Friday, January 19, 2018

The Times They Are A-Changin’

These little piggies went to market.  None stayed home.  And none came back home.

Likely the last five porkers raised by the Johnston's.

For the past 10 years, our family has provided superior pork and eggs to friends and neighbors.

These pigs are not pets.  We take exceptional care of them, looking after health and nutrition and well-being, but they are not pets.  They are fed and gain weight for one purpose.  They taste really, really good.

As the famous t-shirt and poster with the caped pig on it says, “I turn vegetables into bacon.  What’s your superpower?”

So all pigs eventually go onto our trailer.  Their final destination is the Story City Locker.  We like Ty and Bobbi Gustafson, and we like their locker.

Ty and Bobbi have it going in Story City with their locker, in which they spared no expense.

The Story City Locker has figured out messaging and public relations.

Animals are not killed at the Story City Locker.  “Take down” is the proper term these days.  “We have one conscientious individual who does all our take-downs, gently and humanely.”

Nor do they slaughter or butcher at the Story City Locker.  They “harvest” and “process”.  These terms aren’t as offensive to the ears of our urban clientele.  I’m fine with it.  Whatever it takes to make sure they enjoy their pork chops.

This chapter of pork production by the Johnston’s has likely come to an end.  The five porkers that took their final walk onto the trailer in the early hours of December 8, 2017 and were unloaded for “take-down” at the Story City Locker were probably the last, at least by us, to be raised in our barn.


Life has a way of coming at us in stages, doesn’t it?  When we get too comfortable with a stage, try to hang on too tightly, that seems to be when things can really unravel.  Life is all about change, and it can turn into a miserable nightmare when change isn’t embraced and faced with the excitement that says “What’s next?”

What’s next for us?  We’ve been asking that question with greater and greater frequency around here.

God knows us, He guides our steps, so we’ve always felt it a good idea to open the question up to Him and get into a heart posture that is conducive to hearing from Him.  I’m not very good at it (Kris is better).  But He reveals what we need when we need it.

Change.

Kelli graduated from Dordt College in Engineering last May and is well on her way to fame and fortune as a Biomedical Engineer at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Omaha.  She is one of two engineers responsible for the medical equipment in a state-of-the-art hospital with all the various departments and specialties.  And she’s got really super-cool high-level government security clearance.

Kelli connecting with one of her show sheep at County Fair.  "You can do this.  I know you can."

Lizzy is a sophomore RA at Northwestern College, where she is being trained and equipped in Communications and Public Relations, so that she can one day take over the world.  She will.  She won’t require any high-level government security clearance, because, well… as ruler of the world, SHE will be the highest level…

Lizzy with Rhino.  Rhino brought home the hardware.  Reserve Grand Champion Heavyweight Market Barrow.

Will is in 11th grade (Grade 11 for our Canadian readers) at Gilbert High School, playing trombone in Jazz 1 and basically being someone everyone can count on and turn to.  He’s at least thinking about his future.

The only member of the family to ever show at the Iowa State Fair.

Our little farm isn’t the noisy place it once was.  It’s much, much quieter.  Less busy.  Not as active.
Gone are the days when the barn was full – of livestock and kids.  The radio just stayed on 24/7, year round.

School mornings our kids set their own alarms, and the three of them would trudge out to the barn, first thing, each morning, regardless of weather.  It was an amazing sight.  Cats, sheep, hens, pigs, bottle calves, goats, rabbits, whatever.  They were fed, watered, cared for, petted, spoken with.

Then there was the Fair.  From the time show pigs and sheep came onto the farm in March or April, until County Fair ended in late July, we took up residence in the barn.  Countless hours spent feeding, treating, trimming, bedding, moving, weighing, sorting, handling.

It's gonna be alot harder than I think to leave.

Saturday is supposed to be a fun day, right?  Our kids actually dreaded them.  Cleaning out two hen houses was the Saturday.  Every Saturday.  Winter, spring, summer, and fall.  Our chocolate lab, Holly, is really the only one who enjoyed those days.  She helped herself to the special buffet of nutrients deposited in the compost pile.

The place has changed and things are not the same.  The girls are gone.  Wait... that's too strong a word.  They're not gone, Kris, they've only relocated.  Will took a job all summer as a counselor at Hidden Acres Camp, which he plans to do again, and which we’re very supportive of.  I do chores alone now.  I can still get Will to muck pens, but his heart isn’t really in it.

My business is taking off.  The vast majority of my clients are north and east of us.  I really need a well-designed home office where I can comfortably sit across the table with a client.

So we’re preparing for change.  Likely big changes this spring.  Like in March.  Of 2018.  We’re updating a few things here and there that we’ve put off – like a new master bathroom and a new dishwasher, paint here and there.  We’re getting ready to list.  With Sarah Powers, FYI.

If that dining room table could talk.  Time for another family to make their own memories.

There’s another family looking to write a story.  They are looking for a place that’s got options for an experience for them and their kids, with a barn, a henhouse, a shop, and a farmhouse that’s been standing since the early 20th century, but is updated and cozy.  This place has been here over 100 years.  It fits here.

That family is looking for a place that has some room, a garden, and a beautiful yard and landscaping.  But where the work isn’t overwhelming.

A place that’s out of town, but still close enough to everything.  On a paved road.  In the Gilbert school district.

A place where friends gather for raucous bonfires.  Where there are kittens in the hayloft, barefoot kids in the trees, ballgames in the yard, and flashlight tag past midnight on warm summer nights.

It's time for that family to write their own story.  If you know that family, you may want to put a bug in their ear.

If you're looking for a home in Northridge or Bloomington Heights, there are dozens.  Take your pick.  They're very nice homes.

But if you're looking for a unique property like ours, with it's location and features, there won't be another.  This is the one chance you'll get.

Because change is coming for the Johnston's.  Go ahead, spread the word.

Freedom!

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