Enjoy The Ride

Graduation is over. Just like high school, it went by too quickly. One minute I was preparing for it and the next minute I was cleaning up after it. In a blink of an eye it is over.

I thought it might be fun to compare farmer grad parties to regular graduation parties. Most of my friends have their celebrations held at their homes or in their garage, some often rent a local community center, legion or church hall. Farm kids on the other hand, when they are finally seniors, they will spend spring break power washing the ceiling and scrubbing the walls of the farm shop, only to do it all again in May for the final shine after planting.

I’ve had my older brothers helping clean up the farm with tasks that are only done on Graduation years such as new rock, new mulch, and fixing things that have been broken since Todd’s party 5 years ago.

Regular grad parties serve food on tables. Farm grad parties serve out of cattle feed bunks. Yes, we literally set the roasters full of beef in new bunks, as our friends and family go through the line it’s almost like working cattle as we keep them going smoothly down the runway. Instead of coolers full of pop and water, ours were in cattle tanks with water and ice.

I am extremely humbled and honored to have graduated and received so many local and state scholarships. My family pulled off an amazing graduation party at our home and the farm was spiffed up and looked incredible. Celebrating with so many friends and family made it even more special. I have even received fan mail with graduation cards from complete strangers that simply enjoy my weekly articles. Thanks so much to everyone. However, my older brothers and I are still trying to pay off my younger brother Luke to have his 2023 grad party at the legion. It would be so much easier not to have to get the farm ready again. But seriously, farm grad parties are simply the best and I am extremely proud to have grown up on the farm!

~ Kesley Holdgrafer