Christmas time is always one of the best times of the year.  Not only is it a chance to celebrate the values you believe, it gives many people the chance to return to their homes and family, if only for a few days.  Falling into the category of someone who gets to travel back to her family, I’ve been able to return to those things I’ve missed out on while at college and working.  Though I enjoy the chance to see my family and friends, one of the best parts of the trip is simply returning to my agricultural roots.

Growing up, I actively participated in everything I could find that would teach me about agriculture.  This lead to hours spent putting finishing touches on 4-H projects; miles walked training animals and incessant repetitions of the perfect FFA speech.  Coming home, I can’t help but look through old pictures and ribbons reminiscing of all those trips and contests that helped teach me so much more than simply facts about agriculture.

Though I only get these three weeks of the year at home, I try to make it last by catching up with people I missed throughout the year.  Obviously close friends and family top the list of those I find first, but they are quickly followed by the people who helped me through my 4-H and FFA careers.  Over these three weeks, I try to meet with my high school FFA advisor, my former dairy judging coaches, the family who taught me to judge and show meat goats and other people in the community who worked to teach me about agriculture as they showed the value of hard work on the farm.

In high school, I always liked working with my animals; however, feeding them was not one of my favorite pastimes.  Don’t get me wrong; I always fed them on time and took care of them, keeping their health at the top of my priority list, but sometimes it just took a little coaxing to leave the nice, warm house to go out in the Indiana snow storm to care for them.  Now it amazes me how much I’ve missed feeding and caring for the animals out in the barn.  Living in a city essentially all of this calendar year has taught me the value of the quiet time people can spend while caring for their animals in the barn or pasture.

Sitting by a fireplace, catching up with old friends and reading some of my favorite books are all ways that make my vacation relaxing, but nothing compares to going back to the old routine of working out in the barns.  What ways do you celebrate the holiday season?  How do you get back to your agricultural roots?

~ guest post by Laura Padgett

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