These days my time spent working on the website can be measured in minutes per month. I put a lot of time into building an online presence over the years but as we’ve matured as a farm, and our business model has changed, the website just doesn’t get the attention it deserves or needs from me.
With that said, I do need to go in and just clean up things that have changed and I finally got one done. We still get requests to conduct tours of the farm. They have always been popular and something we enjoyed doing. Especially for home schooled kids who “aren’t socialized.” If you are a homeschooler, you know that old story. In fact, a large part of why we have our farm operation the way it exists is we wanted our kids to have the chance to work before Chick-Fil-A would hire them. We wanted them to grow up knowing how to work.
When the kids were little, and farming was all they knew, it was a fabulous place for them to be.
Handling cattle, eating what we grew, and generally being able to run out the door and come home when you were hungry made for a pretty free lifestyle.
Learning to work with animals, to care for them when they were sick isn’t just something that is special at the moment, it also teaches them how to handle critical care. How to react when something needs attention NOW.
Not everything happened on the farm of course. We were involved in the Civil Air Patrol and deployed to several hurricanes and many events. Spork even traveled to England as part of CAP.
But we always came back to home base, the farm. Where we could work, or play all while learning the skills to be an adult. Part of that was always working the store, or giving tours, or herding cattle. But always something.
Heck we even built an airplane and flew it on and off the farm. Well I flew it on and off. Spork is smart enough to fly to and from airports where it is safe.
But in 2022, Carter (aka Spork) graduated from high school, already well into his college classes. He’s a better man at 18 than I am at 50 and we are excited to see him go into the world. Well “see” if maybe an overstatement since we can’t “see” anything through the tears, but we are proud of him and look forward eagerly to his future off the farm.
With that said, I’ve taken tours off of the website since we no longer have a tour guide.
Congratulations not only to spork , to you as parents! You have built him into a responsible human being and it shows!
Now it’s time to let go and trust the lessons taught, you have equipped Him the all the wisdom he’ll need to navigate through this new chapter of His journey!
Our children aren’t really ours they are little people God entrusted us with and to guide and love them…my hats off to you as a family for a job well done!!!
Best wishes to Carter! I’m sure you are proud of him.
Awesome life story and I wish the best for Carter! I love your farm and the wonderful foods you sell ?
Aww, similar feelings here. A grandchild growing up getting ready to stretch his wings and fly away. We had a tour maybe 7 years ago with you, Dan. Our grandson was 4 at the time, now age 11. His favorite place on earth all these years was Ninja Cow Farm. When he came to our house he always asked if we could go to Ninja. He loved the cows, calves, pigs, chickens, the toys to keep kids occupied in the store. The last few years he was delighted with the rope swings outside the store. We loved seeing your kids work around the farm and in the store. Hunter wanted to be a farmer, then a veterinarian, and now a paleontologist. But it all started really, I think, with your wonderful farm, a place city kids could see a world we all used to take for granted. Best of luck to Carter and all of you. Wonderful family photo!
I agree you have had a great start now make your parents proud and continue on to do great things in this world.
God bless you Carter!! God has given you a great family to prepare you for the ongoing adventures of this amazing world! Seize each day!!! It is a gift!
Your family is so grown up now! Congratulations to Carter. I enjoyed seeing all of you in my limited time in NC. Betty (now in FL, but still thinking of you, and enjoying your articles.)
PS Hi Jeanette