Unleashing my inner farmer: mastering loose hay, at the age of seven

Loose hay was harvested and put up by scores of school children in the 1950's, not just me!
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Music by Zachary Green Crownover

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

That was really interesting. I am 67 and never had to deal with putting up loose hay but did hear my Dad tell stories of doing it. We had that very same track and pulley system that you mentioned. Much like you, we got one of the first John Deere 336 balers with a thrower on it to come to our area. And like you, I thought too that I had died and gone to Heaven. Full watch and a thumbs up 👍🏻.

[@JERRYCROWNOVER]

Lol! I'm 71, but, growing up in the Ozark hills, we were probably 20 years behind the rest of the country. I wouldn't trade my upbringing and experience for a million dollars, but I wouldn't give a nickel to do it all again! Thanks for the comments.

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

@@JERRYCROWNOVER , I couldn’t have said it any better. Of course, I didn’t appreciate what I had growing up. Both of my parents grew up through the Great Depression. My Moms first husband was killed in the Battle of the Bulge in WW2. Their hard times translated over into a really great childhood for me. The only drawback was that I had to work. We had a huge garden. We had dairy, beef, hogs, and chickens. We learned at an early age to never tell either of the parents that we were bored. Only had to make that mistake once.🤣

[@JERRYCROWNOVER]

That’s quite a legacy! Thanks for sharing.

[@missouritraveler6401]

As a teenager I helped put up loose hay and square square bales, both are hard work !!! The pay for driving the truck was 1.1/2 cents per bale, bucking the bales paid 2 cents per bale, stacked in the barn for both jobs. Putting the hay in the barn was the hardest and hottest part of the job. Going to the creek to wash that scratchy hay off and to clean up was the best part of the job for a hired hand.

[@JERRYCROWNOVER]

I hear you! In high school, 3 friends and I worked as a team putting up small squares and got a nickel a bale (split 4 ways). The good old days!

[@canvids1]

Sir, you must be about my age I was born in 1940 and started working on a farm at the age of about 8. Horses and loose hay were used like you are talking about. Horses were being replaced by tractors and I remember the first baler It was about early 50's and I was about 10 or so started driving a small case tractor raking hay. Yes it was a great life and taught me so much to use in my later years.

[@JERRYCROWNOVER]

You've got me beaten by a couple of years, but similar upbringings make us of the same mold. there's not many of us left that remember those times from first hand experience, so we need to keep sharing those memories in order for the youngsters to know how it was. Bless you!

[@bduncan9724]

I worked driving truck and tractors at that early age as well for my dad. Folks now a days would call it child abuse. On the contrary I believe this type of thing is needed to teach young ones that they can do things and to help build productive individuals in our society.

[@JERRYCROWNOVER]

I whole heartedly agree. I'm afraid, however, that we are in the minority, outside the rural community.

[@mihandsplitters705]

My dad would tell stories of driving the horses to the lake up here in Michigan to cut ice out of the lake and burying it on the bottom of loose hay to have ice until the middle of summer. Oh how spoiled we are today.

[@JERRYCROWNOVER]

Wow! Hadn't heard about doing that, but it make all the sense in the world. Necessity is the mother of invention.