Javascript is required to use this website.

Topical Top Story

Back Home

Chris Hardie For Agri-View
Jul 22, 2023
Jul 22, 2023

1 of 7

A hay chute still lives in the Hardie barn; it was used to throw hay down to animals below.

Chris Hardie/For Agri-View

The interior of Chris Hardie’s barn still reflects the days of baling hay; it was built by his great-grandparents in 1926.

Chris Hardie/For Agri-View

A pulley still hangs in the Hardie barn; it was used to move loose hay.

Chris Hardie/For Agri-View

A system of rope and pulley looks ready for a new load; it was once used to move loose hay.

Chris Hardie/For Agri-View

Hay forks hang in the Hardie barn; they were once used with a rope and pulley to move loose hay.

Chris Hardie/For Agri-View

Brian Hansom's recently baled hay creates a summer-perfect photo.

Courtesy of Brian Hansom

You don't know the meaning of hard work until you spend a summer baling hay

Chris Hardie says this media post is true.

Contributed

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Chris Hardie For Agri-View

I’m thankful in many ways for growing up and moving back to the farm. But I’m also appreciative of not needing to stack hay bales anymore. Any hay that our small group of animals needs now is done in large round bales that I don’t need to lift or move.

kAmxE’D 366? 2 76H J62CD D:?46 @FC 32C? 92D 366? FD65 E@ DE@C6 92J 3FE E96 >6>@C:6D @7 AFEE:?8 FA 32=6D :D 2D 566A 2D E96 =2J6C @7 49277 E92E 4@G6CD E96 7=@@C @7 E96 >@H] ~FC @=56DE 32C? H2D 3F:=E 3J >J 8C62E\8C2?5A2C6?ED :? `hae 27E6C E96:C 7:CDE 32C? H2D 56DEC@J65 E96 AC6G:@FD 72== 3J 2 7:C6 E92E 2=D@ E@@< E96:C 9@FD6] %96 ?6H 32C? H2D 2 DE2?49:@? 32C? @? E96 8C@F?5 =6G6= 7@C 52:CJ 4@HD[ H:E9 C@@> 7@C 92J @? E96 FAA6C =6G6=] %96 32C? H2D 6IA2?565 :? `hf_ H96? >J A2C6?ED >@G65 E@ E96 72C>]k^Am

kAm|@56C? 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 32=6CD ?@H >2<6 D9@CE H@C< @7 92J:?8[ H9:49 H2D ?@E E96 42D6 :? E96 `hb_D] |J 8C2?572E96C AFE FA 92J =@@D6 :? E96 32C?D] %96 92J H2D 4FE[ C2<65 E@ 5CJ 2?5 E96? =@2565 @?E@ 7=2E H28@?D] pE E96 6586 @7 @?6 9:== 7:6=5 @? E96 72C> 2C6 E96 4CF>3=:?8 C6>2:?D @7 2 92J =@256C[ 2 A:646 @7 6BF:A>6?E @?46 FD65 E@ DE24< 92J @?E@ E96 H28@?D]k^Am

kAmw@CD6\5C2H? H28@?D H6C6 324<65 :?E@ E96 FAA6C A2CE @7 E96 92J 32C? @? 2 D=@A65 5C:G6H2J 2?5 92J 7@C<D H6C6 =@H6C65 7C@> 2 AF==6J @? E96 46:=:?8] %96 7@C<D 8C23365 =2C86 49F?<D @7 92J] %96J H6C6 E96? AF==65 3J C@A6 E@ 6:E96C D:56 @7 E96 32C? 2?5 C6=62D65 E@ E96 32C? 7=@@C 36=@H]k^Am

kAm%96C6 H6C6 7@FC 92J 49FE6D – EH@ @? 6249 D:56 – E92E H6C6 @A6?65 7C@> E96 =@H6C A2CE @7 E96 32C?j 92J H2D 5C@AA65 5@H? E@ 7665 E96 4@HD] (6 DE:== FD65 E96 49FE6D E@ E9C@H 5@H? 92J 32=6D H96? x H2D J@F?8[ 7665:?8 6249 32=6 E@ E9C66 @C 7@FC 4@HD 56A6?5:?8 @? E96:C D:K6]k^Am

kAm%96 92J 7@C<D – H9:49 92G6?’E 366? FD65 7@C 2E =62DE fd J62CD – DE:== 92?8 7C@> 2 H2==] %96 AF==6J[ C@A6 2?5 EC24< DJDE6> 36=@H E96 E@A @7 E96 C27E6CD :D DE:== :? A=246] %96 C27E6CD 2C6 3@H65 :? 2 76H DA@ED 7C@> E96 H6:89E @7 E96 92J]k^Am

kAmt249 D:56 @7 E96 32C? 4@F=5 9@=5 23@FE `[c__ D>2== DBF2C6 32=6D :7 E96J H6C6 DE24<65 C:89E E@ E96 C@@7] ~? 2 A6C764E 52J H:E9 E96 C:89E H62E96C 2?5 ?@ 6BF:A>6?E 3C62<5@H?D – 2 C2C6 @44FCC6?46 E@ 36 DFC6 – 2?5 H:E9 E96 C:89E 2>@F?E @7 96=A[ H6 4@F=5 7:== @?6 >@H :? 2 52J]k^Am

kAm%96 =2DE E:>6 x AFE FA DBF2C6 32=6D 2 76H J62CD 28@[ x F?=@2565 2?5 DE24<65 >@DE @7 E96 92J 3J >JD6=7] xE H2D 2 72C 4CJ 7C@> E96 D>2== 2C>J H6 925 564256D 28@] %96 C:89E 2>@F?E @7 96=A 4@?D:DE65 @7 EH@ F?=@25:?8 E96 92J H28@? 2?5 2E =62DE E9C66 :? E96 92J >@H – @?6 E@ E2<6 E96 32=6D @77 E96 6=6G2E@C – 2?5 EH@ E@ DE24<] %96 4=@D6C H6 42>6 E@ E96 >6E2= C@@7[ E96 9@EE6C E96 E6>A6C2EFC6D – H9:49 @7E6? C624965 EC:A=6 5:8:ED] p?J 7C6D9\2:C >@G6>6?E 3642>6 3=@4<65 3J E96 32=6D]k^Am

kAm!C@A6C DE24<:?8 H2D :>A@CE2?E] %96 32=6D ?66565 E@ 36 EF4<65 E:89E=J E@86E96C 3642FD6 6249 =6G6= 3642>6 2 7=@@C 2D H6 H2=<65 24C@DD :E] x7 E96 =6G6= 925 DA246D 36EH66? E96 32=6D[ :E H2D 62DJ E@ EC:A @C DEF>3=6 2D >J 7@@E H6?E E9C@F89 E96 9@=6]k^Am

kAm(6 E@@< EFC?D 5C:G:?8 E96 EC24E@C 2?5 6>AEJ H28@? E@ E96 7:6=5 H96C6 E96 92J H2D 36:?8 32=65] u@C 2 76H J62CD H6 2=D@ DE24<65 E96> :? E96 H28@? 3FE E96? s25 3@F89E 2 32=6C E92E 2FE@>2E:42==J 7:C65 E96> :?E@ E96 H28@?[ H9:49 D2G65 @? D@>6 >2?A@H6C 2?5 E:>6]k^Am

kAmq6EH66? =@25D @7 92J H6 9J5C2E65 :? E96 >:=<9@FD6[ 5C:?<:?8 4FA 27E6C 4FA @7 H2E6C] ~? 3CFE2==J 9@E 52JD H6 H@F=5 9@=5 @FC 9625D F?56C E96 72F46E E@ =6E 4@=5 H2E6C CF? @G6C E96 324< @7 @FC ?64<D] p?5 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J E96 4@HD DE:== ?66565 E@ 36 >:=<65[ 2 EH@\9@FC ;@3 E92E 76=E =:<6 :E H@F=5 8@ @? 7@C6G6C]k^Am

kAmw2J:?8 H2D 92C5[ 56>2?5:?8 H@C<] %96 DEF33=6 H@F=5 D4C2E49 2?5 4FE >J D<:?] tG6? H:E9 H62C:?8 8=@G6D[ E96 4C62D6D @7 >J 7:?86CD H@F=5 36 CF3365 C2H 3J E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J 7C@> =:7E:?8 E96 EH:?6 E92E 96=5 E96 32=6D E@86E96C] xE H2D 2 ;@3 E92E E@@< E96 6?E:C6 8C@H:?8 D62D@? 3642FD6 H6 H@F=5 7:== D6G6C2= 32C?D H:E9 E9@FD2?5D @7 32=6D E@ 7665 E96 =:G6DE@4< E9C@F89 E96 H:?E6C]k^Am

kAmrFCC6?E=J E96C6 2C6 @?=J 2 76H @=5 32=6D D42EE6C65 2C@F?5 E96 >@H – 2?5 2D >F49 2D a 766E @7 49277 7C@> J62CD 8@?6 3J] qFE :7 x 4=@D6 >J 6J6D[ x 42? DE:== 962C E96 4=2EE6C:?8 @7 E96 6=6G2E@C 492:?[ x 42? D>6== E96 7C6D9 92J 2?5 x’> EC2?DA@CE65 E@ d_ J62CD 28@ H96? =:76 D66>65 >F49 D:>A=6C]k^Am

kAmk6>mt5:E@C’D ?@E6i r9C:D w2C5:6’D 92J:?8 4@=F>? C2? 2 H66< 62C=:6C :? 2?@E96C {66 AF3=:42E:@?j 96 E96? C646:G65 :?AFE 7C@> C6256CD]k^6>mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mw2J:?8 DE@CJ 92CG6DED C6256C >6>@C:6Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96C6’D 2 D@4:2=\>65:2 A@DE E92E’D 366? 4:C4F=2E:?8 7@C 2 76H J62CD E92E D9@HD 2 72C>6C 5C:G:?8 2 EC24E@C 32=:?8 92J[ H:E9 E9C66 A6@A=6 DE24<:?8 32=6D @? E96 H28@?] %96 H@C5D 2C6 “*@F 5@?’E <?@H E96 >62?:?8 @7 92C5 H@C< F?E:= J@F DA6?5 2 DF>>6C 32=:?8 92J]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Dairy era ends in sadness
System continues to protect calf health, ranch profitability
Beware turkey bits, pieces
Plant soybeans early, Below says
Modern farm shops feature high-end components, aesthetic appeal
Get better hay, returns with small changes
Buckhouse cowboy known for strong work ethic
Producers urged to implement strong identification processes to safeguard cow herd
Laws restrict foreign land owners
EPA makes latest attempt to define WOTUS
Farmland values relatively stable amid volatile world markets
Bales from 1940s a lesson in housing hay long-term
Functional storage with easy access serves acreage owners
From the Backroads of Wisconsin's Past
Industrial hemp reemerges as alternative

kAm%92E’D @?6 A@DE E92E H:== 7:?5 ?@ 2C8F>6?E 7C@> >6 2?5 >2?J @E96CD H9@ 8C6H FA DE24<:?8 32=6D :? E96 DF>>6C] x 962C5 7C@> 2 76H @7 E9@D6 :? C6DA@?D6 E@ 2 4@=F>? x HC@E6 23@FE E9@D6 92C5\H@C<:?8 52JD @7 @=5]k^Am

kAm~? E96 7=:A D:56[ @FC 72>:=J H@F=5 =2F89 2E 2 `hff E6=6G:D:@? 4@>>6C4:2= 7@C |:==6C w:89 {:76 366C E92E 762EFC65 92J 32=:?8 – D@CE @7] %96 4@>>6C4:2= D9@HD D@>6 92J C2<:?8 2?5 2 72C>6C H62C:?8 3:3 @G6C2==D AF==:?8 2 H28@? E9C@F89 2 7:6=5[ H96C6 EH@ J@F?86C >6? – AC6DF>23=J 9:D D@?D – E@DD 2 76H 32=6D @? E96 C24<]k^Am

kAm%96 G@:46@G6C D2JD[ “*@FC 72>:=J 72C>65 E9:D =2?5 H:E9 AC:56 7@C D:I 86?6C2E:@?D] %96 H@C< ?6G6C 6?5D[ 3FE J@F 5@ :E H:E9 AC:56 2?5 2== E96 DEC6?8E9 J@F 42? >FDE6C] p?5 H96? E96 DF? 7:?2==J E2<6D 2 C6DE[ D@ 5@ J@F]”k^Am

kAm(:E9 2 D9@E E92E D9@HD E96 EH@ D@?D DAC625 @FE @G6C 2 76H 32=6D @? E96 H28@?[ E96 72E96CD D2JD “~<2J 3@JD[ =6E’D 8@ 9@>6[” 2?5 E96J 2C6 EC62E65 E@ |:==6C w:89 {:76 3J E96:C >@E96C]k^Am

kAm(92E H6 7@F?5 9F>@C@FD H2D E92E E96J 42==65 :E BF:ED 27E6C DE24<:?8 H92E =@@<65 =:<6 fd 32=6D 2E E96 >@DE] p?5 9@H 5:5 E96J >2<6 :E D:I 86?6C2E:@?D :7 E96J 925?’E J6E 5:D4@G6C65 E92E J@F 42? AF== E96 H28@? 369:?5 E96 32=6C 2?5 DE24< E96> D@ J@F 5@?’E ?665 E@ A:4< E96> FA :? E96 7:6=5n ':D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^J@FEF]36^>2_&dBhvx'"Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmJ@FEF36]4@>k^2m 2?5 D62C49 7@C “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^J@FEF]36^>2_&dBhvx'"Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm`hff |:==6C 72C>k^2m” E@ D66 E96 4@>>6C4:2=]k^Am

kAm~?6 42? 2C8F6 E92E E96C6 :D >@C6 E92? @?6 Q366C E92E DE2?5D 4=62CQ H96? :E’D E:>6 E@ C6=2I[ 3FE H6 E9@F89E E96 4@>>6C4:2= H2D 2 ;@<6] (6 H@F=5 AFE FA >@C6 E92? `[___ 32=6D :? 2 52J]k^Am

kAmqFE E9@D6 677@CED A2=65 :? 4@>A2C:D@? E@ E96 677@CED @7 2 72C>6C :? !6??DJ=G2?:2 H9@ C6DA@?565 E@ >J 4@=F>?] %96 72C>6C – H9@ 2D<65 E@ C6>2:? 2?@?J>@FD – D2:5 9:D >@E96C <6AE 2 5:2CJ 2?5 :? @?6 6?ECJ D96 HC@E6[ “(6 >256 a[cbc 32=6D @7 92J E@52J] x E9:?< E92E’D 2 C64@C5 7@C FD]”k^Am

kAm%96 72C>6C D2:5 E96J 925 52:CJ 2?5 3667 4@HD :? E96 `he_D[ `hf_D 2?5 `hg_D] %96J 2=D@ 5:5 4FDE@> 32=:?8 7@C E96 9@CD6\92J >2C<6E :? DF3FC32? !9:=256=A9:2[ AFEE:?8 FA d_[___ DBF2C6 32=6D @7 7:CDE 4FEE:?8 2=@?6] w6=A :?4=F565 EH@ @7 9:D 92C5\H@C<:?8 7C:6?5D 2?5 2 >@C6\EC2?D:6?E H@C<7@C46]k^Am

kAm“|J 525 H@F=5 9:C6 ‘E@F89’ E@H? 3@JD … 7@FC @C 7:G6 H@F=5 D9@H FA @? E96 7:CDE 52J[” E96 72C>6C D2:5] “~?6 FDF2==J DEF4< :E @FE 2?5 :E H2D 2=H2JD E96 D<:??J =:EE=6 <:5 – ?@E E96 7@@E32== A=2J6CD]k^Am

kAm“}@H E9@D6 E:>6D 2C6 2== 8@?6 WC6A=2465 H:E9X C@F?5 32=6D[ =2C86 DBF2C6D 2?5 49@AA:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 7@C D:=286] qFE ?@?\72C>6CD 92G6 ?@ 4=F6 H92E C62= 72C>6CD 5@ W2?5X 562= H:E9] %96J H@F=5 ?6G6C 5@ H92E H6 5@]”k^Am

kAmqC:2? w2?D4@> @7 p33@E[ |2:?6[ D2:5 96 C625 >J 4@=F>? “27E6C C64@G6C:?8 7C@> >2<:?8 92J EH@ 52JD 28@ :? E96 h_\568C66 962E 96C6 :? |2:?6] *6D[ :E H@F=5 36 4962A6C E@ 3FJ 92J 7C@> 2 =@42= 72C>6C 3FE x’> E96 4C2KJ @?6 H9@ @H?D `a @C `d 24C6D 2?5 ;FDE 92D E@ 5@ :E >JD6=7 =:<6 >J 8C2?572E96C H@F=5]”k^Am

kAmw2?D4@> BF:AA65 E92E 96’5 ?665 E@ D6== E96 32=6D 7@C “Scd_ 6249” E@ C64@G6C E96 4@DE @7 9:D :?G6DE>6?E :? 92J:?8 6BF:A>6?E]k^Am

kAmvH6? vC@6?6H@=5 7C@> q=@@>:?8E@?[ x==:?@:D[ D2:5 >J DE@CJ 3C@F89E 324< >6>@C:6D 6G6? E9@F89 96C 72>:=J 5:5?’E 32=6 92J]k^Am

kAm“(6 49@AA65 2?5 3=6H :E :?E@ E96 >@H @? @?6 D:56 @7 E96 32C?[ 2?5 E96 @E96C D:56 H2D 7@C DEC2H 7@C 3655:?8[” D96 D2:5] “xE H2D 9@E 2?5 5FDEJ 3FE 49@AA65 92J H2D ?@E 2D =23@C\:?E6?D:G6 2D 32=65 92J]”k^Am

kAmvC@6?6H@=5 D2:5 96C 72E96C’D 72C> H2D c_ 24C6D :? $963@J82? r@F?EJ – ?@E 6?@F89 E@ 36 DFDE2:?23=6 3FE H@F=5 92G6 >256 2 8@@5 9@33J 72C> ?@H] %96 32C? 3FC?65 5@H? 3FE E96 D:=@D DE:== DE2?5]k^Am

kAm“x 92G6 >2?J[ >2?J >6>@C:6D @7 8C@H:?8 FA @? ‘%96 u@CEJ’ 2?5 x 9@A6 E@ HC:E6 D@>6 5@H? 7@C <:5D 2?5 8C2?5<:5D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm$66>D =:<6 92J:?8 DE@C:6D 3:?5 >2?J @7 FD E@86E96C]k^Am

kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%9:D :D 2? @C:8:?2= 2CE:4=6 HC:EE6? 7@C p8C:\':6H[ 2 {66 t?E6CAC:D6D 28C:4F=EFC2= AF3=:42E:@? 32D65 :? |25:D@?[ (:D4@?D:?] ':D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^28C:G:6H]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmp8C:':6H]4@>k^2m 7@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am

Chris Hardie and his wife, Sherry, raise animals and crops on his great-grandparents’ Jackson County farm. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2001, he’s a former member of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council and past-president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. Email chardie1963@gmail.com with comments.