In my first essay, I spoke of how technology killed the small town farmer. I’d like to elaborate on that. I was able to access family records for that era and had some great information at my disposal. For this second essay, I want to include facts and statistics from farm bureaus and county agricultural extensions. I want to build a story of the times and show my readers what the people were going through.
When tractors first came out, everyone wanted one (not unlike today with the Ipad and new cell phones). Tractors were expensive and not just anybody could afford them. Then prices dropped almost fifty percent and they were affordable to most. Farmers everywhere were finally able to feed their families and have a little money in their pockets. Tractors were more efficient and faster than the old horse and plow. Everything benefited from this. Towns boomed, babies boomed, and people smiled more.
World War I came along and the government granted contracts to these small time farmers. Suddenly, the speed they’d acquired with this new technology wasn’t enough. Farmers bought more tractors and hired more helpers. They were right back in the same situation they were in before. When the government contracts were over and that extra money wasn’t there, the little farmers went under. They still had all the expenses but no money to pay them with or feed their families. Then World War II happened and the same thing all over again.
I really want to show the devastation these farming communities went through and what effect it’s had on our lives today. I would love to find a family like mine that kept good farm records and didn’t fall into the ‘Tractor Trap’.
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2 comments:
I am fascinated by this topic. What a great and rich history and it seems so personal to you as well. There is certainly a cyclical aspect to advancing technology, a game of cat and mouse. As soon as a person catches up, technology speeds ahead and leaves him behind. Sounds great!
That is actually a really interesting topic! We often associate technology with making things easier, or better. We do not always think about the down side until we see how someone is directly affected in a negative way. I like the historical aspect too, this helped me focus more on what I want to write about. Thanks!
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