The Irrigatin’ Blues...

By: Dr. Greg Quakenbush, Geissler Corp., & Dr. Doug Ford, Production Animal Consultation

Several years ago, I passed through the town of Weldona, a small close-knit community about 30 minutes east of Greeley, Colorado. Like so many rural communities, Weldona seems to be lost in time. Similar county meccas like Orchard, Grover, Hereford, Stoneham and New Raymer all played a significant role in the eventual development of large metropolitan areas along the Front Range.

Explorers, fur traders, mountain men and the railroad paved the way west from civilization along the Mississippi corridor. Avid history buffs can never forget the literary genius of the novel Centennial written by James Mitchner. Mitchner actually spent several years researching the development and evolution of northeastern and north-central Colorado before writing his novel. He started with the geological template of the area and then showcased the exciting fur trader era, the discovery of gold, the white man’s intrusion of the Indian nation in this area, cattle drives and the development of the ingenious irrigation systems and farming.

Two of the main characters in his #1 best-selling novel were the South Platte and Cache La Poudre Rivers. Fifty years have passed since Mitchner predicted with great accuracy the battle that would ensue between agriculture and urban areas, with water being the common denominator. If he only knew! Props from the movie mini-series of Centennial can still be seen in the Weldona area.

On this particular sunny August morning, I made a quick stop for a cold drink. The only store in Weldona masquerades as a pool hall, coffee shop, and morning and afternoon gathering place. Sometimes you can even get a burger or chicken strip basket if the proprietor is so inclined.

I confidently grabbed the faded and worn “It’s Miller Time” placard handle of a rickety old screen door and entered the dark cool abyss. Sitting at two tables in the corner were several of my clients and close friends. They were adorned with sleeveless denim collared shirts, seed corn caps, and knee high irrigation boots.

I pulled up a chair and declined several generous offers for a quick cup of coffee. Our conversation touched on the hot dry summer, crops, irrigating, and hungry mosquitos the size of blackbirds gracing the midnight tube sets.

Suddenly, one of my longtime friends blurted out, “Man, I hate to irrigate! These rubbers boots are miserable, the gophers keep messin’ up my sets, and the ditch rider is a complete idiot! Man, I hate to irrigate! I could care less if I ever set another tube.” I felt obliged to share in his pain by telling him, “You should have to palpate dairy cows in this heat. You sweat in places that you really shouldn’t and don’t want to sweat.”

We laughed and joked about our poor abusive working conditions and said our goodbyes.

Several weeks after our chance meeting, a horrendous widespread hail storm destroyed the area. It was so extreme it totaled the exterior of dozens of homes and out buildings. There were even dead whitetail deer in the pastures and on the side of the road. Corn and alfalfa fields looked like the surface of the moon. Concerned about the devastation, I called my friend who had intensely declared his disdain for irrigating. As we spoke, he shared that they were completely wiped out. He didn’t know what they were going to do. “It’s hard enough we lost our crops, but how are we going to feed our cattle this next year? As if this isn’t bad enough, all we have done this last week is sit in the house. I’m going crazy!”

The next thing out of his mouth rocked me to the core. He said, “Man, I wish I could just go irrigate.” Through this disaster my friend ultimately realized what a privilege it is to even have water for his crops. He also realized it is a privilege to go out at midnight and set tubes.

That day, I purposed in my heart that I would be thankful for everything in my life. Thankful for the good and hard times. The hail storms of life are a time to learn, grow and put things in perspective. The hard times unfortunately reinforce how truly blessed we are. I now appreciate that it is “I get to” not “I have to”. Someday there will be a last smile, a last hug, a last I love you, a last sunrise and sunset, and yes, a last day to be a veterinarian. I will be thankful for every minute.

Phil 4:12-13: 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (NASB)

James 1:2-4: 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (NASB)

1 Thess 5:16-18: 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (ESV)