Hippie finds happiness on farm
By DIETER KRIEG
STRAUSSTOWN—A former Navy man and follower of the
hippie lifestyle has found satisfaction and happiness on a
Berks County farm. John Hoffman, 27, says of his present
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experiences that he likes “the basic lifestyle, the work and
that farmers contribute in a very direct way” to the economy
of this country. He feels satisfied in doing and providing, he
acknowledged, and maintains an enthusiastic attitude about
his career which is about ten months old.
Employed at the Anthony Poultry Farm, near here, and
carrying major responsibilities in the production of field
crops, Hoffman was a total stranger to farm work when he
joined Anthony’s less than a year ago. He was as green as
grass.
Now he jokes about it with just a bit of pride, realizing that
his determination and interest m a certain type of work have
enabled him to become familiar and experienced m farm
work.
According to Donald Anthony, who interviewed Hoffman
last summer, Hoffman displayed enough potential for the
type of work he was to do, and he therefore took a chance on
him. He knew he was mexperienced, but adds philosophically
that this could be an advantage m a way. As a novice, Hoff
man had a lot to learn, including the pursuing of instruction
books for tractors and combines. Some farm boys have never
looked at those manuals, and nevertheless take the attitude
that “they know it all.”
Anthony admits he was a bit concerned about his new
employee at first, smce he had neither the experience nor
background to operate eqmpment and raise crops. But to
date things have worked out to be mutually satisfactory.
Nevertheless, there have been some breakdowns, and
Hoffman likes to tell of one in particular:
“I was out plowing,” he began, “and I didn’t know
anything, but you know how the bottoms are supposed to trip
when you hit a rock? Well, I hit a rock and it didn’t trip... it
just tore off.” Shocked by the sight of it, and nervous about
the boss finding out, Hoffman returned to the farm and
timidly stated that he wished he would have been warned
about those sort of things happening.
He received a cold answer “they don’t.” The mcident
serves as an amusing anecdote today, but he assures people
it was anything but funny at the time.
Hoffman’s background is varied. Prior to coming to An
thony’s, a 650-acre farming operation known internationally
for its White Leghorns, he was a control clerk for Continental
Can Company. Aside from his experiences there and m the
Navy, he has also worked as a director for a church, and
computer programmer.
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Lancaster Farming,Saturday. July 10.197&
John Hoffman has found the lifestyle and type of
work which is meaningful to him by going into
farming. A former Navy man and follower of the
hippie way of life, Hoffman is married and em
ployed at Anthony's Hatchery, where he is directly
involved in crop production.
Hoffman claims he liked the work, basically, and the pay
was good, but something was missing. He wanted a greater
sense of accomplishment and thought he might find it on a
farm. “I like to work, and produce,” he stated repeatedly.
The young man’s interest m farming was sparked while
living on a farm commune near Virginia Beach, Va. with
about 25 other people. After that he came to Reading to rent a
farm with his brother. “But we didn’t farm it,” he explained,
“we just wanted to be in that environment.”
But now there’s more to it, and he happily proclaims he
likes the challenges of farming.
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