84-tancasW Fanning, 1 baturciayl
a farm wife
v ""* iJHßfii i
-And other
hazards
Joyce Bupp
But I don’t have a thing to wear.
Thus I debated, rummaging in
the dark of early morning through a
drawer stuffed with short-sleeved
tee-shirts and sleeveless, cotton
blouses.
Appropriate clothes for late
aftemoon milkings in a bam
wanned from the body heat of a
herd of dairy cows. Not so appropri
ate, though, on a morning when lin
gering tomatoes shiver under a frost
blanket and ice crystals accent the
fading zinnia blossoms. And when
the turtle-necked, long-sleeved stuff
is all still stuck away in some closet.
The “in-between” season, fash
ion consultants sometimes call
these weather transition periods.
Cool, chilly mornings, wanning by
noon, almost hot in the bam at 4:30
when we start milking chores and
temperatures fading as fast as the
sun by finish time. Added to a shad
ed old house that—unless the
woodstove is burning—is chilly
inside when the sun is warm outside
and warm inside when the night is
brisk.
Fashion designers may take
credit for inventing the layered
look. However, this popular style of
dressing actually evolved from gen
erations of farm wives alternately
piling on and shucking off clothes,
dependent on the whims of sun
shine, shadows, and whatever chore
The Farmer lined up next.
For instance, you might be out
on a pleasant, fall afternoon raking
leaves out of the yard, basking in
the warm sunshine. Ten minutes
later, seated on an open-air tractor
seat, helping drag a swamped grain
truck out of some mucky wet spot in
a low-lying field, you’re wishing
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between chattering teeth that you’d
added a layer or two on the way.
Or you’ve been sent to the field
to disk cornstalks on a gray, sullen
November afternoon. After cocoon
ing yourself in thermal underwear,
wool socks, insulated coveralls, ear
muffs and mittens, you find your
self in a tractor cab—solar heated
when the sun bursts through the
cloud cover. And wishing you
could dispense with a layer or two
without losing your dignity.
Conveniently for this layer-lov
ing farm wife, the clothing residue
of two now-grown children lingers
on in our basement, barn-dressing
room. Comfort and practicality long
ago edged out vanity as my prime
motivation when selecting a farm
wardrobe. A variety of sweaters,
sweatshirts, shirts old jackets that
didn’t “suit” and were left behind
by the kids reinforced that trend.
Which is why I have two identi
cal gray sweatshirts embossed with
cow head-ends on the front and cow
tail-ends on the back—except that
the sleeves of one are chopped off at
half-mast. That’s the preferred one
for milking, since no cuffs dangle in
the udder-sanitizing water and their
roominess allows for a long-sleeved
turtle-neck top layered beneath.
When a sweatshirt is too hot, a
matching set of lightweight, navy
and white sweaters our daughter
brought home from a rural electric
cooperative youth conference offer
an alternative. Layered over one of
the assorted cow-theme tee-shirts
she likewise bequeathed to me for
bam garb.
One of the benefits of a six-foot
plus son is that his hand-me-downs
tend to be sized “for tall men.” A
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Farm Show Seeks Stories,
Photographs Of World War II
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) The 1995 state Farm
Show is to feature displays and a
theme of the role of Pennsylvania
agriculture during World War II
and a committee is seeking people
who farmed during that time who
may have stories or photographs
they would be willing to share to
help make the public presentation
as truthful and interesting as
possible.
According to Fred Walters, pro-
worn, quilted red-plaid-flannel shirt
not quite good enough to haul along
to college is a perfect example.
Warmer than most jackets, its over
sized, extra length covers my legs
almost to the knees and prevents that
cold rush of air that hits your back
when bending over in a short jacket
On really chilly days, a patched,
extra large, synthetic down vest
emblazoned with an ag pharmaceu
tical firm logo can go atop any or all
of above—or be the first layer
pitched aside as the sun warms the
morning. Which highlights the
only real drawback to layers: they
tend to get scattered hither and yon
with the weather’s whims.
I don’t have a thing to wear.
It’s layered. All over the place.
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jecl officer, the theme was sug
gested by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania World War II Com
memorative Committee, a state
level affiliate organization *of die
national committee, formally rec
ognized by the U.S. Department of
Defense.
Pennsylvania’s committee is
chaired by Joseph R. Clclan, Pen
nsylvania’s deputy adjutant gener
al for veterans affairs, and includes
members such as former state rep
resentative Sam Hayes, of Blair
County, a well-known supporter of
agriculture.
The theme particularly befits the
state Farm Show because the Farm
Show Complex itself had been
used for military uses from
December 1943 to February 1946.
However, the stories of what it
16% Ft. to 31% Ft.
was like to be a farmer during that
time, the incidents, the anecdotes
of producing food, fiber and
materials during a time when
necessities were rationed and farm
help was difficult to find would be
helpful in making the presentation
as meaningful as possible.
According to Walters, the com
mittee and the general public
would deeply appreciate stories or
photographs that can be used to
help tell the stray of fanning dur
ing World War 11.
To help, please write to: Fred B.
Walters, Press Secretary, Pa. Dept,
of Military Affairs, Public Affairs
Office, Fort Indiantown Cap,
Annville, Pa., 17003-5002.
All photos will be returned,
Walters said.
Ft.
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ALLENTOWN
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Miller Equip. Co.
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C.H. Rinehlmer & Sons
CARLISLE
Gutshall'a, Inc.
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■ George N. Gross, Inc.
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Mssslek Farm Equipmsnt Co.
INTERCOURSE
C.B. Hoc bar A Son
GREENCASTLE
Meyers Implement
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NEEDMORE
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A.B.C. Groff, Inc.
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Qrumalll Farm Service •
Snyder, Inc.
WATSON TOWN
Deerfield Ag A Turf Center, Inc.
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S.G. Lewis A Son, Inc.
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