Received the [Everyone's Haiku Grand Prize]

To my surprise, I have received the Grand Prize along with Nishino-san at the Everyone's Haiku Grand Prize!

I was working and couldn't make it in time for the announcement, but I was shocked when I checked my phone after getting home.
I truly have no words right now. However, I wanted to express my gratitude as soon as possible, so I am posting this.

To everyone who felt the sentiment behind my clumsy haiku and cast a vote for it, thank you so much. I would also like to thank the many people who managed the event.

From here on, I would like to talk about the haiku that won the Grand Prize.

An old farmer's deep bow, this year's rice

The 'old farmer' refers to my grandparents. They were born in the early Showa era and apparently helped with farm work even before they entered elementary school. They lived in the neighborhood and often played together in the rice fields.
They had many family members. My grandfather's uncle and older brother went to war and died. As was the case with many rural villages at the time, there was a shortage of labor. My grandparents helped with the farming all the time. Before they knew it, they had reached the age of what people call adults.

A few years ago, I asked my grandfather a question.
'Why do you keep doing such difficult rice farming?' I asked. There is cheaper rice you can buy, and I was worried about my grandparents working with us while covered in sweat. The answer was simple.
'You never know what might happen. As long as you have rice, you won't go hungry. I don't want you kids to go hungry. Besides, it makes me happy when the rice is ready. You have to be grateful to nature.'
He was smiling a little.

My grandparents, who have shouldered painful experiences and hard labor for many years. Every year, before eating the new rice, they hold their chopsticks, bow their heads deeply as if in prayer, and whisper softly,
'Itadakimasu.'