6 years old. Tom-girl all the way. Horses retired.I ride astride the gas tank holding on to the gas cap as my dad whistles and sings and drives his new prairie gold Minniappolis Moline round and round the fields. I am in heaven. That fall after school I am summoned to drive, pushing hand clutch in and out as Dad and hired man pitchfork corn shocks onto the wagon behind me. First gear. Forward. Stop. Pitch the corn on. Dan signals me to go ahead. Push clutch forward. Repeat till the end of the row when he climbs on board to turn tractor and wagon around and we begin all over again. Loved the grown up power, but as a 6 year old was scared as crap.
Learned on Marv’s 1939 Ford 9N. We used to pull start it with the van. My first time being told to “get on the tractor” as the logging chain was getting pulled out! Thought I was going to ….well, maybe sitting down would have been the smartest thing.
When I was about that same age, my brother and I pulled the feeder wagon out to the feed lot with the A/C WD. He drove out, I opened the gate and closed it behind us. He allowed me to drive back in. When we got to the gate he said 'Just bump the gate and it will swing open." I did, not remembering I had chained the gate. Snapped that sucker in half. We cobbled the gate back together before Dad found out!
I firmly believe that going back and doing the old things is/are as essential as learning and doing the new things. We are not whole without both. Its therapy you can't buy from a therapist, though they are just as valuable for the rest of it.
Up along the border of the red river of the north and Manitoba in far north Minnesota, where I grew up, it was a great place to grow up also. Yes we were both very very lucky….
Thanks! haven't read a book about farming for over a year... so it's high time to return to it! If it's anything like Michael Perry's writing I'll love it. I just reserved it through my town library.
6 years old. Tom-girl all the way. Horses retired.I ride astride the gas tank holding on to the gas cap as my dad whistles and sings and drives his new prairie gold Minniappolis Moline round and round the fields. I am in heaven. That fall after school I am summoned to drive, pushing hand clutch in and out as Dad and hired man pitchfork corn shocks onto the wagon behind me. First gear. Forward. Stop. Pitch the corn on. Dan signals me to go ahead. Push clutch forward. Repeat till the end of the row when he climbs on board to turn tractor and wagon around and we begin all over again. Loved the grown up power, but as a 6 year old was scared as crap.
Learned on Marv’s 1939 Ford 9N. We used to pull start it with the van. My first time being told to “get on the tractor” as the logging chain was getting pulled out! Thought I was going to ….well, maybe sitting down would have been the smartest thing.
Love this. Took me right back.
When I was about that same age, my brother and I pulled the feeder wagon out to the feed lot with the A/C WD. He drove out, I opened the gate and closed it behind us. He allowed me to drive back in. When we got to the gate he said 'Just bump the gate and it will swing open." I did, not remembering I had chained the gate. Snapped that sucker in half. We cobbled the gate back together before Dad found out!
Ha! Great memory. And what Dad doesn't know...
I found that so interesting because all my life I'm so glad to work in the field, and smell the worked up soil. Love my tractor!
The scent of that soil. Yes. One of my favorites.
I firmly believe that going back and doing the old things is/are as essential as learning and doing the new things. We are not whole without both. Its therapy you can't buy from a therapist, though they are just as valuable for the rest of it.
Nicely put.
Up along the border of the red river of the north and Manitoba in far north Minnesota, where I grew up, it was a great place to grow up also. Yes we were both very very lucky….
Grateful.
James Rebanks wrote an enjoyable book about traditional farming titled “Pastoral Song.” Some elegant writing, much like your prose.
Thanks! haven't read a book about farming for over a year... so it's high time to return to it! If it's anything like Michael Perry's writing I'll love it. I just reserved it through my town library.
Hope you enjoy it.
Thank you, I'll have a look.
Love the tractor story. I learned to shift on the B Farmall tractor. Then the M and the H!!!
I drove a few Farmalls in day. You bet.
sweet - hats off to all the farmers - I grew up in a small northern IL town surrounded by farm land. Same families are still farming there.
Hangin' in there, yep.