Farmers and ranchers only make up around 5% of America’s population. Unfortunately, that is a population that also keeps shrinking. There is an old saying, “When the cows leave the land, the people leave the land.” I don’t want to lose any more neighbors. I don’t want to erode any more of our most precious resource, our young people who leave rural America and don’t come back.

I am concerned, and I am not alone. I remember the skyrocketing interest rates of the late 1970’s and early 1980. Farmers and ranchers along with other borrowers were paying 12% to 16% interest on their loans. Farmers borrow money almost every year to finance fertilizer, seed, chemicals, and machinery to plant, care for, and harvest their crops. The inflationary costs destroyed thousands of farms and all kinds of family businesses.

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

As I passed the man on that old international cabless tractor, the amount of life he has lived was visible on his face. The interesting juxtaposition was not lost on me.

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

Just when I think I have seen it all, it never fails, there is always a surprise on this stretch road.

After a busy week away from home last week, there was nothing better than having my husband make the coffee this morning and get back in to the routine of getting the kids on the bus!

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

The stock show word of the day is “PRIDE”! Everywhere I look around at the Black Hills Stock Show, I see people that are proud of what they are doing.