Saturday, August 29, 2015

Agriculture: Yesterday and Tomorrow


Last Tuesday I spoke at Farm Technology Days, an annual outdoor agriculture event that moves each year to a different county in the state.  It’s major sponsor is the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, UW-Madison.  This year it  was on the 6,000 acre Statz Brothers’ farm near Sun Prairie in Dane County

The event drew some 45,000 people over the three-day run.  The weather was cool and dry, perfect for an outdoor event where people could see the present day and the future for agriculture.  From buzzing drones, to the biggest tractors I’ve ever seen, from demonstrations on harvesting alfalfa to viewing the most up-to-date technology for milking cows.  It was all there.

I spoke on Tuesday morning, and talked about the past, when we farmed 160 acres without electricity, milked a small herd of cows by hand, cut hay with horses, and communicated with a party-line telephone.  And a drone was a male honey bee.

I reminded the estimated 150 people in my audience, that to know where we are going, whether it is in farming, or in life, we must know where we’ve been.  I emphasized the importance of knowing our histories.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS:  When we forget our histories, we forget who we are.
            .
Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs, Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps a Farm Story.
Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story). Also available is Jerry’s new novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.
Contact the library for prices and special package deals.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 30, 1-4 p.m., Book World, West Bend.  Book signing.

September 3, Noon.  Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History .

September 3, 7 p.m. Books and Company bookstore, Oconomowoc. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

September 12, 2-4 p.m. Remarks at 3:00 p.m. West Madison Agriculture Research Station, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.  Call 888-748-7479 for reservations.

September 16, 11:00-11:45.  Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio.  Wisconsin agricultural history.

September 17, 11:-a.m.  St. Luke’s Church, Middleton, WI   Stories  From the Land

September 19 , Stonefield Village, Cassville.  Whispers and Shadows.

September 23, 6:00 p.m. Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

September 26, 10:30 -2:00, Dregni’s, Westby, Book signing.

October 4, 1-3 p.m.  Readers Realm bookstore, Montello. Ag. History

October 7, 6:30 p.m. Reedsburg Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 11, 10-12:00 a,m.  Heartland Forum, Chicago.

October 11, 3:00 p.m. Old World Wisconsin-Wisconsin Ag. History

October 12, 6:00 p.m. Coloma Historical Society.  Limping Through Life

October 15, Prairie du Sac Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 17, 9-4 Teaching writing workshop at The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI

October 17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Clearing.  Book signing, Whispers and Shadows, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

October 23, 10-11:00 a.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (on the square). Whispers and Shadows.  Wisconsin Book Festival.

October 23, 3:30 p.m. Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium (On UW Campus) Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.  Wisconsin Book Festival.

October 25, 2:00 p.m. Schlitz Nature Center, Milwaukee with Boswell Books.  Whispers and Shadows.

October 29, Brown County Library.  Premier of TV Documentary,” The Land With Jerry Apps. “ Book signing, Whispers and Shadows.

November 1, 2:00 p.m. Gard Theater, Spring Green. Ag History and Wisconsin Place Names.

November 5, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Library, Whispers and Shadows.

November 7, Edgerton Book Festival, The Land (TV documentary) and Whispers and Shadows

November 10, 6:00 p.m. Wausau Public Library, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 12, 7:00 p.m. Bellville High School Auditorium with Bellville Public Library.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History

November 14, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 15, 9:15 Midvale Lutheran Church, The Land (TV documentary)  plus discussion of Whispers and Shadows.

November 17, 7:00 p.m. Hotel Red (1501 Monroe Street- corner of Regent and Monroe, Madison.)  Discussion of Wisconsin Agriculture: A History with Doug Moe. Sponsored by Mystery to me Bookstore.  Book signing to follow.

November 18, Preview of TV Documentary, “The Land With Jerry Apps” Wild Rose High School Auditorium.  Whispers and Shadows book signing. (Time to be announced)





Saturday, August 22, 2015

Wisconsin and Hemp




Did you know that Wisconsin was once a major producer of hemp?  Of course you also likely know that hemp is a first cousin of marijuana—which eventually caused the demise of the industry.

In 1908 the University of Wisconsin’s agronomy department grew the first hemp in the state, on the grounds of the Mendota Hospital in Madison.  The demand for binding material—hemp was excellent for making twine and rope—was ever increasing.   By 1911, the UW had hemp experiment plots at Mendota Hospital, Waupun and Viroqua.  Hemp grew well in southern Wisconsin, producing as much as 1,200 pounds per acre. 

Wisconsin was the number two producer of hemp in the United States in 1917 with some seven thousand acres.  Kentucky was number one. 

During World War II, hemp fiber was once more in high demand, particularly for marine rope and rigging for parachutes. During WW II, Wisconsin had 42 hemp mills scattered across southern Wisconsin from Cuba City to Union Grove.

Today no hemp is grown in Wisconsin.

See a more complete story of Wisconsin and the hemp industry  in my new book: WISCONSIN AGRICULTURE: A HISTORY, published by Wisconsin Historical Society Press.  Order by going to this link:

http://shop.wisconsinhistory.org/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=14&idproduct=1874


THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Wisconsin’s agricultural history includes some mostly forgotten crops.
            .
Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs, Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps a Farm Story.
Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story). Also available is Jerry’s new novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.
Contact the library for prices and special package deals.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835
UPCOMING EVENTS:
.
August 26, 9:30 a.m. Farm Technology Days, Sun Prairie. Farm Stories.

August 30, 1-4 p.m., Book World, West Bend.  Book signing.

September 3, Noon.  Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History .

September 3, 7 p.m. Books and Company bookstore, Oconomowoc. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

September 12, 2-4 p.m. Remarks at 2:30 p.m. West Madison Agriculture Research Station, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.  Call 888-748-7479 for reservations.

September 17, 11:-a.m.  St. Luke’s Church, Middleton, WI   Stories  From the Land

September 19 , Stonefield Village, Cassville.  Whispers and Shadows.

September 23, Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

September 26, 10:30 -2:00, Dregni’s, Westby, Book signing.

October 4, 1-3 p.m.  Readers Realm bookstore, Montello. Ag. History

October 7, 6:30 p.m. Reedsburg Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 10, Heartland Forum, Chicago.

October 11, Old World Wisconsin

October 15, Prairie du Sac Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 17, 9-4 Teaching writing workshop at The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI

October 17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Clearing.  Book signing, Whispers and Shadows, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

October 29, Brown County Library.  Premier of TV Documentary,” The Land With Jerry Apps. “ Book signing, Whispers and Shadows.

November 5, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Library, Whispers and Shadows.

November 7, Edgerton Book Festival, The Land (TV documentary) and Whispers and Shadows

November 14, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 15, 9:15 Midvale Lutheran Church, The Land (TV documentary)  plus discussion of Whispers and Shadows.

November 18, Preview of TV Documentary, “The Land With Jerry Apps” Wild Rose High School Auditorium.  Whispers and Shadows book signing. (Time to be announced)





Monday, August 17, 2015

Waushara County Fair


My brothers, Donald and Darrel, and I attended the Waushara County Fair last Friday, and the memories returned.  All three of us had been long-time 4-H members, and had shown calves at the fair, entered our garden, flower, forestry, woodworking and soil conservation project materials.  We won ribbons, a few blue (1st), some red (2nd), some white (3rd), and the occasional pink (4th)—how could a judge be so wrong?

We followed in the steps of our father who had shown cattle at the Waushara County Fair in the 1920s, driving his cows the seven miles from our farm to Wautoma along a dusty country road.  He followed the herd with a horse-drawn wagon loaded with hay, which he would feed the cattle the days they were at the fair.

On this warm Friday afternoon at the fair, the temperature was in the low 90s.  We began by spending a half hour in the Farm Bureau building listening to John Jenks with his accordion entertaining the crowd with old-time polkas, waltzes and more.  The music of our growing up years.

Then it was a walk through the several exhibit buildings where we checked on everything from pies to pickles, from carrots to dahlias, chatting with folks we knew as we walked along.

In the 4-H buildings we checked on the Holsteins and the Jerseys, the sheep, hogs, and the many breeds of beef cattle 4-Hers raise these days.  We checked the 4-H photo, woodworking and electricity projects.  We stopped to look at the chickens, ducks and geese.

And we looked at the several 4-H rabbit projects.  A little girl, no more than ten or so, was cradling her little brown rabbit in her hands. 

            “You want to pet my bunny?" She asked in a quiet little voice.

            “Does it bite?” I said

            She gave me a, “Geeze this guy is dumb” look.

            I petted her little rabbit as the little girl smiled.

We ended the day with dripping ice cream cones from the Farm Bureau food building.  It was a great afternoon at the fair.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Take in a County Fair.  It’s good for the soul—as well as a way to tweak memories for old timers.

BOOK OF THE WEEK:

A SETTLER’S YEAR: PIONEER LIFE THROUGH THE SEASONS, by Kathleen Ernst with photographs by Lloyd Heath featuring Old World Wisconsin.

A new book by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press with striking photos of pioneer life along with elegant prose by one of Wisconsin’s finest writers.
.
Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs, Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps a Farm Story.
Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story). Also available is Jerry’s new novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.
Contact the library for prices and special package deals.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835
UPCOMING EVENTS:
.
August 26, 9:30 a.m. Farm Technology Days, Sun Prairie. Farm Stories.

August 30, 1-4 p.m., Book World, West Bend.  Book signing.

September 3, Noon.  Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History .

September 3, 7 p.m. Books and Company bookstore, Oconomowoc. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

September 12, 2-4 p.m. Remarks at 2:30 p.m. West Madison Agriculture Research Station, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.  Call 888-748-7479 for reservations.

September 17, 11:00 a.m.  St. Luke’s Church, Middleton, WI.   Stories  From the Land

September 19 , Stonefield Village, Cassville.  Whispers and Shadows.

September 23, Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

September 26, 10:30 -2:00, Dregni’s, Westby, Book signing.

October 4, 1-3 p.m.  Readers Realm bookstore, Montello. Ag. History

October 7, 6:30 p.m. Reedsburg Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 10, Heartland Forum, Chicago.

October 11, Old World Wisconsin

October 15, Prairie du Sac Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 17, 9-4 Teaching writing workshop at The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI

October 17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Clearing.  Book signing, Whispers and Shadows, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

October 29, Brown County Library.  Premier of TV Documentary,” The Land With Jerry Apps. “ Book signing, Whispers and Shadows.

November 5, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Library, Whispers and Shadows.

November 7, Edgerton Book Festival, The Land (TV documentary) and Whispers and Shadows

November 14, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 15, 9:15 Midvale Lutheran Church, The Land (TV documentary)  plus discussion of Whispers and Shadows.

November 18, Preview of TV Documentary, “The Land With Jerry Apps” Wild Rose High School Auditorium.  Whispers and Shadows book signing. (Time to be announced)





Sunday, August 09, 2015

Dry Weather Rain


I sat on the hill overlooking the prairie to west, watching the sun slip behind a bank of dark clouds.  The days are already noticeable shorter as darkness slowly spreads.  It is a quiet evening—no bird sound, no coyotes yapping, no mourning dove calling in the distance.  No flutter of pine needles from the nearby white pines.

Dry weather at Roshara and rain is badly needed.  The lawn grass has quit growing; the neighbor’s cornfields are suffering.  The prairie grass and wildflowers are on hold.  All waiting for much needed rain on this sandy land.

On evenings like this, when I was a kid, I remember standing with my dad back of the barn looking to the west, looking for a sign of rain.  Pa was usually right with what he saw, “Nope, no rain yet” or an optimistic, “Rain by tomorrow evening.”

He never said what he saw, or felt, or heard.  I’m guessing it was a combination of cloud formation and wind direction—but it was more, too.  A feeling he had perhaps.

So on this quiet evening I saw a bank of clouds.  But no lightning, no thunder.  Just clouds.  I’d seen clouds like this before, but by morning they had disappeared.

The clouds were still there the following morning, and when I walked out to check on my garden, I felt the first drops of rain. And while eating breakfast I heard the low growl of thunder as the rain now fell steadily.  It rained all morning, slow and easy. More than an inch by noon.  So much needed.  So much appreciated.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Celebrate the rain.

 BOOK OF THE WEEK:

I am recommending the same book I suggested last week, as it seems appropriate for the topic.

WEATHER WISDOM by Albert Lee. (Double Day and Company, 1976).  Most of us remember, “Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning,” and “Red sky at night, sailors delight.”  Here is a book full of these weather sayings. Such quaint ones as “When the ditch and pond affect the nose, then look out for rain and storm blows.”  Or, “Ants that move their eggs and climb, rain is coming anytime.”
Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs, Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps A Farm Story.
Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story). Also available is Jerry’s new novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.
Contact the library for prices and special package deals.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 12, 6:00 p.m., Westfield Library.  Whispers and Shadows

August 26, 9:30 a.m. Farm Technology Days, Sun Prairie. Farm Stories.

August 30, 1-4 p.m., Book World, West Bend.  Book signing.

September 3, Noon.  Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History (New book)

September 3, 7 p.m. Books and Company bookstore,  Oconomowoc,  Whispers and Shadows.

September 12, West Madison Agriculture Research Station, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.  Time to be announced.

September 17, 11:-a.m.  St. Luke’s Church, Middleton, WI   Stories  From the Land

September 19 , 12:30 and 2:30 Stonefield Village, Cassville.  Whispers and Shadows.

September 23, Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History
.
September 26, 10:30 -2:00, Dregni’s, Westby, Book signing.

October 4, 1-3 p.m.  Readers Realm bookstore, Montello. Ag. History

October 7, 6:30 p.m. Reedsburg Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 11, Old World Wisconsin

October 15, Prairie du Sac Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 17, 9-4 Teaching writing workshop at The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI

October 17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Clearing.  Book signing, Whispers and Shadows, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

October 29, Brown County Library.  Premier of TV Documentary,” The Land With Jerry Apps. “ Book signing, Whispers and Shadows.

November 5, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Library, Whispers and Shadows.

November 7, Edgerton Book Festival, The Land (TV documentary) and Whispers and Shadows

November 10, Wausau Public Library.  Ag. History.

November 14, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 15, 9:15 Midvale Lutheran Church, The Land (TV documentary)  plus discussion of Whispers and Shadows

November 18, Preview of TV Documentary, “The Land with Jerry Apps” Wild Rose High School Auditorium.  Whispers and Shadows book signing. (Time to be announced)




Sunday, August 02, 2015

Oat Field


I was traveling north of Madison on Highway 22, in Amish country, when I spotted it.  An oat field with oat shocks lined up in neat rows, drying and awaiting threshing.  For this old farm boy it was a sight to behold.

My mind immediately took me back to the late 1940s, when on the home farm we cut oats with a grain binder and my brothers and I stood the oat bundles on end, making oat shocks.  Pa insisted they be made just right, so they would shed water if it rained, and that they would remain standing in a strong wind. 

It was a hot, sweaty job, made more miserable in the hollows for here the bull thistles grew.  The thistles found their way into the oat bundles, and in turn the sharp thistle spines found their way into our arms.

After Pa had finished cutting the oats, he joined us with the oat shocking. The oat field was usually 20 acres in size, and at the end of a long, tiring day, with oat shocks stretching in long rows from one end of the field to the other; we all stood and looked across the field. 

Pa would say, “Isn’t that just something to see.”  And it was.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Beauty takes many forms.  A field of oat shocks certainly is one.

BOOK OF THE WEEK:

WEATHER WISDOM by Albert Lee. (Double Day and Company, 1976).  Most of us remember, “Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning,” and “Red sky at night, sailors delight.”  Here is a book full of these weather sayings. Such quaint ones as “When the ditch and pond affect the nose, then look out for rain and storm blows.”  Or, “Ants that move their eggs and climb, rain is coming anytime.”

Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs, Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps A Farm Story.
Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story). Also available is Jerry’s new novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.
Contact the library for prices and special package deals.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 12, 6:00 p.m., Westfield Library.  Whispers and Shadows

August 26, 9:30 a.m. Farm Technology Days, Sun Prairie. Farm Stories.

August 30, 1-4 p.m., Book World, West Bend.  Book signing.

September 3, Noon.  Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History (New book)

September 3, 7 p.m. Books and Company bookstore,  Oconomowoc,  Whispers and Shadows
.
September 12, 2-4 p.m. West Madison Agriculture Research Station, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.  

September 17, 11:-a.m.  St. Luke’s Church, Middleton, WI   Stories  From the Land

September 19 , Stonefield Village, Cassville.  Whispers and Shadows.

September 23, Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

September 26, 10:30 -2:00, Dregni’s, Westby, Book signing.

October 4, 1-3 p.m.  Readers Realm bookstore, Montello. Ag. History

October 7, 6:30 p.m. Reedsburg Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 10, Heartland Forum, Chicago.

October 11, Old World Wisconsin

October 15, Prairie du Sac Library, Whispers and Shadows

October 17, 9-4 Teaching writing workshop at The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI

October 17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Clearing.  Book signing, Whispers and Shadows, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

October 29, Brown County Library.  Premier of TV Documentary,” The Land With Jerry Apps. “ Book signing, Whispers and Shadows.

November 5, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Library, Whispers and Shadows.

November 7, Edgerton Book Festival, The Land (TV documentary) and Whispers and Shadows

November 14, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.  Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.

November 15, 9:15 Midvale Lutheran Church, The Land (TV documentary)  plus discussion of Whispers and Shadows.

November 18, Preview of TV Documentary, “The Land With Jerry Apps” Wild Rose High School Auditorium.  Whispers and Shadows book signing. (Time to be announced)