Spring is here. The March/April issue celebrated the magazine’s 20th anniversary. On April 21st I will turn 61 and on August 29th, I will be married to the same beautiful woman I proposed to 40 years ago.

On the home front, we have been doing a lot of clean up jobs, fence building and moving, and sowing grass and clover. That is one thing about being a farmer—you are never out of work. There is also never a lack of treasures to be found or rediscovered on the junk pile. Some junk brings back memories and some of it is still usable and just waiting for me to recycle it.

With spring comes my eternal optimism for the small farmer, who, despite all the predictions of their demise, continue to be rejuvenated by new blood and prosperous niche farming (contrary to the expert’s, “it’s not worth it/who would want to farm on a small scale anyway?” opinion).

The pages of Small Farm Today magazine are filled with the stories of small farm folks who love the lifestyle and are controlling their destinies by “growing” into agriculture, rather than blindly going into agriculture loaded down with the lead anchor of debt.

These folks have a plan for their farming operation, but are not afraid of changing the plan if it is not working.

Small farmers are just like the pioneers of old—as they explore niche markets, learn how to sell their products, and adapt old and new technology.

If you want to farm, you can. Is it easy? No, but if you do not start, it will never happen.

If you are short on ideas or inspiration come to the 12th National Small Farm Trade Show and Conference in Columbia, Missouri. We will have 18-20 1-hour seminars; 6 3-hour workshops; and 20 20-minute sessions. Plus, we will have close to 300 exhibitors and many demonstrations. If you do not go home with a bushel basket of literature and ideas—you must have been sleeping. Do not miss this year’s conference. Come recharge your batteries and trade ideas with like-minded folks.