Back Home

Chris Hardie For Agri-View
Feb 13, 2026
Feb 13, 2026

1 of 3

Marcia Hardie loves chickens. She raised real birds when she lived on the farm.

Chris Hardie/For Agri-View

Chris Hardie holds his mother’s hand during her final hours.

Chris Hardie/For Agri-View

Robert and Marcia Hardie

Contributed

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Chris Hardie For Agri-View

All writers have an internal voice or muse that inspires their words and stories. Sometimes that voice seems to be shouting. Sometimes it’s just a whisper. Sometimes I stare at a blinking cursor on the computer screen and desperately wait for the words. Sometimes they don’t come.

kAmqFE >J >FD6 E@=5 >6 2 4@FA=6 @7 H66<D 28@ E92E x D9@F=5 D92C6 E96 DE@CJ 23@FE >J >@E96C’D 56>6?E:2 2?5 96C ;@J H96? H6 82G6 96C 2 5@== 7@C r9C:DE>2D]k^Am

kAmxE H2D E96 =2DE 4@?G6CD2E:@? H6 D92C65] |@> 5:65 y2?] ah ;FDE 6:89E 52JD D9@CE @7 H92E H@F=5 92G6 366? 96C ggE9 3:CE952J]k^Am

kAm|J H:76[ $96CCJ[ 2?5 x 2?5 @E96C 72>:=J >6>36CD H6C6 7@CEF?2E6 E@ 36 2E 96C 365D:56 7@C >@DE @7 96C C6>2:?:?8 9@FCD] |2C4:2 p56== Wp?<=2>X w2C5:6 :D <?@H? E@ >2?J 2D 2 =@?8E:>6 65F42E@C[ DA6?5:?8 >@C6 E92? b_ J62CD 2D 2 E62496C[ 8F:52?46 4@F?D6=@C[ 2E\C:D< 4@@C5:?2E@C 2?5 AC:?4:A2=] $96 DE2CE65 96C E6249:?8 42C66C :? `hfa[ 3FE ?6:E96C >J 3C@E96C z6G:? ?@C x 4@F=5 C642== H96? D96 @77:4:2==J C6E:C65 – 3642FD6 D96 <6AE 8@:?8 324< E@ E96 q=2:C\%2J=@C $49@@= s:DEC:4E E@ 96=A]k^Am

kAm~FC 72>:=J 92D 366? @G6CH96=>65 H:E9 <:?5 H@C5D 4@>:?8 7C@> 7@C>6C DEF56?ED – D@>6 @7 H9@> 3642>6 E62496CD – 2?5 @E96CD H9@ D2:5 D96 H2D E96:C 72G@C:E6 E62496C] (6 C646:G65 2 962CE\H2C>:?8 =6EE6C 7C@> 2 dd\J62C\@=5 H:E9 2 DF446DD7F= 42C66C H9@ D2:5 96 925 ?@ :?E6C6DE :? 8C25F2E:?8 9:89 D49@@= 3FE H2D “AC@5565[ 42;@=65[ E9C62E6?65 2?5 7@C465” :?E@ 5@:?8 D@ 3J >J >@E96C]k^Am

kAm“$96 5:5 ?@E 8:G6 FA @? >6 H96? >@DE @E96CD[ :?4=F5:?8 >JD6=7[ 925[ 2?5 2D 2 C6DF=E x 92G6 925 2 DF446DD7F= 2?5 7F=7:==:?8 =:76[” 96 HC@E6] “x 9@A6 D96 H2D 2H2C6 @7 9@H :>A@CE2?E D96 H2D :? E96 =:G6D @7 D@ >2?J 2?5 46CE2:?=J >:?6P”k^Am

kAmx 4@F=5 D92C6 =@ED @7 E9@D6 ?@E6D[ 3FE x H2?E E@ HC:E6 23@FE |@> 2?5 2?@E96C :>A@CE2?E C@=6 D96 A=2J65 – E96 72C> H:76] (92E H2D ECF6 7:G6 564256D 28@ @? E96 72>:=J 72C> :D DE:== ECF6 ?@H – 369:?5 6G6CJ DF446DD7F= 72C>6C :D 2 DEC@?8[ DFAA@CE:?8 DA@FD6]k^Am

kAm|J 72E96C H2D BF:4< E@ 24<?@H=6586 E92E |@>’D ;@3 AC@G:565 962=E9 :?DFC2?46 2?5 96=A65 >2<6 6?5D >66E 5FC:?8 J62CD H96? >:=< 4964<D H6C6 2 =:EE=6 =:89E] (:E9@FE 96C 6>A=@J>6?E E96 72C> AC@323=J H@F=5?’E 92G6 DFCG:G65]k^Am

kAm|J 7@=<D >@G65 E@ E96 72>:=J 72C> :? E96 DAC:?8 @7 `hf_ H96? x H2D e J62CD @=5] s25 82G6 FA 9:D ;@3 2D 2 >:?:?8 6?8:?66C E@ >:=< 4@HD] u@C E96 7:CDE 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD[ |@> C62==J 5:5?’E 92G6 >F49 @7 2? :?E6C6DE :? E96 72C>]k^Am

kAm|@> 8C6H FA @? 96C 8C2?5A2C6?ED’ 72C> ?62C w:89=2?5[ (:D4@?D:?[ H96C6 D96 2?5 96C 72E96C >@G65 27E6C 96C >@E96C 5:65 :? 49:=53:CE9 H96? >J >@> H2D a] qFE >J >@> H2D?’E >F49 @7 2 72C> 8:C=[ 3J 2== 244@F?ED] $96 2?5 s25 >6E H9:=6 E96J H6C6 DEF56?ED 2E !=2EE6G:==6 – D96 6?C@==65 :? E96 E62496C’D D49@@=[ 2?5 s25 :? E96 >:?:?8 2?5 6?8:?66C:?8 D49@@=]k^Am

kAmqFE DE2CE:?8 :? E96 >:5\`hf_D[ |@> DE2CE65 E@ E2<6 2 <66? :?E6C6DE :? E96 52:CJ 96C5] %96 7@=<D 3@F89E :? `hfd E96:C 7:CDE EH@ AFC63C65\w@=DE6:? 4@HD] %96J DE2CE65 92G:?8 E96 4@HD 4=2DD:7:65 E9C@F89 E96 w@=DE6:? pDD@4:2E:@? – 2 AC@8C2> E92E D4@C6D 4@HD @? EC2:ED =:<6 F556C[ 7C2>6[ 52:CJ DEC6?8E9[ 766E 2?5 =68D] %96 D4@C:?8 DJDE6> :D FD65 E@ >2E49 @C 2=:8? H:E9 D4@C6D 7C@> 3F==D]k^Am

kAmx C6>6>36C >2?J 6G6?:?8D H96? s25[ z6G:? 2?5 x H@F=5 36 H2E49:?8 %' 3FE |@> H@F=5 36 A@C:?8 @G6C E96 42E2=@8F6D E92E C2?<65 3F==D 7@C 2CE:7:4:2=\:?D6>:?2E:@? 3C665:?8] !2CE @7 96C5 :>AC@G6>6?E H2D C2:D:?8 42=G6D] r2=G6D E92E H6C6 AC6G:@FD=J E:65 2?5 C2:D65 :? E96 32C? H6C6 >@G65 E@ 9FE496D @FED:56] %96C6 H6C6 2E =62DE 2 5@K6? @C >@C6 @7 E96 9FE496D D42EE6C65 2C@F?5 E96 72C>] |@> H2D :? 492C86 @7 E96 42=7\7665 AC@8C2>] %96 42=G6D 8C6H 72DE6C 2?5 H6C6 =6DD DFD46AE:3=6 E@ :==?6DD 36:?8 @FE :? E96 7C6D9 2:C]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

kAm%96 677@CED E@ :>AC@G6 E96 96C5 5:5 ?@E 8@ F??@E:465]k^Am

kAm“|2C4:2 H2D E96 6A:E@>6 @7 2 72C>6C’D H:76 2?5 8C@H:?8 FA @? 2 72>:=J 52:CJ 72C> :? CFC2= p=>2 r6?E6C[ E96 w2C5:6 72C> H2D 2 9@FD69@=5 ?2>6 :? E96 C68:DE6C65\w@=DE6:? 3FD:?6DD[” D2:5 |682? $EF6DD6= @7 p=>2 r6?E6C[ (:D4@?D:?] “x >2CG6=65 2E J@FC >@E96C’D 362FEJ 2?5 4=2DD 2D D96 D9@H65 FD 2C@F?5 E96 72C> 2?5 =@@<65 2E 4@HD 2?5 42=G6D H:E9 >J 72E96C 2?5 x]”k^Am

kAm%96C6 H2D >@C6 E@ E96 72C> E92? 4@HD] |@> 2=D@ C2:D65 49:4<6?D] $96 925 @?6 96? D96 42==65 “!C6EEJ r9:4<” E92E H@F=5 4@>6 CF??:?8 2E E96 D@F?5 @7 |@>’D G@:46 2?5 7@==@H 96C 2C@F?5 E96 J2C5] |@> H@F=5 3C:?8 688D E@ D6== 2E }@CE9 q62G6C rC66< {FE96C2? r9FC49 – H96C6 D96 H2D 2 G6CJ 24E:G6 >6>36C – H:E9 E96 AC@4665D 5@?2E65 E@ E96 tG2?86=:42= {FE96C2? r9FC49 :? p>6C:42’D (@C=5 wF?86C AC@8C2>]k^Am

kAm|@> =@G65 5@8D – D96 925 >2?J E9C@F89 E96 J62CD – 2?5 2== E96 72C> 2?:>2=D] qFE E96 2?:>2=D 5:5?’E 36=@?8 :? 96C 82C56?[ A2CE:4F=2C=J E96 4@HD] x 92G6 2 G:G:5 >6>@CJ @7 ?665:?8 E@ ;F>A @FE @7 365 E@ 492D6 4@HD H96? :E H2D 5:D4@G6C65 E96 96C5 925 6D42A65 :? E96 H66 9@FCD @7 E96 >@C?:?8] %96C6 H2D |@>[ 5C6DD65 :? 96C C@36 2?5 D=:AA6CD[ CF??:?8 2C@F?5 H2G:?8 96C 2C>D ECJ:?8 E@ AC@E64E 96C G686E23=6 82C56?]k^Am

kAm|@> H2D 2? 6I46==6?E 4@@<] sFC:?8 E96 92J:?8 D62D@? E96C6 H@F=5 36 255:E:@?2= ?6A96HD 2E E96 3C62<72DE @C =F?49 E23=6[ 3FE 2 4@FA=6 @7 6IEC2 >@FE9D E@ 7665 ?6G6C D66>65 E@ 36 2 AC@3=6>] }@ 7@@5 H6?E E@ H2DE6 3642FD6 D96 H2D 2 >2DE6C 2E 3=6?5:?8 =67E@G6CD :?E@ 2?@E96C >62= @? E96 C2C6 @442D:@?D E96C6 H2D 24EF2==J =67E@G6C 7@@5]k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 E96 D49@@= J62C s25 ?66565 E@ 76?5 7@C 9:>D6=7 7@C =F?49[ 3FE |@> H@F=5 4@@< 27E6C E96 6G6?:?8 49@C6D] $96 H@F=5 E96? DA6?5 E96 C6DE @7 E96 6G6?:?8 8C25:?8 A2A6CD @C AC6AA:?8 7@C 4=2DD6D – H96? D96 H2D?’E =@@<:?8 2E AC@DA64E:G6 3F==D]k^Am

kAm(6 FDF2==J 925 A@A4@C? 2D 2? 6G6?:?8 D?24<] ~?6 ?:89E H6 H6C6 @FE @7 4@@<:?8 @:= D@ |@> :>AC@G:D65 H:E9 =2C5] %96 A@A4@C? H2D 56=:4:@FD 9@E 3FE 2D E96 =2C5 4@@=65 5@H?[ :E D@CE @7 4@?862=65 :?E@ >FD9J 8C62DJ A@A4@C? 32==D]k^Am

kAm(96? E96 8C2?549:=5C6? 42>6[ E96J H6C6 23=6 E@ DE2J[ 2?5 96=A 7665 42=G6D 2?5 49:4<6?D] %96J 56G6=@A65 2 DA64:2= 3@?5 H:E9 E96:C 8C2?5A2C6?ED]k^Am

kAm%96 72C> H2D 2D >F49 2 A2CE @7 |@> 2D :E H2D 2 A2CE @7 s25] |2?J E:>6D E9C@F89 E96 A2DE 76H J62CD D96 D2:5 :E H2D E:>6 7@C 96C E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 72C>]k^Am

kAmx7 x 4=@D6 >J 6J6D[ x 42? D66 >J 7@=<D D:EE:?8 :? E96:C 72G@C:E6 DA@E @? E96:C 324< 564< @G6C=@@<:?8 E96 G2==6J[ 6?;@J:?8 E96:C ?:89E=J E6BF:=2 8:>=6E]k^Am

kAm%96J’C6 3@E9 9@>6 ?@H]k^Am

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^^28C:G:6H]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmp8C:':6H]4@>k^2m 7@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am

Chris Hardie and his wife, Sherry, live on his great-grandparents’ Jackson County farm. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2001, he is a former member of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council and past president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. His book “Back Home: Country Tales by the Seasons” is available through Amazon.