This year marks the end of a
long journey for my in-laws. They paid off their
mortgage on the farm! This is something they really never thought would happen in their life time. Hoped, but reality said it probably wouldn't happen. They went through the era when so many
farms were going broke and farmers were
losing their land. The FHA did write off a lot of farmers debt, but my in-laws debt was not one. But they had the
will power (or stubbornness not sure which....hehe) to fight and work hard to not lose their land. So for the note to actually get
paid off, is a wonderful feeling for them (for me and My Farmer too, since we are also involved and helped make the payment!). And they always said "If we ever get this paid off, we are going to
burn the mortgage and have a party!" So that's what we did. We had a mortgage burning party! We held the "
burning party" on one night of our family reunion. A lot of sweat, blood, and tears (along with a lot of swear words, yelling, feet stomping, and ass chewings) went into this farm. And not just my in-laws. Over the years family and friends were always around (still are for that matter) to
help out when needed. Their unselfish (and sometimes free)
labor is one reason this farm is still operating. So it was very fitting to "burn the mortgage" and be surrounded by so many of these people. Their long time best
friends and old business partner,
nephews and grand-kids that spent their summers here working, the family members who spent their weekends helping with harvests and brandings, to the
kids and grand-kids raised here that
had to work, all gathered around to watch. Here is my mother-in-law ready to "toss" the "mortgage" into the fire....
We didn't burn the actual mortgage paper, we just made a pretend mortgage (a piece of paper that said
MORTGAGE, PAID IN FULL). (My mother-in-law decided that she wanted to keep the original one that is stamped "PAID". She probably won't frame it though.) Then the best part of the evening started: Everyone
shared their stories of their
adventures on the farm. So
AWESOME!! I believe that is the best part of being involved on the farm, the adventures and memories that are made. I would love it if you would leave a comment and share a memory of your farm life, whether it's from growing up on a farm or ranch, or working and helping out, I would love to hear about it. Cuz nothings better than Livin' the life, the Farm life that is..................
