| Show P Returned Veterans Aid o utI 0 o Ii For Elderly U. U S. S Farm Couples Alabama Brothers Show v Success in Postwar Post Venture Return of veterans from the armed forces is aiding the financial outlook for many an elderly U. U S. S farm couple Take the Bowdens in Coffee county Ala for example Mr and Mrs J. J W. W Bowden are 69 and 63 years old respectively and because of their age were not able to make the most out of the farm they were perating operating when their sons were li in service Upon their return from the armed forces Lynn and Oren Bowden I shouldered the job of making a livIng living liv liv- ing for the family and Increasing dividends from the farm Their first objective was to buy the farm thus raising themselves and their I old folks out of the tenant farmer farm er class Since many e elderly ederly farmers and their wives also are looking to their sons to take over the home farm the story of the Bowdens Is related to show what can be accomplished I Actually the story has Its be beginning beginning begin begin- in ning in 1936 when as the cIder elder Bow den frankly admits we were down and ond out and had to struggle to make ends meet Unable to get credit from regular lenders for purchase of feed seed fertilizer equipment and other farm form needs the Bowdens resorted to a government government govern govern- ment agency now the thc Farm Security ty administration to secure the necessary funds Along with the funds came instruction In sound farming practices which enabled enabled en- en en the Bowden family to Improve Im Sm- prove the efficiency of their opera opera- lions A period of progress followed but the advent of war disrupted all the family's plans Both Lynn and Oren were called into service resulting In hi an acute lack of help on the farm Lynn 44 veteran of both world wars entered the army in 1940 wh when n the Alabama National Guard I was called into service Oren 31 also was a member of the National Guard and entered service early the following year A temporary re re- rei i I F p- p 3 h 4 u 4 Ji V A 4 kS' kS lkA tt I t I r W t 1 7 1 d Y i 91 tV tVA A SEEK EXPERT GUIDANCE The GUIDANCE The Bowden brothers and their parents parents parents par par- have proved pro that they are arc good farmers but they frankly admit they dont don't know It all Here James S. S Pridgen Coffee county Ala supervisor shows Lynn and Oren Bowden how to treat seed peanuts to prevent damp rot after they are in the ground spite was gained when Oren was placed on Inactive duty to help run the farm but he later was called back into service Upon their discharge earl early In 1943 both brothers returned to the family farm Intent on purchasing the acre farm previously rented rented rent rent- ed by the family the brothers arranged arranged ar are ar- ar ranged the necessary financing with Farm Security administration which permits 40 years at 3 percent per percent percent cent interest for repayment of farm purchase loans A major factor in inthe inthe inthe the family's success was the diversified diversified diver diver- farming plan which the agency agency agen agen- cy helped the family to map out Faced with a debt contracted contract contract- ed in purchasing the farm the Bowdens embarked on an ambitious farm program designed to wipe out the debt in hi shortest possible time Within a year they had paid of off more than half hall the debt Today only three years later the final payment payment pay pay- ment has been made to the govern govern- t 4 I t 1 t 4 f t I 44 ti rM C rs jj c- c a A C I PIGS BOOST INCOME INCOME Oren Oren Bowden Is hown hOWD here with brood sows and some of the young oung porkers which will be ready for Cor market in hi the fall Returns from Irom cattle eattle and pigs Increase earnings on the Bowden farm which is operated on a well rounded diversified farming plan ment agency and the Bowdens ar are e full owners of their land With acres of the farm tarn ri under cultivation the Bowdens Bowden S produce peanuts as the main cas cash h crop Carrying out their plan C of f diversified farming they also have hay e cotton hogs and 12 head of beef bee f cattle principally of the Black Angus An Ar ArI I- I gus type To To develop their herd herc I they recently purchased a purebred d Angus bull In 1944 the Bowdens marketed 20 2 0 tons of peanuts worth of hogs hog I and 60 worth of cattle They ha had d 15 other hogs left over for marketing marketing market market- I- I ing by the end of that year as we well II as 12 stock hogs and 2 milk cows cow Sale of chickens and eggs also added add ISale I- I ed to farm returns the following year In Sr Included in 1 eluded 20 tons of peanuts 4 bales bale s of cotton and about worth c of f cd hogs After these sales they had ha d 24 Duroc shoats 4 brood sows an and d 30 pigs on hand as well as their thel Ir beef cattle The old folks are helping th the e veterans progress In their farming farmin g venture The elder Bowden raises raise s garden produce selling wort worth Ii of cabbage from a few rows In hi his Is garden last year Intent on increasing S. S ing lag the returns he has planted si six x foot 80 rows of cabbage this yea year r. r Mrs Bowden also Is active in wor work workaround workaround k around the house and garden Size of the family also has bee been increased Alter the last farm pa payment pay T- T ment was made Oren was married marrie d dand and brought his wife wile to the famil family y farm home Today the Bowdens are considered d successful Alabama farmers Each h member of the family does his proper prop er share of work and all reap tI the ie benefits of goo good l living on a wel well well- Li operated farm Furthermore Ii the theelder theelder elder Mr and Mrs Bowden ca can fl take more time to enjoy the peace e and security of farm life lite now tin that t their boys like so many others ai are e home again from the war I l 01 J 1 i P 1 r CARES FOR CABBAGE Most of the gardening on the Bowden farm Is done dono by 3 J. J W W. Bowden 69 father of the Bowden Bowden Bow Bow- den brothers Here he be Is 15 working among his cabbages which netted net net- netted ted in 1015 1915 |
