As I've shared before, this has been a tough year on my family's farm. But 2017 is going out on a bit of a higher note...
2017 marks 50 years since my Dad began farming on his own in a rented barn (which he later bought) on Route 22 in Beekmantown. Even after that barn burned down in mid-July, we wanted to mark that milestone with my father. And so, in October, we had a party--inviting family and friends to celebrate Dad's hard work and success. My sister, Cori, created a beautiful and rather poignant video for the occasion:
That evening also brought the happy announcement from my brother, Todd, that he still sees his future on the family farm and plans to rebuild. In anticipation of that big project, we asked God's blessing that night:
And then we got the good news that dad was being honored by the New York State Farm Bureau with its Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. The whole family was there in Albany for the banquet on December 6.
If you want to hear some of the kind (and funny) things his colleagues had to say about him, you can get a taste of it here.
We're so proud of you, Dad!
2017 marks 50 years since my Dad began farming on his own in a rented barn (which he later bought) on Route 22 in Beekmantown. Even after that barn burned down in mid-July, we wanted to mark that milestone with my father. And so, in October, we had a party--inviting family and friends to celebrate Dad's hard work and success. My sister, Cori, created a beautiful and rather poignant video for the occasion:
That evening also brought the happy announcement from my brother, Todd, that he still sees his future on the family farm and plans to rebuild. In anticipation of that big project, we asked God's blessing that night:
O
God,
the
author and giver of every gift,
who,
in your goodness, have made us in your image
and
gave us care over other living things,
commanding
us to till the earth and cultivate it,
creating
the animals and giving us food from them:
grant,
we pray, that this land,
which
has sustained this family for more than 50 years,
may
again bring forth your bounty.
Continue
to protect and sustain this farm and those work on it
with
the grace your blessing brings.
May
the work we plan to undertake in rebuilding here
progress
day-by-day to a successful completion
for
your glory and our own well-being.
Through
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who
lives and regions with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
May
God, the source of every good,
bless
X you and give success to your work,
so
that you may receive the joy of his gifts
and praise his name now and for ever. Amen.
and praise his name now and for ever. Amen.
And then we got the good news that dad was being honored by the New York State Farm Bureau with its Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. The whole family was there in Albany for the banquet on December 6.
If you want to hear some of the kind (and funny) things his colleagues had to say about him, you can get a taste of it here.
We're so proud of you, Dad!
1 comment:
What a wonderfully well deserved tribute and a profound glimpse into the promise of the future! Congratulations Mr. Giroux...and family members one and all!
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