National Thank-A-Farmer Day. I completely missed this day in our national calendar last month.
Why? Because I was, am and continue to be just “too busy” to think about anything outside the box called ‘life’.
The hours/days/weeks/years just go? I live in this mystical world where ‘tomorrow’ I am going to have all my ducks in a row and have ‘time’.
(Similarly forest creatures will appear at the kitchen window insisting that they help with the housework whilst I sing to them)
90% of the time I think its just me. After all I’m the one juggling a full time job as a photographer, being a farmer’s wife, trying to keep the house in some sort of order, taming the paperwork, walking the dogs, making sure everyone has clean socks and overalls, racing the Lidl checkout girl to pack at the speed she’s scanning whilst also juggling the desire to be with my 92 year old Mum in hospital in Northampton and my new Grandbaby up in Derbyshire.
Stretched?! You don’t know the MEANING of the word!
But you do.
Because the BIGGEST reason for you not being in front of my camera this year is because you didn’t have time. In addition you couldn’t find time in everyone elses frantic schedules to make it happen. You didn’t have time to organise what they were all going to wear. You didn’t even have the bandwidth to THINK about it. It doesn’t matter how often I say ‘Just DO it. Get booked in and I’ll make it work’ – you don’t.
And I’m no different. I’ve been meaning to book a photo session for forever for ME! And it’s yet to happen.
Out of the last 67 days I have only not visited a hospital somewhere in the UK on 4 occasions. I have done HOURS (and I mean HOURS!) sitting in A&E in the early hours drinking dubious coffee and watching everyone else working – which has been interesting for someone who NEVER wanted to be a nurse. Never, never, never, NEVER – not even when I was little. When all of my preschool friends were getting little nurses hats and tiny bags with stethoscopes and bandages for Christmas, I was getting the same and proceeding to operate on the dog.
However – something familiar was obvious. Just like farming there is no Monday to Friday, there is no nine ’til five. As one of the wonderful doctors on A&E said to me one night ” the only difference between us and a farmer is we’re not doing our job with one eye on the weather”.
And the weather was BAD! On top of everything else this years maize harvest was wet but – as any farmers wife will tell you – rain DOES mean we get to see our other halves occasionally and , because it was wet, one of my rare nights away from visiting hospital was to take the team to the 2024 British Farming Awards
Photo Credit – Farmers Guardian
It was a humbling experience to see the best of British Agriculture on the stage receiving their awards. Not least of which were the winners of this years award for the Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture, Andy and Lynda Eadon, a local couple who tragically lost their son, Len, to suicide aged just 22. Their campaign, Lens Light, shines a light on mental health issues in the rural community and raises funds to support charities tackling these issues.
There were plenty of tears on our table as they took to the stage. Both Chloe and Ollie who work with us had been friends with Len and the tragedy just highlights the mental toll that 24-7 industries can take on individuals – be that in agricultural or otherwise,
So – somewhat belatedly – and on a day when emotions in the world of agriculture have run high as thousands have descended on London – I want to do a shout out of some Farmer-Type Thank You’s :-
- I would like to thank our OWN team. They all drive me mad traipsing mud and dogs through the house and getting through tea bags like you would never believe – but I love them all and we just couldn’t do what we do without them.
2. I would like to thank all those Charities out there who have the back of British Agriculture and who just ‘get it’. In particular the team at Lens Light for the work they are tirelessly doing in supporting three of the major charities that, in turn, support British Farming :
Papyrus – dedicated to the prevention of young suicide in the UK
Yellow Wellies -an independent registered charity working throughout the UK to address the attitudes and behaviours to risk-taking and poor mental health in the next generation of farmers
And the Farming Community Network – who run a confidential, national helpline and e-helpline which is open every day of the year from 7am to 11pm. Their volunteers provide free, confidential support to anyone who seeks help -be that personal or business.
Andy and Lynda Eadon receiving the 2024 award for Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture
Photo Credit – Farmers Guardian
3. And I would like a shout out for one of my OWN clients – Claas – who actively use me, not just to photograph their incredible machines, but to photograph the equally incredible teams and generations of Farming Families – that make up this amazing industry that is British Agriculture.
And then – secure in the knowledge that these amazing people will always be too busy and never get a summer family portrait done any other way – they then GIFT those images to their clients.
So here’s to all the British Family Farms and the people who do what they do 24/7 and have the grace and guts to smile about it …… even with one eye on the weather!
TEAM BURBAGE 2024
To see the full list of the 2024 British Farming Awards winners CLICK HERE
Papyrus can be contacted on their Hopeline 0800 068 41 41
The Farming Community Network are on 03000 111 999
To donate to Lens Light CLICK HERE
And to stay on the list for having your own Too-Busy-People photographed STAY IN TOUCH!!!