Last week, I confessed to being a town boy. Through and through, in every possible way, I do enjoy life in town.

Having worked at the hospital for nearly 30 years, I loved being able to get from our house to work within a few, short minutes. Walking to work on a fresh spring day was always a delight. Even in the middle of the night, if I was called into work for an emergency I could hop out of bed, jump into the car and be in the emergency department within a few short minutes. There were even a few times that I would get there before the ambulance arrived.

I love living in town. Almost everything is within an easy five- or 10-minute drive.

However, today, as we drove to Martinsville to have a long-delayed water balloon fight with some of the grandchildren, I marveled at the cornfields that line State Route 134 South and Greene Road in Clark Township.

Some of fields looked dirt-brown at first glance. Then, as my eyes scanned toward the distance, I could see a sheen of green lying just above the dirt. The corn was just starting to break the ground. Much of it was a few inches tall, but quite a bit of the corn was far shorter than that. It was wonderful to see the fields literally turn from brown to green.

I told Debbie that it was hard to believe that in about a month the corn crop would stand taller than us. She reminded me of the old adage that corn should be — “Knee high by the Fourth of July.”

We could remember when this old saying made some sense. Fifty years ago, before cross breeding of corn plants and better plant genetics had been achieved, it meant that the crop had a good start and should produce a good crop, if it was up to about knee-height by early July. Then, by harvest season the crop would be ready for picking.

Today, with the significant improvements in agricultural sciences over the past generation, a knee-high crop on July 4th would be a huge disappointment. Thank goodness for plant science.

By now, most farmers have their corn planted. Many are working on soybeans. And, as always, quite a few farmers are working their ground; getting ready for whatever the next crop might be.

Regardless of the season, regardless or the reason, farmers are almost always driving planters, plows, combines – all manner of gigantic green and red equipment up and down county roads and state routes.

Farmers need to drive slowly and carefully. Their equipment usually overlaps the centerline and the edge of the road. They cannot drive or turn quickly. It’s almost impossible for them to get out of your way, so don’t expect them to get out of your way. You need to be prepared to avoid the farm equipment.

If you are driving and you pull up behind a large farm-rig, slow down. Take your time. You’ll get around them within a few minutes. Do not risk your safety, the farmer’s safety or any other driver’s safety by passing large, slow-moving farm equipment in a reckless fashion. It’s not worth it.

If you are approaching a large farm-rig from the opposite direction, slow down and pull over as far as you safely can. You will be able to pass each other, but to pass safely, you need to slow down.

My father-in-law and brothers-in-law who have farmed could relate dozens of stories about idiots who almost got themselves and other drivers killed by driving recklessly around farm equipment. Take your time. It’s not worth the few seconds you’ll save by driving like an ignorant town-boy who doesn’t know what they’re doing. Be careful.

Yep. I’m a town boy, always have been, always will be. A few years ago, a friend of mine was shocked when I confessed that I had never driven a tractor. A few years ago, I told Debbie that one of my goals in life was never to own a yard that was so big that I needed a riding mower. That’s right. I’ve never driven one of those either.

Yep. I’m a town boy, but I sure do appreciate everything the farmers do for us town people. Without our friends who work the ground and raise the crops, this town-boy, and all the rest of us, would get mighty hungry; mighty quick.

In fact, you might want to consider giving the farmer a friendly wave or a thumbs-up the next time you pass them.

It’s a small gesture to thank them for all the food they have provided us town-folks over the years.

Randy Riley is President of Council of Wilmington.