Barn Chore Fines: A New Approach to Raising Kids on the Farm
We may want to pretend that our children happily head out to the barn every morning or cheerfully take on their sibling’s chores when they have a late practice...but we all know that chores are chores. As much as our children may enjoy being out in the barn working with their animals, there are going to be some days where it’s hard not to groan about it a little.
And let’s be honest, I don’t start singing with joy when it’s time to throw in another load of laundry.
Maybe that’s why I couldn’t help but get excited when I read about Tina Lust’s brilliant approach with “Barn Chore Fines.” I really think she’s on to something, so I wanted to find out a little more about what led to her motivational method for good behavior in the barn.
A “Menu” for Trouble
Lust says she came up with the idea of barn chore fines this spring when she started to get a little frustrated by her son’s “teenage attitude.”
“My sweet youngest child was exhibiting some eye rolls, loud sighs, asking why when he already knew the answer, unnecessary explanations by me when I was already exhausted, etc.,” Lust says. “I thought, what can I do to positively motivate him more?”
What started as a bit of a joke – a white board with fines being listed for certain behaviors followed by a subsequent charge – actually worked.
“It’s like a menu, but for when you are in trouble,” she laughs. “Eye rolls? That would be $5, please. Loud sighing? $5. Finding an empty chicken waterer? Certainly, a serious offense. I mean our ‘ladies’ have names and provide breakfast, you know...that’s $50.”
Although it was all tongue-in-cheek, she was amazed by the immediate change in attitude.
“I placed the white board ‘menu’ on a bale of straw, then pointed to it when I saw a subsequent behavior being acted out. It was met with some silence, then an end to the undesirable behaviors,” Lust says. “He knew Mom meant business!”
Chores Instill Valuable Life Lessons
Lust is quick to point out that her two sons are fantastic kids. Her oldest recently completed his associate’s degree in agriculture and her youngest, an 8th grader, is involved with his breeding poultry and market hog projects.
“They are great students, well-mannered around others and work hard,” she says. “Our youngest has a poultry breeding project that’s a year-round venture of breeding, incubating, hatching and growing the birds to adulthood. It does get long, boring and grinding at times. We try to instill a good work ethic and attitude that will carry them through life.”
It's tough to be the youngest and now solely responsible for the livestock projects, she adds. Her oldest son is now working full-time with her husband who grain farms corn and soybeans with his cousin and nephew. Meanwhile, Lust operates a seed business, Lust Seed Sales.
“Whether our youngest chooses to remain with livestock as he gets older remains to be seen,” she says. “But having a love of agriculture, knowing how to treat others, learning to care for and be a good steward to animals, having good sportsmanship in the show ring, making new friends, and being willing to help others are the true goals.”
Maybe someday he will instill his own "Barn Chore Fines" with his own kids, Lust says.
“In the meantime, I am going to relish working together because I know all too soon, this will all pass so quickly,” she says.
What Do You Think?
One of my favorite things to do is spend time with our family working together in the barn. The workload is easier when we do it together and the conversations are always interesting. Lust is right that it goes by too fast so making those memories count is important.
So, what motivates your kids to work hard in the barn? How do you instill important life lessons through livestock projects and chores? Share your ideas with us at jshike@farmjournal.com.
More from Farm Journal's PORK:
City Boy and Vet School Reject: How an Unlikely Path Proved Successful for Scott Dee
Never Surrender: Scott Dee Goes To Battle To Protect U.S. Swine Herd
