DECATUR, Ill. (DTN) -- The farming lives of Dan Lakey and Quint Pottinger have been dissected and dedicated to countless words since May 2024 as part of DTN's View From the Cab feature.

If you've followed the series this year, there's been plenty to write and read about from the volunteer farmer correspondents. Even though some 1,640 miles separate their Idaho and Kentucky farming operations, and they raise different commodities, weather challenges have been a consistent theme for both farmers.

We've written about flooding, drought, frost, hail, hurricanes and winds. There have been other trying things, too -- crops decimated by deer. Lakey had a combine that caught fire. Last week, Pottinger's granary experienced an electrical meltdown and barely averted a serious fire.

We've talked about farm safety and crop insurance and employee management and mental health. Markets. Weed control. Machinery wishes. Crop rotations. Cover crops. Specialty markets.
Between the rows and lines, there was one topic that almost always entered our discussions but was difficult to wrap into words. No matter what was happening that week, both men independently and regularly told me how much fun they have farming with their family.

Boom.

Yes, they said fun. And it struck a chord with me because as a service journalist, I tend to write about things that are potential issues and how to avoid them or fix them. I've lost track of the words I've written about the trials of farming with family.

After all these years of studying the topic, I'm not sure there is one answer as to why some working scenarios click and others struggle. What I know is that fostering a bit of fun into the job sure doesn't hurt attitudes. Being open to learning and embracing thoughts of others goes a long way, too.

This week, Affinity Farms will distribute candy corn packets at a local parade. Lakey is likely to take his kids on a dirt bike outing or fire up his 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS that once belonged to his father. Both men have their own ways of remembering the why of why farming is more than raising a crop, even though that can also be fun.

Fun for this writer is documenting those kinds of philosophies. A more intimate look at farming and farm life is a good way to tell agriculture's story. We try to do that through this View From the Cab feature.

Have a story you want to tell? The opportunity awaits in 2025. Send me a note that describes your farming operation and why you'd like to be part of View From the Cab next season.

I promise we will have fun.

Find samples of VFTC features at these links: https://www.dtnpf.com/… and https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Pamela Smith can be reached at pamela.smith@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @PamSmithDTN

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