These memories inspire reflection on the enthusiasm of youth, the passing of time and the importance of humour. The ability to laugh is a gift. Over three days at the Irish Farmers Journal stand, we had a constant stream of visitors asking for various staff members and contributors. Sometimes it was to do business, but more often it was just to say ‘hello.’ That ‘hello’ is important to me. It brings lives up to date. I love to see the Tipp people coming in. Jimmy Maher calls in every year. He used to bring me to Macra events in Tipperary.

While I was chatting to him, I was having flashbacks to my teenage years and getting ready to go to field days. Jimmy would call and I’d be in the middle of applying the powder and paint. My mother would be up and down the hall encouraging me to hurry up and then scolding me about keeping my neighbour waiting. When I remember it now, I’m embarrassed at the thought of my behaviour.

I see my beautiful nieces putting loads of makeup on their already lovely faces and I regret that young people have still not overcome their insecurities despite so many other advancements. Neighbours have a huge part to play in those early years of socialising. I always knew that the Macra lads would look out for me and my parents knew it too.

LAUGHTER THE BEST MEDICINE

My best ploughing moment this year was undoubtedly the visit of two fellow Cork parishioners and dairy farmers. I’ll call them Tim and Conor to protect their identities. They are two fine dairy farmers and they were in top mood when I met them. We had a cup of tea. As I’m relaxing and chatting, I’m subliminally aware that there’s something wrong with Conor’s attire.

There are crests on his striped, polo T-shirt, but they’re illegible. My eyesight is not the best, but this was something different. I then noticed that he had the seams on the outside like those ‘inside out’ new fashion clothes. I didn’t realise that Conor was that fashion savvy. Below his light blue peaked cap, my eyes fell on the big white tag standing up at the back of his neck. Conor had his T-shirt on inside out. I didn’t hold back telling him. He nearly fell off the stool with laughter.

“Shur,” he said, “I got up in the dark. ’Twas four o’clock in the morning and I didn’t want to wake my wife.”

Tim adds, laughing: “I was afraid to tell him.”

The ability to laugh and to allow others to laugh at you displays utter confidence in oneself. The lads left me and I know that Conor was not going to change his T-shirt until he got back home. Anyway, we decided it was good luck and shouldn’t be changed.

CATHAL AND JOHN

With confidence in my head and a smile on my face; I turned around to find a proud mum. Cathal Moran had sent his mum, Mary, to invite me to visit him and his friend, John Duignan, in the Angus cattle tent. They were named finalists in the Certified Angus Beef School Competition on behalf of Glenamaddy Community School. The competition is run by the Irish Angus Producer Group and supported by ABP Ireland and Kepac Group.

I met the Moran family in 2009, when Sean and Mary were prize winners in the FBD Insurance Farmyard Competition. Cathal, the youngest of five boys, was only nine at the time.

I eventually found the two lads after taking a few wrong turns. Behind them were the five Angus heifer calves that would be going to Galway to be reared by the young men for 18 months on the Moran farm. All the research and financial costings will be closely monitored. The sub heading of their project is ‘mental health and well-being among farmers’. To be honest, I’ve seldom come across two more articulate young men facing into their Leaving Cert. They were able to draw on the Farmyard Competition as part of their inspiration, believing that a farmer is more content and safer in a tidy, well-maintained farmyard.

They are full of ideas for farm walks and so on. I loved the way their ag science teacher, Marie Hession, barely spoke to me. She allowed the boys to experience the limelight and do all the talking. These two lads are both interested in careers in agriculture. The other four school involved are Ashbourne Community School; Davis College, Mallow, Co Cork; Laurel Hill Secondary School, Co Limerick, and Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, Co Roscommon.

LESSON TIME

Later on, I was having a look at the sheep and cattle on the Journal stand. A very informed young man was teaching his girlfriend a thing or two about them.

He began pointing at the sheep: “This one here is good for meat and this one is good for breeding.”

“Who decides this?” she asked. He was stumped. He moved on to the next pen: “That’s what’s called a black-white head.”

She just looked at him. Then he revealed just how much he knew about animals.: “The black one sitting down there is an Angus. They take them around to shows and do their hair for them.”

“Oh, I see. That’s nice. Have they been here alone all night?” She asked. I’d heard enough. It was time to hide my smile and move on. Still, it’s a nice way for people outside of farming to have a look at the fine animals. It is important to remember to laugh to get us through tough times. CL