Kendra
Over the years, John and I’ve had many opportunities to work together. Our first “joint venture” began when we became parents. If you’re questioning whether parenting qualifies as work, I’m guessing you’ve never had a child. In those years of working together as parents, we realized the importance of many things, including working with our kids, playing with them and just being there.

All three sons are adults now, and they’re the ones working, playing and just being there for their kids. We are occasionally included when it comes to “playing together” and “just being there.” But “working together” hasn’t happened, to any extent, since our sons began their own careers apart from agriculture.

John
Recently, however, our youngest son called with an invitation. Jonathan’s friend Gerben, a native of the Netherlands, has a large dairy farm and had recently made the decision to install robotic milkers. With 630 cows to retrain, the change required a great deal of help. Kendra took the call from Jonathan asking if we were available, and after checking with me, she replied, “Dad’s all in … emphasis on Dad.”

A week later we headed to Waverly, Iowa, where I had been placed on the docket to work together with our son.

Kendra
My initial plan was to go watch for just a minute or two, but as soon as I entered the massive building with more cows than I could have imagined, I was completely amazed and fascinated. I took a ridiculous number of pictures of black-and-white cows standing very close together, waiting for their turn to milk.

Wanting to go into one of the robotic milking stations, I realized I would be very close to at least one large cow before I got there. It’s not that I don’t like cows; I’ve just never met one up close and personal. I paused to evaluate the situation, and my desire to learn won the battle over my apprehension.

We entered the nearest robotic milking station, and I began asking questions about the responsibility of the two workers and the robots. It was Day 2 of the estimated five-day training process, and the workers’ jobs were still demanding.

I also had the opportunity to quickly interview Gerben. That’s when I learned it was easier to train young cows than older ones. When I asked why, he gave me an analogy. “Imagine this: My mother is at her computer and calls me with a question. I tell her to open a window, and she gets up and goes toward the kitchen window.” As I laughed, he gave me a grin and headed back to work.

John
I have no idea if the cows Jonathan and I encountered as we worked together that evening were young or old, but I know for a fact they weren’t eager to move forward. For three hours, our job was to continually coax, prod and literally push the reluctant cows into the new milking chutes.

That evening in Iowa was interesting, exhausting and a real blessing. After all, I got to spend time working together with one of our sons, sharing conversation and making a memory.

John and Kendra Smiley farm near East Lynn, Ill. Email [email protected], or visit kendrasmiley.com.