(Reader Warning: snakes are creepy)
We just never know what we are going to find when we visit the farm. This day was going to be different for sure. Southeast Arkansas was drenched with flooding rains through most of the week before we arrived. Because we knew the fields were going to be under water, my nephew, Abel, took us out in a boat so we could explore.
What we didn't know was how many snakes we would see. So many.... Most were laying on branches in the sun over the water which is their annual mating ritual. We found a couple on the ground. I almost stepped on one.
Abel caught a grass snake as a pet for the kids. They named him Roji. He made the trip back to Dallas but only lasted about 48 hours in our back yard before he escaped. My daughter said “He’ll probably be happier without us.” Wise girl.
Once we were over our shock of seeing all the snakes, we began to explore the flooded fields. I had hoped to meet Matt Miles, the farmer who will be growing cotton here this year, in the field and "introduce" you to him on video. However, like many plans in agriculture, the weather forced us to delay. We shelved that idea and decided to enjoy the adventure in another way.
My kids running through the flooded cotton field. It's hard to imagine anything will be growing here in a few weeks.
There's never a dull moment at the farm! We'll be following this field through the growing season.
Thankfully, Matt hadn't planted before the water came. If the rains would have come a few weeks later, Matt would have had a disastrous loss from the money he spent on seed, fertilizer and fuel for planting. He would have had to start all over again. Courageous men around the country take risks like this every day to insure Americans have a continual supply of food and ag products in our market.