Shane Faulkner, left, and Casey Collom, pictured here in Abiquiu, are pickup men for 6X6 Rodeo Co. Photo by Sage Faulkner

BY SAGE FAULKNER
Rutheron

 I was thinking about this yesterday…as our veterinarian made a farm call here at the ranch in Rutheron because we needed her for an injured horse.  On a holiday, on a Sunday, away from her family, here in the middle of nowhere.  I ran to Chama later, to get fuel for the 4-wheeler, and our guys at the local gas station, Eddie’s Chevron, were all there, working.  On a holiday, on a Sunday.

I passed several semi’s, hauling loads…on a holiday, and a Sunday, headed somewhere. The grocery store in Chama was slammed…and the checkers were all there working away on this beautiful holiday.  I grabbed a melon, and thought about all the farmers and ranchers I know who worked through the day, even though it was a holiday.  And the gal who checked my groceries told me about how excited she was to go home and cook for her whole family because they were volunteer firemen and were on standby at the fire station for the holiday.   The food service industry serving up all their best on this holiday.  Those folks putting on rodeos and concerts and giving us things to do on this holiday.  EMTs, law enforcement, the utility folks who were on call and out the door when needed…as I thought about all those working, I kept thinking these folks are the backbone of this country.

Hard work is such an honorable thing.  On our day of independence, I’m especially thankful for workers who put their all into their day.  Thank you!

Sage Faulkner, one of the best-known women in rural Northern New Mexico, is a farmer who lives on a ranch in Rutheron with her husband, Shane, son Monte, and daughters Keelin and Bayler. She writes about “all things agriculture”, the trials and accomplishments of ranch, rural and family life. She is a familiar face at most county fairs and rodeos in the region. Faulkner is a native of Bloomfield. She earned an associate’s degree in Business from San Juan College in Farmington, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics from New Mexico State University. Watch for a Los Alamos Reporter story on her coming soon!