Manure Happens: Turning Life’s Messes into Growth

Although temperatures have finally started going in the right direction, there were a few weeks where it was rather harsh. Winter struck hard as temperatures plummeted. And, of course, that is when all things seem to go wrong. One of our vehicles had to go to the garage for some warranty work. That meant trying to start another one that normally stays buried in the snow over winter. Needless to say, it did not start and disappeared on the back of a tow truck. That simply meant that I would not be going any where for a day or two. In the midst of all of that our hot water tank decided it no longer needed to do what its designed to do. It being the weekend left me few options.

I found myself thinking back to my farming days when these things would happen. I realized I was a tad more relaxed than I would have been back in the day. When things break down on the farm they get dealt with asap.

To put it bluntly, s**t (manure) happens. If you’ve spent any time on a farm, you know that manure is unavoidable. It piles up in the barn, gets tracked on your boots, and somehow always seems to find its way into places it shouldn’t be. But as much as we might complain about it, we also know that manure isn’t just a mess—it’s fertilizer. It nourishes the soil, making way for new growth. And just like on the farm, life has its own way of dumping messes on us. The trick is figuring out how to turn them into something useful.

Manure happens. It’s part of farming, and it’s part of life. No matter how careful you are, there will always be challenges, setbacks, and unexpected hurdles. Instead of fighting against the mess, learn to expect it. Knowing that difficulties are inevitable can help you stay calm when they show up.

On the farm, you don’t clean up manure with your bare hands. You grab a shovel, a pitchfork, or a tractor, depending on the scale of the mess. In life, the same principle applies. When challenges arise, having the right tools—whether it’s knowledge, support from others, or a good sense of humor—can make all the difference in how you handle them.

Anyone who’s worked with livestock knows that if you ignore manure, it only gets worse. The same goes for life’s problems. Ignoring stress, conflict, or responsibilities only leads to bigger messes down the road. The best approach is to deal with things as they come—clean up small problems before they turn into overwhelming ones.

Manure does stink. I remember those days where I worked in the barn all day, cleaned up as best I could, and then went to a social event. I found myself continuously sniffing. Is that manure I smell? Did I miss a spot? But manure can also serve a purpose. Its fertilizer. It helps things grow. Likewise, life’s difficulties, though unpleasant, often lead to growth. Hard times build resilience, failures teach valuable lessons, and struggles shape who we become.

I suspect anyone that farms with livestock would have some funny stories to tell about manure. Let’s be honest—sometimes manure is just plain funny. Farming teaches you to laugh at the messes, because if you didn’t, you’d go crazy. The same is true in life. Finding humor in tough situations doesn’t mean ignoring their seriousness, but it does make them easier to handle. Laughter is a great coping tool, and sometimes, a good joke is exactly what’s needed to get through the stinkiest of times.

At the end of the day, manure happens. It’s messy and it’s frustrating, but it’s also necessary. Whether on the farm or in life, the key is to find ways to turn the mess into something meaningful. Because when you step back and look at the big picture, you’ll see that all those messy moments were actually feeding something bigger—your growth, your strength, and maybe even your next great harvest.