The latest statistics show that less then
2% of the population is directly involved in production agriculture. It
is a function of an increasing overall population and a limited amount
of farm ground. Technology is able to keep up, so that less bodies are
required to produce an ever increasing cornucopia of food and fiber.
But on a personal level the story isn’t quite so simple.
Tom
was raised on a dairy farm in the Great Lake region; 300 cows, 900
acres. His grandfather established the farm and passed it down to Tom’s
father.
Tom’s
childhood memories are of work. By the time his mother came in to wake
him and his two brothers for school, she and dad had already finished
the morning milking. By nine years of age he was already part of the
family farm. Until he was old enough to milk he pushed cows to the barn,
fed calves, forked silage and did whatever kids do, which was plenty.
High
school activities like dances, meetings, sports and girls all hinged
around milking time and chores. He didn’t need to work at McDonalds
during summer vacation. If he wanted work there was plenty at home.
He
went to college. His two brothers left to work elsewhere. Now Tom is
33, married with kids and has a good job at the local Coop. Dad has been
using hired labor since the boys left, but Dad is getting older.
Tom makes his daily rounds, does his job and is active in the community.
But hovering over everything he does is that niggling feeling that
maybe he should go back to the farm.
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