Never a Dull Moment at Mrs. Jerrie’s Farm Southside, Alabama — The Ides of April 2026

Any day I find myself back in Southside, I make it a point to stop by and see Mrs. Jerrie; Miller’s Mimi. And without fail, there is never a dull moment at her place.

People complain about how long they have to campaign for Congress. Two years feels like a lifetime to them. But running a nonprofit for veterans is its own kind of calling. It is not seasonal. It is daily. You wake up and go again. Fundraising, planning, troubleshooting, encouraging, building. It never really stops. As Scripture reminds us, “Let us not grow weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9)

That day was no exception. I had been working hard to help make Miss Jean Sullivan’s April 25 event a success. Calls, messages, strategy sessions with Yvonne and Elaine, even a frustrating round with Wix. Just trying to move things forward, one step at a time.

Somewhere in the middle of it all, I felt the pull to take a break and go check on Mimi.

As I wrapped up my visit and stepped outside to say goodbye, I glanced toward the barnyard and saw trouble plain as day. Nathan’s black Angus heifers were exactly where they should not have been, grazing like they owned the place.

It had been a dry April. The kind that weakens an electric fence just enough for cattle to notice. And cattle do notice. When the current fades, they test the boundary. And once they realize it will not bite back, they push through without hesitation.

That is how they ended up in the old barnyard, wandering near the catching pen and into the pasture where the Fuhrman dairy barn once stood. That barn is gone now. What remains is open sky and a thick blanket of white clover. In springtime, that clover is irresistible. Sweet and rich. A feast laid out in plain sight.

It made sense why they crossed.

I called Nathan and got his voicemail. Then I reached Daniel. Between the two of us and a good measure of patience, we managed to close gates that had not been used in decades. By God’s grace, they still worked. As it is written, “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)

We were able to hold the heifers in place until Nathan arrived, bucket in hand, whistling like nothing was wrong. Just like that, they came running. Calm, obedient, ready for supper. We guided them back into the pen, one by one.

Order restored.

The next day, everything felt settled again. I stood by the gate, now properly chained, and watched the cattle graze along the gravel lane between the old white barns with their red roofs. The afternoon light stretched long across the pasture. One heifer stopped and looked my way, almost as if she had something to say. Another stood quietly in the barn, ears forward, content in the stillness.

Even the horses seemed to appreciate the calm.

Moments like that make you think.

Some might wonder what any of this has to do with the Lettermen of the USA. The answer is simple. This is where it all begins. These fields, these lessons, this way of life. This is where the foundation was laid.

As Ashley and I talked about when we first planned this blog, these visits are not just about nostalgia. They are about understanding. They give a glimpse into the values that shape the work. Hard work. Responsibility. Stewardship. Community. The ability to adapt when things go wrong. Faith when you are relying on old gates and steady hands.

And above all, a sense of purpose. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

Every visit to Mom’s reminds me who I am and why we serve.

There is never a dull moment on the farm. And there is never a wasted one.

One of Nathan’s black Angus heifers enjoying a peaceful graze right in front of the big white barn with the red roof. After their little escape the day before, it’s good to see them back where they belong — making the most of that sweet white clover on a beautiful Ides of April afternoon.

Just another calm, perfect moment at Mimi’s farm.

Back to business as usual on Mimi’s farm — Nathan’s black Angus heifers grazing peacefully along the gravel lane, enjoying the thick white clover after their little adventure.

The old white barn with the red roof stands watch in the background, just like it has for years. Nothing beats that quiet Southern afternoon rhythm.

All’s well that ends well. 

Just two of Nathan’s curious black Angus girls coming over to say hello at Mimi’s farm. After all the afternoon excitement with the loose heifers, it was good to see them calm, happy, and back where they belong — hanging out by the trough under the shade tree.

These are the moments that make it all worthwhile. Never a dull day on the farm.

A quiet moment on the farm the day after the adventure — one of Nathan’s black Angus heifers grazing peacefully beside the big white barn with the red roof. The gravel lane stretches out, long shadows fall across the clover, and everything feels right again at Mimi’s place.

All’s well that ends well on the Ides of April.