Plant Your "Idea"

Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don't know if profit will come from one activity or another - or maybe both. 

Ecclesiastes11:6 

Have you ever had those moments where an idea just hits you and you aren't sure about it?  It's almost like those are times you just need to let it grow and give yourself time to really think about it, how it can work, and what you can do with it.  

That's what happened here recently.  We had visited the PA Farm Show and while we were all just a little unsure of the crowd that day we did take away many different things.  We had seen a sign for goat snuggling and thought about checking it out.  We even headed for the line, till we realized it was extremely long.  It was a bummer we couldn't experience it but we knew that we had baby lambs at home that needed our attention and snuggles and well we figured we were in a much better place to get snuggles than others in that line.  So we continued around the show, watched the rodeo, and ate some great food.  

On the way home we all enjoyed a discussion about our farm and the things that we could do to really bring people to the farm. We have a goal to really tell people our farm story. So we talked about educational things like camps, our yearly open house, and some of the things that I do with the horse organization.  Then one of the kids mentioned how bummed they were they couldn't snuggle the goats, and someone in the car went "you know we could lamb snuggling." That right there was how the seed was planted.  

Now as farmers we all know a planted seed needs time to root in and grow.  Much like an idea.  So we all just kinda joked about this crazy seed that was planted, but after a few days, I had plans on how to make it work and just laid it out for everyone.  Everyone agreed to go ahead and "try it" but there was some hesitancy with people actually engaging.  

Let's just say the community has blown us away! Our weekends are full of snugglers and we have been able to talk to many people who have commented how they didn't know we did all this here.  Some people purchased some goods from us for the first time and others are here just for the snuggles.  We know the lambs are drawing them in, but the end result is they get to learn about our farm.  

We have talked about so many things like how old our farm is, what we have here, what will happen with the lambs, the difference between wool sheep and hair sheep, and so much more.  People are leaving excited to see what else the farm will offer, buying farm fresh goods, and learning that the farm is here.  

In the last eight to ten years I have come to realize that when an idea is planted, you really have to run with it.  Some ideas are not good ones and others take years to flourish and grow, but no matter what you have to try them.  As the verse above says, plant your seed and keep busy all afternoon because you really don't know which activity will profit.  I feel farms are the same way.  We have to keep changing, growing, expanding, and well working hard because we don't know what will work and what won't.  Honestly, many ideas have not worked but some have.  One idea can be great one year, and the next it isn't.  It truly is interesting the change from year to year.  

I encourage you to strive to follow your new ideas, but first give them a few days to root and grow.  During that time pray that God guides the direction he is taking you and your business, family, farm, whatever it entails and remember to always get those snuggles in. 

As Always, 

Farming with Faith & Family, 

Amanda