Everything I need to know, I learned driving a tractor

Country Today ^ | 7-5-03

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[Phil V.]

How true! MY FARMER FATHER.

 

"Look near before you look far."

[11B3]

Good post. I spent my life in small towns for the most part, along with some BIG cities, and now find myself living on a farm and learning all of these tractor lessons on my own. She was lucky. She didn't have to maintain that equipment - operating it is the fun part. Now that I've become a farmer, I'll never go back to 'civilization'. Hell no.

FMCDH

[FairWitness]

Thanks for the memories, from another former farm kid. Learning to plan what to do before getting to the corner, or to the row end, was absolutely crucial on my dad's 160 acre Wisconsin dairy farm. Since it was dairy, there were fences around every field; since it was hilly (thanks to the last ice age), and there were more than a few "gullies", there seemed to be more corners than straightaways. If I tore up a section of fence, I got to repair it in addition to the other chores, giving added incentive to get it right the first time.

Anticipation is probably the most useful skill every farm kid learns to master.
I agree. However, since fewer and fewer kids get to learn on the farm, I would add that playing baseball (or softball) also teaches anticipation. Baseball, unlike basketball and even football which rely more on reflex and instinct, is a series of "set pieces". Players have time to review before each new play where they are and what their options are for the next play. There are choices to be made, but they are finite in number and anticipation will give you a "first step" advantage. "You can't teach speed", but you can teach anticipation.

[billhilly]

This is a very nice article, and I suspect those earlier farmers, like my grandpa, who used mules rather than tractors had even more time for reflection.

[SWake]

Good article. Tuesday afternoon, I get to start my annual shredding. Provided it doesn't rain (unlikely) or the 31 year old Ford doesn't break down (more likely).

[Phil V.]

Learning to plan what to do before getting to the corner, or to the row end, was absolutely crucial on my dad's 160 acre Wisconsin dairy farm. . . .

Ahhhhhhhh yes!

But did you have sprinkler irrigation stand pipes hidden in the crop just waiting to be "harvested". Of course we marked the valves with stakes before harvest, but ya just hate to waste anything. Ya gotta come as close as possible to the stakes and not waste ANYTHING. . . . OOPS!

[Phil V.]

. . . if 31 year old Ford doesn't break down (more likely).

Get a Ford 9N. . . . going . . . and going . . . and going . . .

[verity]

"Look near before you look far."

Also applies to snake country and mine fields.

[SWake]

I agree, and I plan to get an 8n or 9n for around the house one of these years, but 140 acres five feet at a time isn't my idea of a good time.

[Bluntpoint]

Massey Ferguson TO-35 is the only way to go.

[southland]

Growing up on a farm in North East Alabama was instrumental in my completing flying School in the U S Air Force (56H). Anticipation was very necessary in flying because if you don't plan ahead you likely will not make it.
I now realize a lot that I learned on the farm helped me more than growing up in the city and not learning mechanical gadgets like tractors combines, and planters.

Learning the mechanics of the airplane was absolutely necessary to detect any problem just as it was on the tractor.

[Bluntpoint]

Do planes break down as far away from the hangar as tractors do so far away from the barn.

[Phil V.]

But think of all the meditatin' ya get done!

After 140 acres @ 5-6 feet per round ya come out really wise. I did. I went to the store, saw a whole 2 acres of shelves with food just fallin' to the floor. Now I do all my huntin' fishin' and farmin' at Albertson's. Works out really good.

[SLB]

Makes me think we need a farmer ping list.

I was raised in a farming community. We had a small farm, but as my dad was the John Deere dealer, we did not have the time to do much farming on our own. The title to this thread hits it right on the nose. Most everything I do is common sense (follow your nose).

As far as favorites go. I dream of having a restored John Deere B in the yard. Maybe a diesel 730 with pony engine start instead of electric.

I have included one of my favorite web pages: http://www.antiquetractors.com/
The amount of information there and other links is just right.

[Bluntpoint]

That site is the best isn't it.

[Vigilantcitizen]

One day while bushhogging, I learned that hornets can and do nest in the ground.

[Pure Country]

Great article. We're heading out this weekend to Ohio for my Father's last farm auction. He's 85 and finally parting with the small stuff--the antique tractors that he just couldn't part with when he had his "going out of farming" auction 20 years ago.

It's going to be really hard to see the tractor go that all the kids: nieces and nephews, cousins, grandkids and great-grandkids have ridden on in the last 50 years or so. I'm thinkin' bout talkin my husband into buying it for old times sake--I'm sure that it would fit in with our big machinery of today. I want my grandkids and great-grandkids to have a chance to have the same ride that we all did those many years ago.

[Bluntpoint]

And they are smart enough to attack you and not the tractor. I know exactly were I was on my farm the last time that happened to me. It is etched in my memory.