An observation

[Frickman]

Through the years I have noticed something about the urban media and how it portrays rural people, especially the more hardscrabble of us. It nearly always tries to include whatever livestock is around into every picture it shoots, whether it is a still photograph or video. The intent of this is to try to say "look how poor, backward, and uneducated these people are, they own chickens, goats, cattle, whatever". Now where I come from livestock are wealth, so the more goats or cows a family owns, the wealthier they are. And they aren't hungry either. Anyone else notice this bias?

[easymoney]

an old song has a line  everybody has to have someone to look down on. people from the north and the cities seem to think that everyone from the southern rural areas are not as smart as them. we all have an old couch with a hound dog sleeping on it on the front porch. maybe an old pickup that has not ran for years sitting on blocks in the front yard.

[thecfarm]

I feel it's been that way for years. The people that don't farm,look down upon those that do. I guess getting paid money for doing something that you don't like is better than getting paid for something that you like.  ;D
Almost like the loggers,I would like to see no logging and farming go on for whatever time it would make others to open up thier eyes and realize logging and farming is not bad or to be looked down onto.

[goose63]

I feel it's been that way for years. The people that don't farm,look down upon those that do. I guess getting paid money for doing something that you don't like is better than getting paid for something that you like.  ;D
Almost like the loggers,I would like to see no logging and farming go on for whatever time it would make others to open up thier eyes and realize logging and farming is not bad or to be looked down onto.

Same with truck driver's if you stop all trucking for 7 day's you would have an upriseing  ;D

[WV Sawmiller]

FM,

    Do they also show us eating grits?

[jwilly3879]

It is like that here in the Adirondacks. Those who live here are trying to eke out a living a beautiful but economically depressed. Tend to be looked down on by the visitors to the area.

[Ron Wenrich]

Do you think the urban media understands the difference between livestock and pets?   They pan on them because they think they're cute.  It also projects a calm and laid back lifestyle.  I've never felt anyone has looked down upon me for living in a rural area or worked in a blue collar job.  I've felt some bad vibes because I have a college education.  Sometimes you have to stand back and figure out who's judging who.

[coxy]

I like when they look down on me this way they don't ask me to help them  ;D

[red]

Are you referring to Pennsyltucky ?

[Okrafarmer]

Are you referring to Pennsyltucky ?

Pennkantuckesseeana

[Carson-saws]

Hold on there fellers....I can tell you that MANY "northerners" envy those not stuck in the "burbs"  BUT,  when it comes to raising a family in a particular line of work and not wanting to have to drive 100 miles TO work, well, a choice has to be made.  Personally I COMPLETELY admire and  appreciate "rural folk" and that "truck driver" statement is absolutely the TRUTH.  I think it should be part of driver ED to ride in a "big truck" for a week so those in a car can see just how stupid they really are when it comes to the ability TO drive. sheeeesh.  Now...I know I know whatsa comin, but, let it be said, please, I, in no way shape or form do I "look down" on folks based upon where they may or may not be from.  WELL....ceptin that grit part....BUT HEY....one mans food is another mans poison. 

[timberlinetree]

I don't trust or play into the media. Its controlled!

[Sixacresand]

you talk to a farmer driving a new $60k pickup and he tells you that he sold a few cows and stopped by the Ford place and paid cash.  I don't ever remember being able to do that with my 8 to 5 job.

[Magicman]

Didn't happen with my 8 to 5 job either.  Neither did it happen with my farmer dad.   :-\

[Sixacresand]

I like this Paul Harvey video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIaYlmVzUz4

[Okrafarmer]

Didn't happen with my 8 to 5 job either.  Neither did it happen with my farmer dad.   :-\

There's the one kind of farmer, then there's the other. . . .

Believe me, I went to school for farming, and wanted to do it, and couldn't get a good way in. Kind of just as pleased I didn't, now. You can make money at it, but you must get your ducks--er other livestock-- in a row bigtime. And so much of farming finance depends on the government and insurance companies today, that I lost a lot of the interest I had in it.

[Magicman]

Thanks John.  That will never get too old or too worn out to describe our Farmers.   

[Larry]

I meet new farmers every month or so at the farmers market in town.  Seems most are immigrants making a living off an acre or two.  Last week I was talking to an older couple who started with less than an acre about 6 years ago and are up to almost 5 acres now.

They must be having an off year as they were driving a really old truck.

[Frickman]

Just for the record, I am from Pennsyltucky.

[chevytaHOE5674]

you talk to a farmer driving a new $60k pickup and he tells you that he sold a few cows and stopped by the Ford place and paid cash.

Way the markets are now you would have to sell off your entire herd to make just the down payment on that 60K truck... :(

[florida]

I think you're giving way too much credit to the mostly low intellect local talking heads. The cameraman usually sets up the shot and of course they always want  something interesting in the background. In a city they can get in front of an interesting building or group of people. In the country there isn't much and not many people are going to care about seeing trees.  However, animals are always a good draw and people who might switch channels will stay to see the horse, cow, cat, etc walking across the back of the scene.

[sandhills]

Thank you John from me also, I'd never heard that before, I enjoyed it.  Also I've always said anyone allowed to drive should have to get a cdl first, and yes chevy, my herd would be about right  :D.

[Jeff]

Knock off the political commentary. I deleted the post of which i speak so I didn't have to get rid of the entire topic.

[Den Socling]

The topic invites political commentary. But I won't make any more.

[Jeff]

Wise decision.

[tree-farmer]

On a lighter note, the talk about farmers reminded me of a favorite story. A old farmer hit the lottery, when asked what e would do with his winnings, he replied, "probably keep farming till the money runs out"  :D

[Den Socling]

That was a good one, tree-farmer.  :D

[Sixacresand]

Tree Farmer,  I borrowed that one and put it on facebook. Thanks

[glassman_48]

We have a lot of potato farmers in my part of Michigan, the money it costs a day to run their irrigation systems in astonishing.  Our guys around here work really hard, are good honest people and when they buy a new pickup, they seem to keep them until they go to the scrapper.  I work on a lot of their old farm trucks putting glass in them, some of them still have stuff on the road from the 60's and 70's.  I get a large sack of potatoes every Christmas from 2 of the biggest potato farmers in our area.  My employees all get a small sackful and they taste extra good to me because I got them as a gift.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

On a lighter note, the talk about farmers reminded me of a favorite story. A old farmer hit the lottery, when asked what e would do with his winnings, he replied, "probably keep farming till the money runs out"  :D

This would be my Dad.  :D

[NavyRet98]

Gonna leave the city put my troubles behind
People in the city goin' out of their minds
Goin' to the country just to feel like gold
People in the country really let themselves go...

Thank God, I'm a country boy.

[Czech_Made]

Well, thats the way the news people look at blue collars and farmers. 80% of news people are on the left as political orientation and they despise working class, simple as that.

Through the years I have noticed something about the urban media and how it portrays rural people, especially the more hardscrabble of us. It nearly always tries to include whatever livestock is around into every picture it shoots, whether it is a still photograph or video. The intent of this is to try to say "look how poor, backward, and uneducated these people are, they own chickens, goats, cattle, whatever". Now where I come from livestock are wealth, so the more goats or cows a family owns, the wealthier they are. And they aren't hungry either. Anyone else notice this bias?

[Den Socling]

Oh! Czech_Made you are making me bite my tongue or fingers in this case.

[Okrafarmer]

Oh! Czech_Made you are making me bite my tongue or fingers in this case.

That's an entertaining mental picture! 

[Carson-saws]

Okrafarmer...entertaining to say the least...I figured hip high boots and white smoke comin out his ears.

[Delawhere Jack]

Folks with chickens, sheep, goats, pigs or sometimes even cattle are my favorite people to to work for. Especially if they throw in some pasture fed eggs as a tip. ;)

[Okrafarmer]

Folks with chickens, sheep, goats, pigs or sometimes even cattle are my favorite people to to work for. Especially if they throw in some pasture fed eggs as a tip. ;)

Yep, there are chickens, goats, pigs, a donkey, a cow, and a peahen where I work.

[Czech_Made]

Folks with chickens, sheep, goats, pigs or sometimes even cattle are my favorite people to to work for. Especially if they throw in some pasture fed eggs as a tip. ;)

Except pigs and cow we had it all plus a horse.  Not bad for city slicker  ;D