Deep Pockets

Before I commute to work walk outside the house, I fill my pockets with stuff that will help me get through my day of farming.  Below is a list of the items I typically keep in my pockets:

1.  Cell Phone -  I use this for the obvious stuff like phone calls, texts, and emails.  It comes in handy when I want to obsessively check the commodity markets or the weather.  I also have a flashlight app that is useful when I'm working tractors, trucks, or whatever. 

2.  iPod and Headphones - I use these when I spend a lot of time on a tractor.  I also use my ear buds as ear plugs when I am working on loud equipment.

3.  Grid Paper Moleskin and Pen - This is where I take notes if I learn something new.  So as you can guess this book obviously fills up fast.  If I need to fabricate something, I use it to draw out plans before I get started.  The only problem is that the years of IT have made my penmanship look like something like cursive hieroglyphics. 

4.  Pliers - I use these pretty much every day to tighten and loosen nuts, bolts, hoses, etc... I use them as a hammer a little bit too often, which is something I've had to get used to on the farm.  In IT it's never a good idea to hit something in order to fix it.  When you're working on the farm it is pretty much always is a good idea.  Even if hitting it doesn't fix the problem it at least it makes you feel better.

5.  6 - Way Screwdriver -  I'm the only one on the farm that actually carries a screwdriver with me at all times but I use it everyday.  It comes in handy when I test our electric cattle fences, and if I need to hot wire a tractor.

6.  Box Cutter Knife - I would like to say that I carry a nice pocket knife around with me, but how much these tools fall out of my pocket it's just not worth it.

7.  Work Gloves -  I wear these when its really cold or really hot.  My tools sitting in a black tool box on 100 plus degree days (who's dumb enough to paint their toolbox black?) get pretty hot. 

8.  Safety Glasses - I use these when I'm working on things that could blow up in my face, literally.  Most of the time though I just use them for sunglasses.

9.  Farm Hat -  We get these for free from the companies we buy seed, chemicals, and farm equipment.  By free I mean they are the most expensive hats we will ever buy.

-Swiss Army Pants Ryan