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  Home Page » Features » Columnists » Out Standing In The Fields » On The Farm Circle Of Life Is Dizzying

On the farm, circle of life is dizzying

by Doug Ramsey
This is a special time for our local farmers, a time when they have strange, dizzy looks on their faces. It's a look that comes from driving in circles in their fields for days at a time cutting, then raking and finally baling their hay.

For some, this time can be a religious event with many farmers even changing religions during haying season. After months of trying to appease the rain gods, they suddenly have a switch and are down on their knees praying for "just one more day of sunshine to get the hay in the barn."

The process of putting up hay is not too hard and consists of starting in a corner of the field and driving a tractor and mower (then later the baler) around in smaller and smaller circles until reaching the center of the field.

I have found that sitting on my tractor and going in circles is one of two places I can be and contemplate the meaning of life, and it is the only place where no one is banging on the door and yelling "are you about done in there!" One of the things that I have been considering as I go in circles is how to make my farming easier and more profitable. Some farmers have tried agro-tourism or specialty crops, but I don't see those working for me. I did notice as I drove in circles that the sun was giving me a nice even tan. It was kind of like I was in one of those tanning booths that people pay big money to use.

Maybe I could get people to pay to drive around on my tractor and get a nice uniform natural tan (much better than those artificial ones)? As I think this through, I have visions of scantily clad women smiling as they drive around on my old tractor doing my work and paying me to do it. What could be better?
As my circles got smaller (and me dizzier), I began to realize that there may be a couple of problems with my brilliant idea. As I hit a bump and spilled some water on my arm, I quickly realized that my golden tan had smudged and that it would quickly disappear in the shower that night. The many red circles that are as painful as a sunburn were where the deer flies had bitten me. And finally, after circling in the searing sun for a couple of hours, I started to realize that instead of the comfort of sitting in a climate-controlled tanning booth, I felt more like I was the chicken rotating on the spit in the grocery store. Like the chicken, I, too, was circling endlessly as my vital fluids dripped from every pore on my body. Oh well, maybe I can figure out how to have someone stack my hay in the barn and pay me?
With my hay now baled and safely in the barn, my mind is slowly returning to normal. I think I will just sit on my porch for now and wait for the coming rains.

Doug Ramsey has farmed in La Plata County for more than 25 years. He can be reached at 385-4375.