Chore Time « Back

Spring has finally made its debut in the Upper Midwest, and here at Bohnert Farm in East Moline, we simply love it! The kids and I took this opportunity to strap on our mud boots, put on lighter-weight jackets, enjoy the fresh air and help out with the “choring” process.

Today was a day that our smiles stretched a lil’ further, our steps had a lil’ bounce in them and our souls simply sang. I cannot think of a better way to raise a family than on a farm. While other kids find different ways to be entertained, many of which are in front of a television, my “Jersey” kids are one step behind their father – being mentored to feed calves milk and bed calf pens down with straw.

The great thing is that for my children who are five and three – pitching in with chores is not something they feel is work – they do it because they want to do it – and that makes my heart smile.

It is an overwhelming experience watching your children grow up and want to work hard – even at a young age. My soon-to-be six-year-old son is a spitting image of his father – in many ways. The two men know how to work hard and take the lead to get the work done exceptionally well.

One of the projects that Tyler took the lead on was bedding calf hutches. I watched with tearful eyes, as he would toss the straw into the calf pen, climb in and bed the pens down with the golden-color bedding. The calves loved the warm bedding, and Tyler loved the fun project.

Yes, we as dairy farmers work hard 365 days a year to make sure our cows – both big and small – are comfortable, clean and healthy. This is a dawn-to-dusk process that we make a family affair.