Farmers, and family farms, have faith — faith that the rain will come, faith in community, and faith in the strength of family. Contributed photo
If you farm, you have faith.
This is Insights on agriculture, the first column of many on agriculture being contributed by some of the most prominent agricultural organizations in upstate New York. We are proud to partner with these knowledgeable writers to explore some of the myriad issues facing those in farming and other agricultural endeavors today.
This column was written by Kate Ziehm of Morning Ag Clips.
Faith
If you farm, you have faith. We havefaith that the rain will spill over from the clouds when it’s dry. And understand Mother Nature is on her time, not our time.
Faith.
Farmers have faith that the baby calf is going to live. Praying that the sparkle comes back to her eyes, her coat shines again, and she jumps up at feeding time. If the calf takes its last breath, we wipe a tear from our eye, look up to the sky, and give thanks… for being able to try.
Faith.
When a farm family has a crisis, other farmers roll up their sleeves and join together to get the cows milked, farm animals fed, and chores completed. We believe with each other’s help, the crisis will pass, and the comfort of a farm’s routine will be restored.
Faith.
We are thankful for the dew on summer mornings and the sparrows that dip in and out of the barn window. When thunderclouds roll in, we bale a little faster, praying for more time.
Faith.
My kids grow up and watch and feel the wonder of birth and the loss of death. They plant seeds, cultivate the earth, and harvest the crop. Every day.
Faith.
For all these reasons, we draw strength and belief. We pass this knowledge down to our children, as they participate, daily, in the cycle of life. We teach them to have faith. The sun will rise again tomorrow morning, and it will shine down on all of us.
I have faith.
With love,
Kate
Kate Ziehm is the owner of Morning Ag Clips, a daily ag news resource for people in agriculture. She resides in Greenwich, New York. You may see more of her articles on Justmekate.com OR visit morningagclips.com
CLIFTON PARK — Rosemary M. (Olcott) Donato, age 76, passed away at Schuyler Ridge Residential Home on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, after a decline in health.
Rosemary was born on Nov. 13, 1946, to Alfred William Olcott and Margaret (Carr) in Brooklyn, New York. She had a business degree, dabbling in secretarial work for years, then moving on to one of her greatest joys as a homemaker and then sidekick to her husband’s self-employed businesses Anthony Business Products, and Top Hat Auto Sales. Working alongside her husband they also ran an antique business, Second-Hand Rose & More, in Preston Hollow, New York.
In 1967, Rosemary married her sweetheart, Anthony P. Donato. They lived in Queens, New York, where they had six children. In 1980, they bought their forever home and moved to Preston Hollow, New York.
After the death of her husband Tony in 2012, she went to live in Clifton Park, New York.
Rosemary was predeceased by siblings Richard Olcott (Joan), William Olcott (Anne), Dorothy Nordenchild (Lenord), and Margaret Nordenschild (Raymond).
She was predeceased by daughter Kelly-Ann Oliver (David, Jr.) and son, Anthony Donato, Jr. She is survived by children Meredith Lounsbury (Jody), Andrew Donato (Cherie), Samantha Goff (Jason), and Patrick Donato (Sara). She loved her 17 grandchildren to the moon and back: Jen Oliver, Timothy Oliver, Miranda Chase, Shelby Oliver, Dakota Oliver, Gabrielle Lounsbury, Alexa Feldmann, Kiera Donato, Damien Zurek, Jr, Abigail Goff, Aydin Goff, Shelbi Goff & Sammy-Jo Goff, Kayla Donato, Ashley Donato, Devin Donato, and Seth Donato. She had three beautiful great-grandchildren, William Provost, Aaron Oliver, and Isabella Chase. New additions to Rosemary’s family are Declan and Teagan Raylinsky and Zachary Verigan.
Calling hours will be held at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 State Route 81, Greenville, on Thursday, Sept. 28, from 4-7 p.m. Funeral Services will be at Our Lady of Knock Shrine, 2052 State Route 145, East Durham, on Friday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m., where the Funeral Mass will be offered, followed by burial in Brookside Cemetery, Preston Hollow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Community Hospice, 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Condolence page is available at ajcunninghamfh.com.