FS22 map of Fraser Valley, British Columbia (FVBC)
Your father and uncle retired from the family dairy business, so grandfather had already started selling parts of the farm by the time you were born. If he had trouble selling, he never showed it, but you knew how he always beamed when you showed interest in farming.
He didn't need to do much to encourage you: before leaving the maternity ward, you played with toy tractors. You spent your first seven summers helping Grandpa on the farm. You were driving a tractor on Grandpa's lap from the time you were born and on your own by the time you were six. You had the confidence and composure with dairy cows of an experienced breeder.
You walked through the empty dairy the day the main farm was sold and you cried, but you also knew that some of it was in your blood and wouldn't go away. Grandma and Grandpa moved closer to town and he owned a few tractors and equipment and did contract work for his former neighbors from season to season.
Years later, enrolling in an agricultural science course at the college near Grandma and Grandpa seemed like a no-brainer. When you weren't studying, you were helping him with agricultural contracts, it was the perfect balance between theory and practice.
You knew Grandpa had something planned for your graduation. He had taken on almost every task and helped wherever he could. He was amazed by the technology and science you learned and how much agriculture has changed in just 10 to 15 years.
Now that Grandpa is gone, you don't know how to feel. You are overwhelmed with emotion and… excitement.
Yes, this isn't another story about a grandfather who was killed for a pretend farm story. He had secretly bought a fancy RV and announced on the night of the family's graduation that he and Grandma were going to travel the world. Your little house, the land that Grandpa had kept after selling the dairy and all his equipment were now yours! All of his former neighbors know who you are, will take care of you and have a lot of work to do.
He explained that although he is always a phone call away and will come back one day to help you, he doesn't want to stop you from rekindling his farming dream.
So what are you waiting for...
