Farm Tales and Cow Pies

From the hills of Chipmunk Ridge to the wide-open spaces of Texas. From the cornfields of Oakland, Minnesota to the vineyards of southern California. We’re joined by John and Scott who shot and saved single moments in the life of our farms. Join us as we expand our horizons. Our guests take us on a flight with no checked bags. No TSA prechecks, no long lines or short tempers. Just 1,000-word memories shot a frame at a time. Buckle up—we're looking backat the era when a low-flying plane and an open cockpit window changed how we saw the American farm forever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a one room schoolhouse a teacher asked the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. A doctor. A fireman. Will’s turn came and he answered – I want to be a farmer! Today we’re switching it up a bit and sitting down with Dan’s neighbor Will. Raised on a ridgetop farm he went on to spend the next 45 years milking cows and farming over 800 acres. From the first bite of apple pie baked for the threshing crew to ball games on hay stubble after first crop. Crossing the border with a load of hogs and even a story passed down about a real 1800s outlaw spending the night in a neighbor’s barn! Will’s tales capture a way of living and share timeless life advice. And the best part? Will is still going strong!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neither rain nor sleet nor snow… we’re not talking mail delivery here, but spring planting for farmers. Timing is everything as farmers work against and with the clock and mother nature. The race to be first in the fields is on… with bragging rights and replanting options all on the table. Sunday drives to see how the neighbors are doing gave Dad a rare chance to get away from the farm for a breather. Sunshine from the sky and barn, spread on our fields. Tillage is rolling, watch out for wet spots as we celebrate another spring down on the farm!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where there’s a “Will” there’s a way! If you use a 2, 4, 6, 8 or 12 row planter the seed still goes in the ground 1 kernel at a time. Spring temps rise and the seed corn hats and jackets change hands and turn heads. Bags of seed are loaded on trucks and poured into boxes and hoppers. Wait a minute… Before we start to plant we need to cover a few things. Like fields, with manure and fertilizer. Then uncover things like rocks and wet spots. Time to pull the stone boat out and get the Fanning Millspinning. We’re almost ready to hit the fields!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The whine of windmills, pumpjacks and electric pumps supply water to Rural Route addresses across the country. Simple math played out daily, if 5 gallons of water equals a gallon of milk. How much milk is produced by 50 gallons of water? Arriving in pipes and faucets from a well source up to600’ below our familiar paths. Available in multiple forms and transported by more. Ice cubes, summer rains and winter flakes are just a few. Tanks, cisterns and mud puddles gather the water that’s always moving on a never-ending cycle. A cold glass of well water on a hot summer day after another load of hay…aaaHH!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get the inside scoop on manure during this episode, while we clean the barn. Join fellow manure “spreaders” as we remember cleaning calf pens, scraping alleys and putting lime on the alleyway and not in the coconut! Manure is on the move with pitchforks, manure shovels and barn cleaners. Oscar and Ole get stuck on the barn roof and George Costanza gives us a refreshing definition. We were careful not to waste any waste as we learned the #1 spreading rule growing up, down on the farm.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Snow had a way of stopping time! Every kid knew the signs before adults said a word. The forecast was for 4-6 more inches with the possibility of a “Snow Day”! We shot downstairs in the morning, turned on the TV and celebrated or groaned depending on the scroll. Winter felt bigger back during the baby boomer years. The snow was deeper and the cold was colder. We didn’t care as we grabbed our favorite sled, saucer or toboggan and shot down the hill. We tried to avoid frozen cow pies and fence lines. The 4 buckle boots were lined with Wonder breadwrappers. As our breath froze on our collars – man we loved a “Snow Day”!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Rose is a Rose – unless she’s a Ross or an Otis or a Mulligan. Some cows had names as unique as their personalities. Others had numbers and chains, but they were all a part of our herds growing up on dairy farms during the baby boomer years. Beauty contests with Miss Alaskow and Miss Moo Jersey kept us entertained while doing our daily chores. We look back on some of the records we recorded for milk production. Plus enjoy a tunefrom the Grand Ole Opry - remember – “Bessie the Heifer, the Queen of all the Cows”!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The winds howled as Dad crawled back into bed. The radio forecast crackled a tune of 20 below with a good chance of more snow as he pulled the covers over his head. A slow thaw occurred after his midnight stroll where he fed the furnace, checked the milkhouse heater and stacked a couple more bales on the pumphouse door. It was January on the farm with no trips down south on the horizon. A season of frozen drinking cups, cold metal repairs and chapped hands that prayed for warmer days ahead. The stars at night are big and bright….deep in the heart of Winter!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cold temps + high humidity = Case weather. Tobacco leaves hung in sheds waiting to be stripped in the warmth of the barn. The cows chewed their cud as another bale was stacked in the corner ready for the Tobacco Pool. “Cat’s in the Cradle” played on the radio as we wrapped up chores and stripped another bundle of leafy garland. We wrapped up one year as the next one waited in the wings. The Marlboro man dropped a quarter on the counter and headed west during the baby boomer years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SPOILER ALERT – of course we talk about Santa – enough said! Magical times of Christmas return as we remember tinsel, favorite toys and an extra scoop of feed for the cows on Christmas Eve. Lots of family time with holiday foods and fun as we celebrate the reason for the season! Was your Christmas tree from the farm or a trip to town? Did you tell your siblings where the presents could be found? Hurry up as we take a break from chores! Only one chance each year for The Grinch and Charlie Brown. The black and white TV slowly hums to life during the baby boomer years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a lot to chew on in this episode. As the rhythmic click, click, click of the planter echoes in the background. Your tobacco allotment required lots of hard work by hand. Transplanting, hoeing and topping were only the beginning, as this “tubby” crop was truly a family affair! By mid-June that steady planter clicking could lull you into a trance. And for the next 60 days the tobacco required constant attention right in the thick of the busiest season. For many farmers it was known as the “mortgage lifter” during the baby boomer years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was the color of your favorite farm tractor? Red, orange, green, yellow or blue…who knew the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was hooked up to a tractor! Was the first tractor you drove a letter – B, C or H – or a number 50, 60 or 300? Horsepower was key as the 4 wheels replaced the 4 legs of your horse on the farm. Let’s dust off the as we fire up your memories of farm tractors during the baby boomer years. Time to get the podcast rolling and don’t pop the clutch!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The oil is boiling as Mom slides the donuts into their 375 degree bath. The smell of baking bread drifts upstairs pulling you out of bed. But DON’T JUMP around the oven as you race into the kitchen or the bread will…! We’re back with a couple more courses along with a few desserts. Mounds of mashed potatoes and gravy in TV dinners and from our gardens were devoured as we watched the Waltons and Green Acres. Shake ‘n Bake chicken, hotcakes/pancakes and banana flips are on the menu as we heat up leftovers. Grab your spoon and dig in but don’t forget the butter…lots of butter!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pickled herring and pickled pigs feet, stuff of nightmares or tasty treats. Watermelon chilled all day in the tank. Hot sweet corn slathered with butter fresh from the field. Meat and potatoes seven days a week. We’re diving in teeth first recalling the food that made us who we are today. Pour a cup of coffee or grab a glass of milk. We have sandwiches with cheese, bologna or weisswurst. Chicken noodle soup for what ails you - homemade or from a can. The dinner bell is ringing and the table has been set. Time to sit, pray and eat before it gets cold!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where’s the beef… and why should you care? Welcome to Farm Sayings II: The Idioms Return! Ham and eggs taught us the difference between commitment and involvement. We’re digging further into the barnyard lexicon and trust us it’s no wild goose chase! We are committed to having a good time with this podcast! Definitely not trying to ruffle any feathers as we attempt to stay out of the doghouse! Join our totally unofficial campaign to add a required semester of “Green Acres: Back to Basics” for graduating seniors. So, whether you sweat like a pig or are as cool as a cucumber, saddle up and enjoy the ride!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You didn’t care that the official paint since 1939 for your bus was “National School Bus Glossy Yellow”. That bus was already around the corner, and you were late! You grabbed your new notebooks, #2 pencils and crayons and shouted “good bye” to Mom as you slammed the kitchen door.   The bus driver (usually a neighbor) was backing up the hill with red lights flashing as your new tennis shoes kicked up puffs of dust on the driveway gravel. The doors swung open, you flew up the steps and slid into your seat. Your bus started rolling toward a new teacher, a new class and a newyear!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Temps in the 90’s, humidity and sweat soaked your shirt. The evening chores finally done. You step out of the barn into a Summer Evening Symphony created by birds, bugs and gentle southerly “wood” winds. During the baby boomer years, we used front porches, root beer floats and box fans to temper the summer solstice.   Grab your favorite ice cream treat and join us as we relive nighttime bike rides, station wagon drives and life before AC. Get ready to enjoy the stars on the drive-in movie screen, the starlit skies on the really big screen, and the magic of those rural summer nights!!   Photo Credit: Karen FischerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So hot you can hear the corn grow…living high on the hog, and party till the cows come home – then party with the cows! These farm sayings and so many more have been with us since childhood. Some with obvious meanings while others may require some thought.   Grab a cool glass of your favorite beverage and kick off your shoes as we take you back to sayings that have been around since Hector was a pup! We’re not going to pull the wool over your eyes but some of them are rarer than hen’s teeth…HONEST!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neighbors gather as the behemoth slowly emerges from the shed. The earth shakesand gravel crunches under steel wheels as it rolls into position. Shocks of oats standmutely in the field unable to move as they await their fate. The belts tighten, bearings and sprockets start to spin faster and faster as the machineroars to life. Bundles of oats are delivered heads up, and then devoured by the gathering teeth! The straw pile grows as oats are bagged and bound. Tables are overloaded with foodand second helpings of pie and ice cream are encouraged – “ Thrashing” season has arrived!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dad rolled the head of oats between his fingers as we watched Bullwinkle on TV telling us to “Go with Cheerios!” Temps in the 90s and the oats turning golden were sure signs that grain harvest had arrived. Did you have a shocking experience with a grain binder or watch the combine in a cloud of dust? Our oat adventures include binder ballet, swallowing mayflies and sneezing our fool heads off! So grab your hanky and a grease gun as we make sure the Bull Wheel and not Bullwinkle is ready to “Go with Oats”!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why did the chicken cross the road – find out the untold story! Plus brooder houses,broilers and fryers, and Pullets.  Pick some eggs with Dan and Daryl as they dust off the feathers from their rural roots. Plus, you’ll hear an actual conversation with chickens. And discover that bird brain isonly a figure of speech when it comes to chickens. If you know anyone who’s had anissue with a Rogue Rooster at their Rural Route address – be sure to give them a“heads up” about this episode!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schools out for the summer…WOW…3 months of no school, sleeping lateand trips to the pool...Hey, wake up, you’re dreaming, it’s time to milk thecows and tackle another day of summer life on a dairy farm. But there wereevening family ball games after milking. Cool breezes as you lay in thegrass looking up at the incredible expanse of rural sky. And the fair whereyou catch up with old friends and new – bragging rights, water fights - andother life threatening adventures! Summers were like no other, down on thefarm!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shake out the coveralls and add another layer because it’s time to head out and milkthe cows. We used milk cans, Surge buckets and step savers to move milk from thecow, to the tank, to the creamery. Remember milking cows when the power went out?And thawing frozen drinking cups? Dessert twice a day for the cats and dogs was a part of everyday life on our farms.You’ll also find the cure for chapped hands – and who knows more about chappedhands than a dairy farmer or a Manicurist!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Help Wanted – excellent opportunity to work from home 7 days a week/365 days a year.Morning and evening milking hours, plus perform a variety of tasks. Must be able to liftheavy weights repetitively while avoiding slippery floors, swinging tails and flying hoofs.Ability to think on and off your feet is essential! Intern options available as Daddy’s Little Helper. Advancement opportunities includefeeding calves, tossing down hay and other tasks as determined by Senior LevelManagers (Mom & Dad). There is no PTO when COW milking! The chance to grow up on a baby boomer family farm…Priceless!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blest be the ties that bind…and shred and pick corn during Farm Tale days! USDApredicts a record corn crop for 2025. But domestic use and exports were definitely notwhat we thought about as the corn picker parade rattled and banged down the fielddriveway. Join Dan and Daryl as they look back at corn harvest during the Baby Boomer years.Scoop shovels, portable (not so much) elevators, and a corn crib (why crib?) were thetools of the day. A 24 row corn head wasn’t even on the horizon as we pulled anotherload of ear corn home behind the Farmall “H”. And don’t forget to …DUCK!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Sweatin’ to the oldies” was how you felt as you stacked hay in the baby boomer days.The chaff plugged your nose as sweat streams trickled down your back. After eachload you’d escape the tin roof oven for a cool breeze and a deep drink that gave youstrength for another round in the mow! Put your chore gloves on as Dan and Daryl take you back to those summer hay days.On the wagon or in the haymow the bale stream ebbed and flowed with the rhythm ofthe farm. Guess what you’ll find in the boogey shed?!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, it’s time to make hay the old fashioned way! So let’s hook up the rake to the “H” or“M” and get rolling. Dads pulling the baler out of the back corner of the shed andgreasing it up. That first crop looks great, but it won’t bale itself at least not during thebaby boomer years. Thanks for joining Dan and Daryl today as they share tales of farmer tans, high fashionholey jeans and the girl next door. State Prison Hill has a great first crop and thethermometer says “HOT”! So ready or not, here we come – last one out has to cleancalf pens.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farming during the Baby Boomer years had many tales. Remember how that firstcutting of hay always smelled like spring! Whether you grew up on Chipmunk Ridge inWI, over the hill in MN or insert your “rural route address.” These farm tales take usback to a simpler time. Join Dan and Daryl reminiscing about the good old days, down on the farm. We’re firingup our podcast with sharp sickles, a sharp eye and enjoying an ice cold swallow of yourfavorite drink! Don’t step in any cow pies as the past 40 years fade and you get ready tobale hay.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.