First day of 33rd year

Bruce from Can.

Well-known Member
Today is the first day of my 33rd year, of milking my own cows. Back in 1981, there where lots of dairy farms around here, now not so much. There where few tractors over 100hp even fewer 100hp fwd with loaders, and all most no big round bales. And all the square bales could be picked up by a teenage kid. Some things have changed a bit. But milk still comes out of the end of a cows teat, and you still half to squezz it out twice a day. Bruce
 

If you started in 1981, wouldn't this be your 32nd year? I'll be 33 on the 22nd of April and I was born in 1980...
 
Well lets look at it like this. I was bornDec 24 1960, so I just had my 52snd birthday, and I am in my 53rd year . So if I started dairying in 1981 ,1982 would have been my second year, would it not? And while you will turn 33 this April, I would think that this will be your 34 th month of May in your life time. Bruce
 
About time for you to retire then. 33 years on my own was about as long as I could stand it. Dad milked here before I did and his Dad before him,but 33 years was enough for me. If the boys had wanted to keep going,I'd have done it for them,but it's a slow death if the next generation doesn't want to do it.
 
I bet you you never really get a birthday gift, just a early Christmas present. Being your own boss for all those years good or bad means something, if nothing else.
Sean
 
Have not milked cows for a living since 1987 and miss it some. What I miss more is the lifestyle of the family farm. I worked for the same people for almost 10 years and was one of the family. I can, in my mind still smell the sweet smell of cows,feed and milk on a cold wet fall night...can't think that happens in todays freestall operations. Keep up the battle Bruce, Bob (also from Canada...Ontario even!)
 
Ive been milking my own since 89 retirement crossed my mind more than once.My 20 yr old came to me last summer and stated he wanted to come home.Looks like retirement is on the back burner for now.I guess as a parent you do what you gotta do to get the next generation started
 
do you feel like a survivor? we started milking on our own farm in may of 1980. there were 7 farms along the river in the 6 mile stretch between towns. now there are 2 of us left.
 
And if you don't think being your own boss is a good thing then just go to work in a factory or a muffler shop or tire shop etc for a few yrs. Don't even get me started. Take my word for it. By the time you made 33 yrs in a factory you would have mush for a brain and "thinking" would not be your strong suite.
 
Glad you have survived. The real sad thing is that it would be next to impossible for a 21 year old to start milking today. Really any type of full time farming. It is going to interesting to see how it goes in the next 32 years.

There is a lot to be said for being your own boss. I do not know how much longer many will be able to be that in farming. It is turning into one guy being the owner and the rest just hired hands.
 
Congratulations on keeping it going for your kids. My family lost our dairy farm when I was a kid. I worked for cousin's farms for a long time, but it was never the same. My wife and I are trying to get a start right now and it is really tough. We farm with antiques because we started with nothing. If you can keep it going for your kids, it will be a huge start for them.
My parents now have the means to help us, but wont. They lost everything once and now can't part with their money. Your kids are lucky.
 

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