Two large, dark clumps in a farm field caught my eye as I was walking down our farm’s road this morning. They looked at first like a bear in the distance, the angle I initially had of them placing them together.
It took a moment or two before I realized they were tom turkeys fanned out, doing their annual spring ritual of showing off for the hens in hope of finding love.
Much makes us realize that a season is real — spring arriving on the wings of robins, red-wings, geese and sandhill cranes. There was something about those turkeys though, that settled spring’s reality for me as I continued my walk.
It won’t be long before those turkeys are replaced by tractors and planters, followed soon enough by haybines and the sweet smell of freshly cut alfalfa and clover.
The coincidence in what I saw during that morning stroll was in a field on the other side of the road, where corn planted last year will continue to stand at least until the field dries enough to carry a combine’s weight.
The spring has arrived with many things different than we’re used to seeing and learning across the rural countryside.
As WAXX farm director Bob Bosold says, the youngest generations long will be able to talk about The Spring of 2020.
— Scott Schultz
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