Family Farm Friday # 16: Extended Family

"Friends are the most important part of your life. Treasure the tears, treasure the laughter, but most importantly, treasure the memories." ~Dave Brenner

When you grow up in the agricultural community, you become part of an extended family of sorts. You make friendships while showing or judging in 4-H and FFA, while rodeoing or giving speeches or going to auctions at the sale barn. Agriculture is a tight knit group who tends to take care of its own. I've seen this countless times in my life, and was reminded of it again this week.

You may have seen this tragic story on the news. On Monday, two Roswell high school seniors were found dead in Arizona. The two were stand-out rodeo athletes who had been in Arizona to compete at a rodeo. They stopped in a grocery store parking lot to spend the night in their camper shell, which was equipped with a generator. The boys suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and died.

It is such a tragic story--lives cut way too short. Boys who were doing nothing wrong were taken from their friends and family too soon. Sadly, in eastern New Mexico, especially in the agriculture community, this is not an uncommon story.

When a tragedy like this occurs, people rally. They send cards, say prayers, help plan meals and funerals. People drive from across the state to support the loved ones left behind and to pay their respects to the lost. I've seen, and been a part of this, countless times. The "agriculture" family bans together. It makes a difference.

Every Friday I talk about the benefits of farming and ranching---how we feed the world, provide safe products, care for the land. All of these are important. But we also become a family who takes care of each other in our time of need. Maybe this is the most important of benefit of all.