Gonna have time to farm FINALLY starting dec 31

Being a County Commissioner and a school
bus driver dont give a farmer much time to
focus on the farm or major repairs. I
parked the bus a month ago when i got the
flu. My last mtg as a Commissioner is
Monday the 19th, 17 yrs of service. Before
all that I was running a Home improvement
Business that never knew Quit. Siding and
Trim work provided Me with over 230 acres
on 3 farms. I turned that business over to
My son in 2005. No one ever gave me
anything but a opportunity..and i ran with
it every time... . Now The fun part
,Since I am departing, i will have the
floor to speak of The State of the County,
concerning all aspects of safety, health
and welfare of our citizens. What the
future might become,and the importance of
education, commerce and free enterprise.
What seldom gets mentioned the constant
regrowth of AGRICULTURE that has sustained
Our Families for over 225 yrs. Time and
again , We had rust industry work come
here and make promises . We then built
subdivisions across good pasture and
cornfields so the move-in workers would
have a place to live.Then,when the tax
abatement matures.. someplace hundreds of
miles away raises their skirt higher with
lush tax abatements, Then the rusty Boys
pack up and leave the county. But ,Our
farmers never leave a crop in the field or
a unwanted calf. They keep planting and
bringing in the harvest and meet the needs
of their family,year after year , then
share everything with their neighbors and
friends. I had a ARMY pal that trained
new recruited kids to run tanks at Fort
Knox. He proclaimed as a rule that country
kids were the best marksman, maintain good
conduct and discipline, and in no time
could handle a piece of equipment like they
were born on it. Of course there are
exceptions. But Those country kids knew
the capbilities of their machine and its
limits in no time. // Now the rub .. I got
Railroaded out of County government by a
bunch of snot nosed citiots who hijacked
our central party. they dont like guys like
Me ,. I made it big on my own thru sweat
and hard work and being honest and fair .I
never took the bait and dodged their
snares and always maintained dignity and
stayed true to my principles. I am the same
guy i was back in 1998 when i became a
precinct committeeman .But , I dont have a
college degree either.My Values and Virtues
are nothing like theirs,,.. If they could
even spell it, let alone grasp a wisp of it
,And They Despise My Farmland Preservation
efforts.which really pisezMEoFF...Neither
of them have children,So why should they
care about how this county is 50 ,100
,200yrs from now,. But i do. SO...I just
might take a few potshots at their sorry
arses monday nite

Right on !

Exactly! I would tell them my thoughts too. Besides, what are they going to do...fire you? Lol

A few thoughts come to mind: dont burn bridges. Maybe best to look up on line some retirement speech ideas and be positive about the things you know and like. Slamming the door on the way out is probably shortsighted. And, I see your point but I would refrain. Catch more flies with honey. Good luck.

that is my wife,s thoughts also, i will be careful

Say what you want to say but do it with dignity and class. You need to be remembered for the 17 years of service not for the last commisioner meeting were you let em have it. Believe me I understand where you're coming from.

Educating them about responsibility beyond their opinion is the legacy to leave. It is OK to carve a pumpkin, but it needs to be better looking afterwords Jim

17 years of service as a county commissioner, I would say that is a nice long run. About 10 or 12 is about as long as anyone stays in where I am at.

I'm not sure where you are from, but where I am from, the county commissioners are elected. If it's the same where you are at, it sounds more like you lost an election, rather than getting railroaded out. If the voters have spoken, maybe it's just time to move on. Start a new chapter in life.

I'd say welcome to retirement and farming. But your post sounds more like a rant from losing the election, than it does about the excitement of finally being able to farm at your own free will. Sounds like you would of preferred to of still been a commissioner. If that's the way it really is, are you really going to be able to enjoy doing nothing but farming?? Because bottom line, it comes down to doing what really makes you happy. It really does. And if that was being a commissioner?? Just saying.

Anyways, there really isn't no need to start shooting fish in a barrel at your state of the county address. That'll add up to nothing but making enemies. If you say positive things, it'll be forgotten about by breakfast the next morning. But if you say negative things, and especially if you lash out towards others, it'll be remembered for years down the road. And not in a good way. Kind of like an angry mourner who speaks out at a funeral. It'll be remembered in that kind of way. The kind of way, that nothing good can come out of it.

You'd be way better advised to just make a positive speech. Talk about the good things you accomplished while being commissioner. And just be glad that you won't have to take the blame for any of the mistakes the new commissioner is about to make and be responsible for. If he's as bad as you feel he is, it is a sure thing to come. Isn't it??? He's going to find out real quick, that you don't stay in office for 17 years by being a bad commissioner. Right??

This could be the most important speech of your career. It will be recorded in the county record and the high points might be published in the local newspapers. This will be how your career in public service will be remembered. Do you really want to drag up petty disagreements and ridicule the majority of the voters because you did not get your way or do you want to remind the whole county of the best things that were accomplished while you were in office, how everyone in the county benefited, and to use the opportunity thank the people you worked with during that time in office. This speech could determine whether people will truly say thank you for your service or good riddance.

Don't waste your breath as no one will care,I live in a county where only about 10 per cent of the residents were born here and very few even native Virginians.You won't stop the changes so you can either wear yourself out fighting it or try to make the best of things.In some ways life is better now than years ago when my area was totally rural.I'm still on the farm and its not much different from 1960,still have the great views of the Blue Ridge Mts,still raise my livestock and garden.Also some of my new neighbors have turned out to be real good and none have a bull that tears up my fences.(LOL)

The very best to you,,from NJ

Stick to the high road. Be remembered for how you served for many years.

This is for all my dear Brothers here .. Thank You for steering Me correct on to the Hi road ,And the straight and narrow ,,.. I honestly must tell You that You were my TEST audience. I had been writing these thoughts and usually glean off the most meaningful to use in the finish one. As i wrote ,I Too was not pleased with the body of it. So I transferred alot here and framed it further for clarity.after reading it. AND before posting it , I knew it was a stinker of sour grapes.. ANd Most of You guys confirmed it , And to the Guys that Yelled Give UM He!! Jim! .. You guys are the ones I could march into battle with, And We would WIN against overwhelming odds ! To be honest,I have had Health trouble since March of 2016when i was operated on for stage 3 colon cancer. So ,I really am on borrowed time granted from our Father Above .My health was very poor this spring with head and sinus and being down in my back from getting run down by a cow, Then i had kidney issues. 10 days before the election My wife had surgery where she had 4 vertebre bolted together. i spent my nights with her.and days were puncuated with mtgs and driving the durn bus.I truly was tired, But I was not going to quit. Successful people don;t quit! The rich kid out spent me,and I could have beat him easily enough if I had been healthy and did not have so much deserving my cares. But In My heart of Hearts , I was ready to get out. If I had the Guys serving with me up until 2016. I would have hated to leave.this new bunch has too many flaws that i know about.
As for farming and mechanicing , I am hoping to be able to make the repairs I need in order to command top dollar as i slowly rework the 20 plus tractors , 7 round balers,5 sq balers , a dozen mowing machines and haybines . and a dozen hay rakes. Most just need paint and i love to paint. So really, freedom to do these things and travel about is what I want.I have worked hard since i was in the 8th grade.and My body says idle back son! , and take it easy

It's hard to put down the reins when you've held them so long. Can be a challenge to move into the quiet years, which it's sounds like you and your wife well deserve. What goes around comes around. Someone else worthy will take up those reins, maybe after a period of strife. Take a good, long trip somewhere nice and talk over your dreams with your wife.

I understand completely Jim. It cuts right to the core when you watch a group of people take over the party and turn it in to something you don't even recognize, then you're labeled an outsider for sticking with the same morals and principles that you've had all your life.

I hope you'll take my advice when I say, turn off all the opinion media and retire your mind as well. It'll take some willpower, but it's the only way you'll have peace in your life. It's not your job anymore. They've told you they don't want you, so keep your mind on the farm and your personal business. If the world collapses around the new regime, it's their doing, you're out of it.

About same as you. I have been a County Commissioner for 16 years and chose not to run again. I had one person run against me in 16 years.
It has been a good ride and I truly enjoyed the support. The County was doing OK before me and it will do OK after me,
No way would I say things on my way out that I would not hjave said while in office.
Think about it.

Your name calling based on where people live tells me that you must have not been a whole lot of fun to work with over the years. Step away gracefully and try to be a bit more positive as you move forward with whatever you choose to do. Good luck .....

Hang in there, you deserve a good retirement, paid your dues, helped your constituents. I have 2 more years on three county boards and this will be it for me. 14 years is enough, I'll be well into my eighties and it's time for some good young guys to take over. Congratulations on your service.

Thanks for your service, good luck with your new project completion. Lots of good work to look forward to.
I'm sure your county is better now than before your common sense prevailed!
Keep on keeping on! Good luck for the boss's back and your c stuff. You're here completing God's will!
GG, Wes