Here is a link to an article. The link won't be good in a day or two as it is a newspaper article. Everyone have a look. I will comment on it later, after I make dinner for the family.

http://www.oklahoman.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=712095&pic=none&TP=getarticle

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit farm (littleBit@compworldnet.com), July 02, 2001

Answers

Thats really sad. It gives me more determination to stick to small scale BISF agronomics on 5 acres or less. Any more landI ever get will be in timber as a cash crop. This is a fine justification example for modern homesteading over farming.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 02, 2001.

Little Bit Farm,

Thanks for sharing that link with us. That is so sad. We see that over and over here in Ohio and it bothers me so much when I read articles about some of the farms and families and when I see the constant auctions here.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), July 02, 2001.

It's really quite sad, but it is so terribly common. Now we have the mega corporate farms or the super micro homesteads. It doesn't bode well for the future of food in this, or any, country.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), July 02, 2001.

That is depressing. But what I don't understand is that with seven children, not one was willing to stay on the property? That is a real shame, but what I am willing to bet is that later on in life one of those kids will have some regret about their decision.

Our ranch was built up by my grandfather. When he passed on in 1981, he passed on the property to his six sons and daughters. My uncle is the only one who raises cattle on this spread and when he passes away, I don't know who will carry on the legacy. Besides having no interest in cattle ranching, my brother and I hunt the property, but don't have the desire to travel 130 miles round trip to oversee operations at least once a week. The others hardly visit the property at all. My brother and I WILL NOT sell our share of the ranch (dad died four years ago and gave us his share), but I don't know about the others: why pay property taxes on 166 acres each when you don't have a reason to own it?

My private hell will probably come to pass soon.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), July 03, 2001.

This article touched me for many reasons. Not the least of which, is the fact that this land has been in the family for nearly a hundred years, and not one child wants to keep it that way. Nothing is sacred in this society of self we have created. Jay's comment about five acres or less. The kind of homesteading I want to do couldn't be done easily on that small a parcel. I want to grow my own food, feed, and livestock. I also want sources of timber, firewood and sufficient browse for my goats. Five acres would be mighty small for this enterprise. Nevertheless if attitudes about farming would change, thousand acre ranches would become a thing of the past. The problem we have though is that the new generation is not falling into place to pick up the reigns of farming. This is very evident here in Oklahoma. The hands of this current generation of Oklahomans have thrown down their rural heritage just like they have in California. People are more interested in cell phones and new cars than they are farms and animals. People buy their junk food at the grocery, and stand in line at the doctors office for drugs to heal them from the effects of their junk food. As more and more of our elder farmers leave the land there are less and less people who are coming back. The whole thing is a crying shame, and it is not good at all for society.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littleBit@compworldnet.com), July 03, 2001.

I think you hit the nail on the head Little Bit Farm.

The past 20 years have really been a roller coaster of events, but a whole lot of it has been due to acquiring "wealth", either by work, inheritance or theft. Our society have become real hogs (sorry, didn't mean to insult the porcine, my apologies) when it comes to wanting more and more and more. I want the fourth t.v. with the DSS system; nevermind I'm outside the home working like hell to pay for it. People clamoring for two or even three jobs because they are bored with the toys they just bought and forgot two weeks ago. Man, it is really too much.

But the people who contribute and read this and other similar forums have begun or seen the light. They have stopped trying to make a living and are making a life for a change. Be able to see what life has to offer NOW rather than working 'till you drop dead. The small farmer and agribusiness are definitely at odds. One is get big or get out. The other is stay small and survive. Thomas Jefferson had the right idea; I have hope that others, over time, will finally see the light and come to the other side.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), July 03, 2001.

Reminds me of an old John Denver line. "Most men are ruthless but some will still mourn, when the gifts we were given are gone."

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), July 03, 2001.

this story reminds me somewhat of hte farm we are living on. We are renting from a 65 year old man who is the last in the family to have any interest in farming. This old farmhouse was built in 1875 by his great-great grandfather. Our landlord was born in this house. the retaining wall out front has big iron rings set into it for tying up horses. There is also a lovers' engraving of two names and a date with a heart... from about the turn of the century. The old apple trees in the yard are absolutely huge. The house itself has ten rooms and ten foot ceilings. The heavy curved stair railing is the stuff memories are made of. The low step going from the dining room onto the back porch is worn down into a soft dip from thousands of footsteps. I wonder how many baby feet learned to navigate that step hanging onto the doorjam?

The farm of about 300 acres was willed to all 5 children. But now they are married and scattered all over. They are getting up in years and are looking at settling their estates for their own heirs, and they want out of their interest in this farm. Problem is, the one remaining son of the family that cares, is not able financially to buy them out. So, even though his heart is in keeping the farm where he was born, it looks like it could be sold in a year or two. He sure is dragging his feet about getting those appraisals. I dont blame him. If I were him, my heart would be breaking.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), July 04, 2001.

It does hurt to see articles like this... My heart always bleeds for those families - and for their farms. But, its not surprising that this kids don't want to work a farm that large. Really hard to justify the sweat, fear, chaos, blood and energy when you have commercial feedlots and imports from God-knows-where making all the money.

I am not sure that the current push for 'country of origin' labelling will help much, but I support the idea for all I'm worth (ok... not much, but its something!) I probably couldn't afford to buy American products at all costs, and my solution is to try to make as much as I can for myself... growing, building, manufacturing, etc etc. I'd bet this is most folks' solution - at least on the forum.

This won't help keep farms running, though. Its unfortunate, but the trend to homesteading simply helps aid in the demise of the American family farm. While it saddens me, I can't AFFORD most American-made anythings, so I have to either buck up and bear my share of the guilt, or go back to the 'corporate' world and feel even worse. What a concept!! A literal case of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Most of the people in this country can't afford American food, either. Those who use the grocery stores exclusively for all their food needs can no more afford a $2 bag of apples than you or I would buy something we could raise for a tenth the price.

WTO, NAFTA and all the rest aside, we are as guilty of killing the American farm family as anyone else.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), July 05, 2001.