One aspect I like about my job is the conversations struck up with landowners who come into the office for one reason or another. Most of the time they stay longer than I’m sure they originally intended. Talk migrates from the weather to crops to personal beliefs about anything and everything.
Last week, my conversation with a farmer centered on community. His feeling was that there were just certain responsibilities a person has when part of a community, whether it’s the town you live in or a group you belong to. Inherent you could say. He also voiced frustration with community groups who have worked hard to make progress and the subsequent generations who come along and benefit from that progress but don’t understand the importance of continuing the support with their own involvement.
That “personal responsibility” stuck with me and I started thinking about our community here in southern Aroostook. I think of the e-mail I received recently from a friend about an anonymous family needing help and within a day the 20 families who responded with food, gift certificates and money. I think of the countless benefit supers held throughout the year to provide financial support to families in need. I think of certain ladies in my church I have gone to in the past for, say, several pies to be made for a dinner the District was hosting. By the end of the morning service, the ladies had decided who was making what and how many and where I could pick them up. For free. Or look at the volunteers, without which all of our towns would not function at the level of quality they do.
Within the SASWCD board of supervisors, many of those same volunteer supervisors also serve as town selectmen, on school boards, historical societies, you name it. I think back to this time last year when the Department of Agriculture was talking about cutting District funding. The District decided to have a public meeting with our legislators to present the work Districts do. I made a few phone calls to local producers to make sure a few people would be here. By the time of the meeting, the parking lot could not hold another vehicle there were so many people here to show their support of their District, their community.
So that we “don’t get weary in well-doing,” to quote a lovely lady from Merrill, it takes many people to contribute to make it work. The benefits? Sense of belonging, support, strength. I think we have that here and our communities are strong because of it, no matter the problems and struggles we face. With that thought during this holiday season, I am thankful for where I live and for all those work-time conversations I have with the people who make up this community.
Editor’s note: Angie Wotton loves her work as district manager for the SASWCD. She also raises pastured pork and vegetables with her husband on their small West Berry Farm in Hammond. She can be reached 532-9407 or via e-mail at angela.wotton@me.nacdnet.net
