Laura Kendall — Division 3

Square Butte Community Farm Kids Prove Inspirational

As is often the case during haying season I experienced a few break downs this year. One of the worst was finding myself enroute to a cutting job with a flat tire on the Heston Cutter. Luckily I found a side road so was in a good safe place to pull over. It is quite a cumbersome job to unhook from the tractor requiring two large bolts to be removed. I sat down to tackle one of my least favourite jobs. I noticed two motorbikes travelling towards me. I did not wave them down to help. To my surprise they stopped to ask if everything was OK. Yes just a flat tire I replied. I put my head down to the task at hand expecting them to go on their way. I looked up to see helmets off and a couple of young boys standing by their bikes. We chatted about who I was working for, where we all lived and how the farming was going. Again thinking they would carry on I put my head down only to find them standing beside me offering to help me with the wrenches.

I had not flagged them down, I had not asked them to help they just offered. One said he was caught up on his raking so his Dad gave him the day off. Obviously a farm kid who saw a job to do and wanted to make himself useful I thought! How great!

This act of kindness and common sense made my day. In a day and age when one is worried about flagging strangers down or bothering people who are in a big hurry to get where they are going, these kids restored my faith that the young people of Square Butte exemplify the real meaning of our community spirit. They instinctively and nonchalantly stepped up and helped a fellow farmer in need. We all need a reminder about our true community values once in a while. Helps keep things in perspective. Thank you boys!!

Laura Kendall – Division 3 Foothills County
laura.kendall@foothillscountyab.ca

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