A Day With A Grandson Is Nothing Like Work

By: Ron Smith

The day after Thanksgiving, I typically sit and regret the overindulgence of the previous day, abetted in my lethargy by hours of college football games in which I have little interest.

This year I made a different plan. Jeff Aiken, Tennessee Farm Bureau president, farms just a few miles from where we live. I’ve been meaning to set up a visit for several months but never quite worked it out. I reasoned that a few weeks after mid-terms, a few days before Tennessee Farm Bureau’s annual conference, and as harvest chores were winding down might be an opportune time for a visit.

Turns out, Mr. Aiken has a tight schedule and the day after Thanksgiving was the only time we could work in an interview. It was perfect timing because my second grandson, Hunter, was out of school and available — willing even — to tag along and get an idea of what his grandfather does for a living.

Hunter has notions of studying communications when he heads off to college in two short years. He has good language skills, has a good eye for photography and meets people well. I thought it would be good for him to meet a farmer.

He even agreed to roll out of bed early on a cold November morning.

We met Mr. Aiken at his Telford, Tenn., farm about 8 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than I had scheduled, a miracle for which I apologized.