"You've never worked if you have never done this a...
Funny thing is I never minded it. It was a good way to stay in shape, until my back and knees wore out. That was about 7 years and 25 pounds ago. I'm 70 now.
We
always waited to buy second cuttings of alfalfa, which meant I needed
to haul and stack the better part of 2 truck and trailer loads, or more
than 900 100 pound bales, in the hottest time of year.
I thought you might enjoy seeing my self portrait. I figured it would give you a chance to see what I look like.
Thanks, Brock. And thanks for all your work on the blog. I really enjoy it.
``Kevin Collins (aka Elmo), Rough and Ready, CA
Did that as a teenager (many moons ago) and thought I was done with it til some nice younger folks moved next door with draft horses. And yes, they eat like a horse! Wife an I help unload the tractor trailer truck coup;e of times a year. I'm 74 now but can still swing a bail onto the conveyor. I sleep well that night.
ReplyDeleteI bet and I'll be 78 next month!
DeleteElmo, Cederq over at Bustednuckles. I knew I liked you, our first names are Kevin and our last names start with C. I bucked hay until I was 18 and went into the Army and then again in 2002 when moved to Alabama and started a goat farm on nine acres. at 42 I still buck a decent bale of hay or alfalfa but not as many and had to take a few more breaks when I was 13 to 18.
ReplyDeleteI too wear suspenders..
DeleteI too wear suspenders..
DeleteA priority!
Better on your back and I hate belts. I didn't want my trousers around my ankles and give all the women the swoon...
DeleteCederq- Checking in and got your message. Thanks!
DeleteCederq and Brock- I 'retired' from logging 20 years ago. That's where I picked up the suspender habit. They're almost required attire in the industry.
Thanks didn't want my trousers around my ankles and give all the women the swoon...
Delete:)
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They're almost required attire in the industry.
I've seen the light. :)
Top notch, Elmo. And all you others. That is some hard work salt of the Earth.
ReplyDeleteI didn't buck hay bales much but I figured I loaded and unloaded several barns worth. Elmo talking about the number of and weight of bales got me thinking about my time when commercial fishing. During Albacore tuna season I figure 5 tons per day moving each fish five times per day.
did that growing up then we went to round bales and the tractor did the heavy lifting. nothing like hauling hay in the east texas summer heat.
ReplyDeleteWhen did they go to round bales as I never saw one?
DeleteThey have large square bales that tractors use a squeeze to pick up.
DeleteWhat about the round bales? I guess they went to them but then afterwards to square ones?
DeleteRound bales first made an appearance in the late 1970's, due to the fact that they were less labor intensive to harvest and storel, and due to that fact that most farmer's could no longer depend on a labor supply of young males willing to work for the common price of one dollar/hour rate most farmer's in my neck of the woods paid for such labor, the lack of parents insisting their young men work for spending money, and the imposition of minimum wage laws.
DeleteI had never seen round bales as I worked late 50's and early 60's. Tenants got $4 a day plus the normal extras,regular workers got $5 and fast workers got $6 a day.
DeleteMr Brock, I thought the post at first was Geraldo Riveria... kinda looks like him. I bought round bales down in LA about 2003 and I know there were around before then. I bought Bahala grass at about 1200 pounds and Peanut hay (left over from harvest) about 1300 pounds. A tractor would load it and I learned to roll it off the back of the PU and not get crushed or run over.
ReplyDeleteA tractor would load it and I learned to roll it off the back of the PU and not get crushed or run over.
DeleteAn appropriate learning lesson for sure!
Anyone farm Orchard grass?
Delete