Season of Thanksgiving 2020

This year, Thanksgiving is different, just like everything else.

Yet, feeling grateful is still the same.

As farmers and ranchers, we have so much to appreciate.

People learned about where their food comes from, along with other necessities such as toilet paper.

It’s nice to not be taken for granted.

People learned how fragile our modern, centralized food system is.

We learned to quickly fill the gaps as more of us found ways to provide food instead of commodities. We are small and far less efficient suppliers, but we offered stability and a bit more security.

It’s nice to hear a thank you.

People learned what farmers and ranchers have known for a long time: Some days it’s great, but other days it’s hard to work with family members.

All those screaming kids need some outside air.

In fact, outside air keeps all of us healthier.

It’s nice to have fresh air.

Many of us coughed our way through smoky air and flames this year. In fact, a lot of us packed a few things, ready to run at any moment.

It’s nice to have a chance to evaluate what is most important to save.

As a nation, we found our voice.

Growing up, I was fortunate to enjoy a lot of extended family nearby, yet the topics of conversation were limited to the weather and a few nonconfrontational, middle of the road political comments.

During 2020, everyone expressed a wide-range of opinions.

It’s nice to throw apathy out the window.

As a nation, we faced inequities this year. We saw people stand up, put their foot down and say they are tired of the unfairness. We saw people who acted selflessly while others acted selfishly.

We faced pain.

It’s nice that it is okay to be not okay.

We learned that most people like other people. We learned to compensate for distancing with technology.

Zoom became more than a common verb used by 5-year-old racecar drivers.

We learned that presenters can teach online, but their enthusiasm can get lost in the cloud.

It’s nice to appreciate the dynamics created by a crowd.

Throughout the world, we were reminded that consumer spending keeps the globe spinning. All of those concerts, football games, rodeos and coffee dates are the small farmers and ranchers of the global economy. Each one is negligible, but combined, they keep the world revolving.

We know longterm unemployment is at record highs, that more people than ever before still are not back at work.

It’s nice to have a job.

When an unexpected check showed up in our mailboxes, most of us paid off debt instead of buying shiny, glittery things.

It’s nice to save money.

We all have learned a lot about viruses and vaccines, forcing us to search for our high school microbiology notes.

It’s nice to have lifelong learning opportunities.

We all faced circumstances that changed by the day, sometimes by the minute.

We learned to write appointments and events in pencil on our calendars.

Change became the only constant in our lives.

It’s nice to appreciate snails.

We learned to take care of ourselves, to compensate for less interaction with people.

It’s nice to snuggle into happy pets, a warm, soft bed, a good book and lots of red licorice.

Sickness, and often even death, has touched more of us than ever.

It’s nice to be reminded that time is limited so we darn well better use it wisely.

In spite of calamity and shock and uncertainty at every turn, we still stand.

It’s nice to live in the greatest nation on earth.

It’s nice to take the time to appreciate what we so often take for granted.

Enjoy the season of Thanksgiving.