My dear father died a year ago today. He was an incredible person and has been dearly missed during this past year by all of us. He really loved what we were attempting to do here at the farm and enjoyed spending time watching our efforts during the last two years of his life. Having spent his first 28 or so years on the Luehrman family farm in Lexington, Missouri, he was full of knowledge about farm life. 

I believe his stories are a great part of my inspiration here since I think of him constantly as we go thru the cycle of planting and harvesting. He enjoyed sharing farm stories and I am sure he would have liked to have given us a few more lessons on how to do things right, but he also knew that one of the most valuable tools was to learn by doing. “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin.

Here are some more photos of Papa Pete. He so enjoyed celebrating his birthday! I believe it was because he just enjoyed living so much but I also think it was because he relished being surrounded by his family and friends!

Here is the wise old owl as he celebrated his 90th birthday.

And here he is pictured with one of the birthday gifts from that year…a cap from his days on the track team from Missouri Valley College.

This is the 89th celebration.

And many other birthdays and family events we all celebrated together with him thru the years.

Rest in Peace, Pete!