Steve, Farm Hand

Favorite Fruit, Vegetable or Herb:

Strawberries. My mom was so upset as a young mother that I wouldn't eat them, so she forced me to try them .... and I grew to love.

Favorite Time of Day on the Farm:

Sundown. Work is done, you can look over what has been accomplished and enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor.

My Role:

Stepheni's dad, moral support and infrastructure .

Dirty hands: all my work is dirty - design and installation of the irrigation, electrical, support structures.

Clean hands: just before dinner

Food & Farming Experience:

I grew up tending a half acre family garden every summer with my mom, brother & sister.

When I was in high school, I plowed, disced and planted corn, soybeans and wheat. Then harvested the same. I had to be at the farm at 5:00 AM prep the equipment, eat a big breakfast, work in the fields until noon. Then lunch and back out until sundown.

Farming is hard work , we did it without air conditioned tractors and there were still farmers that used draft animals in my home town in the 50's & 60's. I was certainly glad to turn 18 and get a "real job".