Country living isn’t for everyone.  In full disclosure, there are downsides to rural living, like the bugs and dust and the LONG drives to the gas station or the grocery store.  But while there are a few drawbacks to life in the countryside, the merits of such a life more than make up for them.  When it comes to raising kids, this momma can’t think of a better place or lifestyle to be  immersed in.  Sure being away from the park or museum or the splash pad is a bummer, but I’ll take the acres to roam, the shop to tinker in and the dirt roads to ride bikes on over the urban hustle and bustle.

Aside from the never ending fun and memories that come from countless adventures on the ranch, the lessons learned from the hard work lasts a lifetime.  The list of jobs kids can’t do on the ranch is probably too long to list, but the number of jobs they can do just might be longer.  Time and time again they prove that they really are big enough, clever enough, strong enough and brave enough to do the toughest jobs.  Of all the jobs out there, there are a handful of chores I would put at the top of the list for my kids to work merely for the lessons they teach.

The number one job I would put on the work list is moving hand lines- a job that requires day in and day out dedication.  In theory, moving hand lines is a simple job but for a young kid, the execution can be a lot more difficult.  Balancing and carrying the long, heavy pipe can seem impossible, but little by little the strength and stamina comes.  Stringing together a straight line of pipe can take some time perfect, but the daily repetition does just that.  Taking the time to be sure that each connection is done right and tight the first time saves a lot of  effort of going back and fixing those sections that have blown apart down the line.  This is a job that doesn’t just grow a stand of hay, but literally grows a kid from the muscles to the mind.    

High on my list of lesson-learning-work for my kids would be picking rock.  This work is far from fun or entertaining.  In fact, it might have been the most dreaded task I was ever asked to do.  But eventually I realized that I got out of this job, exactly what I put in.  Unlike moving hand lines, seeing the fruits of my labors was a long time coming.  It wasn’t until I was running across the same ground in the swather or the tractor that I saw that my efforts at the start of this field work really mattered, even years later.  I could see that the harder I worked to do a good job clearing out even the smallest rocks made a big difference.  Simply put, a well picked field meant for a smooth ride.  A poorly picked field led to a rough trip across the field and chewed up a lot of teeth on the swather, making for even more work.  Even in the most menial of tasks, it's important to do good work because you get out what you put in.

Speaking of tractor work, I want each of my kids to have a chance to work in a simple, open cab tractor.  These days, the tractors are getting fancier and more luxurious than a lot of cars with GPS auto pilot, AC, radio, and even adjustable seats!  There’s a lot of lessons those simple, old tractors can teach that every kid needs a chance to learn.  First, that some of those luxuries are just that- an added bonus not a necessity.  AC and radios are not necessary to get the work done.  Yes, they sure do make it more enjoyable, but they are also a privilege that shouldn’t be overlooked.  Second, paying attention to the details of the equipment, the sounds it is making, the way its moving, and how it is driving, is a crucial part of the work.  Ignoring those little details can be the difference between a small breakdown or a total shutdown.  FInally, recognizing just how difficult and uncomfortable the work can be helps you appreciate the blessings and fortune that have come your way in even the simplest of ways like AC and a radio.

Every kid should have a turn to working thinning beets, the old school way.  Going through, pulling the little beets starts might seem counter intuitive, but the sacrifice of pulling the very seeds that were just sown is a critical step to growing hardy beets.  If each beet planted were left to grow, the roots wouldn’t have the space, water, or nutrients needed to grow into their potential.  Pulling those starts by hand gives a direct connection to the sacrifice of each start pulled.  Every harvest requires great sacrifice in one way or another.

Finally,  I want each of my kids the responsibility of taking care of an animal, another life that depends on them. Whether it is the chickens in the coop, the orphaned bottle calf, their 4H steers or the family dog, the details don’t matter.  The simple lesson is that if they shirk their job, it isn’t just a chore not getting done, but it is life that is lost.  Caring for an animal and helping them to thrive teaches dedication, responsibility, and accountability. 

Truth be told, the list of jobs I want my kids to work is far longer than these few because there is so much to be learned working on the ranch.  Each job, exciting or menial, lasting or momentary, plays a part not only in the seasons on the ranch but to the development of their character.  Ranch life isn’t the only way to teach lessons, for sure, but I’m grateful every day for this lifestyle, downsides included, to teach my family in this way.