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Farm life can be<br />
‘a piece of heaven’<br />
BY JACKIE MILLER<br />
EASTERN IOWA FARMER<br />
The orange sun setting<br />
in the west, the rolling<br />
hills overlooking the<br />
miles of beautiful<br />
scenery, the white Charolais<br />
cows grazing the pasture with<br />
their calves, the smell of fresh<br />
cut hay filling the air, my hair<br />
catching the breeze from the<br />
soft wind created by the movement<br />
of the Ranger, and Travis<br />
Tritt’s song “It’s a Great Day<br />
to Be Alive” playing in the<br />
background.<br />
As I absorb this scene, my<br />
Dad, who is seated next to me,<br />
drives while looking over his<br />
herd. He says, “This is our own<br />
piece of heaven, Jackie.”<br />
I simply respond with, “Yeah<br />
dad, I know.”<br />
If you were to ask me why I<br />
was proud of where I came from,<br />
the words would naturally roll off<br />
the tip of my tongue with passion,<br />
and I would support my answer<br />
with the scene described as “our<br />
own piece of heaven.”<br />
Being an active student and<br />
leader in the community has<br />
presented me with opportunities<br />
to see diverse individual backgrounds.<br />
I’ve learned that many<br />
people my age do not have the<br />
opportunities I have on a daily basis<br />
to experience a rural scene like<br />
this, develop a connection with<br />
the land, or have an appreciation<br />
for the simple things in life.<br />
If our family’s diversified grain<br />
and livestock farm has taught my<br />
two older sisters and me anything,<br />
it has been to identify our roots<br />
and stick to them. This includes<br />
knowing<br />
what a good work ethic is, having<br />
goals and motivations, striving to<br />
do better each day, and finding joy<br />
in simplicity.<br />
My roots have been toiled,<br />
tempted and tested, but what I<br />
have learned is there is no better<br />
time or place for this to happen<br />
besides right here in Eastern Iowa.<br />
I am cared for, protected, and<br />
surrounded with an incredible<br />
community that pushes me to dig<br />
deeper, find my passion, and seek<br />
my niche.<br />
Today, I have found my passion<br />
for sharing the stories of local agriculturalists,<br />
promoting agriculture<br />
education, and advocating for<br />
what is right.<br />
When I live in a beautiful community<br />
like Eastern Iowa, sharing<br />
stories about some of our most<br />
authentic and rational agriculturalists<br />
becomes effortless, my desire<br />
to learn more about the industry<br />
develops, and my appreciation for<br />
Eastern Iowa continues to grow.<br />
Thanks Mom and Dad for raising<br />
me on “a piece of heaven.” n<br />
Columnist Jackie Miller grew<br />
up on a diversified grain and<br />
livestock farm in Jackson<br />
County. One of the valuable<br />
lessons she says she’s<br />
learned is finding joy in the<br />
simple things around her.<br />
Some of those things on the<br />
family homestead include wild<br />
flowers, spending time with her<br />
dad, Brian, and a grazing calf.<br />
EASTERN IOWA FARMER PHOTOS /<br />
JACKIE MILLER<br />
82 EASTERN IOWA FARMER | FALL 2022 eifarmer.com
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