Perseverance
By Jim Morris
I give great credit to the families that ran in today’s Run Around the Rice in Richvale, a fun race that benefits Biggs Elementary School students. The enthusiasm, smiles and camaraderie outlasted the strong rain, wind and muddy conditions.
This is the fourth Run Around the Rice, and, fortunately, our family has run in all of them. The fact that today’s event went off so smoothly is testament to the hard work members of the community, headed by Jolene Sheppard, put into it.
Today reminded me a lot about the resilient nature of farmers. Weather has not been kind this growing season, with rain at the start and finish. It’s still a challenge for many growers, as they work to plant their rice in the next few weeks.
Mirroring those who grow rice in the Sacramento Valley, today’s runners focused on persevering to the finish line, and made the push even though it wasn’t Chamber of Commerce weather. I have that same faith in growers, pilots and all of those finishing up planting season. They’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathons.