Happy ah, ah, ah, it is so hard to get that word out, Groundhog Day!!! Gee, if only the general population really know the true nature of the groundhog. If they knew what devastation they do to soybeans and to a lesser degree to alfalfa. If they knew how much they eat. If they knew what it is like to be going along combining the soybeans and to plow the combine header into a pile of dirt and stones, or to jam the cutterbar full on the mower-conditioner. If they only knew what it is like to be going along and hit a hole under a swath of hay and bounce the tractor and the rake, and the damage that can be done by those furry little critters, critters that need to hide in holes in the ground. If only they knew.

I really think we need a new prognosticator. A new symbol. A new animal for February 2nd.  What could it be? I have a great idea. What other animal hibernates? The bear. Look at how kids love bears. Look at all the teddy bears in the world. Then we have Smoky Bear - helping to fight forest fires. The bear is a proud animal. Bears don't need to hide in holes in the ground. Did you ever admire the beauty of a bear, a gentle giant, as you watch one run? Such grace. Yes, the bear needs to be our new prognosticator!!!!! 

I can see it now. In the darkness of February 2nd the throngs of folks and reporters gather at the bear's den. As the first rays of light beam over the horizon, the camera lights are turned on. The bear opens it's eyes, then yawns. He slowly gets up on all 4 legs and steps out to see all the folks and reporters that are gathered there. He then waves to them. And if the bear is the prognosticator, we don't need to worry about the shadow anymore and whether the sun is going to shine or not. The bear can simply stand up on it's hind legs, and then hold up the left front paw if we are going to have 6 more weeks of winter, or hold up the right front paw if spring is just around the corner. Yes, the bear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me be the first person to wish everyone "Happy Bear Day"!!!!!!!!!