THE LAST DAYS OF TOBACCO: Buster and Jessie Norton on the crop that grew then went away. FOA Ep.14

Tobacco was once the main crop of North Carolina and Madison County was one the three counties in the western part of the state that were major producers. But times change and the demand for tobacco has dropped due to a reduction in smoking and foreign imports, so the crop is all but gone today.
One of the few farms still growing tobacco belongs to Buster and Jessie Norton. They are a funny and loving couple and are two of the hardest working folks we have met. They farm multiple plots of land in the remote Grapevine section of Madison County, NC where they grow a large garden, make hay, cultivate corn, grow sorghum cane to make molasses, and are one of the last people to produce tobacco.
Here you can watch this all-but-gone process as Buster and Jessie describe the growing and harvesting process, talk about their life farming, and the demands they face as they grow older in the profession. We visit their tobacco fields, watch them harvest the crop, and sit with them for a conversation in the barn where the tobacco is hanging to dry.
For over forty years I have photographed tobacco production from planting through harvest, and all the way to the auction houses at the end of the season. I share images from my files and books, The Face of Appalachia, On Earth’s Furrowed Brow, and Hands in Harmony. Be sure to check out our other episodes and our books about the area at www.barnwellphoto.com

[@melisaarrington7025]

My husband (Charles Arrington) worked for Buster and Jessie almost 40 years. We live over the mtn from them. They are a dying breed, best people in the world!

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thats a connnection I was not aware of. Wauld that be Bee Tree or Laurel? Do you all farm today?

[@melisaarrington7025]

@@thefaceofappalachia We live on Will Arrington Road. Instead of staying straight going to Buster and Jessie’s, you turn left right above Arrington Branch Church

[@scottallen6062]

Melisa, thanks for watching and letting us know about your connection to the Nortons. I hope we get to meet you and your family at some point. We sure love your neck of the woods. The Nortons are truly wonderful people.

[@donaldwalls3737]

Yes, just down to earth, good folks! I spent many hot Louisiana summers, walking garden rows with my PawPaw. Snapping, and shelling peas, shocking corn, slinging small square hay bales, oh the life of a 10 year old boy!! Haha If I could go back in time, I wouldn't change a thing!

[@raolhooley]

They'd be even more of a dying breed if they smoked their own product

[@kevingaddis7276]

Tobacco barns is one of the best smells God came up with.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

I agree. Even though I have never smoked, I think it, along with hay, are two of the best smells in the country.

[@staceywatrin2112]

Never too late to start!​@@thefaceofappalachia

[@melissatuason2395]

when the days were young, this put tears in my eyes how I wish we were in those days again. It was hard I bet , but very fulfilling and wholesome.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Melissa. Thanks for watching. You really have to have a strong work ethic to support yourself with this way of life, for sure.

[@scottallen6062]

Melissa, so glad you stopped by the channel. Thanks for your comment. Please come back often and continue to let us know your thoughts.

[@stormcrow7698]

So says all of us, when the days were young.

[@jackscruggs1536]

Not hard at all

[@shaunmuffoletto3760]

You'd be the first one complaining

[@freebird1ification]

these folks right hear are what built this country -salt of the earth folks for sure

[@thefaceofappalachia]

That they are. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@TheAcenightcreeper]

Wrong color…the folks who literally built this country arent these folks…they may be good people and as a nc native i appreciate what they do…but…lets not rewrite history

[@kirkstinson7316]

​@@TheAcenightcreeper Then stop trying to

[@Longbranchking]

@@TheAcenightcreeperwhites have been an overwhelming majority in this country from the beginning. We wouldn’t be where we are today if they sat back and let 10 percent of the population to do the work.

[@yeedbottomtext7563]

@@TheAcenightcreeperboth groups built this country.

[@joehuff1605]

The good days iv got Two boys this is what put them through school and taught them respect for life and how to work for a living God bless the farmers

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Sounds like they had a great upbringing!

[@jamessistrunk2389]

A great couple. They remind me of my aunt and uncle who were chicken farmers in Miss. They worked together everyday doing what they had to do to make a living.But they wouldn't have had it any other way. Good story and God Bless the Farmers. I wish the govt didn't have so much control over them .

[@samuelfink4799]

What a beautiful couple, as a 55 year old man this took me back to my younger years of working in tobacco, hay, and gardening with my parents. Little did I know at the time that I was experiencing some of the best this world affords us.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

So glad to hear this brought back such nice meories. Thanks for reaching out!

[@sgtblt0506]

The first ten seconds made me want to cry. Many of my best childhood memories are tied to tobacco. Tobacco wasn't only a cash crop for Appalachia, but a big part of life. It was a way for folks to get enough money to climb out of debt, or have a slightly better quality of life. Many a birthday present and school outfit were bought with tobacco. It was means to an end, and now that it's gone there's been no worthy replacement. It's a bygone era.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Well said. It is a mostly bygone era and a sorely missing souce of income that almost every farm here cold count on each fall to pay the taxes and settle up on groceries and all.

[@turbodog99]

Yeah, but two things... 1) it's a product that kills people and 2) they should have taken the money and progressed beyond to new crops and/or moved to locations with better opportunities, education, etc.

[@sgtblt0506]

​@@turbodog99two things- 1) Maybe read that again. It wasn't a life changing amount of money that magically transformed rags to riches, and 2) how arrogant of you to assume anything about the lives, education, and opportunities of people who barely get by working a mountain farm. Tobacco in raw form is more or less harmless until it's processed by the cigarette companies who paid educated people (chemists) to make their products more addictive. It wasn't the farmers' fault. It must be nice to armchair quarterback so much of others' lives. Go eat a Richard.

[@dougdavis2038]

A lot of memories just came back to me. When I left home in 1988, Daddy quit raisin backer, sold the cattle, and bought a Gas heating stove! I miss that work so much. Hard work, but it builds good character. Younger generation needs a good dose of the past! That sound of the spear made me smile.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Glad this brings back good memories and thanks for sharing the story about your dad.

[@scottallen6062]

Doug, thanks for watching and commenting. I love that sound as well! Hope to hear from you again.

[@dougdavis2038]

@@scottallen6062 thank you, I actually had an uncle that worked on the test farm in Waynesville back in the 80’s. Tobacco was a large part of my childhood.

[@randyblackburn9765]

I’ll never forget that smell of burley curing up in the tier rails,weren’t much money but helped daddy pay the GI farm payment and and a little left to make ole Sanny Claus slide down the chimney.

[@anonymousanonym450]

we get a dose of the past when thinking about prices

[@wayne-tg1xh]

Good honest and hard working family.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Yes they are. Widely respected in their community and very involved helping others.

[@scottallen6062]

Thanks for your comment. They are awesome people.

[@ellencoomer3345]

Tim & Scott, Another good one. My daddy raised tobacco like most people in the area. Buster was good friend of Nathan. They always traded work whether it was making molasses, raising tobacco, or hay . Good memories as usual. Don't stop!

[@scottallen6062]

It always brightens my day to hear from you and learn about the threads and connections that ran through the community. Hope to see you soon.

[@eddybrevet6816]

Tobacco is good insecticide, I use it for mites,

[@AlanCoates-b6j]

I grew up in the holler just about a mile from these two, They are great folks. Hard working people who are just as good as they come. Alan Coates

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Alan; I'll second that. They are valuable members of their communtiy.

[@Tartarblac]

I love North Carolina I have family there I lived there 7 years while I raised my children there Oh to be there again! I love these country folk Thanks for sharing your life stories

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks for sharing! Glad you are enjoying the episodes!

[@justintierney2069]

What a lovely couple. Hard, physical work is good for the body and the soul.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

They are fun to be around and claim they are taking it easy these days, but you wouldn't know it to spend the day with them!

[@Backflipspagetti]

So much I could say and the memories I could share. They're right when they said people are scared and lazy. I'm from east Tennessee and up till about 20 years ago I made extra money working several crops , tobacco being one . I really miss the old days on the farm. I'm over 50 and you have to drive way out to find any tobacco fields. Used to be everywhere. Blessed my soul watching this. ❤

[@thefaceofappalachia]

So glad to know that you enjoyed the episode and that it relates to your life as well.

[@jonathanweir6084]

I had family from sweetwater. Your cool!

[@mrthreedaysgrace100]

You're dead on about the 20 years ago part. I'm from the tri cities and i can remember my grandfather taking me to show me his friend's cattle farms and tobacco fields as a small boy. Sadly most small farms in East TN seem to be going to land developers anymore as nobody in the family ever want to take them over.

[@joeyallen7927]

From East Tennessee to. Worked tobacco along the French Broad River in the Riverdale community.

[@Cutter-jx3xj]

My mom's family is in Floyd county KY and my grandfather was a coal miner, as was many generations of my family, and grew tobacco. I was a butcher for 40 years and I understand being a dying breed and no one wanting to man up and work. I will be 65 Thursday, May 2nd and I am retired and still working. I sure feel at home around people like buster and Jessie and out of place in the world we live in

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Happy Birthday! We were just at Buster and Jessies this morning filming them seeding trays to plant sorghum in a few weeks to be harvested this fall. Sounds like you come from a family of hard workers!

[@mattservice185]

Happy birthday!

[@WhiteSpaceSESH]

Happy birthday!! Hope all is well for you and your family

[@PNNYRFACE]

Man Up. Aw that cute You sound rediculous

[@WhiteSpaceSESH]

@@PNNYRFACE "rediculos" oh my goodness, you can't have bad grammar AND a bad attitude it's one or the other. God bless you

[@geraldteaster3298]

Great story! I enjoyed the description of the dying mountain tobacco farming and loved the back and forth comments of the couple. I remember watching my granddad, Ransom Teaster, who was from Madison County, taking tobacco leaves, putting molasses on them and twisting them to dry to make chewing tobacco.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Great memories of your grandfather. Tobacco was a big deal for many folks as far as making extra income to help them survive.

[@scottallen6062]

Gerald, I had not heard of the chewing tobacco recipe. Thanks for that story. Great to hear from you!

[@WhispersFromTheDark]

These two are so cute! Bless their hearts. Can you imagine what all they've seen and had to deal with thru the years. Wow. God bless them and may their days continue to be filled with laughter and love.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

They are a fun and loving couple who have worked hard together to make a great life for themselves and their children. Can't say much higher praise!

[@mb692100]

Your videos of the mountain people and their lifestyle are like a ray of sunlight through a window too long darkened by a world of rage, greed, hate and crime. Thank you for a pleasant alternative to the despondent daily news of life in the concrete jungle and a graphic reminder that man made the cities and God made the mountains, and you can certainly see the difference.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

We apprecaite you watching and happy to hear you connect with and enjoy the videos. We love this way of life and the peo;ple we meet every week who work hard and help each other. Thanks for joining us!

[@juanitawilsongay7832]

My Grandparents worked in Tobacco for years. Orange county NC. Still to this day I love the smell of a gold Tobacco leaf. Love the history in these videos. Thanks for sharing..

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks for sharing! Its great to hear how many people remember this from their past.

[@gillisBR549]

My great grandfather had 100 acres of tobacco allotment in 1936, year he died. My grandpa inherited a 1/3 of it ( 33 acres ) in 1938 after estate was settled. The “feds” had cut that 33 acres to about 12 acres by 1974. Great video of great people!

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Great story. Thanks for sharing and for watching!

[@scottallen6062]

So good to hear from you. Thanks for continuing to visit. Great to hear about your history with tobacco farming. Things sure have changed!

[@NicCageForPresident2024]

Fuck the government taking from us.

[@keith62970]

Hello from Kentucky! On this side of the hill, I still run across tobacco around. But, it's real sad to watch a long tradition die out. God bless the farmers.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thansk for watching and getting in touch. We certainly appreciate it.

[@Qingeaton]

Farmer's Tobacco Co. of Cynthiana, Ky. produces "Kentucky's Best" brand. The non filters are comparable to the much higher priced Pall Mall non filters. The best tasting tobacco I know of. The filtered variety uses a lesser tobacco, because I have tried those as well. The same is also true of Pall Mall. Kentucky's best are only sold by Casey's stores, so very hard to find. I contacted the company and asked why I can't buy what they make in more than a few stores state wide. They are being throttled. A classic example of an excellent product being choked to death. You can buy 10 different brands of junk all over the state, but can only buy the great stuff when lucky.

[@rogerwright4323]

Beautiful story and people. I'm so happy I found your channel. Thank you and God bless you!

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Welcome!. Glad to have you along. I hope you'll take a look at some of our other videos as well for more great folk!

[@susanbelida6981]

❤ I just love these true Americana videos. Wonderful, hardworking folks. The last of the real builders of America.

[@scottallen6062]

Susan, you have made my day. We so appreciate you spending time here and commenting on the video. I hope you have or will subscribe to the channel it really helps us to continue this tribute to the people in our area.

[@the32712]

The last of the baccer went away bout 15 years ago here in NW North Carolina. The barns are all still here. Most growers in this part of the mountains of NW swapped to cattle or christmas trees. My family has small pastured poultry farm. Buster mentioned about the income per acre, pastured poultry seemed to be the best for our small acreage. Expecting a hard freeze tonight 10/07/23. Winter will be here this month with the snow no doubt. Lord's giving us a break from the garden and farm. God Bless you and yours. Got a neighbor of mine, we're both in the fire department, his parents are right about 95 years old. His father cut the first power line right of way to ever enter our county. In our part of our county the electric came right about 1960. One of the last parts of the county to get electrified due to the remoteness and rugged terrain, even moreso than Jefferson and Lansing.

[@scottallen6062]

So good to hear from you! Hope you guys were ready for the freeze. Got down to 34 here last night.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

What great stories. The power came into these communities in late 1940s. A frind has a refrigerator bought new then that is till working! There have been lots of attempts at replacement crops, and many have gone to beef cattle but livestock is a lot of daily work, so its been tough.

[@pamountains2]

You will be proud to know that here in Central PA, Northern Appalachia, tobacco grows through our valleys. Mostly the Amish doing it

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Interesting to know. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Would love to see that sometime.

[@NakedOwl501]

Thank god for the Amish, basically our human time capsules.

[@conniedavidson1807]

Brings back lots of memories, I use to use those tobacco sticks for my "horses" as a kid. I had a whole herd. I remember stringing up those leaves as the guys brought them in from the fields. I must have been about 8 yrs old. Shows how old I am now. We played outside and no computers invented. Barely had TV.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Connie; those are some great memories. I can see it in my minds eye. I have a walking stick someone has made recently from an old tobacco stick. Piles of them in the barns sitting unused now.

[@scottallen6062]

So good to hear from you! I love your memories of your stick horses. Awesome!

[@thefaceofappalachia]

A diffrerent time for sure. Glad it brought back good memories!

[@BillDalby]

Working in tobacco in southern Ontario Canada alot of farmers would hire north Carolina farmers to come up an cure the tobacco for them they had the knowledge met alot of people from Goldsboro and rocky mt. NC

[@darrenanderson2244]

What a wonderful couple! Thanks for sharing their story.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks for watching! We appreciate you and are glad you are enjoying the episodes.

[@scottallen6062]

Hey Darren. I am so glad you enjoyed this episode on the Nortons and tobacco. Please come back often. You are always welcome.

[@frankbrown2399]

My family was in the tobacco business in S.C. and N.C. for generations both growing and tobacco auction houses. I last farmed flue cured tobacco in the late 90's. Miss it! Hard work and a way of life. Thanks to you and the Norton's for sharing.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like you have some great memories!

[@scottallen6062]

Hey Frank, thanks for spending time with the video and channel. What is "flue cured" tobacco? Keep coming back. You are always welcome.

[@brucethomas3100]

@@scottallen6062 I grew up on a small farm in Robeson County NC near a little town called Lumber Bridge. Our Dad raised flue cured tobacco as well also soybeans, corn, cotton, wheat and peanuts. Yessir, it was hard, good work. Flue cured tobacco was harvested a few leaves from the bottom of the stalks as they began ripe and strung onto a tobacco stick and hung in a barn. When all of the rooms in the barn were filled the burners, gas or kerosene, were fired to cure the leaves of tobacco. Early flue curing was achieved by using wood heat, I remember my Dad and Uncle telling stories about filling the tobacco barns during the day and watching and feeding the fire during the night.

[@jefferyschirm4103]

Great maybe you can still get a little credit for some of the cancer deaths , right??!

[@jimbob8969]

@@jefferyschirm4103Why do you have to come here and start your nonsense? If you don’t like it don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

[@Nyxeme]

This is why Im on KZbin. Quality stuff. I thoroughly enjoyed this mini documentary.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Well, we are honored to have you along. Thanks for watching and hope you'll stay in touch!

[@johnregan9644]

Fifty years ago when I was a soldier and stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC, we were frequently in the field on maneuvers. We would often meet tobacco farmers who would let us sleep or get out of the weather in their barns (as long as the tobacco wasn't drying). I don't think I ever met a better class of people. We would always pay for our stay by leaving 5-10 lbs of coffee when we left.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

What a wonderful story and a great memory. It sounds like everyone benefitted and helped each other out. And my experinece with farmers is the same; such helpful and giving folk.

[@tarheelpatch3386]

I lived 45 min from Bragg thank you for your service

[@amphibious4463]

man this reminds me of my great grandparents farm. wish I could go there now

[@thefaceofappalachia]

So gald this brought back good memories. Thanks for watching.

[@amphibious4463]

@@thefaceofappalachia That farm was in Brunswick County but I’m also of the Fox family from Yancey county right up the road from these good folks in your video.

[@joewearsadroolbib7347]

Very refreshing to see such a loving couple.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks. We agree and appreciate you watching!

[@HasteDraftHorsesandMules]

I grew up in south central Kentucky and was raised in the tobacco patch. It was our way of life until the buyout when they took all the tobacco bases from farmers.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

I kn ow Kentucky was second only to NC in production so both economies took a hit.

[@brianishmael2290]

I'm from here in Central Kentucky and from a little boy my family raised tobacco and the same thing happened the buy out came and not very many people even raise it anymore, but I sure do miss those days.

[@thevictorianedge5465]

I’m in SE NC and I grew up helping in tobacco on the old harvester and I would string tobacco on a wood stick. There was 8 people working on the harvester, 4 stringing and each stringer had someone cropping and handing it to the stringer. One person driving the tractor which pulled the harvester and a trailer behind which held the sticks full of tobacco. A person was on the trailer waiting for the stringers to call STICK. The full stick was handed to that person and in exchange an empty stick was given to start all over again. Sometimes at this point a cropper would begin to collect too much tobacco in their lap waiting on the new stick and they’d have to holler WHOA which signaled to the tractor driver to stop so we could catch up. Hot and dirty work but I wouldn’t trade those memories and the opportunity to work at 12 years old for nothing in this world. Good crowd of farm hands, talking while they work or singing and laughing. It was a great time really. Such wonderful memories. ❤❤

[@scottallen6062]

What great memories and stories. Thanks for sharing! Hard work for sure. Thanks for watching the video and sharing your thoughts.

[@chrisfrench8511]

Great video yo make me smile. I am 68 and headed out the the fields. Help is hard to find.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Sounds like you stay busy. I just spent the day with folks making molasses and they rely solely on family and neighbors for help as its hard to find other help.

[@SollidRollerC10]

I grew up in Lumberton NC working in the backer field as we called it and it was hard work. Them days were the golden days where you had little money but were still happy. Man I miss them day's. Not being poor, but just the way life was just so simple. Love your channel.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@JamesGillice-rn8sx]

Lumbee from Pembroke we raised Bacca at Burnt Swamp

[@gerardjohnson2106]

Burning plantbeds, drawing plants, pegging barefoot when it was wet, discing over acreage when the college boy came to measure, topping after a rain, priming leaf in the field, dropping sticks, housing when it was 100° in the top tier, book it down when it came into order, stripping when it was 20° and you couldn't feel your fingers. Tobacco was a hard crop. I've been there and done that. Never again. These folks deserve every penny they are paid for their crop. God bless America. 👍👍👏👏🇺🇲

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Sounds like you know the drill. Yep, its a long hard season growing tobacco. Only a few continue to do it as they try to bring in a little extra money to pay the bills.Its interesting to watch all that is involved.

[@opalwalker546]

That was a big part of my growing up,miss the way we used to do things.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks for joining us and glad it brings back good memories!

[@redtailpunk]

thank you for showing us that these gems of human beings still exist. godspeed to those on both sides of the camera

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks so much for the encouragement and we appreciate you for watching and glad you are enjoying the episodes.

[@soniatriana9091]

Wow! This video was phenomenal in every way!! Jessie & Buster Norton are amazing people! They truly are the epitome of hardworking, honest, fun loving, devoted, & knowledgeable & skilled farmers!! I cannot imagine what a wonderful & rare goldmine of friendship & neighborly comradely must exist in this part of the country!!! Especially among the older generations!! The Appalachian people are truly as amazing as their beautiful land! What a pleasure it was to watch this video - I learned so much!! Thank you!!👍🏻🤗👏🏻

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thank you so much for your comments. Its so great to know that what we are doing is meaningful to others and that they both learn from it and enjoy watching. The Norton's are a great couple and two of the hardest working, but fun, folks I know. Stay tuned for more!

[@HaroldHammons-s6r]

Hello I really appreciate these folks I didn't know the government had athority over growing tobacco good people 😊❤

[@scottallen6062]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@jamessistrunk2389]

Great story and God Bless them and all the farmers

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks for watching. Farmers are a special lot and we couldn't live without them!

[@codysmith605]

What a lovely couple of folks.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Buster and Jesse are a great couple. They work side by side and seem to enjoy every minute, no matter how hard they work.

[@chipper442]

As a cigar smoker, I’ll take a second to say thank you for the effort and dedication it takes to produce tobacco.

[@scottallen6062]

Thanks for stopping by the channel and your comment. You are always welcome here.

[@zinniaadkins9826]

I'm 45 this is what my childhood looked like,we grew five acres each year, I'm just across the mountain from you in TN,in unicoi county, sounds like our way of life sawmills, gardens, hunting, fishing

[@scottallen6062]

Great to hear from you. Sounds like you got a great way of life! I especially like the hunting and fishing part......lol

[@carolinalady7763]

How I long for days gone by. My papaw was a tobacco farmer in Yancey county, NC. I grew up handing "baccer" and the smell of a barn hanging full is unmatched. And these kind of people are the best kind.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Sounds like you have some great memories. Glad this video was meaningful to you.

[@thomascramer7485]

What agreat real life story old america we once knew❤.

[@scottallen6062]

Thomas, thanks for watching and responding to the video.

[@budsatawny]

Good people like these folks are few and far between

[@thefaceofappalachia]

So true. They are really great, hard working folks.

[@user-po7iv4ni3o]

I was fortunate enough to grow up on the fringe of the end of the tobacco growing industry in OH. I'll always remember the field full of tobacco at our friends' farm, and the amazing smell in the barn when it was all hanging to dry.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Yes its a beautiful plant to look at and is something to smell when hung as you say. Thanks for your comment.

[@ericeakes7733]

I love and miss my farming relative's,...I became a man working on their farm, I'm grateful to have had that privilege. They're all passed on now. Bless you folks.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Well said! Thanks for getting in touch and sharing your thoughts.

[@chrisrose_krii_lun_aus]

I dont miss any of and i miss it terribly at the same time.

[@williambass5933]

Brings back good memories. Nice to see the tradition is still going. Worked the fields in Barnardsville several times as a young guy. Sure made me understand what Hard work was! Great video and thanks for sharing 👍

[@scottallen6062]

thanks William! Keep coming back.

[@brandywine4000]

I worked many summers in tobacco fields and at the barns in Eastern NC. I loved the work and cherished the people. I’m thankful for the memories. When I visit my home now, the few farmers who are growing and harvesting tobacco aren’t doing it the same as we did back in the 80-90’s. Thank you for sharing this couple’s story.

[@scottallen6062]

Good to read your comment. Times keep rolling and ways keep changing.We hope to preserve a time capsule here of people and ways that are slowly passing!

[@Per409]

He spoke of the buy outs, this was the late 90s and we sold out to. Strange that most money set aside for farmers went everywhere. I remember a headline in the paper saying $100,000 was given to the Carter Fold in Hiltons Va. why It was hard work and people were strong, wonderful memories.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

My understanding is that there weren't restrictions on how the money was to be used so in North Carolina, for instance ,the legislature put it in the general fund so much of it didn't go to the farmers.

[@acesoftrul3z]

We even used to have baccer here in parts of north GA when I was a kid back in the 90s/early 2000s, not a whole lot but still enough that I knew what it was and could recognize the smell. Recently went through rural kentucky because the highway was shut down and I had to take a detour and it brought me through hundreds of acres of tobacco and it just flooded me with memories

[@thefaceofappalachia]

It was certinly a way of life. NC and KY were the country's largest producers in the day. Lots of folks have fond memories of the fellowship they had working together farming all sorts of crops.

[@Trapphausmusic]

Hoss Tool grows it down in GA

[@Connorkinn]

Such a cool couple 💙

[@scottallen6062]

They are the best kind of people. Great chemistry between them for sure. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Mark-sd4hv]

This video belongs in a museum so people can see it in 400+ years easily

[@thefaceofappalachia]

We appreciate that and hope it will outlast us and be something future generations will enjoy and learn from. Thanks for watching!

[@TheMallen07]

My grandfather was a depression era tobacco farmer in Reidsville, NC. My grandmother went on to work at Lorillard in Greensboro till she retired in the 90s. I remember as a kid seeing it growing in the fields of the NC piedmont. It was our states crop, and sort of a shame it’s almost gone now. I think we need to make an effort to preserve the barns while some are still standing.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

There are efforts in some places to preserve the barns or at least document them but I agree that it would be great if more could be done.

[@matthewthompson7012]

I miss the tobacco worms and playing tag in the barn before we hung. I can smell this video and it brings me joy. Thanks 👍

[@thefaceofappalachia]

So glad it rung true with you and brought back fun memories!

[@thelewddwarf28]

I am amazed how much they accomplished in life, then decide to become farmers of all things in retirement. I hope they both have many more prosperous years, we need more people like them.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

I think farming has always been Busters first love, after Jessie, and now she is able to help full time, but it's her third career she says! Amazing couple.

[@elizabethjohnson475]

Soft times make soft men.

[@andrewm806]

Thanks for making this. Real sweet.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.

[@nicke1903]

I financed my teens in tobacco and hay, right over the hill in Barnardsville NC (Northern Buncombe Co).. .hot,hard work but I truly enjoy looking back at the experience.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thats neat. Glad the video brings back good memories!

[@stevebruce1235]

This is amazing life,I used to work in tobacco in Tennessee,I now reside in Arizona,no one knows hard work until they have farmed....thank for you Chanel....brought back many memories

[@scottallen6062]

Steve, so good to hear from you. Tim is in Arizona as we speak. I have been there often. I love your neck of the woods. Thanks for watching and commenting. I hope you keep coming back. You are always welcome.

[@jonbruce536]

Beautiful people. This country is in short supply of these kind of folks.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Agreed. Its been a pleasure to spend time with them on the tobacco crop and on the molasses making just done.

[@frankknight4491]

These are two beautiful people, often make the same comment to my bride... act like you love me, that was absolutely Priceless for me.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Yes they are a special couple, married 47 years they've figured something out to still enjoy being and working together.

[@ayronsmama05]

This was the best part of my childhood!!

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Glad this brought back good memories! Thanks for watching.

[@boroblueyes]

In between Baxley and Blackshear, Ga. on both sides of highway 15 grows about 250 acres of tobacco. It was being topped and suckered and the plants were in great shape. In South Georgia we would grow tobacco that we cured with heat from a fuel oil fired burner. We had a small tobacco allotment but we weren't full time farmers. In the beginning, we would hand crop a few leaves at a time. It would take 3 or 4 cropping before the whole plant is harvested. Later on we used hand cropping but we rode on a mechanical harvester. One of our neighbors had a Tie Master tying machine, it was like a sewing machine for tobacco. My favorite part was going to the tobacco sales.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thats sounds neat. We appreciate you sharing your memories. The crop was a lot of work even with mechanization, and hand doing things was especially hard. The auctions were neat events, warehouses piled high with bales and folks walking up and down the aisles bidding in some unknown code, it seemed.

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

They seem like hard working good folks

[@thefaceofappalachia]

They certainly are. Be sure to check out the next video where they are making molasses.

[@DanoFSmith-yc9tg]

We still grow a ton of tobacco in southern ontario canada. Near lake erie particularly

[@scottallen6062]

Good to hear from you. Thanks for watching and taking time to comment here on the channel. I have been up that way lately. Very beautiful!

[@blueridgerider7954]

Tobacco was my first job, Ed Mackey in little River NC. From plowing setting plants, cutting, grading and my favorite part the sale barn. I started at 14 years old, up till I graduated high school every spare moment was in the field. Lots of memories.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

That sounds wonderful. Glad this brings back some good memories.

[@lakedog3616]

Back in the early 80’s I was in a group that would go around and contract cutting and hanging tobacco. I could sometimes cut 2 thousand sticks a day and got 7 cents a stick . Everyone wanted the top rail when hanging, we would race to the top for it , I usually won , lol .

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks for sharing. What great memories. I know that was hard work but sounds like you had a good group to work with.

[@derekc180]

I love tobacco, its a beautiful, magical medicinal plant. You don’t have to abuse it. Harvested it with my family every summer then had a big country cookout afterward. Miss those days.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

It is a communal effort as it requires so much labor so its great when folks get together to help with one anothers crops.

[@jonathanschadenfreude9603]

did cukes and bacci in northern mass my entire 11-17yrs growing up and ended up in arborculture. Outdoor work is gods work. Sandersons veggie farm N.hatfield mass area, i miss it.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks for getting in touch and for watching!

[@carpenterpilot487]

Thats the most simpler life you can live peaceful No phones No computers. You really don't need much at all as long I have food on the table I would be happy with that. GOD BLESS THEM! YOU ARE WORKING PLEASURE FOR THE PEOPLE LOVE TO SMOKE

[@scottallen6062]

Thanks for watching and thanks for your comments.

[@dixienormous2704]

I never grew up near a tobacco farm, but I grew up a block away from Bloch Brothers Tobacco in Wheeling, WV. That sweet sweet smell of snuff and molasses on a balmy summer night is a memory I miss.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Wow, that does sound nice. Those smells are part of growing up here and I'm sure many of us share those memories. Thanks for watching.

[@maryefromky]

i'm from KY, originally born and raised in the foothills but, now i'm a true Appalachian. and our area did tobacco all the way up til the 90s, i think, maybe a little later. i have fond memories of running through the barn at my grandparent's house, age 4 or 5, when it was full of plant drying. extremely hard work! it idn't for the faint of heart

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Yes this is hard workand requires a community of support. We appreciate you commenting and watching and sharing your thoughts.

[@maryefromky]

@@thefaceofappalachia i respect anyone who does farming of any kind, but especially baccer! thank you for the videos, i love watching stuff from other Appalachians :) y'all take care!

[@beargroundshomestead]

Reminds me of when I was a child and we would go to the family farm during tobacco season. We would ride the skids pulled by my grandpa’s matched mules. Sure miss it.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

What an image provoking description. I can see it in my minds eye.

[@tonyindiana]

I love these two folks

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Yes, they are really great folks. Be sure to check out our current video where we visit them again while they make molasses.

[@Chris-liwymi]

A jack of all trades and a master of none is still better than a master of one - that is the full quote, I learned this about a year ago and thought it was worth knowing so I am sharing

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks for sharing! Nice to know.

[@Kevin-bz7hj]

I remember living in N.C in the 60’s and all the tobacco farms and the smell of the drying barns .

[@scottallen6062]

Kevin, good to hear from you. So glad the video brought back good memories.

[@cpainter56]

I had the pleasure of living in the wolf laurel community for about a year in 2017. Great people to call your neighbors.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thats for sure. Tight knit communities and a beautiful area.

[@JosephShaffer-o1o]

Me being from CHARLESTON S.C. A country Boy , I love your Home Stead , and both of you guys!! Great Video 😊😊😊😊

[@thefaceofappalachia]

They have a great place in the mountains and several plots of land on the bottom they work. Lots to keep up with starting this time of year.

[@sharonlesley901]

Looking good guys, happy to see you're doing something you love.

[@scottallen6062]

Sharon, thanks for tuning in. Hope you will stop by often. We need you!

[@FISHPOT77]

I remember working on my grate Uncle's farm in the summer. He grew tobacco over near Wilson, NC. Long days, hot and very sticky. It was a small family operation, I miss working on the farm and all those older family members.

[@scottallen6062]

Wow what a great memory! Keep stopping here for a visit, you are always welcome.

[@beeamerica5024]

They might be old folks but they got youngins hearts😊

[@thefaceofappalachia]

That's for sure. A fun couple to spend time with.

[@havoc1482]

This is almost identical to the way we picked broadleaf tobacco up in northern Connecticut. Right down to sharpening the hatchet on the back of a dodge! That sound of the stalk being pierced over the spear was a blast from the past. Amazing.

[@scottallen6062]

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your memory. I noticed the sound of the plant on the spear as well! I hope you keep coming back for a visit.

[@michaelquillen2679]

My grandfather, who passed away at age 71 back in 1966, grew a bit of tobacco (whatever the gov't allotted him to grow) back in the day. Plowed those fields with a mule, to the year he died. As a kid, I remember the tobacco barn and the earth smell of that barn.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Sounds like you have some great memories of him and those times. Glad this helped bring those images back. We appreciate you watching.

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

I grew up in Western Ky and working in the tobacco was how I made my spending money in the 1970's, and on in the 1980's after I was grown and worked full time I would still work in tobacco on weekends and afternoons, it paid very well.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thanks for sharing your story!

[@Noamgood]

Two good people, you don't know it but your way of life is honorable and is fast disappearing. Keep that farm going as long as the good Lord will allow you.

[@scottallen6062]

Thanks for your time and comment. Please keep stopping by for a visit!

[@JosephShaffer-o1o]

You two are a wonderful couple indeed !! Love ya😊

[@thefaceofappalachia]

They are a great couple who work well together and have fun while they work.

[@billkea7224]

Back in the 70s I grew small plots of tobacco ag-chem research. Even that was hard, and I'm glad I didn't farm large acreages of it. I did, however, love to go into the warehouses when tobacco was being auctioned. The smell was so good, unlike when somebody was smoking it.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

I agree. A lot like coffee to me, as I am not a coffee drinker but love the smell.

[@glow1815]

I lived in Madison 1984-1997. Every year my neighbors would go to harvested Tobacco. I was a little girl then. They said it was fun but also very hard labor. Tobacco and Corn what a lot of people harvest for extra cash during harvest season.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

They were the two cash crops in these mountains for decades. They supplied needed cash to pay taxes and buy Christmas presents at the end of the year.

[@andrewdaugherty3141]

video brings back good memories of working in tobacco for my dad in central kentucky its truly a lost art now.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

That it is. Just visited them again and they are planting seeds in the greenhouse for this year.

[@kimmontgomery54]

I enjoy your videos! Such a lovely couple!❤❤

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Thank you so much!! Tey are great. Spent another day with them yesterday working hay and preparing to make molasses.

[@hilldwler420]

That crop built America

[@scottallen6062]

Thanks for stopping by the channel. Keep coming back, we need you!

[@McNeillWelding]

Thanks for sharing. Their way of farming may be going but tobacco is not all gone in NC! I work on heavy equipment and know 2 farmers in Lee County, NC who each planted over 500 acres this year.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

That's quite the undertaking, flatter land down that way so more manageable on that scale but still a lot to manage.

[@kevins17]

What a hot job that was. August in those tobacco barns was brutal. $3 an hour cash in the 80's. Absolutely will teach a young man a lot about the value of money and the satisfaction of a good day's work.

[@thefaceofappalachia]

Sounds like you've done your share of hard work and appreciate its value.

[@lauriivey7801]

My father grew up in Wayne County, NC and worked tobacco fields as a child and young teen ... he used to tell me stories ... been gone 18 months, now ... he fell from a tobacco barn once and cracked his back, it pained him until the day he died

[@scottallen6062]

Wow, sorry for the loss of our loved one. Thanks for spending time with us. We value you.

[@CARODSLINK]

Ty

[@scottallen6062]

Thanks for stopping by the channel. I hope you keep coming back.