After 44 years in the farm supply, lawn & garden, and feed business, I’ve learned way more than I ever expected to learn. From feeding cows and horses, to planting gardens, I’ve learned that pretty much everything that we do or eat comes back to farming. Cotton farmers provide our clothing, trees provide paper bags and school books, and the good Lord looks upon us and provides the air that we breathe.

 

One of the jobs that I watch is the position of the ag teacher. Josh Utley gave me a quick lesson in what he does as an ag teacher. Learning to use tools, tape measure, ratchets, scales, and many other tools.  Animals need to be taken care of every day is another skill and responsibility for the students to learn.  Lately I’ve been watching the news about the FFA (Future Farmers of America) program. They are learning how to conduct meetings, public speaking, and participating in competitions using these skills. You see, ag is not all about cows and chickens. These kids actually retain these skills all of their life. That makes them be a step ahead of others when it comes to life skills and even job interviews and jobs. Learning to speak in public is a great skill.

 

Well, this is my final article for 2025, so I will leave you with a January checklist. Take soil samples to check if your soil needs attention.  If you get this done, you can get your garden ideas ready. Plant potatoes in early February, and onions, cabbage, and other cold crops in January. Make plans for your rows, and think about using above ground beds. My first one was this summer and I enjoyed it tremendously and am already making plans for year two. Sometimes you can find last year’s soil on sale at the stores and can take advantage of the prices.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I’ve enjoyed writing my articles and hope that you have at least learned something from them.  

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal. Email Mitzi questions at  mitzithomas40@yahoo.com.)