Grandpa’s Nuts
by Austin Jepson
My grandpa must have been plumb crazy
To plant a grove of trees out there.
‘Twas truly in the middle of nothing
No shade or water anywhere.
The rattlers all were surely laughing.
“Are you serious?” all the rabbits said.
“This old man has truly lost it.
What’s going on inside that head?”
The lizards thought, “It can’t be happening–
Not in this desert, there is no way!
The sun is too hot, the soil too sandy.
The plan is nuts and won’t see the day.”
“The plan is nuts!” my grandpa told them.
“Great and tall the trees will grow.
Just you wait, the ground will blossom
And loads of pecans I’ll have to show.”
So Grandpa dug and planted and watered
And weeded and pruned and fertilized.
The trees began to grow and flourish.
The sandy ground was realized.
Years came and went and the trees got bigger,
Reached to the sky and offered shade.
The nutty farmer said, “There, you see them!
It’s time to harvest, time to get paid.”
The pecans were bountiful and delicious
The people came from far and wide.
To buy their nuts from Grandpa Jepson
They loved them for their bread and pies.
“So, now who’s laughing?” asked Grandpa Jepson.
“My plan has worked just perfectly.
The harvest has brought my family money–
All because I planted a tree.”
Editor’s note: Our family just returned from a vacation/family reunion in Southern Utah, an area our ancestors helped to settle. One of the sites that we visited was Grandpa Max Jepson’s pecan farm. Max is Austin’s great grandfather. In the picture is Max’s son Don, who is Austin’s grandfather, telling us the story of Max’s venture into pecan farming. It is taken at the pecan farm where the trees are mature and the nuts are plentiful. Grandpa Max sold the farm shortly before his death and the proceeds helped to take care of Grandma Elda during her extended illness. This is a clever poem that is sure to become a family classic. Thanks Austin!
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Cheli Webb says
July 14, 2016 at 8:22 pmAustin, Grandpa was a little nutty, but boy was he fun to be around! I love reading your posts. You are one amazing boy!
Austin Jepson says
July 15, 2016 at 9:11 pmThanks. I really wish I could have met him.
Kimberly Jepson says
July 14, 2016 at 9:21 pmMy cousin write this poem about the Pecan Farm in Hurricane, UT that my G’pa Max planted. It’s particularly funny if you’ve ever been to the Pecan Farm because it is literally in the middle of nowhere. You drive and drive with nothing around but desert and then in the distance a patch of green trees like a little oasis bursting with pecans. Awesome Poem Austin Jepson keep ’em coming! You have a beautiful gift.
Travis Hansen says
July 14, 2016 at 10:17 pmYour awesome. My wife and I went to high school with your dad. It sounds like you’re part or a great family. Thanks for sharing. You have a great gift!! We have a lot of horses at our farm if you ever want to see them we would love to have you visit.
Austin Jepson says
July 15, 2016 at 9:14 pmI would love that! I’ll ask my dad.
Bonita Klingler says
July 15, 2016 at 7:35 amYou have a great poetic ability. Love reading your thoughts. Hope you can always express yourself in this manner.