Good Ol’ Community Cookout
Another cookout in the books. Probably the biggest turnout yet. Somewhat stressful and overwhelming but so much fun! I feel like it took a week to set up and prepare for it and then another week to clean up and recover from it, but boy, was it worth it! Kids running around all over the place playing games. I don’t know the Guinness World record for longest wiffle ball game, but I’m guessing these kids could’ve given it a run for their money as they played for what seemed like a solid 5 hours.
My two favorite bands Valley Grass and Big Tree and the Branch Boys crushed it on the flat deck trailer stage as always. I don’t know if everyone enjoyed it as much as I did, but in my mind, this is what living is all about. I don’t know what heaven is going to be like, but I can’t help but think it’ll be like a good ol’ community cookout in the country. My thoughts in the midst of the evening’s event could be summed up by a line borrowed from a Turnpike Troubadours song, “hold on to the moment like it’s heaven passing through.”
Community is a special thing. This was a community cookout requiring a communal effort to make it happen. Big Al and Amy’s dad fired the cooker up at 7:30 Saturday morning and stood grill side for 13 plus hours until all the ORVF meat was cooked and served. All this after spending a couple hours Friday evening, trimming, seasoning, and prepping meat. KK, Ms. Lynn, Alex, Jess, and the Frye’s jumped in and helped with anything and everything from prepping meat and slicing briskets to loading tables and chairs, setting up tents, and parking cars.
Ronnie, who spent 12 hours in the ER the day before with a mangled hand, rolled in around lunchtime with his cooker and spent hours Saturday afternoon flipping ORVF burgers with his good hand. Sweet Ms. Paula arrived early and spent the cookout’s entirety either serving dishes or washing them in the kitchen. Countless others deserve a shout out. We couldn’t do it without the efforts of all these fine folks.
The kids obviously had high expectations leading up to the cookout. Afterwards, when we asked them how it went or how it could’ve been better, their responses were, “I wish it could’ve lasted longer” and “Could we do it again next week?” One shindig a year is about all this farm family can manage, but Lord willing, we’ll do it again next year.
In other exciting farm news: RAIN. Right at 3 inches of much needed rain in the gauge throughout the week. Thankful for every drop. Not much else noteworthy. Still getting some newborn baby calves. Keeping cows and chickens moving. Some freezer work yesterday afternoon. More baby chicks in the brooder this morning.
After a good 7 months of wood burning, I finally let the outdoor wood stove go out this week. Amy and the kids wrapped up the homeschool curriculum for the year which means hopefully I’ll get more chicken work out of the kids this summer.
A busy summer ahead of us. Our first on-farm chicken harvest of the year is next week. Planning to work our baby calves soon. Last year’s fall calves are about ready to be weaned. And time to start making hay. Not sure in what order, but we’ll get it done.
Have a good week.
Will