LIFE IS SIMPLE
substantially more than he ever
We are pleased to offer Jerry Crownover’s
“Life is Simple” column. Jerry is a graduate
of the University of Missouri. He and his
wife, Judy, own and operate a ranch west of
Springfield and are FCS Financial members.
We hope you enjoy Jerry’s Ozark humor
and wisdom.
“Life is Simple” Copyright 2017, Jerry Crownover
made in the best year of his astonishment. “How much money
seventy-plus years of farming. do you make per year?”
“Hmmm,” he replied. “And I assumed he made good
don’t you get off every summer?” money, but even I was shocked
“Yes, sir.” when he told me the exact amount.
“And don’t you get about a Needless to say, it was quite a
month off for Christmas and bit more than I ever earned as a
another week off for spring break?” teacher and a whole lot more than
I began to see a pattern as I I ever earned in a year of farming.
answered, “Yes, sir. That’s about “And, don’t you have good benefits
right.” with insurance and retirement?”
“They still pay your insurance
they offered me a big increase in
system?” my pay if I would stay on.”
“Yes, dad, it’s a great job and
“What are you going to do for a
really enjoy the students, but you living?”
“Well, son,” he answered quietly
away, I told him that I had some
With worry in my voice, I asked,
I like the people I work with and
my living from farming.”
days before my father passed
“Oh, sure,” he answered. “Plus,
and have a great retirement
know I’ve always wanted to make
Twenty-one years ago, a few
“Oh, my gosh,” I said with
Confidently, he replied, “I’m
going to design software, but I’m
going to start my own firm and
as he grabbed my arm and weakly write programming that I really
stated, “If that’s what you really love to do. I think I can market it
want to do…you’re crazier than a and make a decent living doing
pet coon.” what I love—kinda like you and
I was reminded of that
farming.” I hate it when my own
kids throw logic in my face.
big news to tell him. He was lying conversation last Saturday in bed, weakened from his battle night when my youngest son The twenty-one year old
with cancer, when I sat beside came home for a visit. Zach conversation between my dad
him and told him that I was going has worked the past two years and me came racing back into my
to quit my job as a university for a large corporation as a mind before I responded. “Well,
professor at the end of the school computer software developer son, if that’s what you really want
year, and pursue farming as my and, based on his evaluations, to do, you’re as crazy as…your
full-time career. raises, and bonuses, he has been father.”
After an awkwardly long pause,
very successful. So, I was a little
dad asked, “How much money do shocked when he informed his
you make?” mother and me that he had
I told him, and I was fairly
certain the amount was
submitted his notice to leave the
company at the end of the month.
HEARTBEAT | WINTER 2017 23