Then It Starts Again Hess Kaye

For 2 decades, Amy Hess ever had an evacuation bag packed with essentials.

"I was always ready to leave," the former Army Reserve major told FarmWeek.

It wasn't until she was standing in the center of her Mercer County pasture – seven years post-retirement – that she realized she no longer had to go anywhere.

"I retired at 40 afterward 22.5 years of service. I had no idea how tired I was until I left the service. This gives me rest and also a purpose," Hess said, looking over the rolling fields. "If you lot had told me in 2012 where I was going to be, I wouldn't take dreamed it. I needed time to find what gives me joy."

Today, Hess finds joy in a small, diversified farm with heirloom breeds of pigs, chickens, ducks and turkeys; a few acres of hay and pasture; big garden; and big future plans. "I'k working toward self-sufficiency. It'southward a lifestyle for myself and my family," she said.

With a grant from the Farmer Veteran Coalition, Hess bought a cabinet incubator and started incubating 200 eggs on Nov. 1. "Now I won't have to rely on a hatchery anymore," she added.

Her "behemothic leap," a New Holland tractor with blade and mower, was delivered a couple of weeks ago. At present Hess won't have to miss a third cutting of hay once again considering she had to rely on others. "That (missed cutting) was the catalyst to buy," she said, noting the equipment likewise brings opportunities for custom mowing and snowfall removal.

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With a commercial license, Hess delivers an "eggscape" that ranges from rusty cherry to soft greens and blues to customers across Mercer County.

By next fall, she hopes to have bound turkey eggs and birds weighing in the 20-pound range available for Thanksgiving meals. In the nigh time to come, she plans to offer customers starter eggs or poults to raise. When their birds mature, those customers may render to Hess for help processing the mature birds.

Next yr's plans include completion of a small on-farm stand with a small grain bin roof. The "farmers market place of one" volition offer a variety of vegetables from her two gardens, cut flowers, eggs and meat birds.

"It's a lot of work, but if you love what you do," she said with her phonation trailing off.

"I credit the Farmer Veteran Coalition for helping to fund my dreams, for understanding what information technology takes, giving me opportunities to pursue my dreams and for giving veterans a mission to serve a purpose," Hess said. "Information technology'due south very important to be function of something bigger than yourself."

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Farmers seeking hard working employees should consider hiring veterans, Hess said. Veterans are "equipped to handle and manage stress and remain at-home. Until the job is done, our (veterans') workday is not over. That's the parallel to serving in uniform and farming," she explained.

While Americans owe much to veterans, they likewise owe those serving today.

"We tin never lose our awareness and appreciation for a volunteer strength," she said. That awareness applies to Hess' twins. Her son, Ben, serves in the Marines and his twin, Rebecca, is in the Air National Guard. Their younger sister, Sarah, is a freshman at Mercer Canton Loftier School.

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On Nov. 11, the nation's thoughts turned to those who serve and sacrifice. While thanking a veteran on Veterans Twenty-four hours is a kind gesture, it's likewise important throughout the year. Hess recommends acknowledging them and asking basic questions that demonstrate a level of care.

"If you really desire to thank a veteran, appreciate the freedoms you have," she said.

This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Subcontract Bureau and the Illinois Printing Clan. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.

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Source: https://www.lincolncourier.com/story/news/local/2021/11/18/hess-finds-joy-small-diversified-farm/8650746002/

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