Barn Boards and Baling Wire

Javascript is required to use this website.

Topical Top Story

John Sumwalt For Agri-View
Nov 9, 2025
Nov 9, 2025

Older couple walking in woods — Isaiah 46:4 says, 'And I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old. I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and gray. I’ve done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you.'
Contributed

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

John Sumwalt For Agri-View

“Growing old is not for sissies,” is a comment often heard as seniors like me gather over coffee with aging friends.

kAm%96 A9C2D6 H2D A@AF=2C:K65 3J 24EC6DD q6EE6 s2G:D[ H9@ 24EF2==J D2:5[ “~=5 286 2:?’E ?@ A=246 7@C D:DD:6D]” $96 :D D2:5 E@ 92G6 925 2 A:==@H H:E9 E96 D2J:?8 6>3C@:56C65 @? :E] x H@F=5 A2:?E E92E @? E96 D:56 @7 E96 32C? :7 x DE:== 925 2 32C?]k^Am

kAm%96 A9:=@D@A96C AC62496C @7 t44=6D:2DE6D HC:E6D[ “#6>6>36C J@FC rC62E@C :? E96 52JD @7 J@FC J@FE9[ 367@C6 E96 52JD @7 EC@F3=6 4@>6 2?5 E96 J62CD 5C2H ?62C H96? J@F H:== D2J[ ‘x 92G6 ?@ A=62DFC6 :? E96>’ … 3642FD6 2== >FDE 8@ E@ E96:C 6E6C?2= 9@>6]k^Am

kAm“%96 52JD @7 @FC =:76 2C6 f_ J62CD @C A6C92AD g_[ :7 H6 2C6 DEC@?8j 6G6? E96? E96:C DA2? :D @?=J E@:= 2?5 EC@F3=6j E96J 2C6 D@@? 8@?6 2?5 H6 7=J 2H2J]”k^Am

kAmxE :D E96 “E@:= 2?5 EC@F3=6[” E96 2496D 2?5 A2:?D[ E96 8C:67 2?5 56AC6DD:@? E92E D@>6E:>6D 42FD6 56DA2:C :? @=5 286] p446AE2?46 @7 E96 @7E6?\A2:?7F= C62=:E:6D @7 E96 9F>2? 4@?5:E:@? 4@>6D D=@H=J 7@C >@DE @7 FD]k^Am

kAmy@D6A9 p?E9@?J }2F>2?? :D 2 C6E:C65 25;F?4E AC@76DD@C @7 86@8C2A9J 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:DD@FC:] w6 42==D 9:>D6=7 2 C6E:C65 tA:D4@A2=:2? AC@8C6DD:G6 r9C:DE:2?] w:D H:76[ |2CJ y2?6[ 5:65 :? u63CF2CJ] x 2D<65 7@C A6C>:DD:@? E@ D92C6 9:D C67=64E:@?D C682C5:?8 @=5 286 3642FD6 9:D 6IA6C:6?46 H:E9 A2:?[ 56AC6DD:@? 2?5 8C:67 2C6 D@ 4@>>@?]k^Am

kAm“x =@DE 2== 56D:C6 E@ =:G6[” 96 HC@E6] “x ?@ =@?86C =:G6j x ;FDE 6I:DE] w2G:?8 EH@ 3@?6\@?\3@?6 <?66D 7@C >@C6 E92? `d J62CD 255D E@ E96 56AC6DD:@? 3642FD6 :E =:>:ED >J >@3:=:EJ @C 23:=:EJ E@ DE2?5 7@C >@C6 E92? 7:G6 >:?FE6D] %96C6 2C6 D@ >2?J E9:?8D E92E x 42?’E 5@ E92E x 7@C>6C=J 4@F=5 5@] x 42?’E >F=49 2C@F?5 >J EH@ 3:8 @2< EC66D[ E96 6:89E 2K2=62 3FD96D :? 7C@?E @7 E96 9@FD6 @C E96 `g t?8=:D9 3@IH@@5 96586D 2=@?8 @FC D@FE96C? AC@A6CEJ =:?6] … %9:CEJ J62CD 28@[ x >F=4965 2?5 42C65 7@C >@C6 E92? `d_ C@D6 3FD96D]k^Am

kAm“~3;64E:G6=J[ x <?@H x’G6 366? 3=6DD65 2?5 92G6 ?@ C62= C62D@? E@ 766= =:<6 x’G6 366? 4962E65] x 766= |2CJ y2?6’D AC6D6?46 H:E9 >6 2D x HC:E6 E9:Dj :E’D 2 A2C25@I] u66=:?8 96C H:E9 >6 4@>7@CED >6[ 3FE x 766= :?E6?D6 A2:? 3642FD6 x >:DD 36:?8 23=6 E@ 9@=5 96C 2?5 E2=< H:E9 96C] $96 H2D D@ :?E6==:86?E 2?5 H6==\:?7@C>65 @? D@ >2?J DF3;64ED E92E E2=<:?8 H:E9 96C H2D 2=H2JD 7F? 2?5 7F=7:==:?8 – 7@C eb J62CD]k^Am

kAm“x? >J gb J62CD x’G6 366? 3=6DD65 H:E9 2 =@?8[ H@?56C7F= >2CC:286 2?5 2 =@?8 42C66C :? 65F42E:@?] }@H x’> 5:D4@??64E65 7C@> 3@E9 2?5 766= BF:E6 =@?6=J]”k^Am

kAmw6 D2:5 96’D 7:?5:?8 DFAA@CE :? 9:D 72:E9 2?5 :? 9:D C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 7C:6?5D 2E 49FC49] w6 4@?4=F56D 9:D >FD:?8D H:E9 H92E 96 42==D “E96 A@D:E:G6D]”k^Am

kAm“x’> C64@??64E:?8 H:E9 ADJ49:2EC:4 96=A[” 96 D2:5] “tG6CJ %F6D52J[ x 8@ E@ $E] q2C?232D r9FC49 E@ 86E 7C66 52J\@=5 !2?6C2\3C625 :E6>D] x 92G6 2 4FA @7 4@7766 2?5 G:D:E 7@C 23@FE 2? 9@FC]”k^Am

kAm|] $4@EE !64< HC@E6 :? 9:D 36DED6==:?8 3@@< “%96 #@25 {6DD %C2G6=65 qJ[” E92E “{:76 :D 5:77:4F=E] %9:D :D 2 8C62E ECFE9] … ~?46 H6 ECF=J D66 E9:D ECFE9[ H6 EC2?D46?5 :E] ~?46 H6 ECF=J <?@H E92E =:76 :D 5:77:4F=E – @?46 H6 ECF=J F?56CDE2?5 2?5 2446AE :E – E96? =:76 :D ?@ =@?86C 5:77:4F=E] q642FD6 @?46 :E’D 2446AE65[ E96 724E E92E =:76 :D 5:77:4F=E ?@ =@?86C >2EE6CD]”k^Am

kAm}2E92? }6EE=6E@? :D A2DE@C @7 E96 $@FE9 *2C2 r@>>F?:EJ q2AE:DE r9FC49 :? |6=3@FC?6[ pFDEC2=:2]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Divine intent of creation respected
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Defend Digestive Function to Protect Profitability
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Farmers visit Mexico ahead of USMCA talks
Social media talk burns my britches
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture

kAmx? 2 D6C>@? 6?E:E=65[ “%96 }665 E@ {2>6?E[” 32D65 @? E96 AC@A96E y6C6>:29’D 3@@< @7 {2>6?E2E:@?D[ 96 D2:5[ “p 962=E9J C6DA@?D6 E@ A2:? 2?5 DF776C:?8 368:?D H:E9 6?E6C:?8 7F==J :?E@ :E[ 2==@H:?8 @FCD6=G6D E@ 766= E96 E6CC:7J:?8 56AE9D @7 :E[ 2?5 E@ H66A 7C66=J 2?5 8:G6 G@:46 E@ 2== E96 766=:?8D E92E :E 2H2<6?D :? FD – E96 8@@5[ E96 325 2?5 E96 5@H?C:89E F8=J] … {62C?:?8 E@ =2>6?E[ =62C?:?8 E@ 766= 2?5 6IAC6DD E96 56AE9D @7 @FC 8C:67[ E2<6D FD D@ >F49 4=@D6C E@ E96 962CE @7 v@5]”k^Am

kAmp4E@C |:4926= y] u@I[ E96? ah[ H2D 5:28?@D65 :? `hh` H:E9 !2C<:?D@?’D 5:D62D6] }@H ec[ 96 D2:5 96’D 4@>6 E@ E6C>D H:E9 9:D 4@?5:E:@?] w6 <?@HD >@C6 E92? >@DE 23@FE H92E :E >62?D E@ 4@>6 4=@D6C E@ E96 962CE @7 v@5] w6’D E@=5 9@H E96 =@DD @7 >@E@C 4@?EC@= 92D E2<6? 2 E@== E9C@F89 E96 J62CD]k^Am

kAm“xE’D 23D@=FE6=J :?4C65:3=6 E96 DEF77 x 3C@<6[” u@I D2:5] “x? 2 E9C66\J62C A6C:@5 x 3C@<6 >J 6=3@H[ x 3C@<6 >J 92?5[ x 8@E 2 3:8 :?764E:@? :? >J 92?5 2?5 x 2=>@DE =@DE >J 7:?86C]”k^Am

kAmqFE u@I :D <66A:?8 @?[ =:<6 96 2=H2JD 92D]k^Am

kAm“x ;FDE 766= x 92G6 E@[” 96 E@=5 &$p %@52J] “x H2?E E@ 36 2C@F?5 7@C 6G6CJE9:?8] x H2?E E@ 36 24E:G6 2E 6G6CJE9:?8[ <66A H@C<:?8[ <66A >J A2CE?6CD9:AD 8@:?8[ >J 8@@5 7C:6?5D 2?5 6?;@J >J E:>6 H:E9 >J 72>:=J]”k^Am

kAm%96 AD2=>:DE 4@?4=F56D :? 9:D >65:E2E:@? @? @=5 286[ “$@ E6249 FD E@ ?F>36C @FC 52JD E92E H6 >2J 86E 2 962CE @7 H:D5@>]”k^Am

kAmpD x 2AAC@249 >J fdE9 3:CE952J :? u63CF2CJ[ x 7:?5 E96 4@F?E:?8 >@C6 5:77:4F=E] |J 72E96C 5:65 2E 286 g_ 2?5 >J 8C2?572E96CD 2E de 2?5 efj >J 3C@E96C 2=D@ 5:65 2E ef] x C67=64E @? E92E 6249 E:>6 x 5C:G6 E@ E96 4=:?:4 E@ D66 z2:E=:?[ E96 ?FCD6\AC24E:E:@?6C H9@ :D @FC AC:>2CJ\42C6 AC@G:56C[ 2D H6== 2D E@ E96 49:C@AC24E@C[ E96 FC@=@8:DE[ E96 56C>2E@=@8:DE[ E96 42C5:@=@8:DE[ E96 ?6FC@=@8:DE[ E96 A9JD:42= E96C2A:DE[ E96 56?E:DE[ E96 @AE@>6EC:DE[ 2?5 >J 4=:?:42= ?FEC:E:@?:DE H9@D6 DFAA=6>6?ED 96=A <66A E96 {J>6 5:D62D6 2E 32J]k^Am

kAmxE’D ?@E 9JA6C3@=6j :E’D 366? >J =:76 E96 A2DE 76H J62CD[ 2D x <?@H :E :D 7@C >2?J @7 E9@D6 H9@ C625 >J =2>6?E] x 42? 42CCJ @? 25 ?2FD62> 23@FE 2== E96 E6DED x 92G6 6?5FC65 – )\C2JD[ 3=@@5 2?5 92:C 2?2=JD:D[ r% D42?D[ 6=64EC@42C5:@8C2>D[ 649@42C5:@8C2>D[ F=EC2D@F?5D 2?5 E96 5C62565 4@=@?@D4@AJ]k^Am

kAm$@>6@?6 D2:5[ “s@?’E H@CCJ 23@FE @=5 286j :E 5@6D?’E =2DE E92E =@?8]”k^Am

kAm!6C92AD x D9@F=5 AFE E92E @? E96 D:56 @7 E96 32C?]k^Am

kAmx H:== 4=:?8 E@ E96 AC@>:D6 @7 @FC rC62E@C’D 6?5FC:?8 42C6 E92E :D 7@F?5 :? >2?J A=246D E9C@F89@FE E96 D4C:AEFC6D] x =:<6 tF86?6 !6E6CD@?’D EC2?D=2E:@? @7 v@5’D AC@>:D6 :? xD2:29 ceic]k^Am

kAm“p?5 x’== <66A @? 42CCJ:?8 J@F H96? J@F’C6 @=5] x’== 36 E96C6[ 362C:?8 J@F H96? J@F’C6 @=5 2?5 8C2J] x’G6 5@?6 :E 2?5 H:== <66A @? 5@:?8 :E[ 42CCJ:?8 J@F @? >J 324<[ D2G:?8 J@F]”k^Am

John Sumwalt new mug 2024 — John Sumwalt

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%9:D :D 2? @C:8:?2= 2CE:4=6 HC:EE6? 7@C p8C:\':6H[ 2 {66 t?E6CAC:D6D 28C:4F=EFC2= AF3=:42E:@? 32D65 :? |25:D@?[ (:D4@?D:?] ':D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^p8C:':6H]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmp8C:':6H]4@>k^2m 7@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am

John Sumwalt is a retired pastor and the son of dairy farmers. He is the author of “Shining Moments: Visions of the Holy in Ordinary Lives.” Email johnsumwalt@gmail.com or call 414-339-0676 to reach him, or write to W172 N7735, #932, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051.