I helped on a farm that my high school friend’s family owned. The first year, the farm was about 3000 acres, but over that winter, the family bought the adjacent farm, which was another 2200 acres. The next spring and through the summer, we were busy. I would start at 7 in the morning, but the farm started working at 5.
All together, we had over 250 head of milking cows and another breeding herd of about 100 or so. We also had other farm animals. Then, we worked the fields bringing in the hay, wheat, corn, straw, oats, soy beans and more, including a few acres of tobacco. Corn came in lTe, like October, maybe early November. After that, I spent the winter back working at the gas station.
If I remember correctly, we had about 12 or so hands working this farm. This was back in 1969. I remember the owner bragging about his brand new John Deere tractor at a cost of $60,000.00. Today, that same tractor would probably cost $150,000.00 or more.
‘’The family knew how to make money.