Remember when the Mustang by Ford was the "little" car? And then it started growing to the Mach super-dooper powers.
Well, 1974 will be a new year for the Mustangs. Ford will return the "little" car to the market. In fact, the 1974 will be six inches smaller, will have a standard four cylinder engine and a V-6 (one of my favorite) option. The base price is intended to be under $3,000.
The name of the new car: Mustang II, of course.
You think I've got "car fever?"
You can bet your boots 12 months of the year.
We remember Labor Day each year. Al Gibbs had built a new home for us. Up on the North 40 and we spent the summer evenings as the paint crew.
Our home project included weekend hours. And when the house was done, the lawn had to be seeded.
On Labor Day, 1961, with supplies from Ed Flake, we seeded Kentucky bluegrass, fertilized, rolled the soil and — quit.
We put on our neglected "Sunday duds" and drove to Wilber to see the great-grandmother. And that visit must have been some kind of a blessing because we had a gentle shower and in two weeks had green "peach fuzz."
My parents enjoyed their visit m Nebraska City and were interested in the Brownville Historical Society's work to help build something from a ghost town.
We stopped at the Brownville Mill, a favorite place we take visitors, and toured a couple of the other places.
I don't know quite how to explain this, but my Mother and my wife got together almost every day on some new food for the table and we are working on another — alfalfa seed.
It sprouted after the first dav and from what we're told, after the sprouts are about "sprouted-out," it's time to put them in a salad.
The point I'm trying to make is, if you see me sitting in an alfalfa field with a plate, knife and fork over a red checkered table cloth, just tell passersby, "Oh, that's Ivan. He eats alfalfa all the time!"
Ted Doane, University extension service, told fair goers that the "exotic" breeds of livestock are just that and they are sweeping the top prizes.
He spoke of Charolais, Simmental and Limousine when they came into the rings a few years ago and pointed out to something we hadn't seen before — Chianina.
The calf is originally from Italy and in that country serves a two-fold purpose — milk and beef. As a result, the Chianina (pronounced "chee-a neen-a") is a large-boned animal, outclassing other calves in its size.
Mr. Doane also spoke of the Holstein fat cattle breeding. There was a time (and still is) when the Holstein was a milk producer. Now, feeders have found that the breed also is good on the fat cattle market. They entered the feedlots about 10 years ago for the first time, Mr. Doane said, and have proved out very well.
Mr. Doane judges about 10 shows a year and as you fair goers know, that's a pretty big job.
The other day, he sweltered along with the spectators through the hogs, swine, dairy cattle and wrapped it up with beef breeding classes.
And if that wasn't enough, when he returned to his home near Waverly, he sheared 10 head of sheep for his 12-year-old daughter.
That's okay, Ted. I understand. I happen to know something about daughters and how they can twist fathers like Paul Sugden of Burr, around their little fingers.
Peru State college is not to be forgotten. In fact, there was a good sales pitch going on during the county fair for the school.
Gary Hoeman and Bob Wernsman of the college manned a booth, operating a closed circuit television camera and visited with many people about the classroom offerings at Peru State.
Clarence Monaghan of Palmyra, grumbled and scowled all around the fairgrounds about his feet and back hurting, but he was around the barns, on the midway and in the stands all during the show.
We're joshing our friend, Clarence. He worked for many years in the 4-H and fair programs and we are always pleased to see him making the rounds at the fair. It wouldn't be a fair without him . . . the same for Dale Bolz. He's one REAL workhorse!
Oh, say, would you like to get the low-down on the "father of the bride?"
One of these days I'll write it. I've already got the title "The Busted Dad."