Chuck's Chat - Welcome to August 2023!

I don’t really need to remind anyone, but it’s hot. Our AcuRite home weather station displayed 109 degrees this past Wednesday afternoon here along the Northern Sycamore Urban Boundary. Personally, I couldn’t really tell much difference from the 104 the day before, but hey, what’s a few degrees among friends. Just be sure y’all are drinking plenty of water and take breaks when you can. I’m fortunate to have an air-conditioned room in my shop that I can perform some tasks in. Nonetheless, some activities still must be done elsewhere, but at least its not in direct sunlight.

I think back to many yesteryears ago, before tractors with cabs were commonplace on farms. Back before big round balers. Back before bottled water. Back to when we square baled hay and straw, then loaded it by hand onto a wagon. The best part was getting to ride on top of the load from the field to the barn. Some of the fields were a couple miles away, just right for catching a 13 mile per hour breeze behind the Allis Chalmers WD. Or perhaps the neighbor’s Farmall M. Then, we’d turn into the drive and begin to dread the stacking of the bales under a hot tin roof, in a barn with little to no ventilation. Dad always unloaded the wagon, while a hired hand or two and I did the stacking. We’d finish the load, rinse our arms and faces at the water hydrant, then get a drink with the empty tin can that rested upon a nearby T-post. We were too poor to afford a water jug, but Mom always insisted we used a can with a protective lining of some sort. Then back on the hayrack, and off to repeat the process however many times was necessary. Hot? Sure, it was hot! It was summertime in Kansas, where it’s been hot since way before AcuRite thermometers were invented.

I think as a society we’ve allowed ourselves to get soft with all the modern-day conveniences we have. I grew up without air conditioning. I know, many of you did as well. If I could go back and change it, would I? Absolutely I would! There’s not much worse than having to switch sides of the bed because you sweated so much the sheets were wet and uncomfortable. Or sitting outside in the 93 degree evening heat to cool off because it was 95 in the house, and all the box fan did was blow hot air. Or laying down on the linoleum floor to sleep because it was the coolest place in the house.

But on a serious note, the Montgomery County Farm Bureau needs some assistance. If you know of someone interested in being a member of our board of directors, let us know. Also, if you know of a candidate who would be a great recipient for our annual benefit silent auction, call Kathy O’Brien at 620-331-0826. It will be held at our annual meeting on October 3 at ICC West. Details will be available next month.

Pray for rain.

Until next month,

Chuck Voelker