- Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.
- The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
- It’s too late to close the door once the horse is out of the barn.
- You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.
- A wink is as good as a nod to a blind horse.
- You reap what you sow.
- Don’t cry over spilled milk.
- One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.
- Get your ducks in a row.
- You can’t plant your garden while sitting in the shade.
- You can eat everything on a pig but the squeal.
- When you put your hand on the plow, do not look back.
- Don’t be stubborn as a mule.
- The early bird catches the worm.
- He’s feeling his oats!
- Don’t be a sour lemon.
- Wouldn’t that be like waving a red flag in front of a bull?
- While the cat’s away, the mice will play.
- Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?
- Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
- If you fall off the horse, get right back on!
- Men are not so much the keepers of herds as herds are the keepers of men.
- Perfect weather for ducks.
- Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while.
Did you recognize any of those little tidbits of Agricultural Wisdom? Maybe you grew up with parents that liked to impart these words of wisdom, especially when making a particular point during a teaching moment (or lecture), as I did? Well, fast forward to present time, when I often find myself using these same quotes during conversations with my young barn help. I never really gave it a second thought that he might not understand the point I was making. That is until one day when he said, “What does THAT mean?” So let’s test YOUR Agriculture Wisdom . . . are you able to explain what “THAT” means? Need a little help . . . this is how I explain them in my barn
- Don’t count on something before it has happened, there are many variables that can change the outcome.
- Things often appear very different when you are on the outside looking inside, there are always two sides to every situation.
- Hedge your bets, diversify, do not depend upon a single thing.
- Think long and hard before you say or do something, once you have, you can’t take it back.
- You can give lots of advice but you can’t make someone follow it.
- You’re wasting your time, energy, and breath. In other words, if they don’t want to understand they are not going to understand.
- Whatever you bubble, whatever you brew, sooner or later comes back to you OR a more common term (and one of my favorites) KARMA!
- No need to get upset over something that has already happened, clean it up and move forward.
- If you associate with those that are morally bankrupt, you will begin to think that is the norm and could become morally bankrupt yourself therefore, choose your friends wisely.
- Make sure you have prepared.
- Get up off your lazy @$$ and get to work.
- Words can’t be eaten or “unsaid”.
- Keep your eyes on the task at hand.
- Be open to suggestions and recommendations, they just might turn out to be helpful.
- The first one to take care of business will enjoy the benefits.
- He’s fat, happy, and sassy.
- Don’t be so negative.
- You are asking for trouble.
- Not everyone has a good work ethic, slackers show their ugly head when there isn’t a supervisor nor accountability.
- You shouldn’t be saying something negative about someone that just might apply to yourself.
- Free might not necessarily be free in the long run, i.e. a free horse often comes with lots of problems, usually behavioral, health or age (you can tell a horse’s age by looking at their teeth).
- Don’t quit, pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and try again.
- Take care of your “responsibilities” and they will take care of you.
- It’s raining, it’s pouring, the ole’ man is snoring.
- Everyone gets lucky, once in a while.
Now, how would you explain them?