SEGMENT: HIRED HELP, FARM WORK, & REFLECTIONS

Milton Lambert>NIU Collection>NIU Collection, Segment 13

SEGMENT: HIRED HELP, FARM WORK, & REFLECTIONS,

duration 10:21
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NON-FARM WORK
Milton worked for Del Monte, off of his own farm, for a few years. Also in their plant for a few years, around the 1940s.
HIRED HELP
Had a married man for a hired hand to help with the livestock. Had problems with the hired help, didn't need them in the winter, then they weren't around to help when needed in the summer. Milton recalls he had some good men, some not. Hired men would go to bigger farms with more money, completely understandable to Milton.
FARM BUSINESS
Recalls the early 1970s as his best years, rode the farming boom.
FARM WORK
Talks about working late hours in the spring, even his wife operated the corn dryer. Average day in the spring, worked more hours earlier in his career. Worked shorter days as he got more equipment, and as he got older! Back then, typical day started at 4 in the morning, worked till 10 or 11 at night. All farmers did that in the busy times. Slack times in August, wintertime was easier with not livestock. Tape cuts out. Milton talks about weather and how bad weather changes tasks. Mentions need to grind feed for livestock every day.
HEALTH
Farmers have lots of stress, worry often, press on. He started enjoying himself more in the past 20 years, to be able to keep going.
REFLECTIONS
Reflects on the benefits of farming, the independence, importance of being a good manager with chores, people and money. Milton reflects that it would be nearly impossible for a young couple to start farming today with out some one to back them. Today, there's not the work ethic, or equipment knowledge, wouldn't be able to ramp up, high start-up costs. Milton realizes there will be few small farmers in the future.