When I was changing in 12th grade, that when I started to become interested in cows, and dairy farming in general. Okay, that's not exactly true, I've always respected farmers a great deal, working directly with nature, and coming from such a different standpoint.

Cows as a Rural Symbol

At least in this part of New York, which is very much similar to New England, small family farms still dot the countryside, and you can still find people with cattle. Something about having cows, makes a farm a farm, more so in my perspective then any other animal or product—cows in a field make an area stand out as a farm.

Some people seem to really adore cows. A friend's mom, I used to know, used to have lots of cow magnets on her fridge, in her suburban home (and she didn't own any cows). A similar cow fetish applies to my great uncle, who also lives in suburban Slingerlands, he has way to many cow things in his house—I guess you have to blame my late great Aunt for starting that. Go figure.

You have to note that this silly cow fetish, only seems to apply to sububranites, not to people who actually live in the country. Maybe because they've smelled manured fields too many times, and been around farms, and they've realized how truely stupid that fetish truely.

Lots, Lots of Work

I guess that's mainly just a cultural thing, cows aren't much different then any other farm animal, per se. Then again, in the case of dairy cattle, they require far more maintance then any other animal or plant on a farm. Even with milking machines, dairy cattle need alot of maintance. They have to be fed (a lot—I'll touch on this latter), and of course milked twice a day. Times that by the amount of animals needed to commerically sell the product, and there is a lot of labor involved.

Horses are different, because they can be kept at a smaller scale for personal use, or kept for bored, at a small scale. Cows on the other hand, often produce more the 8 gallons of milk a day, much more then a family could ever use, without sellig it commerically.

Just think how much fun is must be to get up in the middle of the winter, in the darkness and cold, and have to go out and milk and feed cows. I'm sure that's not that enjoyable experience. Or shoveling manure in 90F heat. Not exactly fun, by anybody's standard.

But those people who do just that probably should be considered demigods. They help preserve a lot open space from commerical development and associated problems of pollution and crime, all while preserving the rural character of parts of America, and producing a popular product.

And Me...

Yes, the scouts once made a joke about me becoming a farmer, and some people online have commented on my interest in farming in general. But the fact is, I am not from a farm family, so I don't have the skills, nor am I from a rich high-class family, that could provide me with the money to get started.

Like anything, things change, and maybe when I get later into life, I'll be able to toy with this idea again. But face it—it's a closed group—if your not already in it, you not going to get into this day of age. I've seen stats (I don't recall where though, that say less then 5% of all dairy farmers come from non-farm families).

Not to mention, that being a farmer (even part-time), would interfere with any real long-term carrer plans (as much in development they may be) and would require me to settle down, and generally be much more conformist. When you have animals and a wife to tend to, going to radical conventions won't exactly be so possible.

On Paper Sounds Cool; Reality Not So Cool

I guess everything looks great on paper, and those glossy brochures always look great (even if they are somewhat toxic when burnt). I don't care what kind of animal you raise or plant you grow, it comes down to routine and work, work, work.

It looks so nice on paper, at least from radical perspective though. Your generally left alone from gov't interference, your out with nature, and you feel you have a direct connection to your land and property. You know it's in your best interest to take the best possible care of things.

But then there is that carrying water out to the chickens in below zero, freezing tempetures, walking through chicken manure, washing eggs, and so much other not-fun stuff, that's just part of the standard course every morning. Suddenly your so routine, but are just part of a big machine. So much for escaping from the machine.