The hectic shopping season is in full swing and with only one more weekend before Christmas, there isn’t a lot of time to find gifts for those hard to buy for agriculture folks. If you are a practical gift giver like myself, you may be looking for gifts for the farmer or rancher in your family, so here are a few ideas for your Christmas shopping list.

Every farmer needs a few essentials to get through those tough winter chores. Items such as sturdy work gloves, coats and coveralls wear out quickly and are usually worn until they are thread bare. The same is true for a good pair of socks, and a heavy pair of insulated socks will not go unappreciated.

If the person you are shopping for is a do-it-yourselfer, which most farmers are, power tools are always in short supply. Sure they have a power drill – but what about a cordless drill?  Most all power tools are now offered with a cordless option, and that may prove to be handy when equipment needs repaired out in the field.  Speaking of tools, how could anyone (farmer or not) get by without a reliable set of pliers? This is an item that is probably among the array of everyday tools, yet an item that tends to get misplaced often. Better said, one can just never have too many pliers. Pliers can be purchased with a colorful grip that may make them less likely to be lost amongst the other hand tools.

For a simple, easy to find gift, one might consider a new pocket knife. Pocket knives are another item that are a daily necessity. Often used as a screwdriver (another gift idea!), or for cutting twine, scraping mud off boots, and cleaning/trimming fingernails, pocket knives quickly dull.  To add a personal touch, the knife can be engraved. A flashlight is another item that is never where it is supposed to be! This time of year, flashlights are often packaged in sets of multiple sizes, which can be convenient in the case of an emergency. For a unique idea, look for an LED flashlight that does not require batteries. Many of these models only require a good shake or have a crank system, and are advertised as “the last flashlight you will ever need.”

If you want to give a gift from the heart, and not from your wallet, then you could always consider offering to clean the pickup or feed truck. The work bench is another area that could always use a little sprucing up too. But if you choose to offer either of these options, make sure you know where to put the tools you find. Cleaning up is only helpful if you put things in their proper place.

As we round out 2018, the Southwind Extension District would like to say thank you to those individuals who have taken the time to be involved with K-State Research and Extension in Neosho, Woodson, Bourbon and Allen Counties. Maybe you attended a meeting, served on the Program Development Committee, or even volunteered with your local 4-H program – our staff sincerely appreciates those who recognize the importance of the Extension Service. Happy Holidays to you and your families!