It's not what you gross...

Posted by Matt on April 29, 2004 at 16:40:22 from (66.181.93.137):

I guess a little story to share from today.

Stopped at the dairy farm just up the road from my place, I usually swing in a get a couple pickup truck loads of manure once they start spreading. Figured this year I'd ask if I could just hire them to drop off a load instead of trying to coordinate and take a day off from the office.

I knew the previous owner from the fire company, and I remember one of his words of wisdom to me, "It's not what you gross, it's what you net." Morrisson passed away about 5 years ago, well into his eighties.

Anyway, after wheeling-and-dealing for them to bring over half a spreader load when they get a chance I was bullshitting with Fred (I forget if he's Morrison's son-in-law or nephew). Fred was filling up the feed wagon with grain, and the wagon was hitched to an A-C D19 Diesel.

I knew it was old, never thought when I looked it up that I'd find it hasn't been made in forty years, but yep, there it was. And still in daily service.

Thinking more about it, they don't have a single tractor that isn't persian orange -- which means even their big 4x4 has to be 20 years old, maybe 19 if they got one of the last ones.

I'm sure the land is bought-and-paid-for, and the barn is circa 1940 tie-stall, but here they are two farmers making a decent living milking 77 Guernseys, following Morrison's advice.

Unfortunately, I know they're both in their 50s, and while I see grand-kids hanging around the barns sometimes, I don't see any of the younger generation working there. Their land has over 1/2 mile of frontage on two sides of a U.S. Highway in a commercial zone, and their fields further away are in a town where houselots start at $30k. I'm kinda half suspicious once they retire, I won't be too far behind them moving to someplace that's "in the country" again!

Follow Ups:

• Re: It's not what you gross... Wayne 22:30:16 04/29/04 (2)
  • Re: Re: It's not what you gross... paul 06:30:55 04/30/04 (1)
    • Re: Re: Re: It's not what you gross... Skycarp 07:18:27 04/30/04 (0)

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