We all need a little inspiration sometime in our life. Some of us have been lucky enough to have been inspired many times. I have had friends who have lost a finger in a farm accident, another friend while cleaning up broken trees after the ice storm a few years ago, had a tree fall on him, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. The very active dairy farmer, now partially paralyzed, had to rely on his brother and other family members to become a lot more involved in the large dairy farm. So, he switched his job to become the bookkeeper of the farm while still . . .
being a major help in guiding the very large farming operation.
We have also had several neighbours and friends loose an arm, foot, eye, or leg in tragic farm accidents. All of these farmers kept farming with some changes in their jobs on the farms. Some became very active in farm organizations helping fellow farmers lobby at different levels for a more equal life for other farming friends who may have not been as diplomatic while dealing with politicians.
We all know someone who was born with an extra chromosome, but these special people amazed me with their skill in dealing with difficult shoppers while working at large stores or restaurants. I have friends who were born with a speech impediment, but could play music and sing better than some so called stars.
A few years ago while visiting Ireland, we visited a small county fair and found a man with no arms who had tried prosthetics at a young age but found them awkward and instead learned to write with his feet. He had written a book about his venture through life, including getting married. Yes, I purchased his book which he signed for me with his foot. I have other friends who have lost an arm in a horrific machine accident, but were soon back operating heavy equipment with only one arm. A few years ago, I lost all respect for a former president of the USA when he publicly humiliated a disabled person.
In 1969, a farmer in Ohio had a son who like other farm kids, loved helping dad. When he was only two years old, he lost both arms while trying to get a grain sample from a running grain auger. Both arms had to be amputated at the shoulder. Although many would have given up and depended on being looked after for the rest of their life, little Andy learned to use his feet instead of hands. He learned to write, use tools in the shop like air tools, wrenches and even drive tractors, semi-trucks, half tons and most other farm machinery. Andy became active in the local Presbyterian church, the county fair board, the county farm bureau and farmed with his dad and uncle on their large grain farm. Andy got married and has a daughter. He was a collector of antique tractors and did many of his own repairs. Andy was a motivational speaker, sharing his message, “never give up.”
Andy Detwiler developed a series of YouTube videos under the name of “The Harmless Farmer” which are still on YouTube. A friend once told me, “There is no such thing as can’t, but some things are harder than others.” There is inspiration all around us.
Sadly, Andy Detwiler died on September 21 at the age of 52 from cancer.
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon on land that has been in his family for generations.
gladcrest@gmail.com
