The Haymakers: A Chronicle of Five Farm Families

Dr. Steven Hoffbeck's fast-moving book is about haying, or the process of putting up of hay, to feed farm animals through the long winter months. This is an unusual topic and if the book were only about haying techniques, it would have little interest except to farming historians, but the book is more than haying, much more. "The Haymakers" is about the struggles and triumphs of real people dealing with the joys and many heartrendering difficulties of farm life. Dr. Hoffbeck takes the reader through 100 years of haymaking by describing and telling us the personal chronicles of 5 farm families. Haymaking methods are described, from the simple yet laborious scythe-harvest method through the making of large round and small square bales by machine. I found the evolution of haymaking facinating in itself, and it gave me an appreciaton of what farm familes have to go through to "get in the hay". For without hay, there is no winter feed for the many farm animals; and without farm animals, there is no farm. As any farmer will tell you, close calls and accidents are unfortunately all too frequent on the farm. Dr. Hoffbeck shares his experiences of losing his own father, and then tragically his brother, all due to accidents on the home farm. I was touched by the way Dr. Hoffbeck writes about these tremendous losses, and one can feel his pain, anguish, and loss through his words. Dr. Hoffbeck also clearly explains the farm crisis American farmers face today, that of debt, the trend to larger and larger farms, and the slow but steady passing of the small American homestead farm. Not having been raised, or even associated with the travails of farming life, I found his explanation quite enlightening. When he describes the crushing debt load that farmers take on to survive and modernize their farms, I can almost feel the weight of that debt on my shoulders as well. It is easy to understand the economic problems farmers face after reading this book. If you are looking for fast adventure, high suspense, or international intrigue, this is not the book for you. However, if you are looking for a book that delves into the farming lives of our pioneers, our grandfathers and grandmothers, and our uncles and aunts, then this book will touch your mind and your heart. It will give you an everlasting appreciation of the hard toil that our independent and strong-willed ancestors faced on a daily basis. I highly recommend it.

The previous readers already praised this book so beautifully in their reviews that I don't know if I can improve on what has already been said, other than to say that I found this to be a very moving and lyrical testament to a vanishing way of life--the family farm. I loved Hoffbeck's detailed descriptions of the five farm families, ranging from early settlers to his own experience, and I thought he very masterfully combined factual details with personal revelations and insight. Extremely illuminating.

Using clear sentences, Dr. Hoffbeck has penned a lively and fascinating yet tragic history of haymaking in Minnesota. The book tells five ornately factual tales of farming from the vantage point of the predominant ethnic groups that helped settle the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The author's descriptions of agricultural life are so delightfully vivid that one can virtually experience the heat and humidity, feel the aching muscles, see the verdant pastures, inhale the earthy smells, and enjoy the indescribable feeling of satisfaction that comes from completing a hard day's work on the land. Far from being merely a fact-laden transcript of Minnesota farm trivia, the book is both a compendium of interesting rural data AND a deeply personal and sad account of the risks that are part and parcel of the agrarian experience, even in this technological age. One is left to ponder the bitter irony that farmers must face daily: the farms that feed our nation are modern, yet dangerous. Highly recommend.

Dr. Hoffbeck's fast-moving book is about haying, or the putting up of hay, to feed farm animals through the long winter months. But it is also more, much more. It is also about the struggles and triumphs of real people dealing with the joys and difficulties of farm life. Dr. Hoffbeck takes the reader through 100 years of haymaking through the chronicles of 5 farm families. Haymaking methods are described, from the scythe harvest method through the making of round and square bales by machine. I found the evolution of haymaking facinating, and it gave me an appreciaton of what farm familes have to go through to "get in the hay". As any farmer will tell you, close calls and accidents are unfortunately all too frequent on the farm. Dr. Hoffbeck shares his experiences of losing his father, and then his brother, all due to accidents on the home farm. I was touched by the way Dr. Hoffbeck writes about these tremendous losses, and one can feel his pain, anguish, and loss through his words. Dr. Hoffbeck also clearly explains the farm crisis American farmers face today, that of debt, the trend to larger and larger farms, and the slow but steady passing of the small American homestead farm. Not having been raised, or even associated with the travails of farming life, I found his explanation quite enlightening. When he describes the crushing debt load that farmers took on to survive and modernize their farms, I can almost feel the weight of that debt on my shoulders as well. It is easy to understand the economic problems farmers face after reading this book. If you are looking for fast adventure, high suspense, or international intrigue, this is not the book for you. However, if you are looking for a book that delves into the farming lives of our pioneers, our grandfathers and grandmothers, and our uncles and aunts, then this book will touch your mind and your heart. It will give you an everlasting appreciation of the hard toil that our independent and strong-willed ancestors faced on a daily basis. I highly recommend it.

I grew up on a farm and this books really brought back alot of memories. A dairy farm was a very special place to grow up and Mr. Hoffbeck shows why. He has a true understanding of the life, hopes and dreams of farming. He also speaks to its harshness, hard work, and sorrows. A wonderful book.