Doin' The Hard Work

I've recounted before how the farmers around me are likely just as smart as rocket scientists. From horticulture, meteorology, and animal husbandry, to hydralic engineering, satellite positioning, and agricultural chemistry, these guys obviously know what they are doing.

Farmers also often work what seems to me to be unbelievable hours. Now I agree it's not an everyday occurance where they seem to be working until midnight, but between livestock and their fields, farmers seem to stay extremely busy. No wonder a lot of kids abandon the farm for a more cushey life in the cities with a more defined work routine.

With that in mind, I pass along the following story...

A man owned a small farm in Southwest Kansas that the Dept of Labor recieved a report was not paying proper wages to his help, so they sent an agent out to interview him.

"I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," demanded the agent.

"Well," replied the farmer, "there's my farm hand who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $200 a week plus free room and board.

The cook has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $150 per week plus free room and board.

Then there's the dim-wit. He works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, and pays his own room and board."

"That's the guy I want to talk to......the dim-wit," says the agent.

"That would be me," replied the farmer.