Farm Fitness Club

The Farm Fitness Club

“…well a farmer’s in shape without even trying.” As a single child on a farm, there was a lot to do. In big families, the work is often distributed more equitably, but for us it was just me and dad. There was always feed that had to be hauled for the cows and hogs, fields and fence rows that needed weeding, straw or hay that needed to be cut, bailed and hauled to the barn, etc. Farm kids were in damn good shape if I do say so myself! When I was in high school and college, I weighed 145 and could do over 130 push-ups at a time, did 1010 sit-ups in less than 30 minutes (in a contest at Harrisburg High School.)

I work in town now. Every day I drive through the country to get to work. I take the back roads, go figure. As I do, I pass a few fields and farms in between the urban sprawl. I always see joggers running on these little country roads past the farms. The Farm Fitness Club is a result of thinking about how if I was farming, I wouldn’t need a darned exercise bike or a treadmill and I could still eat a plate of cookies without worrying about getting bigger pants.

Not being a farmer today, I will have to admit I’m not in nearly as good of shape. Maybe I should volunteer to throw some hay at a local farm.

Rocky Alvey © 2006
Muddy Sunshine Music, Nashville, TN