John Sumwalt, Agri-View Journalist Profile

Articles

Barn Boards and Baling Wire

2 days ago | maryvilleforum.com | John Sumwalt

Reading Gary Jones’ wonderful farm memoir, “Ridge Stories: Herding Hens, Powdering Pigs, and Other Recollections from a Boyhood in the Driftless,” brought back memories of the winter my family lived on the very same ridge in Willow Township of Richland County, Wisconsin. It was 1957, the year I turned 6. I had just learned to tie my shoes and was looking forward to beginning first grade. Dad had bought a farm a mile north of Loyd, Wisconsin, but we couldn’t move there until spring.
Barn Boards and Baling Wire

2 days ago | ravallirepublic.com | John Sumwalt

Reading Gary Jones’ wonderful farm memoir, “Ridge Stories: Herding Hens, Powdering Pigs, and Other Recollections from a Boyhood in the Driftless,” brought back memories of the winter my family lived on the very same ridge in Willow Township of Richland County, Wisconsin. Love Funny Wow Sad Angry
Barn Boards and Baling Wire

2 days ago | agupdate.com | John Sumwalt

John SumwaltFor Agri-View Reading Gary Jones’ wonderful farm memoir, “Ridge Stories: Herding Hens, Powdering Pigs, and Other Recollections from a Boyhood in the Driftless,” brought back memories of the winter my family lived on the very same ridge in Willow Township of Richland County, Wisconsin. It was 1957, the year I turned 6. I had just learned to tie my shoes and was looking forward to beginning first grade.
Barn Boards and Baling Wire

3 days ago | mdjonline.com | John Sumwalt

Reading Gary Jones’ wonderful farm memoir, “Ridge Stories: Herding Hens, Powdering Pigs, and Other Recollections from a Boyhood in the Driftless,” brought back memories of the winter my family lived on the very same ridge in Willow Township of Richland County, Wisconsin. It was 1957, the year I turned 6. I had just learned to tie my shoes and was looking forward to beginning first grade. Dad had bought a farm a mile north of Loyd, Wisconsin, but we couldn’t move there until spring.
Barn Boards and Baling Wire

1 week ago | ravallirepublic.com | John Sumwalt

Church camp, when I was a 13-year-old farm kid, was a life-changing experience. Only my younger brother Alan attended the year before, because Dad said I couldn’t be spared on the farm. And he certainly couldn’t spare both of us at once. When my turn came I relished every minute, discovering camp was everything Alan had described and more. Love Funny Wow Sad Angry
Barn Boards and Baling Wire

1 week ago | agupdate.com | John Sumwalt

John SumwaltFor Agri-View Church camp, when I was a 13-year-old farm kid, was a life-changing experience. Only my younger brother Alan attended the year before, because Dad said I couldn’t be spared on the farm. And he certainly couldn’t spare both of us at once. When my turn came I relished every minute, discovering camp was everything Alan had described and more. Were you able to go to camp as a kid, for church, Scouts, 4-H or other? Did it change your life?
Barn Boards and Baling Wire

1 week ago | ravallirepublic.com | John Sumwalt

As a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis. His attitude and actions toward those of us who have been sexually assaulted by church leaders, while far from perfect, was greatly encouraging in comparison to many other episcopal leaders, both Catholic and Protestant. Love Funny Wow Sad Angry
Barn Boards and Baling Wire

1 week ago | agupdate.com | John Sumwalt

John SumwaltFor Agri-View As a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis. His attitude and actions toward those of us who have been sexually assaulted by church leaders, while far from perfect, was greatly encouraging in comparison to many other episcopal leaders, both Catholic and Protestant. Upon his election to the papacy in 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina offered hope with a call for action on clergy abuse in the church.
Barn Boards and Baling Wire

2 weeks ago | ravallirepublic.com | John Sumwalt

The highlight of my eight years as a pastor in Montello, Wisconsin, was the night our church softball team almost beat the best bar team in the tavern league. I was pitching. We were ahead 4 to 3 in the fifth inning – until I walked the loaded bases and gave up a grand slam to a big bruiser named Kerry Dagner. Our coach, Mark Sherin, took me out immediately but it was too late. Love Funny Wow Sad Angry
Barn Boards and Baling Wire

2 weeks ago | agupdate.com | John Sumwalt

John SumwaltFor Agri-View The highlight of my eight years as a pastor in Montello, Wisconsin, was the night our church softball team almost beat the best bar team in the tavern league. I was pitching. We were ahead 4 to 3 in the fifth inning – until I walked the loaded bases and gave up a grand slam to a big bruiser named Kerry Dagner. Our coach, Mark Sherin, took me out immediately but it was too late.