We often take hired help for granted, especially when funds are tight. I don’t pay much, but I’ve been truly blessed with my farmhand.
We’ve built a sharecropping arrangement that works for both of us. He uses my barn for his washing machine and freezer, grows a garden, and keeps a few cows on my land, even breeding them with my bull. He stores items here, borrows my trailer, and we barter in countless ways.
In return, I gain someone with lifelong farm experience who can fix nearly anything efficiently and affordably. Today, he’s repairing my calf nursery barn roof, putting tin on it.
He has a flexible schedule, often hog hunting, but I know I can rely on him in emergencies, even in the middle of the night.
I’m deeply grateful he came into my life. Despite the gossip and judgment about his appearance, he’s proven to be a loyal and skilled worker.
This post is to appreciate all farmhands and remind others to get creative—hiring help isn’t always about money. There are incredible people out there with invaluable skills.
– Lisa Revell-Petro
