I had a special relationship with my father because I chose to be a farmer just like him. I had someone that could relate to what I was going through; someone I could get advice from and someone to talk to.
As a youngster, I remember my dad’s excitement at the beginning of each spring…going through catalogs, picking out seed; showing me the pictures and explaining what he wanted to do.
Like me, he loved the smell of freshly plowed earth; the anticipation and excitement of the plants breaking through the soil and hearing irrigation water run down the rows.
Mom and Dad were so happy the day I told them I wanted to take over the farm. They were so excited! I realize now, it was because they really wanted someone to continue farming.
Mom and Dad helped me so much in my career. Dad’s advice was so valuable to me. He had seen so much and could tell me what to expect.
I’ll never forget how excited Dad was when we purchased our first new tractor or our trip together to investigate CSA’s or our trip to California for the Tulare Farm Show.
I wish everyone could have been there when I told Dad that Kyle wanted to follow in his footsteps. He was so touched; he couldn’t speak for a moment. And then, with a big grin on his face, he said, “He does, well that’s fantastic!”
There are not enough words to express his influence on my life.
To me, Dad’s finest qualities were his patience, acceptance and positivity. It was his inherent ability to listen, to absorb and to offer a point of view based on his quiet, measured wisdom. He always accepted who you were without reservation and his positivity was boundless.
Our father had a quiet dignity. He represented himself in a way that demanded respect, just as he respected others.
I now have the quiet assurance of a father’s voice, filling my heart, saying, “Don’t worry, I am here, you can do this.”
So today, with my heart kicking in protest against his farewell, I am still learning from my Dad.
This parting is not forever!
Monroe Organic Farms 