Stop The Madness
Mar 24, 2010
When it comes to farm fashions, I'm pretty much a traditionalist. It was difficult, but I eventually got used to farmers coming to the dealership dressed in shorts. I understand their desire for comfort on a hot summer day, and even got used to the unique individuals who wore cowboy boots with their cargo shorts.
I also eventually accepted farmers wearing pricey athletic shoes as their work shoes. I grew up in a culture where it was a status symbol for elementary school boys to wear lace-up work boots to school because they wanted to be like their farmer fathers. I'm not sure how practical it is to shovel out a grain bin or hog pen wearing low-top sneakers that cost $100 per pair, but... if it works for them, who am I to criticize?
I even got used to all the weird hats that farmers wear nowadays. I used to be pretty religious about the type, style and proper brim profile of the seed corn or machinery dealer hat that I wore. But I've adapted, and even have a floppy-brimmed "boonie" hat I wear when fishing (thanks to a run-in with skin cancer).
But, folks, today I encountered something that I just can't deal with. A customer arrived at the dealership in a requisite mud-covered 4-wheel-drive pickup with the bed full of used baler twine and empty feed sacks. The dashboard was layered with scale tickets from the Co-op and empty Slim Jim wrappers. It was a very respectable example of a farm truck. Then the farmer got out -- wearing BLUE POLYESTER SWEAT PANTS WITH WHITE STRIPES DOWN THE LEGS.
I confess to wearing gray cotton sweat pants in the privacy of my own home, but what self-respecting farmer would be seen at a farm equipment dealership wearing DESIGNER sweat pants...? I was appalled. This sort of insult to farm fashion must stop. Where is our pride, where is our respect for the long-standing tradition of being totally and blissfully ignorant of fashion trends?
I'm not sure how much more disrespect for farm culture and tradition I can tolerate. I'm warning you, if a customer comes into the shop wearing bibbed overalls with a Lands End sweater draped over his shoulders and the sleeves loosely knotted in front of his neck...well, it won't be pretty, especially if I'm holding an air-powered grease gun.
