The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.



The Wisdom Of Barnyard Bruke: RAIN, FARM TALK, FORREST GUMP GOES TO HEAVEN

Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill."

RAIN

We're really enjoy'n the rain Monday night and a bit over the weekend in what we here in the midwest call God's Country. Often times farmers refer ta a rain as we had the other morn'n of an inch or more as a "million dollar rain" fer the useful effect it has on the various grow'n crops.

FARM TALK

With the price of corn the way it is these days maybe it can't be called a million dollar rain none the less, the rain surely helps the hay and the pasture regrow,

A lot of livestock folks around these parts are scrambling ta grab all the hay they can for winter use. They're bailing waterways, roadways, some old pastures, wherever they can find it, they are put'n it up.

Some farmers who calved in January-February are weening their calves off the pasture early ta make sure the old cows have plenty ta eat and not use up too much of the hay for this summer's pasture needs when its really stockpiled for next winter.

Well get'n together with the boys this week I've found out several are head'n over ta Decatur ta the Farm Progress Show next week August 27-28-29. Buster Jenks sez he always trys ta attend and likes ta see the latest way in how the young ones will be farm'n with the new high tech equipment.

Cornelius Farkwad reminded me that the Old Threshers reunion is just around the corner.

Go'n to the Old Threshers various reunions in Hamilton, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and Pontiac, IL, Cornelius hits 'em all.

He always sez, those old threshers reunions mark the begin'n of the end of summer with fall harvest not far behind.

This year might be the exception given the fact a lot of corn and beans were planted late due to the heavy continuous spring rains.

Some of the boys will be enjoy'n live field demonstrations at the Old Threshers and Farm Progress shows. Old Threshers will take ya back ta an old fashioned era.

I don't hear very many planes a fly'n on fungicide as I did a few weeks ago. So we must be near'n the end of that process fer protect'n this year's corn crop. However, they should start fly'n again when the appropriate time arrives ta fly on oat and rye cover crops.

Farmers utilize this time in August ta go through their machinery carefully and make sure it's ready fer the fall harvest. With the possibility of this fall harvest be'n late because of the late plant'n, a hustle ta get in the late crop one doesn't want ta waste any time on their machinery that should have been done in August. Many farmers will have their eye on the weather man watch'n fer an early frost.

The concern for harvest may hurt the farm progress attendance due ta the fact there may be two periods of time when they harvest-the early planted corn and the late planted corn and soybeans.

Soybean maturity is affected by sunlight so there is a lot of short soybeans this year when they mature, which could affect yield and harvest conditions.

A friend shared this story with the boys. It was a humorous example of miscommunication for this lucky bugger. Hope it stimulates yer mind and spices up yer midweek.

Forrest Gump Goes To Heaven

The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven. He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself.

However, the gates are closed, and Forrest approaches the gatekeeper.

St. Peter said, "Well, Forrest, it is certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and we have been administering an entrance examination for everyone.

The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven.'

Forrest responds, "It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope that the test ain't too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was.'

St. Peter continued, "Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions.

First:

What two days of the week begin with the letter T?

Second:

How many seconds are there in a year?

Third:

What is God's first name?'

Forrest leaves to think the questions over.

He returns the next day and sees St Peter, who waves him up, and says, "Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers.'

Forrest replied, "Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begins with the letter "T'?

Shucks, that one is easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow..'

The Saint's eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, "Forrest, that is not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer.

How about the next one?' asked St. Peter. "How many seconds in a year?

Now that one is harder,' replied Forrest, "but I thunk and thunk about that, and I guess the only answer can be twelve.'

Astounded, St. Peter said, "Twelve? Twelve? Forrest, how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?'

Forrest replied, "Shucks, there's got to be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd... "

"Hold it,' interrupts St. Peter. "I see where you are going with this, and I see your point, though that was not quite what I had in mind....but I will have to give you credit for that one, too.

Let us go on with the third and final question. Can you tell me God's first name'?

"Sure,' Forrest replied, "it's Andy.'

"Andy?' exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St Peter.

"Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?'

"Shucks, that was the easiest one of all,' Forrest replied. "I learnt it from the song, ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.'

St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates, and said: "Run, Forrest, run!'

Well, there ya have it then, food fer thought.

On a more serious note, Mrs. Bruke has been fix'n me up with a passel of sweet corn that's especially delicious and does she ever know how to fry up a batch of zucchini squash that is also ready now.

Me and the boys sure love food from the garden this time of year and Mrs. Bruke is always kind ta invite the boys to join us.

Has any of ya folks noticed the squeal'n of the locust around these parts? They sure can make a lot of noise. They come around every seven years and this is the seventh year. They come up from the ground and shuck off their shells and begin a squawk'n.

Well, that's it fer this week. Hope it cheered up yer day.

Watch out fer children as many have gleefully headed back ta school fer some real larn'n. Best regards ta all the teachers in our area.

Hope'n ta see ya in church this weekend.

Remember, where ever ya is, what ever ya be a do'n, BE A GOOD ONE!

Keep on smile'n,

Catch ya later,

BARNYARD BRUKE