“Farming is a Profession of Hope” – Brian Brett

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s out there, and to my Dad, Jack! As I am out on my Southern Alberta back road adventures each weekend I often think of my Dad, who would love the wide open spaces, the acres and acres of fertile ground, the field after field dotted with beef cattle, and the odes to farming’s past like the thresher pictured above, found just outside of Turner Valley, Alberta. These steampunk-ian marvels, born out of Scottish ingenuity in the late 1700’s, helped farmers literally separate the wheat from the chaff and it is no wonder I have found so many across the wheat-growing southern prairies. They are a museum unto themselves, and their existence is celebrated across the globe in various forms of “The Steam Thresher’s Reunions” where you can see them at work and marvel at how far we have come. We had one in our yard back on the farm, just like the one above, and I loved to try to make all the moving parts work together. It filled me with wonder and hope, as did most things on the farm.

On this Father’s Day I think about my Dad and how farming has shaped him, and through him, us.  He taught us that hard work and a thoughtful, hopeful spirit can make each day a lucky adventure. My sister Jen and I refer to Dad as “Yarn” as he likes to pull tales out of his hat at each visit, starting with the familiar line “That reminds me about a yarn we had growing up…” and although we sigh (as yarns are meant to be told, re-told, and told again) we appreciate that Dad’s yarns represent artifacts of a grateful life, well-lived. We would not have it any other way.

Dad, thanks for teaching me to appreciate each day as it comes! I miss you out here!!

Much love,

Pat

PS, if you would like to learn more about threshers, please visit here and here. If you would like to see more snaps from last weekend’s back road adventure, please visit my Awesome Alberta gallery here. Thanks for visiting!