BALTIC, Ohio – There is a value to doing good. That was the message John Mark Weaver shared during his keynote speech during the 2023 Family Farm Field Day.

Family Farm Field Day is a yearly educational event for small, family farmers with grass-based operations. The event, hosted by Paul and Rebecca Nisley in Baltic, was July 15-16.

As a young man, Weaver worked off the family farm, near Fredericksburg for Apple Creek Grinding and Roller Mill. “This was a great experience,” he said. “I met farmers and I even met my wife out of that experience.”

Today, Weaver has a grazing operation with 40 Holsteins, housed in a free stall barn. He markets his milk through Smith Food’s grass-based program.

Family is important to Weaver. He and his wife Lisa, have four children.

“Our children are at an age when they can help on the farm,” he said. “It is a beautiful life when everyone pulls together.”

Derek works off the farm, but he helps on the farm when they need him. Julie keeps the farmstead neat, according to Weaver. “There is something about a neat and tidy farmstead that lifts your spirit,” he said.

Abby enjoys school and often plays school, according to Weaver. But she also enjoys taking care of the calves and helping with milking chores. Austin, according to his father, can set the bales for the bale wrapper and is a skilled skid loader operator.

“It is gratifying for parents when their children take an interest in what they are doing,” Weaver said. “It is gratifying to have them bring in their ideas to the operation. When the children are discussing the situation and they help me it lights a fire under me.

“Play with your children, he said. “I still like to win when we play baseball and I may hurt the next day, but it is worth it. It helps you maintain your connection with your children.”

Weaver said his parents also live on the farm and his father helps with the farm work when he isn’t fishing.

“I think their support helps me live the kind of life I want to live,” he said. “I am having fun and enjoying my lifestyle. It is fun to have a relationship with your family on an intellectual level.”

Weaver said land is selling for record prices per acre. “We are stewards of the land,” he said. “I like to watch the cows and I like the smells.”

Weaver said unlike large dairies with monitoring programs for their cows, he has his monitoring program, watching the cows as they are on pasture.

“I like to watch the grass turn green,” Weaver aid. “When you plant something, it is a thrill to see it grow.”

Work is a big part of life, according to Weaver, but there is also more to life than work.

“Relationships with people make life vibrant, and meaningful, and give us purpose,” Weaver said. “The quality of our life hinges on our relationships with people in our homes and work. We eat together and work together. Do we co-exist or do we thrive? Look for the good and enjoy each other.”

As couples, Weaver said the challenge is maintaining the sparkle in the relationship.

“We commit to making our marriage work,” he said. “Love is a choice, we don’t waiver in making our commitments work.”

Weaver said it is important to value your connection with others, being part of something, and contributing to a cause.

“Lisa finds a way to connect with our children,” he said. “It is harder to maintain a relationship with our children as they get older and want to maintain their independence.”

Weaver said he treasures time with his family, whether they are fishing or picking berries. “We must create an atmosphere where people want to be,” he said. “We pour energy into building relationships.”

Humor brightens any situation, according to Weaver. But at the same time, it is important to be respectful in the situation. He added that affection and compassion can alleviate pain.

“You can’t help being angry, but how you respond to the situation makes a difference,” Weaver said.

“How are we going to sustain our churches?” Weaver asked. “There are so many challenges, are they worth saving?”

Weaver said there are benefits to the brotherhood of a faith community.

“You should go to church if you can at all, it adds a presence to your life,” Weaver said. “Other relationships. Good relationships help us think positively about life and this is important to our mental health. We can’t let our emotions control us.”