Hearts

It’s my favorite week of the whole year! I am super excited for my birthday on Valentine’s Day and with it being such a short month, I think it is appropriate to celebrate pretty much every day! The month of February is always decorated with hearts and I always think it’s just for me! I will turn eighteen on February 14th and will finally be considered an adult. This is fitting because I have been really busy doing adult things lately, like finishing up farm records, getting ready to file my first taxes, and filling out college scholarship applications. Also while thinking about hearts for Valentines Day, it got me thinking about just how important a heart actually is.

Growing up, I watched my dad give his whole heart to agriculture. It takes a true love for agriculture to feed cattle in brutally cold temperatures. It takes heart to believe the grain markets will turn around or the rain will come to make a crop. It takes heart to be a farmer. It takes heart to feed the world.

When I was in Clover Kids I got the opportunity to raise my first bottle calf. I gave my whole heart to my first calf. Since then I have raised multiple calves each year and have loved every one immensely. I have realized I love agriculture. It is in my blood, pumping from my heart.

I am also no stranger to heart problems. My little brother was born with a heart condition and has had numerous procedures and medications over the years to control his extremely high heart rates. It took great faith in new advanced medical practices to believe in the high tech cath lab ablation procedure to fix his heart when he was only 4 years old. I’m happy to say he has been heart-healthy ever since.

It was also a heart attack that took the life of two of my uncles, both at the age of 50, one of which was my godfather. Watching my family go through the shock of losing them so suddenly at such young ages taught me to live everyday to the fullest and to always follow my heart.

Our hearts are extremely important. They are what show our passion. They allow us to follow our dreams. Most importantly it takes a healthy heart in order to accomplish all of that. I hope you all have a Happy Valentine’s Day and that you spend my favorite day doing what you love! 

 ~ Kesley Holdgrafer