The Fence Frolic

In pastureland, most activities surround mending fences, waterline repair and tweaking the grazing system. This year with the paltry milk price, it was more important than ever to get the herbivores out on the green stuff as early as possible. Fortunately I have acquired these necessary infrastructure building skills through the school of hard knocks that benefit the conservation district I work at and the grazing folks we work with. So when a call comes in from Mr. Yoder to join in on a fence frolic, were interested.

I must preface the above sentence by being embarrassed that I didn’t know the term “frolic”, as a noun. You can imagine Robert’s facial expression on the other end when I asked, “You want us to come over and frolic? How do expect us to get anything done when we’re frolicking around the pasture with posts and wire? Are we going to shot put the posts and practice archery with polyposts?” Of course he pointed out to me with many chuckles that in Amish terms, frolic was a gathering for work or fun. “OK, I’m on board now, were going to have a fence-raising,” I cheerfully exclaimed.

The beauty of our Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District working in tandem with the Upper Susquehanna Coalition (U-S-C.org) is we secured funding to purchase a self-contained, towable hydraulic post driver to install various grazing and buffering projects. I would say this simple piece of steel is an important conduit for conservation and the conversations surrounding its work. It has allowed us to teach proper fence building techniques safely, energized farmers to put conservation on the ground themselves and build a network of grazing friends throughout our watersheds. After 3 years and truckloads of posts, our red tower of power is always up for another frolic.

The hands-on nature of our mission to build better sod has also attracted interns looking to acquire new skills and learn why the grazing community continues to gain strength and passion. Michael or Mr. G, came to the 12 counties of the Susquehanna River Basin from the Student Conservation Association (SCA.org) as a grazing/agricultural intern. His first 2 months have been straight out, trying to keep up with the many tasks a grass whisperer does. He has become particularly adept at building high tensile fences, managing the 500 pound gorilla fence toolbox and leading farmer teams to become fence professionals. It’s invaluable for a young person to build comrade and confidence with farmers on their own terms. Mike is certainly learning this life lesson.

It’s always exciting to put in a day’s work with friends and go beyond the technical service provider label. The “many hands make light work” analogy rings true. We arrived to a stark scene of bright yellow cedar posts against a carpet of green grass and beautiful Jersey cows contently grazing. Three men were laying out and pounding posts, half a dozen young men were harvesting and stripping bark from native cedar trees growing on the farm as well as some soot covered faces cleaning out a basement for new concrete and woodstove. Seeing this bustle of activity, we couldn’t wait to pitch in. Mike got busy with the wire and I headed down to the postdriver crew. With Abe and I pounding, others could go and harvest more posts. The transition to different jobs was flawless, like a baton changing between runners.

Abe knows I am generally good natured so he spoke up when I had a concerted look on my mug. “Posts a little crooked,” he asked. “A little!! I cried out over the motor. If you built your barn like this it would be the leaning tower of Peterboro, I joked.” I proceeded to teach the young fence professional to be “at one with the post.” Abe was going for speed and power while I was going for quality and finesse. “On this ground you have to hit smaller and adjust the post more often, I said. Keep your hand lightly on the post and you can feel where the post is going with each hit.” Two posts later he was looking and feeling good about this new found skill. It’s nice at my age and 14 years of post driving experience to see the pride shine through from a young person.

Groups of men afoot heading towards the house signaled it was dinner time. I am especially fond of this time for fellowship and the praising of God’s work upon all of us. Rachael and the ladies had cooked up quite a feast of homegrown meats, veggies, pies and my favorite, Jersey grass butter. It was evident that Robert was happy about having the community of helpers, as he and Nathan exhibited some “set of pipes” in a rousing rendition of Amazing Grace after the blessing. Wow! This can’t be work can it?

Good conversations and full stomachs made for a slightly slower afternoon. Mike, Abe and I concentrated our efforts on the road frontage and making some pretty braces out of the straightest posts. After we finished, some of the finer points of a bigger world surfaced. Under the disguise of brown reeds, not 30 feet from our newly constructed brace was a Canadian goose setting on a nest full of eggs. Watching from the brace rails, our attention turned to how many rings were on an 8 inch swamp cedar. Twenty eight years to be exact with a heart-wood of 71/2 of those 8 inches. We surmised Abe and Mike will be in there sixties before we may have to replace these pillars of Nature.

For me, the old dude, the greatest joy is just being part of something with substance where you feel you made a difference or left a positive footprint on the land or community. As I watched and waved to the many buggies, ponies and bicycles filled with tired souls going back home to carry on the agricultural traditions to feed a nation, I felt like it was time to start another frolic. Tomorrow perhaps. Published in Lancaster Farming 7/4/09 Use by permission please