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Got to use REAL tractor
Well I went to help my local dairy farmer/hay supplier bring in some hay today. I got a 30 second instruction on his JD 3020 and then I jumped aboard and went to work. First thing I had to do was bring in a loaded chuck wagon to the barn. Then he bailed and I raked, transported the filled carts and got more empties.
The weather may get bad so he was in a rush. I guess we bailed about 1000 bales. Lots of time transporting from field to field and from one farm to another. Took a few trips to get use to merging into traffic w/ a big tractor and loaded wagon.
Also was a little bit uncomfortable bringing big carts of hay down rocky, semi-steep gravel drives but all in all it went smooth. Only had one oops, I often keep my brakes locked together and just hit the left pedal, I forgot and when I locked the left brakes the tractor and cart got a little sideways going downhill. No biggie, I recovered...a little wiser 
Funniest thing happened I see this guy stop his car and jump out( wearing a hawian "tourist" shirt), right away he's waving and going for his camera to catch a picture of an "authentic farmer" Jokes on him...he's got a picture of a cop from Brooklyn who's fanny never saw a tractor seat until a month ago. I can here him saying to his relatives "look at this farmer I saw on the road" 
It was getting dark and we just managed to finish about an hour ago. Anyway it was alot of fun, and I'll go pickup my pay....some free bales that is next week.
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Got to use REAL tractor
Yes, it was fun. I have always realized just how much work these farmers do, I don't think many people do. To them it's just some guy causing traffic to slow on the road.
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I find it amazing the ammount of things these farmers need to be able to do. They're taking care of animals, operating heavy equipment, need to know about crops, chemicals, fertilizers etc, do their own vehicle repairs, fix pumps, keep the electric up and running, be keep an eye on local politics do to zoning and other legislation that effects them, etc.
They really need to be a jack of all trades it would seem to run a family farm.
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"He came home just in awe about the crap shooter up there. I almost hit the ceiling until I realized as he continued his adventure story he was talking about a manure spreader..."
That's pretty funny Speaking of which I really like those Mill Creek mini-spreaders, one would look great behind my 790! Would be nice to find a cheap one used but they are often times too large for my use.
It also reminds me the farmer I go to has a son of about 16, I know he really likes working with the father. I was helping because the son was away for the week. I was going to ask if the son was intending on continuing the family tradition after school/college. You really have to like the way of life or the $$$ from the real estate developers would be very tempting.
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I think everyone understood what you meant. The funny thing is if the tractor had a/c,cab and a cd player it wouldn't have been half as much fun. I have all that in my truck this was amuch more unusual experience for me because of the "no frills" aspect.
Now, if I was going to do it everyday I am sure that cab and ac would be on my wish list!
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Yeah, I bet in the past blacksmithing would have been a fair part of their work. Speaking of blacksmithing/shoeing that's aprofession that pays real well around here, with the number of horses being high and the number of shoers being low. Must have something to do with the having to wrestle 1200lb + beasts all day and having your back ruined by 30 :0 Guys around here have more work than they can handle.
It is actually due to discussions of local politics/legislation that I begun talking to several of the local dairy farmers. All the farmers I have met are very informed. One would have to be to protect ones interests it seems.
Very complicated issues. People want to keep some open spaces but some farms are really struggling. They don't want the development but then they don't want to pay for the
land to remain open/farmed. If they raise the house per acre zoning then the farmers land is devalued if/when he sells. Issue about water supply if new homes come in.
No easy answers for sure.
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