I did something yesterday, that I hadn't done since........

[SKR8PN]

.....about 1969 thru 1972.

Baled hay.

The buddy that owns the farm where I hunt, HAD to get it baled. He had three fields cut and dried, but only had one of them baled, and the stuff he did have baled, was still setting on the wagons. The rest of it was laying in the fields.
First job was to unload two hay wagons FULL of nice, heavy bales of timothy hay. I'm guessing 80 bales to the trailer. that had to be tossed onto an elevator, then stacked in the loft. I was the guy putting the bales onto the elevator
Then I got to drive the tractor/baler so we could get another field baled.....which meant ANOTHER two wagons stacked full of nice heavy clover hay.... that had to be put into the loft with the first batch.

All this after I ran two miles yesterday morning THEN did the 45 minute Boot Camp workout at Med-Central.

I was one, well done puppy last evening. Gawd.. do my arms ever hurt this morning.



....and he still has a field left to bale today...........

 

[Tallman]

If I would have known, I would have come and helped. Heck, I would have been good for 5 or 6 bales just by myself.

You might check to see if Amos could come over.

 

[sylvie]

SKR8PN, as a kid my Dh used to bale hay and straw for his aunt and uncle each year. Said it was some of the hardest, itchiest and most tiring work he remembers doing. When it's time to bring the hay in, you work all day rushing to do it before the dew or unexpected rain sets in. He does not have fond memories of the experience.

BTW, this thread is worthless without pics of those muscles!

 

[2dream]

I have discovered the very best way for me - is to HIDE from people who need hay baled.

Then I apologize a lot for not being available and tell them to call me sooner the next time.

(Yes I know - tacky, tacky, tacky.)

 

[big brown horse]

Hated hay season!!! Hay was big business where I grew up. I would drive the truck and flatbed while the guys threw on the bales. I also had to stack it every month when I lived in TX. It was hot, dirty, scratchy and ITCHY!!

SCR8PN good job, that is some tough exercise!!

Now days I would rather buy the pizza and cold beer to "pay" someone else do it!

 

[ludemank]

My husband and I have done our oun hay for the last three years! The nice thing is that we do the 5x4 - 6x6 round bales and we use one of our tractors to put it up with. The first year it was just he and I rolling the round bales three high in the barn! you can get real creative when you have to! My husband just helped a friend put up about 300 square bales yesterday! I/he can feel your pain

 

[Beekissed]

Son #2 is doing this now and has been for the past two weeks. The place he is working puts up 3000 square bales a year from the two cuttings. He is itching constantly but won't listen when I tell him to take an oatmeal bath.

I always loved helping my grandpa put up hay because he did it on the day of the family reunion and all the cousins would pitch in and throw bales all day and then swim in the creek. Hay ride that night, bonfire, camp out.....as a young kid this was the highlight of the year! He would put up around 1000 bales a year.

 

[FarmerChick]

.....about 1969 thru 1972.

Baled hay.

The buddy that owns the farm where I hunt, HAD to get it baled. He had three fields cut and dried, but only had one of them baled, and the stuff he did have baled, was still setting on the wagons. The rest of it was laying in the fields.
First job was to unload two hay wagons FULL of nice, heavy bales of timothy hay. I'm guessing 80 bales to the trailer. that had to be tossed onto an elevator, then stacked in the loft. I was the guy putting the bales onto the elevator
Then I got to drive the tractor/baler so we could get another field baled.....which meant ANOTHER two wagons stacked full of nice heavy clover hay.... that had to be put into the loft with the first batch.

All this after I ran two miles yesterday morning THEN did the 45 minute Boot Camp workout at Med-Central.

I was one, well done puppy last evening. Gawd.. do my arms ever hurt this morning.



....and he still has a field left to bale today...........

WOOF!!
Baling hay is rough...LOL----I know---we bale 80 acres each spring and fall. Missed our big fields this spring due to constant rain but fall is coming and hay will be cut.

And the conveyors...ow, they cost....had to buy a 200 ft. conveyor 2 years ago and they ain't cheap...LOL

I hate baling hay. It scratches terrible. Always SO HOT and you must wear long pants. When I tried shorts, oh my, my legs were scratced from top to bottom and took a long time to heal up.. So always long pants

good workout for you! even with the soreness..haha

 

[Farmfresh]

I used to BEG to be on my aunts hay crew in the summertime.

Sure she worked us like dawgs in the hot sun all day long and SURE we were dead tired when we were done.

But then ... we would clean up and she would take us out to the fanciest places in the city for dinner and feed us all we wanted! Or sometimes she would fix a fancy "thanksgiving like" FEAST!

It is amazing what a teenager will do for great food!