Weathering Winter Storm Ion
Photo credited to Latham Dealer Andria Fritz-White of Lancaster, WI
“Today is what you make of it!” I often tell my kids. “There is a silver lining to every cloud,” is another one of my favorite sayings. But today even I am searching for the silver lining as temperatures dip, wind chills hit 45 to 50 below zero, and the wind gusts at 30 miles per hour. Winter Storm Ion is moving across the U.S., bringing the coldest temperatures we’ve experienced in almost two decades.
My Facebook feed is filling up today with posts from friends, who have rescued newborn calves from the elements and moved their newborn lambs into the garage. Faucets are freezing and equipment is breaking. As one of my friends posted, “Expect things to break and breakdown.”
This weather isn’t fit for beast nor man. While farmers are busy caring for their livestock, they must also remember to take care of themselves:
- Dress for the weather – Wear loose-fitting layers. Cover your head. Wear mittens instead of gloves.
- Eat and drink warm foods – Soup, hot dishes and hot chocolate will help you warm you on the inside. (Sorry to disappoint a few folks, but the age-old practice of drinking alcoholic beverages to keep the body warm in cold weather is the exact opposite of what you should do.)
- Clean and organize – Go vacuum a few rooms or walk up and down the stairs. Moderate exercise will get your body warm without breaking a sweat, which would obviously cool your body.
We certainly appreciate America’s farmers, who work 365 days a year, regardless of the weather. We also appreciate all of service workers, who provide behind-the-scenes support including electricians, heating repairmen, truck drivers and others. In honor of all of these hardworking agriculturists, today we’re going to give away this beautiful “God Made a Farmer” plaque by Isabel Bloom. Everyone who likes Latham Hi-Tech Seeds‘ Facebook page by 5 PM today will be entered in a random drawing.
