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Friendly greeting in turbulent times

Golden Days: This scene should make passersby smile!

Tom J. Bechman, Midwest Crops Editor

September 27, 2024

2 Min Read
Ears of corn painted upon concrete gate posts in White County
HAPPY DAYS: Surely passing these bright, friendly ears of corn painted upon concrete gate posts in White County would put a smile on your face.Tom J. Bechman

Remember a time when someone driving by waved and you waved back? With all the division and turmoil today, sometimes even among fellow farmers, wouldn’t it be nice to go back to kinder, gentler days? If you live in White County, you can relive those days every time you pass these gate posts!

Steve Downey found them at the corner of county roads 800E and 325 north near Monticello, Ind. He will receive a $25 gift card. If you stumble across a unique mailbox or other unusual scene along Indiana’s roads and highways, snap a digital picture and send it to 599N, 100 West, Franklin, IN 46131. If it appears in Golden Days, you also will receive a gift card.

These concrete structures with happy ears of corn painted upon them are likely remnants of a fence from days gone by, when most farms were fenced for livestock. Early Hoosiers often used concrete posts, especially end posts, to both anchor the fence and dress up the entrance to the field or barn lot.

Earlier issues

No one identified where the restored John Deere, horse-drawn manure spreader was located. It was pictured in the August issue and sits in the side yard at Ryan and Julie Facemire’s farm, located on county road 700 East in Blue River Township in Johnson County. Ryan collects antique farm machinery and restored this spreader, circa the 1920s. Julie takes care of refurbishing it with flowers growing in metal tubs inside the spreader bed each summer.

Several people identified the purpose of the old-time equipment featured in the August issue. The picture showed a pair of leaf springs mounted to bolsters for a wooden-wheeled wagon. They were purchased as an option to lessen the jolt of the wagon on contents and, more importantly, on people riding in the wagon.

Historians say this set dates to the period from 1890 to the 1920s. Used by a farmer in Hancock County, Iowa, they were displayed at the Hancock County Agricultural Museum located at the county fairgrounds near Britt, Iowa.

Congratulations to Joe Stoll of Loogootee for correctly guessing the use for this equipment and for winning the drawing of correct entrants. He also will receive a $25 gift certificate.

About the Author

Tom J. Bechman

Midwest Crops Editor, Farm Progress

Tom J. Bechman became the Midwest Crops editor at Farm Progress in 2024 after serving as editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer for 23 years. He joined Farm Progress in 1981 as a field editor, first writing stories to help farmers adjust to a difficult harvest after a tough weather year. His goal today is the same — writing stories that help farmers adjust to a changing environment in a profitable manner.

Bechman knows about Indiana agriculture because he grew up on a small dairy farm and worked with young farmers as a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisor before joining Farm Progress. He works closely with Purdue University specialists, Indiana Farm Bureau and commodity groups to cover cutting-edge issues affecting farmers. He specializes in writing crop stories with a focus on obtaining the highest and most economical yields possible.

Tom and his wife, Carla, have four children: Allison, Ashley, Daniel and Kayla, plus eight grandchildren. They raise produce for the food pantry and house 4-H animals for the grandkids on their small acreage near Franklin, Ind.

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