Wisconsin Farm Kids

The. Presentation of farm kids is made possible in part by the Wisconsin farmers union foundation supporting projects that foster family farming world life and public education on agriculture is important role in society. And by Dan Carter incorporated a specialty cheese marketer supporting Wisconsin's family farms. You ever wonder what life is like for farm kids. You see him all the time driving tractors bailing hay showing animals at the county fair. I'm Pam Yankee. And tonight we're going to visit with some Wisconsin teenagers from the farm. What's their life like from day to day. We'll also talk to them about Wisconsin's agricultural climb. Through. The window. We tried to talk to as many teenagers as we could find about growing up on the farm about people

stereotypes for farm kids are they really hayseeds. Do they really wake up every morning to the Roosters Cock a doodle do. We have alarm clock in the 90s that. We're not. Kicks in like. All the time for. Very modern hip hop. Witness. Tractors. Where normal kids that they're like yeah listen on. What other people. Things when they're harnessed like and they give us a title. They. Just categorize us. Think of when kids call me stinky. And say that. Fine. People. Just. Don't do anything. Our kids are just like every other kid. Bird. Just. Like. Everyone else. There's nothing different about us. At all. From kids or price to pay because they think they don't get off the farm and stuff

but. We're involved in lots of things. We have to work every morning at night. No vacations you can take off like everybody else. That's something that people not understand. It's a full time job it takes a lot of money and we don't make much in return. You play for practice your song when you say oh you had help from the go by where you have been found. Practice. Doesn't practice mean more to you but you really can cause. Your parents to take you they need to stand by. You you. So these farm kids just want to be treated like any other group of kids but recognized for their hard work. We decided to take it one step further and get a group of them together for a heart to heart. So we sat the group down at the folklore village in Dodgeville Wisconsin to ask them what they thought about that storybook vision of farm life or even some of the stereotypes good stereotypes as they may be about work ethic family togetherness our shared mission and this is what they had to say.

What do you think is the biggest benefit that you've got growing up on a farm versus the buddies that are three miles down the road you learn responsibility about the kids and how no longer the case. There are chores like doing dishes big deal. We have to do chores in the morning and at night we have to take care of those animals because their income. Let's make sure that they don't all. The year old they're working hard to provide food milk and everything for. Hobo you Haley. What do you think. What message would you like people to understand about growing up as a farm kid what do you think they probably are missing. They're missing that it's not all about work it's fun to mean Joy doing this and we're the ones that we our work is paying off for them. They're the ones that drink our Melican you know our cheese and everything and it's fun. When I first started working on the farm I thought is like really really really hard work but now it's like easy.

What what made you want to even start. Working on a farm. I like the animals. I've always liked him. What does it feel like for two sisters to be doing chores running around on the four wheelers. What's that family stuff like we're talking about the county fair that's really that's a kick. A. Lot of people don't really understand what that's like telling one of them worked if you learned to trust each other and have fun together. What about you Whitney what's going fairly new. It means premiums reaction when your buddies find out you're from a farm. Well they're kind of surprised and you know they they get a picture in their head at it's all the same and everybody runs around and there's a big straw hats and stuff. But it's more modern We have technologies just you know we have land to be done in stories that we need to do. What do you think the most valuable part of growing up on the farm is. Getting to work with my mom and my grandpa and my dad and my brothers and everything. I've been farming bonds families actually because you see so many

families that are they're not sure where. Members of their family are you know at least with us we're all together and we're all. Working on one thing. You know everybody there everybody gets the job done. They're not reliant on somebody to come in and you know sure you have hired help but our family and most other families have brothers grandfathers father even my mother gets out everybody gets out and puts their part in whether it's going from on the grass or cutting hay right down the milking cows are doing the calf chores everybody puts a little bit in and it feels good to see everybody contributing to the family farm because then you can say you did that your part. You get to learn different tricks from other farmers and new ways to improve yours in that mix and everything so it's a great experience to live on a farm and get to know other people because they'll share secrets with you and you can share secrets or secrets with

them. Well there's one thing I know this is wrong. Some people think a farmer is using a family always. But not all families work farm because ours works and isn't yours. My sister's life. I'm a lifeguard and my dad is the homey of our hand. But when he does need us we will be there for him and not now all farms are family farms. Take and say my mom works out the time she enjoys that shell so callous. She's a really hard worker. And it's not always you don't sit down to dinner with each other all the time. You still got your own lives which is too bad for the tens of. Any you come from a little bit different background than some of these guys this is you have a niche market that you've been exposed to. You think that's the right way to do it or can you see both sides or what I can see both sides. But organic farming you've got a set price you get one base at study you don't have to worry about

fluctuating anything. Between a lot of work. Anything different. You know like Bruce Lee said almost the same you just don't use drugs. And it can take you a little while you know to get used to what you think what the groups. That's one man's opinion I guess if you were a man I think you'd take a little work. I mean I use quite a bit of drugs right now people are looking at your I know how people feel about BSD but I mean that's just a money getter I mean if you can manage it and you can put it in your animal. But if you don't want to feel like drinking it now that's fine. You know we're going to tell you anything in particular you. Have come to disagree with the one thing that I really don't disagree with but it's how people are talking about it. They're kind of angry with consumers that they don't know exactly you know where the pork chop comes from or exactly what our job is. You know I mean we're just doing our job and they're just kind of doing theirs.

Some tough feelings there. You know these kids are doing more than just putting in time on a tractor. They're learning about more than just livestock and crops. In fact some of these kids have a pretty keen sense of the odds stacked against them. So we chatted with them a little bit about the tougher side of farming. Let's talk a little bit about some of the risks though that you've got that maybe some of the other folks don't. They're doing it every day. You know here we are all sunshiny day you guys are but you guys are still in jeans get snagged by a PC quick learner get a look at our all the time you're always watching no matter what you're doing. Carl's Sure they may be gentle but they also have attitudes. They can hurt you and they want to care. You know I think most of the biggest part is probably around equipment. And you got to play it safe you can't rush you can't hurry because they're brown

and I'm getting hurt. Does it ever get to be an irritant to have those family responsibilities. Yeah yeah. I like going out with friends. But you still have both tours once in a while you know you can take off and say Hey Ben you know my brother can go do it for me and he will. He's pretty good about and then we think. What does it feel like when prices go up and down. And it's your name that the day that the Bakers look at it it's your name that that the bills come to. How does it feel before it's. It was like oh what big deal I can take a day off and say hey dad I'll be back you know within you know a day or so. Now you've got to be sure like within an hour something gets done something gets sent to make sure that it's gotten there. People are always checking back with you instead of your father or your neighbor or your boss or whoever you're working with because you're the boss makes you feel good because then when you see something come back and start the big stamp red letter paid on it then you know you've done something

good. You were telling me Jason that kana. You learned first hand that you don't just start something and then decide to get out of it. Yeah stars and pigs in two batches running a lot of money and I was free had bought them. So I bought another one in the middle that won the price only dropped. And I was like I can't just get out of it right now or I'd go a long run and use the longer you make your money. But. I've had 3 through my batches were lost on my my money and my dad's money was my dad and I went both into it. And now we decide we can't go anymore because the fact that. It just costs too much just losing money on it. What are you going to do if if prices drop or something like that happens I don't know I hope they don't but I'll just go with it. Another issue that bothers me and I'm sick and scared of is Urban Development. And will do to our firemen in my having come so close as we'll have to

leave. I'll take over. How many of you are working off farm jobs as well as chores at home. Or is that. Something you're welcome make you different. It's. Like you can tell where the city people work and where I work because. People are kind of laid back relaxed and then there's me who's been going to work I think do color work for our time and then have that's not the way it goes on the farm there in the morning and you stay until night and you work your butt off no matter what kind of weather it is there is a lot of hard work that goes into farming and agriculture. But people are simplifying. They're doing things by button pushing and whatnot and that's the way things are going. I mean people sure I mean there's days you're going to run 18 hours because you need to get in and you need to get it done. But things are simple firing and people are looking at easier just like a factory that's for the cows but there's calves and heifers and a lot of stuff you got to carry water to and everything

maybe a little bit I don't know how much more the family farm was you know to be around much longer. I think more or less people can go out on their own get big. I mean if the family farms you know stay around they're going to get big but otherwise if you go out on your own I think they're going to get big that way too. And that is certainly in place drives you nuts. Yeah. And that's not anything large or small you can kind of control you know. How are you planning on for that right now. I mean you're in the industry you know I right now I'm buying a few heifers. My boss let me keep them there. So hopefully in a few years I'll have a few in all and that will help too. Again these kids seem to know what's going on but knowing what they know what's in store they've weathered a lot of changes and they're going to weather some more.

We talked to one panelist about her decision up on an organic farm and now she's in the middle of the tough decision on whether to stay or go. I am proud of being a fireman and I tell everyone right now but. Some people are surprised when they find out that I'm a farmer. Amy is just like a lot of farm kids. She's up at six for chores. She's in charge of the caps on her family farm has been since she was a young Spode of 10 years old. Well they're very friendly. They're noisy. They do. She will go up to anyone. Now 16 she's got a lot going on and a big job. It's always been my job. We've all had a pets and everything.

I think I do have a good stab at it. Yeah. Amy's family farm is part of a growing movement. It's called organic. We do not use any drugs chemicals or anything on our cows are crap. By organic. Corn since we do not plan our own. The cows though they don't get any joy. We don't come on. Shots. Organic farming is part belief and part lifestyle. I just don't agree with. Using that stuff for the animals. It's a lot harder not to use. These Jersey cows spend most of their time in the field. They're free range free to go wherever they want to go. Believes in what she's doing and this organic farm is doing well a lot of people think that. Farmers. They don't earn a lot of money and they're poor and. For some that's true. We've been farming here for

14 years I think. So they get Caesar's a go as being organic is the niche that works for this farm. Now we do get a better price because people do pay a higher price for it. So. Even though the money's good avi's not sure she's willing to pay the price with her career. A lot of hard work a. Room together to print a. Name is just one kit among many so we decided to ask the rest of the group what they keep in mind when deciding whether or not to stay in farming. Jason you're kind of wrestling with that right now trying to figure out what strikes your fancy. Well. I think. It's a good career to get into. But. The prices aren't

there because people don't understand really what goes into that we had to live off the prices we had to live off the market live off the meat that we produce. People don't understand that and they just think they go to a grocery store and they see a lot of low price and that's good for us. What about you Bruce you know you don't get that kind of break. You went from the high school egg class to sign in the checks you wish tell you what I had that bring to study agriculture someplace else or get a different perspective. Now I did take two years and go to Madison to the farm in a short course program. But that is just like a winter schooling program. I was there during the years those three years to run that farm. Maybe but I still I when I grew up I was this is what I was going to do and it was going to change my mind. I wasn't pressured into it. And they always gave me many doors to choose from and and this is one I thought was probably the best for my feeling to go into.

Technology has changed so much these days. From Going to a regular barn. Welcome to the pipeline going to milking in the parlor. You start working with more computers and stuff. As technology changes and. I want to get out and make people aware of what's going on like through journalism I want to help them understand what the farmer has to go through and I want to help the farmer get more money for what they really deserve as far as their animals go. What do you what kind of change you think you're going to go through. I don't really know what kind of changes. That's what I like change. I don't like. Being the same thing every day every I like something different and everything that I want to do just like get away and just see what else is out there. But I do believe the people who come out live in the country. They live live right next

to a farm and then. A couple weeks later they complain about you spring when you're there but you need to and you've got people have to think who is there first. Rachel let's talk a little bit about schooling that's right up your alley you're getting ready to venture into a business area starting next Monday I'm going to have that tech school and MIT see I'm studying liberal studies but then I'm going in next year for sure you know you get as you inhale you've got some plans cooked up already. We're going I want to go to the UW Madison and take a dairy course and then we need to have a very firm trio with redish and hosting can take over mom and dad. Are still going for a big huge dairy farm but it's going to be it's not going to be that high tech in farming made easy because nothing is. So ranch trying to have as big as we can but still stay small enough to be considered a family. Do you understand there may be some people saying yeah but can you make a living. To young ladies.

Oh yeah because we were going to like work with embryos in real transplants and do a bunch of shipping and stuff. Sometimes I sort of feel a little pressure and if I want to go back to the farm at regular high school or if I want to go somewhere else. Because I feel pressure from. The elders that my grandpa. And all my relatives most of them I really I don't really know what they want from me. They expect me to do. But yeah let's say that you make the decision to leave the farm would you still like to have the farm around or when you leave will it leave your life. I bike around I mean that when I'm going out that's what I've done. While I know that. What I learned on the farm always stick with me and I have something to fall back on I always think. And and it's also taught me that my family is really close knit because the farming and everything and if I ever need

help always be there for me like in my operation I bought it in October. We're milking a hundred twenty and for future plans made by next to 200 to 25 and everything is looked at as a future aspect and you have to keep the broad an open minded view of everything you can't just can't just get to where you're at and stop because things change around you and before you know you're behind one thing if I can ever live off a farm for getting up every morning. And. Going along doing the same routine. But. If I were fine. I would enjoy some time I would. Go back to that. There is a possibility I might go back to the farm. What do you think your farm is going to look like in 20 years. That's probably how zoos the little perfect lawns developments of their little boat ends and all the way around it by holy business. We're going to put the collars right in their backyard I think will be a problem with

that yeah we'll make a move if they don't like it because they're there first. Got you thinking. I hope so. Course this was only a handful of farm kids that we visited with you if you'd like to learn more about markets hop on line and maybe the next time that you see a farm kid at work you'll stop and ask them what they're doing what they know. I know I well. I'm damn yankee. Thanks for watching. People come from the city and they've gone the fun. They expect to be stinky but some aren't really their families are different because farm kids are closer and they are with their families a lot more than city kids. You enjoy your animals and you enjoy your palate. You send the radio on and you just help them just. Just cause you love to. Not because you have. Do. Lots of and I fire everybody is equal they just have to. Do what they're supposed to do to. Everybody helps already out of the Manties have tired girl you still gotta get us much more

in Lebanon and on and on. Is it it whether the boy pals in girl drive tractors make speed or whatever arts APIs a use for that to get it done from. Me. Presentation of farm kids is made possible in part by the Wisconsin farmers union foundation

supporting projects that foster family farming world life and public education on agriculture is an important role in society and by Dan Carter incorporated a specialty cheese marketer supporting Wisconsin's family farms.