The Heartbeat of Our Farm

There’s a word that captures the essence of my 10-year-old daughter, Charlie: moxie.

Charlie and Pluto

According to Merriam-Webster, "moxie" means energy, pep, courage, and determination. Charlie embodies all these qualities and more.

Born between two brothers, Charlie is the youngest girl in a family full of strong wills and opinions. She takes karate and horseback riding lessons, learning to assert herself and command respect. Watching her handle a 2,000-pound horse is a sight to behold; this tiny, determined girl lays down the law with confidence and grace.​

On our farm, Charlie is an indispensable partner. From placing day-old chicks into the brooder to moving them out to pasture, feeding animals, gathering eggs, rotating chicken tractors, and assisting on processing days, she tackles every task with enthusiasm and skill. Even when she's unwell, wrapped in a blanket and battling a fever, she insists on helping with chores. In the sweltering 110-degree heat, she’s out there moving fences, never complaining, always committed.​ Although she does drink all my water....

Charlie’s compassion is as profound as her work ethic. She has nursed countless animals back to health, held dying ones in her lap, and faced the heartbreak of loss with remarkable resilience. After a devastating dog attack on our goat herd, she helped assess injuries, clean wounds, and reinforce fences, all while processing the trauma and shedding tears. She didn't quit. She didn't go inside to grieve. She grieved right through working on what needed to get done.

Y'all.

That's a farmer.

And that's the thing with farming--tragedy can strike all day, but tragedy doesn't give a crap about your feelings, your need to process what just happened, or anything else. You just have to get it done, whatever "it' is. Cry while you work. The animals come first.

When a rejected baby goat needed care, Charlie took it upon herself to provide comfort and love until its final moments. She then dug a grave, constructed a wooden cross, and held a heartfelt ceremony to honor its life.​

Charlie’s dedication extends to our poultry as well. She has rescued chickens, treated their ailments, and ensured their comfort during storms. She was the first to get to greet the calf born on our farm over Thanksgiving, her eyes shining with joy and wonder.​

Her eagerness to learn, her unwavering support, and her boundless compassion make her not just my daughter but my most trusted coworker. 

She listens intently, follows through diligently, and brings a spark of joy to every task. Whether we're delivering orders to customers or working side by side in the fields, Charlie's presence is a blessing.​

I am in awe of her strength, her kindness, and her spirit. It is an honor to be her mother and to witness the incredible person she is becoming. Charlie is a force to be reckoned with, a beacon of love and resilience, and the heartbeat of our farm.