This guy is all overalls and no chickens. See Texas hat axiom.
I think that clears up why Shiff looks like he does and why he acts as he does. He has a beard though (wife) and family.
He looks a bit like the late (comedian) Andy Kaufman in that photo. Or a cross between Kaufman and the also late Mr Rogers.
Yeah, I couldn't in a million years picture him doing heavy farm work, or for that matter, any sort of physical work.