I am Randall Bergan, a retired Minnesota farmer. My family told me to write about farming back in the 1940s, 1950s till my retirement in 2001.
My first memories are Dad bringing home a dog, an English Setter. Pat was to become my first friend and buddy. At about age 3, I got a new pair of rubber boots and was told not to get wet feet. But I did get wet feet. So Pat and I lay in the hay stack and fell asleep.
Mom called me and couldn’t find me. So she called my Dad to help find me. Dad came home with help. Also, a hired man and my Grandfather came to look for us. The hired man being a hunter and trapper first looked for Pat, and found me as we would both be together. He told me Randy your Dad wants you. He new that where Pat was I would be there also.
My first job was during milking which was done by hand, to told a cow’s tale. In years after, no one held a cow tail for me. At about age six or seven, after some begging by me, I got my first milk stool. So I could milk cows. Much planning was in order about the stool. I sure got sucked in.
It was the same when I was to drive tractor. Everything must be done right, or someone else would get my job. I wanted to drive tractor more than anything.