"Farm Girl"

I listened, my mortification growing, as my sister once again spun the story of living on a farm to a classroom full of students. I stared longingly at the door, wishing myself anywhere but there. We were just starting freshman year in a new high school and my one wish was to fit in. Changing schools six times since first grade, not to mention living in three different states, I’d become adept at changing my personality in any given situation to feel as if I belonged. Yet how was I supposed to blend in if my twin sister constantly went around talking about milking cows? Anyone who has ever attended high school knows that kids can be remarkably cruel. While I had loved living on our farm, I was terrified that my newly made friends would judge me if they knew I used to wear overalls, chase chickens, and drive a hulking green tractor. Here in Sterling Heights, I was certain that broadcasting my experiences as a farm girl wouldn’t exactly land me in the “cool” crowd. So, my cheeks red with embarrassment, I quickly changed the subject to a school assignment due next hour.

Ten years ago, when my mom announced that we were the proud owners of 16 bare acres of land two hours north of our home in Warren, Michigan, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought of it as another phase she’d quickly grow out of. I didn’t expect the lasting impact those 16 acres, which we eventually named Bright Acres Farm, would come to have on my way of thinking. Completely clueless, I helped to pack my life into boxes once again, and then unpacked those boxes into our newly built farmhouse. So, while other girls my age were learning about Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, IMing, and boys, I learned about Sally Fallon, tractors, gardening, and dairy cows.

Since that initial embarrassing moment at the beginning of freshman year, I’ve come a long way toward truly appreciating my unique experiences. Now, I happily tell my friends that, for five glorious years, I lived on a farm. I’ve learned to be proud of the fact that I can expound on the differences between Jersey cows and Holsteins, and explain the many methods to kill a chicken. I’ve learned to accept that I once spent my days weeding turnips and mucking stalls. There’s nothing like a farm for teaching you the value of working hard and the satisfaction of raising organic food you know is both good for your body and the environment. I respect the different culture

My time on a farm has made such a huge impact on the person I am today. It sparked my interest in healthy and sustainable living and the environment. It taught me respect for the natural world and how to appreciate the beauty one can find in honest living.  Running barefoot through freshly plowed dirt;  bottle feeding a newborn lamb; rescuing a colicky horse. These experiences cultivated a passion in my heart for more than just the latest pop star, or most popular social networking site. They inspired me to question how and why the world works. Are they what most would consider “cool”? Probably not. But I’ve ceased caring what’s “cool” or “popular.” I’ve found that it’s when you stop caring what your peers think and have confidence in whatever you’re doing, people will see the confidence you have in yourself and respect you as an individual.

 So yes, just in case you were wondering, I am a farm girl.