This summer I started working for my Grandpa. I got to learn how to drive a tractor, and I learned how to bail hay. Every week, I would go to my grandpa’s for at least three days, and if I wanted, I could just spend the night, which I did a lot.
At about nine or so my dad or my grandpa would take me out to the farm or come and get me. I ate breakfast at about seven or eight then got dressed for the day. It was a really hot summer so I usually wore my old jeans, cut off, and grandpa's old worn out boots, which I’m in love with.
My grandparents live out in the country in Earlham. He owns a lot of land, which meant a lot of hay had to be bailed and stacked in rows. It took about the whole day to do one field. You can only take two at a time: one in front one in back. There were about 80 to 100 bailes of hay to put in rows. My grandpa has one of his farm helpers, Cory, bail hay while he works in the barn or in other ways around the farm. Grandpa and I bail and Cory checks on the cows. At about one o’clock or two, we would go eat lunch. We would finish up baling and then go check on the cows.
Since I learned how to drive the trucks when I was younger I am now allowed to drive by my self and without anyone in the truck. When we went to go check on cows, we would always look for Bob. The day I got Bob was the day he was born. We were heading out to grandpa and grandma’s to help grandma clean. We were cleaning out the closet when the truck pulled up. I went to go put on my big coat. Well, it was the middle of winter, and grandpa was trying to move something in the passenger’s side of the truck. When I ran over to where he was, he was putting blankets on this small little cow. He said he was born about twenty minutes ago. I asked if he could be mine. He said yes. It was like the best day ever. We went inside and I was so happy. I started dancing around the house. My mom yelled at me that I was thirteen and needed to act my age. I just cracked up and started cleaning again. Finally we went home, but I went home with a big smile on my face because I finally owned a farm animal all to myself. Bob stays out with all the other cows. Bob has not been seen for at least 5 months. Grandpa says he’s out in the big pasture. Grandpa is doing new tags this fall so we will find him!
After we went and checked on the cows we would just roam around the farm and maybe go and see what Cory’s up to. Some days we would go up to the barn and get smoke out of the barn. I would take him in the pen and walk him around a bit or even ride him bareback. Grandpa kept smoke in the barn this summer a lot because the sun ruins Smoke’s coat. His brown turns into a really gross brown and black color. In the winter his coat is the softest thing ever!
The last week I worked with grandpa, a week before school started, I got to ride Smoke. I went into the back room, in the barn and got the saddle out and set it down. Then I went to get the reins and put them on Smoke. Smoke was so excited; he kept trying to make me get on already. He kept bumping into me. Then all of a sudden, the dog was right next to me. Rocky started to whine and whine and whine. He wouldn’t shut up! And then - BOOM! The dog went right under the horse, which, well, wasn’t a very good idea. Smoke took his hoof and kicked him right in the nose. Yes, that did shut the dog up, but Rocky bit Smoke as pay back. I just screamed at the dog to go away and locked him in the other room. He wasn’t very happy with me. When I got the saddle and everything on, I took my left foot and put it in the stirrups and jumped on. I was ready to ride. We trotted over to the cow pin, which didn’t have any cows in it at the time, but it did have a bunch of weeds and grass. Smoke and I had so much fun. We spent about an hour riding around through the pin the through the barn then around the barn and all over the place. We didn’t actually go out to the pasture because there were bulls out there, and, yeah, that wouldn’t be a very good idea.
The three days before my last day, we went around and put up signs. The signs said Kruger Seed. After we hung up all the signs, we went down to the house and had ice cream. The last day I worked with Grandpa, we went shopping. I think you all know what we were shopping for. Cowboy boots, of course! I have never really had my own pair of real cowboy boots. Out at the farm I always wear grandpa’s old boots. I got Durango boots. They are an adorable green with a pink stripe down the side. I wear them all the time!

My relationship with my grandpa is the most important thing in my life. He always supports me, cheers me up and has a place I can go when I just need space. Going out to the farm and just being there makes my day a lot better.This summer my grandpa and I got a lot closer. Our favorite time of the year is Soccer and Basketball season. He's my biggest fan. He’s always there and always will be, because I’m his little cowgirl.