Summer sunrise lights up the vast Montana prairie
Fields of grain smelling like sweetest confectionery
Farmers and ranchers always start up their days early
Full and hearty breakfast, making any man feel burly
This morning’s itinerary calls for baling hay
Alfalfa windrows cannot wait around all day
With tractor pulling an old baler, creating perfect bales
Gentle morning breeze fills out the air like a ship’s sails
Midday arrives, there’s time for a quick, tasty bite
Wife packs dinner with her usual special delights
Afternoon heat and wind suspend all baling for now
Starting up the swather, cutting hay as time allows
Thinking about next week, wheat looking to ripen by then
Combine stands ready and dependable, just like Big Ben
About an hour before sundown, pick-up truck returns home
Just enough daylight to check a few cows where they roam
Supper bell will be ringing soon, so need to finish now
Washing up, sitting down with wife, enjoy hearty chow
Praying together, evening transcends with the setting sun
Thankful for the Lord’s help with another day’s work done
Big Sky Buckeye 
Beautiful rendition of a fruitful day! You took me there ❤️👍🏽
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Jan, I am pleased you joined us on Montana’s prairie. I started teaching in southeastern Montana at Plevna High School with 51 students.
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51 students at the high school level means they weren’t all in one class, right? I started in 1961 in Stockton,CA with a 1st grade of 35 students. I am still in touch with one of those dear students.
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Jan, you are correct. The high school was filled with only 51 students, and I had about 20 in my Accounting class.
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I bet you were their favorite teacher! ❤
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a wonderful description of an honest day’s work…
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Indeed Jim! There are many ranchers/farmers who raise cattle in addition to seeding and harvesting small grains. My first teaching job was in farm and ranch country in southeastern Montana. The city kid ended up teaching at a high school with 51 students.
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I’m sure that was quite an eye opener and you learned about a completely different way of life…
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I couldn’t have had a better place to begin my teaching career.
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Excellent. Yes you took me there too!
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I appreciate you reading. I am pleased you found yourself in Montana on a typical summer day.
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Beautiful day my friend and beautifully expressed 😊
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Thank you Ashok. I have some wonderful memories of teaching and living on the eastern prairies of Montana. It is great to hear from you. God’s peace!
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My pleasure my friend.
When I was young I was very fond of cow boy books. My knowledge of Montana is from those books and those days only. God willing shall visit the place one day.
Peace unto all
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So lovely
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Thanks for reading about this view of farming and ranching life from my native state.
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You’re welcome
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Love the rural “texture” to the poem!
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Jim, I appreciate your perspective. I lived and taught in rural Montana for most of my teaching career. The work ethic of these people strengthens their fabric of life, and the Lord walks with these saints.
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God bless them, probaly is the reason why America is strong, humanly speaking
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What a beautiful poem. The feeling of serenity at the end is powerful. Thank you.
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I appreciate you reading and sharing some thoughts. I am a retired teacher who has discovered the joy at writing, and I am enjoying the journey. God’s peace!
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