the lane and secure them into the hoof-trimming chute. It was going to be a day of entirely new responsibilities, but one both Bentley and Willie looked forward to. For Bentley, he was excited to work alongside Dad and see a little of what he does every day. For Willie, this would be a day to mentor his son in ways that would instill a stronger work ethic and greater care for animals than any other task Bentley had been given to date. And if all went well, there was the promise of ice cream at the end of the day.
They arrived at the farm and began setting up. Willie re-introduced Bentley to our employees and those working at the dairy. Expectations and guidelines were laid out for the safety of every human who was assisting and the animals they’d care for while on the job.
Bentley walked the lane, bringing a handful of cows at a time to the chute. He honed his animal-handling skills, learned more about a cow’s flight zone and putting the right amount of pressure on a group to move them a certain way. He also learned the importance of making sure a gate’s chain is secure. In the trailer, he waited patiently as the cows were brought in to the chute and the belly bands hoisted the animals above him. He secured the front legs and then watched as Willie and his team trimmed the hooves, one leg after another.
The day flew by, yet time stood still. With the last cow leaving the trailer, Willie and Bentley loaded up the trimming chute and trailer and drove out of the farm driveway with our son feeling empowered and proud of all he accomplished.
On our small hobby farm, we talk a lot about responsibilities and the importance of caring for the animals we have. We give the kids chores and explain why they need to be done every day. And while production agriculture is not our livelihood, it remains an important part of our lives, one we try to instill in our family.
Having Bentley spend the day with Willie on a dairy farm, caring for animals that weren’t his and knowing his actions affected others was an experience we were fortunate to offer. He enjoyed being a part of Willie’s daily work and getting a glimpse at what dairy farmers do to produce the milk and other dairy products we stock in our fridge. Quite honestly, it made me envious of the farm families who can provide that lifestyle to their children daily.
Now, as the new school year is underway, we as parents are watching our children take those very lessons from summer into the classroom as they are faced with more unfamiliar challenges. It’s a hard thing to do as a parent – watching your children face the world around them – but what a blessing to teach them the skills they’ll need to weather any storm, especially if they are skills gained on a dairy farm.
