Farming is in no way for the weak or faint of heart. Period. That’s just a fact.
Although this beautiful newborn, Rocket, will just about melt your heart, she has had a tough start in life.
It’s because of the blessings like this little one that we continue to farm.
I can remember visiting farms as a little girl. The cows looked so pretty out in the field. They came up to the gate that I hung on, and licked my hand as I just watched the herd relax and chew their cud. As we drove around the country, horses grazed peacefully in the pastures, and the chickens ran around clucking their happiness.
What a dream world, what a perfect way to live, I thought!
Well, do I still think farming is a perfect way to live? ABSOLUTELY!
But it is not for everyone, and no one should be fooled into thinking that it’s all sweet licks and happy clucks. Farming is tough. There are those days when it’s almost too much to take, and when our hearts are wrenched into a million pieces. Those are the days we have to thank the Lord for the blessings He has given us on the farm, and know that He is in control.
That’s the story of Rocket. Named for the way she came into the world – she shot out fast and strong. Rocket is now an orphan. After a very difficult and sad downhill decline, her momma succumbed to infection and milk fever when Rocket was just more than a week old. That was one of the worst days we have ever had on the farm.
Sometimes it’s almost impossible to understand why these things happen.
That’s where our faith has to come in, and we must stand strong in knowing that God knows what He is doing.
Now we must move on and help Rocket live out her story.
So far, this little calf is strong, is taking the bottle well, and has found a new “momma” in the form of our great calf bottle-feeder here at One Ash.
Rocket doesn’t pay much attention to the rest of us, but when her milk-momma comes along, watch out! She is running and hopping and attempting her young-calf “moooooooo”! Thanks to the other dairy girls, Rocket has plenty of warm, fresh milk to fill her bottle three times daily.
It’s up to us to help Rocket grow into a dairy cow, and one day we expect she will be in the milking line with all the girls. It’s just a part of farm life that her real momma won’t be there with her. But she is a perfect example of why we love what we do, and why this is the way we choose to live.
