National Future Farmer

Hition by
II. C. Ray
BEEN quite a few years since
high school days, and a lot of the
IT'S
old bunch are gone. Some of us
stayed around, though. Danny Thomason
uent away to school then came
back to farm in partnership with his
Diid. Bob Tate also went to college
and is back managing the county co-op.
Tim Harvey and I and a couple
of others are farming our own places
now. It"s kind of funny how much,
yet how little, things ever really change.
Things, that is. like personalities, whom
you like or don't like, that sort of thing.
High school was six years ago. We're
a little older, act more grown-up maybe,
but some of our high school ways are
still with us.
For instance. Tim Harvey was one
of the most popular fellows in school.
He and his older brother Don were
both active in sports and other school
and church activities. Everyone liked
them. Somehow they found time to
participate in things even though they
took care of their widowed mother by
farming their home place. They lost
their dad before entering high school.
Sports and other things came second
with Don and Tim. Their first love was
farming, and they lived and breathed
vocational agriculture and the FFA.
48
Since this was Don's senior year and his
last year to show animals in the junior
division, he had named his
steer, "Last Chance."
But, I'm getting ahead of my stor\-.
I'll tell you more about Don later, but
as I was saying, things don't change
much. Tim is still mighty popular.
He's a good farmer and making their
old home place pay. 'With a fine little
wife and a new baby, and still taking
care of Mother, Tim is well thought of
of in the community.
Danny Thomason, I guess, is just the
opposite. Danny never was liked very
much. Being the only son of the
wealthiest rancher in the country hasn't
made it any easier. But Danny always
seemed to have just too much more, or
too much better than the other kids.
For some, this might not have been
such a problem, but Danny was always
trying to get a little credit for what he
was, not who he was. Seems as though
he's still trying, and people still treat
him pretty much as they did back in
high school.
Everyone, that is except Tim Harvey
and me. People hereabouts think it's
strange too. They think Tim. more
than anyone else, should have little use
for Danny Thomason.
You see. Tim's brother Don Harvey
and Danny Thomason were always running
neck and neck in competition v\ith
each other. Like the year Don was
elected captain of the baseball team by
his teammates. The rest of the year
Danny was the most determined player
you ever saw. And, even though he
was unpopular with the rest of the
squad, Danny received the coaches
and sports writers' Outstanding Player
Award.
Their competition was always popping
up in our FFA activities. They
were both on the livestock judging team,
and first one then the other would be
high scoring man in a contest. Another
place they competed was in the show
ring with their beef animals at livestock
shows.
I guess it was here that folks sort of
held it against Danny on account of
his father. Don and Tim were having
a pretty rough time getting their farm-
ing operation going, and their small
beef herd didn't have the blood lines
that Danny's herd could boast. They
were raising different breeds, too.
With his father's help, or so everyone
thought, Danny had a fine show string
every year. I guess he must have won
more blue ribbons, and had more grand
champions than anyone before or since
in the whole state.
Don Harvey never quit trying though.
(Continued on Page 50)
The National FUTLIRE FARMER
\