A New Fence

Fences are a most important part of livestock farming.   Whether the farm is located in a fence-in or a fence-out state, the farmer needs to protect his livestock by keeping said livestock safely within the bounds of his property. Property owners on each side of the fence conscientiously contribute their fair share to the costs associated with construction, repair or replacement.

Typically, fences are deteriorating, heavily patched, falling over.  Why?  Animals; human, domestic, and wild, do not always respect the fences. They feel that the fences are either keeping them out or keeping them in.  And, these animals seem to want to be on the opposite side.  So, the occasional jumping/hopping over a fence causes the materials to wear, eventually to the point of breakage.  Then, there is that random tree which may fall across a fence line during a storm - more damage.  The weakened fences are patched, and patched, and patched.  Thus, over the course of sixty or so years, a fence needs to be replaced.

Our recent acquisition, a farm of 55+ acres, followed the norm; both the interior fences and the four-sides of the existing perimeter fencing were old, breaking, and in need of replacement.

After much thought and consideration, we decided that perhaps we could get by with replacing one side of the perimeter every year for four years.  Fencing materials are expensive. Thus, in four years, the entire fence would be replaced.

Glenn, Becky, and I (to a limited extent) started to remove the old fencing - rusted and snapping barbed wire and woven wire, rusted and bent metal T-posts, rotting wooden fence posts - along one side.  With just the removal of one small section of fence, the abused farm was starting to come to life. We could see an improvement.

pile of  old, discarded fencing

Then, the new fence went up along this one side. 

We hired a local fencing contractor.  Two, sometimes three, guys proceeded to construct the new fence. The fence posts were purchased from a local sawmill.  Let the banging begin as these wooden posts were mechanically pounded into the ground, in as straight a line as possible.  The wire, a new technology, was purchased from the local farmers’ coop. The wire, Stay-Tuff™, is tied at the vertical and horizontal intersections of wire rather than the vertical wire twisted around the horizontal wire as has been the norm for, what seems forever; making the fence stronger and more durable. 

It is amazing what a new fence does for the character of the property.  Hopeful.  Wonderful.  Productive. The farm is being transformed for the better; and we are contributing, in a small way, to the local economy.

After more deliberation; we swallowed hard, hid our eyes in our hands and told Lee to replace it all.  Yep, all!  We are cutting back our budget, in other areas of our life, in order to pay for the new fence for this farm. 

Keep that line straight!

 And, by no means, are we done with our fence replacement. We have plenty more fence to build, which Glenn keeps ticking off foot by foot. But, getting this one fence completed is a respectable start.

Our new farm fence is a symbol of sorts - a symbol of today’s farmers and of all the farmers of the past who contributed to the freedom and to the greatness of our country.  This simple fence represents and promotes hard work, strength, stewardship of the land and its people. 

We are honored to be following in the footsteps of those remarkable and dedicated individuals before us.

After all, farmers feed the world.