I've just discovered (again) that the hardest part of writing anything is
the first line! Having stared at my computer screen for the past 15
minutes, thinking that I must be as blank as it is, I'm not really that
much closer to a topic. When I first found AgriHelp on the Internet, I was
intrigued by the many numbers of folk who had entered a message. I was
also thrilled that the "community experience" was still alive
and well, even in cyberspace.
After sending in our message and motto ("Don't Tell Us We Can't") I hadn't expected to get any sort of response. Imagine my surprise when L. J. MacKenzie wrote to ask if I would write for the site! As a freelance grant writer I spend hours writing about others, and very little time writing about myself. I don't even like to read my own resume' anymore!! Perhaps that's part of growing up in Eastern SD and having parents that believed that you didn't need to blow your own horn. If you were good at what you did, others would pass the word. But, so readers know from whence this writing comes, I will share information about myself.
My name is Linda Fullmer, I'm just about ready to pass my half-century mark and although I might be (soon) 50, mentally I fixated at about 38! I raise, along with my friend and partner, Kathy Hunt, purebred Arabian horses and Blackbelly Barbados sheep. We just entered into a research phase with the sheep, doing cross-breeding to develop a hair sheep strain with the incredible proliferation of the Blackbelly. To help cover the expenses of keeping critters fed and housed, I work as a freelance grant writer, which has the same "feast or famine" potential as any farming venture.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Human Services which I earned as a non-traditional student, graduating at age 43. I still have people ask me what "good" my education has done for me since I am no longer in the general work force (lost my last job as a reduction in force and after 63 rejection letters, finally decided to make my other skills marketable) and my response is usually that I use my education everyday and it's something that no one can ever take away from me. Unless, God forbid, I am struck down with Alzheimer's Disease, I can't be evicted from my learning experience, experiential or academic!
Both Kathy and I grew up in Spink County SD, both from farming families. Kathy is fortunate in that her parents are still living, as are all of her siblings. When I "go home" to visit family, it's to a quiet place with three headstones. I do have a son and two wonderful grandsons, though, and a step-Mom that I adore. Part of the "need for family" has been transferred to our animals and perhaps this is a fault since I can't approach them as "just commodities," but as sentient beings with purpose. The attitude that all living things have a soul, thus a purpose in our lives often comes with a price, though. It's hard to "let go" even when it means monetary gain to keep the rest going.
To return to the list of articles click
on the 
or
on the 
to return to AgTopics.
©Copywrite 2000 MacKenzie & Associates All Rights Reserved