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SE SoDak | I largely agree Ditt, although I'd go back further in time.
My grandfathers (born between 1900 and 1910) were both pretty much retired by the time they were in their early 60s. They helped out their sons, did some easier jobs, but they had turned things over to the boys to run. They were tired... they had been strong as oxen but years of manual labor had taken a toll. They didn't get to enjoy the benefits of hydraulics until they were old men. This was absolutely typical of their generation. Turn 60 something and go buy a house in town.
My father and his brother (born in the late 30's/40's) farmed till about 70. They had had an easier life in terms of manual labor. Still had daily chores and grew up using their bodies pretty hard, but the field work and chores were easier than what their fathers had. Loader buckets had replaced silage forks, round bales instead of squares.
Now? Shoot...there are a ton of 70 and even 80 something operators in our county, mostly without livestock. Some of them are still actively buying land too. Their kids might help, or might not, but they are still going strong and making more money than their grandfathers ever could have dreamed of. Its a good life, it isn't too strenuous if you don't have animals, you can go south for the winter if you want, and they can't imagine quitting. I don't blame them...heck I might do it too, except for chasing more land. It does make it tough for the younger guys looking to get started though. | |
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Old people
