Category Archives: Farm Table Talk

I grew up in a world where chores weren’t optional.  Wood had to be stacked. Animals had to be fed. Gardens had to be weeded.  And if you didn’t do it, you learned the hard way—because survival didn’t wait for excuses.  But kids today? They live in a different world.  One where discipline is questioned. Continue reading “Farm Table Talk: Soft Kids, Hard Lessons”

I’ve spent years doing the inner work.Facing my own biases.Naming my character defects.Learning how to love people I once judged.And through that process, I’ve come to believe something deeply:Everyone deserves compassion.Not just the polished.Not just the agreeable.Not just the ones who make it easy. Everyone. I’ve seen addicts who once did horrendous things become gentle,Continue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Courage to Change”

I’ve been on the receiving end of a lot of comments lately.Some curious.Some critical.Some downright cruel. And while I’m used to public dialogue—used to explaining, clarifying, and educating—I want to pause and ask a deeper question:When did we start treating our neighbors like enemies? I’ve received comments on my posts from people who’ve driven byContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: When Judgment Replaces Neighborliness”

By Traci I’m a farmer. A livestock farmer, to be exact. I’ve got dirt under my nails, hay in my hair, and a family line that’s been rooted in this country for generations. And I’m here to say something that shouldn’t be controversial:You don’t have to erase your culture to belong in America. We’ve alwaysContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: You Don’t Have to Erase Yourself to Belong Here”

By Traci We’re wrapping up harvest season out here. That means long days, heavy equipment, and roads filled with tractors, combines, grain carts, and semis hauling the literal fruits of our labor. And every year, without fail, we see the same thing:Impatient drivers flying around farm equipment in no-passing zones.Tailgating semis like they’re sports cars.SwervingContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: You Can’t Eat Without Us—So Slow the Hell Down”

By Traci Indiana says no new child care vouchers until 2027. That means thousands of families—including mine—are left scrambling. The COVID-era funding dried up, and instead of building a bridge, the state just walked away. They knew the funding would expire.They had years to prepare.And they chose not to. But here’s the thing: I’m doneContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: No Vouchers? We’ll Build Something Better”

If I weren’t living here, I’d probably be laughing too. From the outside, America looks like a reality show with too many seasons. The plot twists are absurd, the characters are corrupt, and the audience is wondering how we haven’t canceled ourselves yet. But I’m not on the outside. I’m in it. And I askContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: If I Weren’t Living Here, I’d Be Laughing Too”

I don’t give a flying monkey fart who’s to blame for the shutdown. I don’t care if it’s the Democrats refusing to budge on healthcare or the Republicans refusing to come to the table. I don’t care whose press conference sounds more polished or who’s winning the blame game on cable news. What I careContinue reading “Farm Table Talk: The Barn Is Falling Down”