Yes We Can...and we did!

Wow! What a day for America. On this day last year, there was doom and gloom among us and not much to look forward to-for the economy. Or our cheese business. Well, that changed in 2008 and so now has our whole country.

When JFK poetically said decades ago, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what YOU can do for your country" now resonates with our 44th president of the United States of America. This great country was built on what I called 'a tossed salad' in my entrance application to college many years ago. I had the task of writing an essay describing why this country was a mixed bag or salad of different peoples, if you will.

I too am from Hawaii and largely raised by my maternal grandmother, I also attended Punahou School, as did Barack Obama. I have traveled quite a bit, as has he, and this brings with it a sense of open mindedness that is not often found when one lives in one town or place his or her entire life. That is not to say I generalize. It is just that one is exposed to many different types of people, cultures, beliefs, cuisines etc. And early on. We all bring with us our own life experiences.

Today was and IS an incredible day. As I ventured out on deliveries today after the cheese make I noticed the roads totally devoid of cars. The buildings were mostly empty. Only those who must work were out and about. I delivered to one tavern and saw the entire place packed with people, mostly young, at the bar, watching Barack Obama's inaugural address. I listened to it, mostly, in its entirety in the car, with great coverage on NPR. Brilliantly written, I resonated with what he had to say especially to inspire service, and responsibility. We are living in the techno age, the most recent young generation, about to graduate from high school or college has grown up unlike any other generation. I think they call it the X gens. Mostly exposed to computers, emailing, texting-- things appear like instant gratification. Baby booming parents often times, instilled in them a sense of deservedness, perhaps from a well-intentioned desire to provide what they did not have. The people who have come before us without peace in the world and economies in disrepair know the true value of hard work and service. I am hoping in this time now with Barack Obama, the younger generations that come after will be able to rise up to the challenge and work hard, give service, volunteer. It is not about the almighty dollar, or getting good grades to attain the highest paying job but about mindfulness, gratitude and being a steward of the world. As farmers, we like to call ourselves stewards of the land. This means we don't own the land for ownership sake but 'own' our behavior on it. That is to say, we must account for our actions. Just like we must be accountable for our actions in service, at work, and to our Mother Earth. I can say this as I have been a farmer most of my adult life, therefore quite trained at hard work and accountability. Anything that happens on a farm aside from acts of God (weather) is at the conscience of the farmer. And even though I have both a B.A and a B.S (quite over qualified for the job), I feel as though my service to these animals and this land make me more whole. I strive to provide healthy food, humanely raised to the folks we encounter here on this little piece of the Earth. So now on to better things and giving service. Let us begin and ride this next journey..........It shall prove to be a very powerful one.