search.noResults

search.searching

dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
42


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • DECEMBER 2019


Performance anxiety knows no boundaries The best we can do is to just do the best we can


Winter is coming, and soon I will be called upon to


cook. I am capable of cooking, but it’s not a regular occurrence and often I am too dirty anyways. Farming comes first, most of the year. Somewhat on purpose, I cultivate the impression that I do a lot of cooking. I talk like I know my way around a kitchen because I have


Farm Story by ANNA HELMER


listened to great cooks talk about cooking


and I repeat that. I sell more potatoes if I can talk knowledgeably about how to cook them. Winter is when I practice. In terms of culinary aptitude, I cook like I weld. That


is to say, I take an infrequent stab at it and about 75% of the work is sub-par, with the other 25% really quite nice. These are serviceable results: I can feed people and join up metal bits. I am digressing rather unforgivably right now. Very


pre-occupied, in fact. As president of my local farmers’ institute, I (very) occasionally get calls from reporters working for the paper in the next town over asking for a quote on farming-related issues. Today’s topic was the new Agricultural Land Reserve regulations that are causing a furore in the province among certain farmland owners: my quote is not going to endear me to them. I really do believe that we should just leave all the land in the ALR alone – completely alone, apart from farming or grazing. It would be nice if a landowner were actually required to farm or graze but in the meantime no lot-line adjustments, no new houses, no subdivisions. For good measure, I added that I don’t believe it’s the job of government to figure out how to


make farming profitable. My tax dollars should be used to maintain a strong ALR, not to dream up ways for people to make a living in it. Now, I don’t consider it a big deal that I hold this


view. I am not in charge of anything and am probably unelectable, so I won’t be swaying the argument. I even maintain friendships with people who do not agree with me. The reporter seemed surprised by my comments,


though. This reaction is making me even more jittery than usual after conversations with the press. Did I say something I didn’t mean? Was it way off base? Did I overly offend? Possibly he wrote it down wrong? I can’t stop thinking about it. I won’t have it resolved


until Thursday, when the paper comes out. Till then, a slight tizzy for a mindset. Back to cooking and welding. I like to cook but it’s


never exactly a care-free experience and my initial vision often fails to materialize. I like to weld, too, but I don’t do it for fun or sport. I


get performance anxiety when called upon. Pleased as punch when the occasion arises, of course, but people mustn’t expect miracles. Little formal training and insufficient practice has not led to mastery. Far from it. I still jerk back in surprise each time an arc sparks, and then jam the stick back onto the metal and get it stuck there. I am sadly not unfamiliar with the hollow sound behind the crackle that indicates I’ve blown a new hole through the metal. Even with a light-activated visor, I still seem to be mostly blind, although reading glasses might help. It’ll be my turn to cook for book club soon, and I’m hosting Christmas dinner. I guess it’s like talking to reporters: try to keep it uncomplicated for as long as possible, but eventually heave a sigh of resignation and carry on. Anna Helmer farms with her family and friends in the Pemberton Valley, and they make it good.


Thank you to our partners, volunteers and 4-H families for making 2019


National Partners Platinum Partners 4-H BC Founda on


Amaing! Gold Partners Silver Partners British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association


Bronze Partners Diana’s Monogramming


University of the Fraser Valley 4-imprint


Ritchie Smith Feeds


Royal Printers


BC Farm & Ranch Realty Corp. Ag More than Ever


TNT Hay & Ca琀le Sales


TD Canada Trust


Horse Council of BC Rogers Foods Ag Safe


BC Greenhouse Growers Assoc. BC Cranberry Marke琀ng Assoc. TRU Sustainable Ranching


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48