(Photo: Iowa Soybean Association / Joclyn Kuboushek)
Rural Route 2: The twelve days of farm Christmas
December 1, 2025 | Bethany Baratta
Before there were matching pajamas and made-for-social media holiday moments, there were chores, cold fingers and barn cats waiting for their turn to slurp leftover milk after feeding cattle. Livestock chores didn't wait because of the most important birthday in history; it was chores and Christmas all the same. Here's what Christmas on the farm was like, at least on the farm where I grew up.
- On the first day of Farm Christmas, my true love gave to me — one frozen water tank. Because nothing says "holiday cheer" like hauling buckets of water when the sun is barely awake.
- Two mismatched gloves. The only time the gloves were found in identical pairs was when we bought them at Farm Fleet. After that? Good luck. If they fit, we wore them.
- Three pigs a-oinkin'. Animal care is a year-round job that doesn't take a break for holidays. The barn always came first — even before Mom's cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa.
- Four wheels a-crunching. Tires crunched the snow-topped gravel as a favorite neighbor delivered home-baked Christmas treats.
- Fiiiiiive bales of straw! A couple of bales for the cattle and a few more to cocoon Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the lighted nativity scene by our driveway.
- Six strands of lights. Twinkling outdoors — a little nod to my grandparents in Ohio — who knew how to make everything shine.
- Seven Christmas cards arriving. Like a hug in the mailbox, handwritten Christmas cards arrived from Thanksgiving into the new year.
- Eight hands a-working. Everyone had role-untangling lights, hauling feed, clearing the snow, making dinner.
- Nine trays a-baking. My mom's made-to-order cookie business ramped up every December. Notes of ginger, cinnamon, and sugar danced in the air as she boxed up orders to ship before the post office closed.
- Ten boots a-thawing. A rug on the basement floor collected the remnants of melting snow from our rubber boots after trudging in from chores.
- Eleven snowballs flying. Trips between barn and house included unexpected snowball fights with siblings and parents.
- Twelve miles from church. That short drive offered a quick nap, a peek at holiday displays shining bright in the country sky, and the time for reflection for a job — and a day — well done.
Here's wishing your Christmas is more "home-baked treats" than frozen water tanks! Whatever the season brings, I hope it's filled with love, laughter and the moments that make it memorable. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Written by Bethany Baratta.
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