Okay, so what happens when it is one of your own people who unwittingly causes a concern?
We often have people trespass, do damage, steal, or just plain worry people, but how do we look at it if it is one of our guys who wanders on someone else's property?
Today, one of our people was out walking the property, because coyotes were close to our livestock, and that can be devastating. While following the coyote trail, he ended up on someone else's property. He heard a motor running and went to say hi. Unfortunately, our guy attempted to make friends and started the conversation with a joke that did not go over well. Assuming that the neighbour was out hunting, our guy said something about the motor scaring deer, and that the neighbour should be walking. That attempt at trying to make friends did not go over well, and the neighbour told our guy not to be trespassing.
So, the dad neighbour showed up to talk about what happened. It was not a happy meeting, but apologies were made and our word was given that it would not happen again. The neighbour said he accepted the apology and stated his concern again, then left.
The neighbours were just setting up their firing range, getting ready to sight in their rifles, when our guy walked onto, or near that range. Of course, the concern is that there is a danger of someone getting seriously hurt. And that is a very real concern! The neighbour did the appropriate thing, in coming to talk to us.
When I arrived at the gate, I had to calm the situation down a bit, because the neighbour was raising his voice and speaking in a degrading way to one of our guys. I was able to get the neighbour to calm down a bit, and to tell his side of the story. He refused to listen to our guy's side of the story, and just kept repeating his own version, which he was not even there in person to know. He was only going by a second hand account, told from one of his guys.
I am hired here to manage this farm, so I went and talked to our Land Owner and she immediately asked me to take her to the neighbour's house, so she could apologize for herself, and in person. It was a much more civil meeting. Our Land Owner apologized and listened to the neighbour's concern. It was nice to attempt to make peace with the neighbour.
When this land was first bought, there were a lot of trespassers. There were snowmobilers trespassing from the property immediately south of this property, so a fence was put up, along with no trespassing signs. It is strange how that trespassing has been forgotten. There have been vehicles driving across our fields, foot traffic, and some with guns. Fences have been cut and crops stolen. Even face to face threats. When I started working here, I reported things to the police, who just said they talked to the neighbours. That was it. That was the result we got back from the police. Of course the various harassment did not stop, but at least now a record exists.
The concerned neighbour made a comment that our gate was intimidating(or something like that), but things were not always so! When this land was first acquired, there were many, many trespassers and difficulties. A fence and gate became necessity to keep safe. Not to mention, there is livestock here, and a fence and gate is necessary to keep the livestock safe. So, why the comment? If the livestock gate was removed, what would be the result? Why would the neighbour say that our livestock gate was intimidating?
It is always good to make peace! Good neighbours stay on their own land!
