By Jeff Burbrink
Ag & Natural Resources Extension Educator, Purdue Extension LaGrange County

Jeff Burbrink

LAGRANGE — I first started writing a personal column as a Purdue Extension Ag Educator in early 1983 when I moved to northern Indiana. My mentor, Gene Eckrote, and predecessor Mike Jewett, each had written columns for area newspapers, and although the thought of it scared me silly, I thought it was appropriate to continue the tradition.

Both gentlemen shared those personal columns should be both factual, and give the reader a little window to the soul of the writer. Eckrote told me that personalizing the articles is the way to develop a following among the people in your county because the readers get to know you.

It was good advice. Despite loathing English classes of any kind in high school and college, I have managed to write a weekly column for most of my 40 plus years in extension, win some national awards, and hopefully pass along useful ideas from time to time. I consider my column the most important thing I do each week.

Today’s column might be an exception. It is by far the most personal thing I have ever written about. I am writing about my Dad, who passed away last week, and was a big influence in my life and work. A window to my soul, as Gene Eckrote would say.

I’ve written about Dad and family before. Most recently, I wrote about a combine fire he and Mom experienced in the 1980s. I have told stories about his battles with sun-induced skin cancer, a farm accident that took his brother and devastated the family, making silage, an anhydrous ammonia tank accident at the neighbors that killed acres of our crops, even the emotions of retiring and selling the family farm. But more subtly, he was responsible for much of how I think and what I value. So in a way, he’s been in every column I have written and at every meeting I have ever conducted.

Dad and his five adult brothers (all southern Indiana farmers) and their spouses were raised to be involved in their community. Being on boards and committees was viewed as important. SWCD, 4-H, FFA, Farm Bureau, Fairboard, Farm Credit Services, FSA and FHA boards, local co-op boards, plan commission, school boards, and many, many church committees all benefited from the time that Dad and other family members gave back to the community. I think the family mantra may be “Leave the World a Better Place Than When You Arrived.” Hey, I have written columns about that too!

When I moved to northern Indiana, I met others who reflected similar values. In fact, I have a few people I think of as father (or mother) figures, people who could advise me when I need some counsel, another set of eyes to help see through the fog, so to speak. It was always fun to introduce Dad to these people, and listen in on their conversations. I hope you all have people in your lives you count on for advice. Those people are a part of the glue that holds communities together.

What will I miss the most? Oddly, it is advice. I have never been very mechanically inclined, but Dad was so good at walking me through steps to fix my tractors or things around the house. Dad had this amazing ability to look at a nut, and know it was a 3/16 or ¼ inch nut. Me? I never pick up the right wrench on the first guess, or the second or the third!

Family was important. In retirement, he was always building some household gadget or toys for the grandkids. Dad enjoyed helping me organize my garage or tools or other projects, and he was always there to attend grandkid functions. After Mom passed, I helped Dad recover from two knee replacements, and in the process, I learned as much as I could about our family history. As Dad’s memory and health declined over the past few years, I have valued those conversations and the history we shared together.

I was no doubt blessed, privileged in fact, to have parents who were caring people, with good values, who set good examples. I miss them both.