From the Editor's Desk
Round Robin Senior High School
Most students think of white sandy beaches and deep blue oceans when they think of Spring Break. This year, however, my vacation involved sheep, vegetables, and knee-high work boots. The owner of Nine Bean Farm, located just ten miles north of our high school, contacted me last month to see if I would be interested in a unique opportunity. I, ever the intrepid reporter, jumped at the chance to star in my own version of the old TV show Green Acres.
My farm vacation began at 5 a.m. on Monday morning—which, admittedly, did not make me very happy. After several cups of farm manager Betty Kinkade's strong coffee, I was ready to pitch in and make myself useful. I was handed a shovel and pointed in the direction of the sheep barn. Two hours later, the stalls were free of dirty hay, the sheep were blissfully resting on fresh straw, and my arms and shoulders were aching. I chowed down on farm-fresh eggs, piping hot French toast, and crispy hash browns as a reward for my hard work.
Throughout the week, I learned many valuable lessons about how animals should be treated and how important small farms are to our environment. Nine Bean Farm operates entirely without the use of chemicals, growth hormones, or pesticides, and I have a new appreciation for the intense hard work that organic farming involves. I drove away from Nine Bean with a new determination to pay more attention to the source of the food on my plate.
Almost everyone I know, including friends and family, told me that I was crazy for wanting to spend my Spring Break at a farm. After all, I am a city girl through and through. Farming will most likely never be a part of my life. So, why spend a week of my life mucking out stalls, weeding gardens, and shearing sheep? The short answer is—to experience firsthand the beauty of nature and remind myself that every decision, even one as simple as what food to eat, impacts the world around me. That's not a bad lesson to take away from a week's vacation.
What is the main purpose of this editorial?
A.
to share the author's personal experience with readers
B.
to introduce readers to the effect of pesticides on the environment
C.
to persuade readers to purchase only organically grown food
D.
to defend the author's decision to become a farmer