SEGMENT: CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES, CHILDHOOD WORK, & FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Howard Lanan>NIU Collection>NIU Collection, Segment 12

SEGMENT: CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES, CHILDHOOD WORK, & FAMILY ACTIVITIES,

duration 10:06
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CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES
Howard tells a story about doing some trapping on the way to school, once caught a skunk! "Where did that skunk smell come from?" Could skin and cure the animals they trapped.
FAMILY
One older sister, who is a retired teacher & lives in Sycamore.
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Went to Sycamore High School because aunt and uncle lived there. Would drive (a Chevrolet) to school at 14 years old.
COLLEGE EDUCATION
Talks about agriculture courses at Iowa State University which was easier to get to than University of Illinois. Graduated in 1938.
CHILDHOOD WORK
Grew up learning to farm. Plowing with horses & 2 wheel cultivator. Sometimes too hot to plow during day, so plowed at night by moonlight. Summertime, extra light allowed extra time to work. Ran a rake to rake hay & carried wood into house for kitchen stove when he was just 7 or 8 years old.
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Mentions livestock. Belonged to 4-H .Farm fair in Aurora, IL. Recalls seeing sheep hauled in the back of a Model A Ford.
REFLECTIONS
Always knew he'd be a farmer & wouldn't choose to do otherwise - describes why. "Farming has been good to me."
ACTIVITIES
Church (Congregational Church) on Sunday. Family dinner on Sunday & mom didn't like kids playing baseball on Sunday. Visiting nearby relatives. Played cards with neighbors. Neighbors played cards together. Didn't dance, not a big thing around there. Recalls first memory of listening to the radio was hearing about Lindbergh's crossing. Remembers Red Grange playing football and University of Illinois. Mentions favorite radio programs.