Howard Farms

 In loving memory of Harold Howard ~  August 22, 1924-August 8, 2008.   

 Harold, when I think of all the times I spent with you now...I can't help but laugh and cry at the same time. I cry because I wish I could have spent more time with you. There are so many more questions I'd wished I'd asked. I should have come back to visit more often, and I should have called you more too.

   As for laughing....Oh my. Anytime I can remember there was always something to laugh at when I was with you. I remember one time I was riding a real green horse. She was just broke. She was going to be a race horse. We were going along and she spooked at some deer that came out of the field. Silly me, I wasn't paying attention and I went off the side. I was fine, and she ran all the way home. I tried calling the house to let him know but couldn't get a hold of him. (I now remember after that incident why he had wanted to know if I left a message.....it was because of his loving wife Darlene. He didn't want her to worry and didn't think she would want me to be around if I was riding these green horses) Hah! Basically, he didn't want to get yelled at! :)

  Back to the story. I went off the side, the horse ran home. So I just get up, brush myself off, and start for the walk home. It wasn't far, maybe a mile and a half out. Before long I see his big red truck, barreling towards me. Dust flying up all around, almost making the truck invisible. Racing over the hill, he reaches me, throws it in park and jumps out. The look on his face....that's what I'll ever forget. He was so worried that I was hurt.  I was laughing at my stupidity and he was worried sick. He finally found it funny after the fact and we laughed together.

  When I first starting working for Harold I realized real quick this is the type of job I'd like. You were always kept busy. Well after a while Harold would come and tell me that I needed to take a break. Realistically...I was fine. I could have done without a break. However, with Harold that wouldn't fly. When he said you needed a break, it was a statement, not a question! So obviously, I said, "Ok, break-time". So we sat down on the side of the horse treadmill and he pulled out 2 peaches, one for him, and one for me. Now, I am a pretty picky eater, and I had never had a peach before. Yea, I know, pathetic! I've heard it a thousand times....oh well, get over it! So anyway, he pulls out these peaches, and he hands it to me. He bites into his and I felt so bad I knew I had to do it. So I did, and I loved it. I can't recall a day after that in all the time I worked for him that he didn't bring me out a peach or apple or something for when, "I needed to take a break". To this day, when I grocery shopping, I always get peaches, and I always think of Harold. When I feel I need a break now, I have my peach and remember those good days.

  Harold was a great man. Always trying to watch out for me. He'd say, "you seeing anyone?" I'd laugh and say, "No, not right now." "Good" he'd say, "There nothing but trouble anyway! Just like me."

Yea, he was trouble alright. But never for me fotunately. Although he did always wanted me to meet Tom. His grandson Tom. I must have heard it a thousand times. I couldn't do anything but laugh. He even invited me to come to his family Christmas and meet the everyone. He'd insisted that I stop by, but I told him thank you, but I couldn't do that. When it came to guys, I always told him I was picky. He said that I should be, and that whoever I ended up with would be very lucky. I could only hope to find a man as great as what Harold was. A honest, hardworking, loving, and dedicated man. 

Now, clearly anyone who knows Harold, knows that with all these good qualities, there were his downfalls. I can think of one. Stubborn. Let me tell you, until you meet Harold, you don't know stubborn. He learned real quick though with me, that I would listen, but if I didn't agree I would kindly tell him that and try it my way first. It was always easy for him and I to get along. I guess we found a happy medium to agree on.

From the first day I showed up to interview for the job to take care of the horses, it seemed easy with us. The interview was more like a conversation...and a great one at that....we talked horsetalk with entire time!! I was in my glory! Then he found out I could ride and train too...and well, then we were like old friends.

I miss those days, riding at the tracks with him along the rails watching me with a close eye to make sure nothing happened to me. Or those days I'll be out in the barn gettin drug around by a young filly and he'd just lean against the stall laughing, as I am literally about draggin' behind the horse down the hall laughing with him. Or him walking a horse around in the arena with me on it's back for the first time, both of us not knowing what will happen next. I miss each morning showing up 15 minutes early to have our "plan of action for the day" talk in the office with the lights out! He never turned the lights on! Why? I have no idea. Some mornings, I could barely see him it was so dark.

There are too many things to miss about Harold that could never all be mentioned. What isn't to miss? What a great man. I learned al ot from Harold. Not only from him teaching me, because he loved teaching...but also just from watching him. He was wise, and smart. For being 83, he sure had it together. If any person saw the way he worked on a daily basis, they would have never guessed he was 83. Physically or mentally.

Harold was a great father, a loving husband, a caring grandfather, and a mentor to all. I hope that in sharing some of my stories, it will help you remember and share yours as well. That way, Harold will live forever in our hearts. I miss you so much! I know you're in a great heaven with your beloved Eternal Sun and all your other horses. Someday I'll join you, and then I promise in my next life I will go into business with you like you wanted. We'll have our giant horse operation like you wanted. We'll do all the shows, and I suppose in heaven you can win them all too...right?! Someday, I'll see you there. Until then, you'll be missed...but never forgotten.

Bethany Vogel