Farmhands on the Family Farm

One thing that we used to do as a family was ride our horses to move the cattle from one pasture to another. We would saddle up and start the long trip down the hills early in the morning. One time we stopped to roast hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire. By the time we got back to the house and got off of our horses we were walking very bow-legged. I can remember laughing at everyone as they dismounted until it came my turn to getdown and I could barely walk.

My sister and my brothers all live on farms with their families now. My two sons and I are the only "city slickers" in the bunch.

My sons have pretty much grown up on my folks' farm as well.

They have put up numerous bales of hay and fixed a few fences.

When they were little we used to put them to work shelling peas or breaking beans for my mom to can. They too learned to ride horses, which they both love to do. My dad and younger brother have run a dairy farm for more than 15 years. My sons have helped milk cows and clean up the milk barn many times. Although they have come to the conclusion that milking and farming is not for them, they do enjoy going out to the farm and helping out.

When I go to visit my folks and walk in the front door, I never know if I might run into a newborn calf needing my mom's special care, or maybe a boxful of beautiful yellow ducklings that my dad just brought home for the grandkids to play with and watch grow.

But one thing I do know for sure is that I was raised with a lot of love on that farm and that it is a place that I can always go home to.

Louise A. Hill
Atchison, Kansas

Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.