Last week I talked about the early days of my life. I think I’ll carry that on, kinda reminiscing.

There were tough times during the war years, tires gas and numerous things were rationed, we were allotted so many gallons of gas, I’m not sure about tractor fuel, food production was essential. If you needed tires, you went to the ration board to get permission.

We raised most of our food, canning much of it for later use. Coffee, flour, seasoning, we sold or traded the excess for those products.

At the end of the war, celebrating was going on, our boys were coming home!!! Some didn’t make it, we always remember those that fought and died for our freedoms!

The economy was starting to recover, the factories that made airplanes were now turning out cars, trucks, tractors, and farm equipment. The returning soldiers went to work in the factories. The country boys returned to the farm, some got GI loans or FHA loans to buy land, and for operating loans.

The farmers were expanding their operations, there were bankers that made these farmers, your banker kept a signed note in his desk drawer, you called him, told him how much money you need, he’d fill out the note, when you sold the crop, or animals, you paid the note off, today that would be a criminal offense. Times have really changed.

As the farms got bigger, so did the equipment, I remember going into Boeckman equipment, and seeing a new GB Moline, I was 11 or 12, it was a monster. Now 3, 4, or 500 horsepower isn’t uncommon and the equipment that goes with them. I’ve rambled about long enough.

God bless America! We stand by our Lord, our country, our flag, and our president. We will never, ever give up!

Jon Cochran Sr.