As the farmers prepare their land to plant their crops the rest of us anxiously await the time for harvest. That is all we really think about. We just prepare for the food that is produced. We do not think much about the production of that food.

No two years are alike. Farmers are the ultimate gamblers in all of this. They have faith that if they plant, they will harvest.

Some years it is very wet. Some years it is dry. No matter what the weather brings farmers hope for the best.

I remember one summer that all it did was rain. We were living in a mobile home at the time and my husband got sick of hearing the pitter patter of rain on the roof. None of the farm work was getting done. The hay was still ripening out in the field. There were not enough dry days to harvest it.

In the end they did get the hay in but it was not the quality they usually had. Therefor the production that year would not be the same. You have to feed the animals quality food for the best production.

Our son and his wife raise meat animals. Each year they put up hay in order to feed the animals all winter — hopefully. Of course, the quality of the hay plays a big part in all of this. Meat animals need enough nutrients to grow large enough to butcher.

I marvel at how well the cattle take the weather. The kids lay out the hay and soon the cattle are there. They eat and often they lay down in the hay. They do not seem to be bothered one bit by the cold temperatures. During the coldest weather they seem quite comfortable.

Most of us take farmers for granted. We expect them to plant so that we can enjoy the fruits of their labor. We do not see the hard work that goes into the production. We do not see the long hours that the farmers spend overseeing their crops. My kids get up in the middle of the night to do all of their chores before they leave for their full-time jobs.

The seed catalogs arrived shortly after Christmas. I look at them as a “good read” even though I do not order plants any more. They are a wealth of information. They contain facts about the times to plant as well as when to expect the crop to be ripe. They show the newest in planting techniques along with commentary from people who have experimented with that technique.

Years ago, I visited a strawberry farmer who was doing something innovative at the time. He was using raised beds. I visited early so as to get all of the information then returned when the crop was ripe to get my pictures. I learned a lot and we enjoyed the berries that I brought home fresh from the field.

Agriculture Week comes in March. The Ag papers I receive alert me to when that is. Since the family was involved in the dairy industry and is still involved in agriculture I am interested in keeping up with things. I want to celebrate agriculture as a way of life. Although it was very labor intensive, it was a wonderful way to raise a family. My children learned a work ethic that they could not have learned anywhere else. They take this work ethic to their everyday jobs.

Another aspect of spring in the country is the production of maple syrup. Those nearby who tap trees were out a couple weeks ago setting their lines and tapping their trees. I believe they have boiled a time or two since. People who produce maple syrup never know how long their season will be. Once the trees bud the season is finished. That is another dicey adventure. Although maple syrup is expensive, I still buy it because I appreciate the hard work that goes into it. It is so good on pancakes. My son and his son tried the process one year but it was too labor intensive for them to keep doing it. At least the next generation got to experience the process.

Farms are also welcoming a new generation of offspring. I watch the farm below me to see when the babies are arriving. They are first kept inside of the barn but soon they out and about. I love to watch the young frolic and play. They are so cute as they chase each other around. Farm babies are cute — no matter what they are.

One year we had a fox and her kits at Hickory Heights. She would bring them out just before dusk. We watched them play. What a treat to be able to watch their adventures and see how they grew. There were four babies. It was not long until they were a little more discreet about their adventures. They soon learned to be afraid of us.

Another year I had a nest of robins on my bird feeder. We watched the mother and father build the nest. I put out scraps of yarn to help the building process along. It was neat to see that yarn worked into the nest. We watched through two batches of baby birds that year. The grandchildren were young back then and they were delighted to be able to see the little birds being fed. They were also happy to see the little birds make their maiden voyages.

Every season on the farm is different but I think just maybe the spring is the most exciting. By the way — my crocuses are up!

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell, Pa. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.