Update on Lou Ann

Farming can be tough on a woman’s body.  I watched my mother manage livestock outside in the pastures everyday while growing up and into my adulthood.  Through all her child-bearing years she wrestled feeder piglets for castration, shoved sorting boards with her knees to encourage movement of 500 pound animals, and chucked bales of straw over her head. 

A giant “S” should have been etched on that flannel shirt of hers, yet instead a floppy sun hat, leather gloves, and a Leatherman tool in her pocket completed her body of armor. After us kids grew old enough to take on most of the physical labor, her worked then shifted to the farmers markets, where she heaved a heavy tent in place, hauled coolers full of perfectly positioned meat, and spent hours on her feet to serve her friends.

The physicality of the farm lifestyle was bound to catch up, yet she lives it with no regrets. 

My mother, Lou Ann, who many of you grew to love at the farmers markets underwent a back surgery this week.  I am happy to report all went very well, with hopes of reconciled injury. Lou Ann is resting, healing, and dreaming of the day she can get back in the office at the farm. But for now, let’s pray her mind rests easy, to allow her strong and forceful body to heal – she deserves it.