Author: lorenzenart

The loud whistle from Dad standing on my grandparents’ porch can still get my attention. When we were kids, that was the dinner bell and if you were later than the second whistle trouble was in your future. I grew up thirty miles from Nana and Poppy but every day after school we would pack our school bag with homework and play stuff, inhale a snack, and change to go to the farm with Dad and Mom. My brother and I would play on the quarter section or 160 acres that made up the home place outside of Lawton, Oklahoma. My cousins lived within a half mile of my grandparents and were always ready for an adventure. We mud skated in the ponds, fixed on old chicken coop for a club house, played hid and seek in the machinery and barn. Tag was either on the 5 foot round bales or in the metal cow lot. To say the least we were busy. When play time came to cars and high school, I joined FFA. My brother and I showed cattle from our own family herd. During the four years I worked show cattle. My first big show at the City all I wanted was not to be last. I got into the arena with 15 heifers (girl cows) weighing around 500 pounds. Honey, my show calf, went into heat and all I could do was keep all four legs on the ground. I wanted out of there quick. While we were cleaning her up, Dad rubbed her chin like I do to keep her calm and she rears up and starts dancing. Too bad I did not realize that in the show ring. In college at Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma, I choose a artistic path and studied for a BA in art with a minor in English. I still loved the farm but I thought art would be fun. Five years later I had a Teaching certificate and teach art at a local middle school. Do not believe I gave up farming. I am married to a good man that farms his grandparents’ land that is only twenty miles from my own grandparents’ farm. I guess I just could not keep from being around it. I love the smell of fresh turned fields, and hay lying to be baled. I enjoy the movement of the young calves as they play among the field.