55 Years And Counting From The Tractor Seat

By Bill Whitman 

 Those of us who have been in agriculture have experienced the encroachment of urban America on rural America. They come in all shapes and sizes, these people moving into the country to experience “life out there”. Most have no idea what they’re getting into as property requires maintenance and equipment. It’s always a bigger project than expected and all too often these people head back to the city when they begin to experience the “cost” of living out of town.

Fortunately, we have another sort. Frank Lowry worked hard all his life in commercial construction when he began to work on his dream. Frank wanted a property where he could raise animals that interested him, food to feed his family and friends, and build a farm of sorts that would ultimately regenerate itself and outlive his life to serve generations to come. Joining him on this journey was his wife Mary and daughters, Tammy, Anita, and Jeanetta along with extended families. 

He and his family have accumulated a herd of Longhorn cattle, some with massive horns. Recently they have added Highland cattle to their farm. They generally have a litter or two of pigs each year. Lots of chickens, donkeys, horses, goats, and now llamas and reindeer! So many more animals are planned. 

In order to meet the grazing and forage requirements of their animals, they have found themselves in forage production. For all of us that make hay every year we know that this requires not only spending a good bit of money on equipment but also accumulating the knowledge of making quality forage. To the family’s credit, they have reached out to several sources for advice and have hired experienced help to assist them. Probably the hardest thing for the family to get used to is that unlike corporate business, the timeline of farming is governed almost entirely by the weather as opposed to a calendar. 

As this family, led by Frank, gain more experience in making quality hay, it’s been interesting to watch them gain a respect and feeling of responsibility for the land. They don’t hesitate to feed the fields (even pastures) with fertilizer and utilize herbicides to control the unwanted weeds that attempt to invade every hay field in Indiana. In every way, they try and give their animals the very best of care. 

So even at 78 years old, a man and his family have become first generation farmers and raisers of livestock. Recently, Frank lost his wife of decades, (Mary) to cancer and it was a devastating loss to him. He has rebounded after several months and I’d like to think that it is the farm that has given him purpose and helped him heal. Frank has gained the respect of those of us who have lived our lives in agriculture, and unlike many who try to bring the city to the country, Frank and his family have embraced the country for what it gives our hearts. 

IndianaAg@Bluemarble.net