perseverance
We learned all that we needed to get started, and we were able to get all of our startup equipment to the farm. Finally, time to get in the fields and get our first cutting done, albeit a little late.
Plan A: The first farm tractor we purchased was a Ford 2000. They’ve been around for a long time and you see many of them still chugging away, which is good news for parts. We overlooked one minor detail, though, as newbies often do. The gears available on this tractor didn’t allow for us to go slow enough for this oldie-but-goodie sickle bar mower. This created a problem, because instead of making hay, we were just knocking it over. Time for Plan B.
Plan B: A Massey 135 diesel. Superman is mildly obsessed with Massey Ferguson, specifically this model. The purchase of this tractor definitely gave my superhero the illusion of having the power of invincibility. NOTHING CAN STOP US NOW!!!
So of course, this was the answer to our haymaking prayers, right? Wrong! Buying used is always somewhat risky. We took a risk, and it stung a little after we realized it had a hydraulic leak, which meant we could not raise and lower the sickle bar mower. Sadly, we have not yet had time to master agriculture mechanics, so none of us were able to fix it. On to Plan C.
Plan C: New Holland Haybine to go with the Massey’s manageable gear selection. If you have never heard a haybine, you are not alone. I grew up surrounded by farms and had never heard of or seen one before. This baby allowed us to bypass the need for hydraulics, and it cuts the hay, eliminating the need for a sickle bar. We finally have a plan that works!
That was an exhausting adventure, but anything worth doing usually does not come easy. God’s word speaks often of the benefits of perseverance and that message rings true for us today. Being patient and persevering when things do not go the way you hope (sometimes over and over and over) is so much more rewarding than throwing in the towel. No rest for the weary, though. Now that we have the ability to make hay and a few days’ worth of sunshine, you’ll find us in the fields.
