We all know I have an affinity for Waffle House and the entertainment value they provide while they call out orders and whip up their Belgian Waffles and cheesy grits – but did you know about the Waffle House Index?

Bacon, eggs and hash browns aren’t the only things Waffle House is known for; apparently it has a fair amount of tenacity. When bad weather hits the southern United States, the Waffle House Index, an informal indicator, will show the severity of the storm.

If Waffle House is closed, then it’s time to panic. Even the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has joked about the Waffle House Index. According to FEMA, if Waffle House is open and offering a full menu, the index is green. If it is open but serving from a limited menu, it’s yellow.

When the location has been forced to close, the index is red. Because Waffle House is well-prepared for disasters, it’s rare for the index to hit red.

I love the Waffle House for its hot coffee and thick waffles, as well as employees’ gritty determination to continue straight through a storm. Probably because they remind me of dairy farmers who have that same gritty tenacity to weather the wiles of milking cows.

From the hottest, humid summers to the coldest, cruelest winters, dairy farmers never consider hanging up the “Sorry, We’re Closed” sign. Their cattle can be sure they will have clean water to drink, a well-balanced, plentiful ration to consume and the best accommodations.

Their wait staff punches in early and stays late to make sure the youngest calf to the oldest cow is fed, watered, dry and comfortable. Always checking to make sure they are well satisfied, dairy farmers even provide free health care with a doctor who makes barn calls.

If the world used the Dairy Farmer Index to find out how bad a storm was, every day would be green.

With the faith of a mustard seed, a dairy farmer wakes up every morning and move mountains to make sure his livelihood holds firm, vanquishing the vilest of storms to keep his family safe, his cattle cared for and the farm standing strong.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.