A Tribute to Farm Super Moms

Anyone with kids knows Captain Marvel is the latest female superhero to wow audiences. Honestly, I don’t think she holds a candle to a group of real women who demonstrates their super strength every day. Mother’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the incredible commitment of farm moms.  

Don’t misunderstand: I’m not minimizing the demands of working in any profession while balancing motherhood – it requires tenacity and commitment. But, most jobs don’t require you to trudge into the barn in the middle of the night for calving, then be ready a few hours later to get the kids off to school. 

Farm moms feel intensely responsible in two realms related to mothering: their kids, obviously, but also their herds, flocks and litters. During the recent devastating floods, I was moved by stories of farm moms going to incredible lengths to get food to isolated animals. The same was true when subzero temperatures threatened so many animals (and claimed too many of their lives). I’m certainly not suggesting that their husbands lack concern. Few things matter more to any farm family than caring for their animals. But, something about that mamma bear instinct makes farm moms ferociously protective when their animals are in jeopardy.  

In my experience, farm moms are also incredibly strong. They often have pretty good pipes as evidence of their physical strength, but I mean strength of character and fortitude. Not many women endure the roller coaster ride of farming while trying to raise kids. Raising kids is hard enough without the challenges associated with farming. From weather-related hardships to the economic roulette of the ag economy, farm life is not for the faint of heart.  

Mother’s Day seems the perfect time to salute all the farm moms who are terrific mothers, incredible role models, and amazing farmers. Your ability to juggle the complexities of motherhood and farm life – and so often make it look easy – is the stuff of superhero lore.