Ice hung heavy on the trees up high on the mountain. The fields below lay cold and barren with very little evidence of their once bountiful yield. As the ponds begin to freeze, winter in Virginia has officially begun.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were two of the coldest days here in the Old Dominion state. Temperatures typically stay between 20°F and 40°F from January to March. This year, they have been much higher except for the aforementioned days. Yes, our Christmas was spent at 0°F to -1°F. The windchill made it close to -20°F, making it nearly impossible to breathe or do much. Our day began at 4 a.m. and finally finished around 10 p.m. From thawing out the parlor to feeding and watering cattle, plus tractor work, the day was as full as it had ever been.
Before the comments begin, I want to say that I have so, so, so much respect for the Midwest states, the northern states, and all other areas that have several days if not months of these low temperatures. I know I am fortunate to not have to worry about 0°F temperatures or chilling winds more than a handful of times a year. To those heroes out there, keep on trucking! Y’all are the hardest working folks I’ve ever met.
As for me, I know I complain when it’s hot and I’ll complain about the cold, but no matter the weather, I’ll never complain about Virginia. Its scenery is beautiful no matter the weather. Even in the coldest days, the shimmer of the ice on the treetops makes it all alright.
The author is a sixth-generation farmer and fifth-generation dairy producer in southwest Virginia, where she and her family own and operate a 145-head Holstein dairy. Courtney is involved in agriculture organizations throughout her community and is a graduate of Virginia Tech.
