America Deserves A Raise

Dad began his work in the U.S. auto industry at 19 to provide for his already growing family. Skilled in all he does, he worked his way from cleaning crew to assembly line and all the way to engineering. 32 years later with a wife, 5 children and 9 grandchildren, he still works 8 hours five or six days a week to provide for his family. While this makes clear his dedication, there is more to his story and always more to the day. An autoworker by day, by night Dad is a family man and farmer at heart.

After his day job ends, Dad spends several more hours working our small parcel of land and providing for the cattle, horses and other farm animals. Add in driving time and those 8 working hours easily stretch beyond 16. Farming is not an easy living. It requires a man of passion, reliability and tremendous will. It requires a man like my Father, Brian.

For those unfamiliar with an underfunded family farm, this means hauling heavy loads, mending fence, clearing pasture and hoping and praying that the food, animals, the century old barn and all the rest of the second-hand equipment will last through just one more winter and maybe one more after that. Farming means long hard hours that take their toll, but rarely result in as much as breaking even. Like many men his age, my Dad still believes he is the 18 year old athlete from his high school yearbook who can work for hours on end, sleep for two and work for more, but those who love him know otherwise.

Still, how do you tell someone to give up on their dream? Well, even those closest to him have tried. As though he were unaware of the hardship, many remind him that his life could be easier if he just gave up the farm, the land, the dream. While Dad is not unwilling to accept help or admit blame when things go wrong, he is unwilling to give up on his dream, his passion just because he has been told time and time again that his life would be easier if he did. Unlike so many of us, he realizes that giving up on your dream is far from easy.

To this end he works hard for his dream and harder for those of his family. Dipping into retirement reserves for the weddings and continued education for loved ones, Dad has given of his past, present and future self for the happiness and success of his family. Please now help us give back to him and give him the opportunity to realize his American dream of working the land while still having the life and health he deserves.