Farms kids across the U.S. are reluctantly putting on the new jeans their mothers bought them, cleaning off their work boots and heading back to school this month. They're trading in show numbers for scientific calculators, pig whips for pencil pouches and buddy seat rides for bus rides. Bummer.
The back to school commercials are in full swing. Paper and pencils and lunch totes, oh my! I saw a Today Show special recently where they highlighted all the new gadgets today's students must have to be successful – and probably trendy – this year. Not a single item highlighted looked like it belonged in the backpack of a farm kid. I saw no bailing twine, duck tape or wire cutters.
So what are the top three things farm kids need to go back to school this season?
Farm kids don't have the luxury of utilizing a sidewalk all the way to school, or even waiting at a bus stop. Farm kids usually walk down a long lane, one lined with corn, soybeans, pine trees or cattle. During that walk they can't seem to avoid the thick morning dew, especially when things go awry in the night, as they often do on the farm. Sometimes they're chasing an unruly heifer or curious colt back in right around the time they're supposed to be boarding the bus. Leather water-proofer ensures that farm kids can participate in the early morning ranch rodeo and still get to school wearing dry socks. Leather water-proofer also allows the blooming agronomist to check all the corn and soybeans they want and still arrive to school with dry feet. Five rows in feet won't even begin to get soggy!
Now, I haven't seen this on the Wal-Mart shelves, but I know there is a market for it. The Track-a-Belt is a small tracking device attached to a young man's belt that allows for instant location of the often-lost leather waist strap. This contraption is particularly useful for young men ages 10 – 17 that, for whatever reason, have an incredibly tough time finding their belt every early morning. They ask parents, siblings, and the dog: "Have you seen my belt?". They go on to check the bedroom, living room, washroom, barn and the truck. Usually the search lasts approximately seven minutes. Just long enough for the young man to narrowly make the rural route school bus. The Track-a-Belt will make mornings easier on every person in the family.
The industrial strength detail is important for a farm kid. These hand wipes can be packed conveniently in a backpack side pocket and used on the bus, in the car or in the classroom. Industrial strength hand wipes allow the back-to-school farm kid to grab a greased bolt, a sick kitten, a newborn calf/piglet/colt/kid, a poison ivy plant, a wet dog, a shop rag or a pitch fork covered in who knows what and quickly wipe their hands clean (somewhat) in the absence of a sink and bar of soap. Note: Farm kid should use said sink and bar of soap as soon as they're available. Especially if they held the sick kitten.
This back-to-school season, focus on the functional items the farm kids in your life really need. Functionality: That's one more thing to appreciate about farm kids. They don't necessarily need a savvy place to rest their cell phone. Sometimes they only need dry feet, a trusty belt and clean hands.