Langreck: Hope endures in thankless year

As the holiday season swings into high gear with Thanksgiving, which is my favorite holiday, and Christmas decorations, gifts and treats already being ushered in, this is the time of year where I usually sit back and think about what I am thankful for the most.

I’m not going to lie — it has been a trying year, and hoping and wishing for a better 2021 doesn’t necessarily mean it is going to be that way.

I recently set down to take reflect on the hardships of this year, but also on what I am thankful and grateful despite 2020 being less than spectacular.

Since I have been asking agriculture and state leaders what they are grateful for as the holiday season approaches, I figured it was only fair that I answered the very question that I was asking.

First, as much as I wanted to pull my hair out half the time — and demand raises for teachers everywhere — I really did enjoy the extra time I had with my kids when they started e-learning at the beginning of March when the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent shutdown started.

It took a few weeks for adjustments, but we finally got into a rhythm, and once the kids’ schoolwork was done, and I had finished my work for the day, we would enjoy some family time together and either do a family craft or a family activity outside and enjoy the nice weather.

The second thing that I am thankful for is being able to still have a job and provide for my children during challenging times, when countless people have had to work from home, or lost their job, due to the impact COVID-19 had on the economy.

I had to get use to adjustments in my job, as well. Instead of going to field days, visiting farms and attending the state and national FFA conventions, I had to learn to go digital as most of them were done on virtual platforms or by Zoom calls.

The third thing I am extremely thankful for this year is getting engaged to a wonderful man, who also grew up around agriculture and helped his sister show sheep, which is practically a match made in heaven.

I know the next several weeks of 2020 will continue to present us with challenges that we don’t want, but take time to dig down deep and find what you are most thankful for this holiday season.