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Container
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Title
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7/7/81
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
00:30
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Arrival at Pine Acres Farm, Formerly Owned by Brusveen Family and Now Owned by Bauer and Beckwith
: Sounds include house wrens, car doors, and wind blowing against the microphone of the tape recorder.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
01:35
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Beginning of Farm Tour-Interview on Location at the 80-Acre Farm in Section 11, Town of York, Green County
: Quick walk past flower garden and up ridge toward barn; high growth of bromegrass and chicory noted.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
02:15
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Examination of Tractor Attachments Stored Outside Behind Barn
: Home-made carrier for fencing materials and other items, and grapple fork for picking up loose hay both lay idle. Brusveen describes each.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
03:15
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Entering the Upper Level of the Barn
: Brusveen describes hay hoist system for loading hay into the mows. Lumber once salvaged from a building still stored. Sickle bar mower found. Corn bedding chopped by Brusveen still covers floors. Hay now stored in barn probably made up for Bauer and Beckwith on share basis.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
06:15
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Walk Up the Ridge from the Barn Through a Barnyard Above It
: Multiflora observed as farmyard hedging; planted by Brusveen to help keep cows in yard. Occasionally froze out though.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
07:10
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Observing the Windmill
: Brusveen describes it. Mechanism still connected but hasn't operated since new owners installed pressure system by the house. Windmill now vine-covered.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
07:55
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Continuing Up the Ridge Across Acreage Formerly Contour Stripped
: Contour strips now grown over with bromegrass; few alfalfa plants remain. Strips were 76 to 78 feet wide alternating corn, oats and hay. Brusveen points out an old contour strip boundary.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
10:00
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Anecdote About Accident Falling Into Badger Hole in 1975
: Tore arm from shoulder to elbow while haying. Badgers still quite active in the area.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
10:45
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Accident Adds to Mobility Problem Which Eventually Forces Early Retirement
: Would liked to have kept farm two or three more years to finish paying for it before giving it up.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
11:15
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Nearing Crest of Ridge and Far End of Former Upland Cropland
: Forty-one acres of cropland lay on this ridge of the farm.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
11:45
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Standing on Crest of Ridge
: Four corners of farm seen from crest. Brusveen discusses landmarks and farm layout; discusses some neighbors whose lands or buildings are visible from ridge. Talks about windmills; believes should return to them instead of over-reliance on electric pumps.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
15:20
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Walking Down Ridge Aiming for Other Side of Farmstead
: Discusses hauling manure up the ridge in bad winter weather. [Wind on microphone a problem here.]
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
15:50
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Discussion of Advantage of Continual Undisturbed Growth of Grass on the Ridge
: Plant materials allowed opportunity to decay; should help topsoil build back up a bit.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
16:00
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Standing at Bottom of Former Upland Cropland, Northwest of Barn
: Thick growth of crownvetch and birdsfoot trefoil observed in one contour strip; never planted by Brusveen but probably planted as contaminants with alfalfa. Discussion of weed seeds contaminating crop seed.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
16:40
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Observing Burr Oak Grove West of Farmstead
: Has been good source of building materials.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
16:50
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Sampling Black Raspberries Growing Wild Along Field Road Just Above Barn
: Oak grove next to road was open wooded pasture for cows; was hog grazing ground before that. Area is steepest part of farm.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
18:35
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Examination of Steep Portion of Lane on West Side of Barn
: Driving tractor here could be “hazardous to your health.” if tractor got stuck on way up, could fall back over 15-foot bank into pasture land. in the early 1950's, Brusveen and tractor fell backward while manure spreader attached.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
19:35
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Examination of Old Silo Location
: After silo collapsed, Brusveen compensated with concentrates and dry feed. Couldn't afford to erect new one. Wood stave silo kept silage well enough but would be hard to find today in the region.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
20:20
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Examining Stanchion Level of Barn
: Nothing changed since early 1970's. Brusveen rebuilt this part in 1960 with oak lumber from own grove, sawed by Robert Hanson west of Blanchardville. Manure shovel, barn scraper and straw fork still visible in barn. All stanchions still in place, but rusting a bit.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
21:25
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Standing in Corn Crib Portion of Hog House
: Tape recorder malfunction between barn and hog house necessitated farm power sources for remainder of interview.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
21:35
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Hog House Corn Crib Swept Clean
: One of the current farmhouse residents now sleeping in it.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
21:45
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Anecdote About Dog Eating Mice during One Season's Cleaning of the Corn Crib
: Mice escaping when cleaning operation reached bottom of crib. Little brown collie swallowed two to four dozen mice; then vomited them in the yard, just at dinner time.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
23:45
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Interviewer Recapitulates Tour from Field Road and Silo to Hog House Because of Recorder Malfunction
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
24:30
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More Comments on Hog House Structure
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
24:55
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Viewing South End of Farm through Window on South Side of Hog House
: Field just below hog house was “probably the best acre and a half in this part of the country.” Produced more feed than five acres of bottomland or ridge land. Rough hillside east of driveway was site of Brusveen's initiation with a walking plow. [See also Tape 1, Side 1, 14:30.] One of farmhouse residents seen gardening in bottomland.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
26:50
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Interview Continues in Garage
: Tour proceeded from hog house/granary to chicken house. Date carved in stone of chicken house wall indicates 1915, but Brusveen believes structure built before that. Scrap iron lying beside chicken house salvaged from dairy processing plant in Monticello; intended to be used for repairs and equipment construction. Tour moves to root cellar just north of farmhouse.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/1
Time
28:20
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End of Tape 7, Side 1, Part 1
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
00:35
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Discussion of Root Cellar
: Dug out of hillside. Used to store potatoes and vegetables in winter. Used also as a storm cellar in summer; threat of big storms coming up valley from southwest.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
02:00
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Discussion of Back Yard Area
: Old summer kitchen, now a shed, separate from house; still has Brusveen's mother's stencil decoration inside.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
02:35
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Discussion of Farm Blacksmith Shop Located Next to Garage
: Old iron and materials cleaned out; portion of forge remains. Some woodworking power tools formerly housed in shop taken to New Glarus home.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
04:20
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Viewing Southeast Area of Lawn and Farm from Blacksmith Shop Doorway
: Lawn area just outside shop kept as croquet court; farm neighbors came for night games which had severe ground rules. Games could go until 3 or 4 a.m. Closer examination of stony area, uncropped lowland, and formerly cropped bottomland.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
07:20
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No Farming Relatives Remain in the Area
: Neighbors were all relatives of Brusveen from time he was born until early 1960's. at least 7 out of 10 or 11 nearby farms owned by relatives at one time. No old neighbors remain in 1981. Only one relative, a third cousin, still farms in the 6- to 7-mile-long valley of York Center Road.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
09:40
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Brusveen Knows Only a Few of the Neighborhood Farmers Today
: Met some who moved in during his later farming years. Clifford Rear, a son-in-law of Oscar Vamstad, took over Vamstad family farm of about 240 acres southwest of Brusveen farm.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
10:35
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Interview Continues after Water Break
: Day of interview is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside; interview continues in shade of blacksmith shop.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
11:05
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Sale of Farm Helps Pay for New Home in New Glarus
: Believes the agricultural land should be preserved but wouldn't have minded if new owner had built houses on the non-agricultural land.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
12:05
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What Brusveen Might Have Done Had the Opportunities Been There
: Would have expanded operation within the 81-acre farm to make it more prosperous; would have improved equipment storage facilities. Getting rich, though, wouldn't have brought more happiness.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
12:35
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Satisfied with Life and Operation of the Farm
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
12:45
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Discussion of Farming as a Way of Life Versus Farming as a Business
: Government hasn't made effort to preserve family farm. Nationally, the United States has reached dangerously low level of skilled agriculturalists with “down-to-earth experience.” Modern equipment alone won't sustain agriculture. Wishes farming could remain a way of life but feels too many elements of big business are invading.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
15:40
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Farm Incorporation
: Believes wisdom of family decision to incorporate farm depends on financial situation and whether farm being passed to younger family members. Government actions also affect such decisions.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
17:15
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Government Support of Agriculture and of Other Industries
: Discusses President Ronald Reagan's recent decision to cut dairy price support level to 70% of parity. Questions why agriculture shouldn't have parity as one looks at oil and automobile industries; why an automobile sells for $10,000 with full sales lots and gas costs $1.25 per gallon.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
19:15
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Opinion That People Living on Bauer-Beckwith Land Today Will Live Well on It as Long as Their Outside Business Holds Up
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
19:35
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Pine Trees
: Trees planted over the years while member of Green County Conservation League; planted thousands by hand.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
20:20
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Major Factors Leading to Success of Brusveen's Farm Operation
: Had to be conservative by doing most work himself and buying only what he needed.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
20:50
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Why Brusveen Bought Farm in 1960 Instead of Working in Construction
: Felt it was his life to live on the farm. if had the chance to start all over, would have been other things of interest, but he probably would have farmed. Believes that farming has challenges, but “there isn't a greater place to live in the world than out on a farm.”
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
22:35
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Anecdote About Cow Bought for Top Price in Early 1960's That Had to Be Marketed Again Within Three Days
: Cow very sick; sellers had doctored her up for the auction. Sickness showed up the next day. Brusveen got only 10 percent return on what he paid for the cow; no choice but to absorb the loss.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
24:05
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Anecdote About Cow Close to Freshening That Died Within a Few Hours Between Brusveen's Visits
: Government “disgusting” because does not allow farmers to write off such a loss.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
25:05
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More on NFO
: NFO farmers dumped milk in mid-1960's. Stopped after an injunction by President Lyndon Johnson, but Brusveen felt NFO should have continued. Brusveen dropped membership about three years before quitting farming but felt the organization's policies and goals were right.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
26:40
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Life More Difficult Today Than 25 or 30 Years Ago
: A would-be farmer would have harder time starting without better finances now. Would go back to carpentering if not for specific health problem. “I'm just a helpless creature out at the end of the stick right now.”
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
27:15
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New Home in New Glarus as Compared with Old Farm Home
: New home better insulated, but old one better sheltered on slope surrounded by pine trees.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
27:45
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More on New Home in New Glarus
: New house, built for wife Avis, liked by both. Avis took care of Brusveen's parents for many years; also raised family just in south wing of house. Married 40 years.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
29:25
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Feelings About Interview; Nothing Else to Add
: Probably will think of something later. Interview ended with provision that it may be continued later.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
30:00
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Huge Burr Oak Broken off during Ice Storm in Winter of 1976
: Burr oak, a foot in diameter, broken along with maples all along the valley. Bluebirds used to live in bird houses in the oak grove, then started disappearing; now reappearing.
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Tape/Side/Part
7/1/2
Time
31:30
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End of Interview
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