| Show returned veterans aid outlook for elderly U S farm couples alabama brothers show success in postwar venture return of veterans from the armed forces is aiding the financial outlook for many an elderly U S farm couple take the bowdens boldens in coffee county ala for example mr and mrs J W bowden are 69 and 63 years old respectively and because of their age were not able to make the most out of the far farm they were operating when their sons were in service upon their return from the armed forces arces lynn and oren bowden shouldered hould ered the job of 0 making a living tor for the family and increasing dividends from the farm their first objective was to buy the farm thus raising themselves and their old folks out of the tenant farmer class since many elderly farmers a and nd their wives also are looking to their sons to take over the home farm I 1 the story of the bowdens boldens Is related to show what can be accomplished actually the story has its beahn j ning in 1936 when as the elder bow den frankly admits we were down and out and had to struggle to make ends meet unable to get credit from regular lenders lender tor for purchase of teed feed seed fertilizer equipment and other farm needs the bowdens boldens resorted to a government agency now the farm security administration to secure the necessary funds along with the funds came instruction in sound farthing farming practices which enabled the bowden family to improve the efficiency of their operations A period of progress followed but the advent of war disrupted Z all the fam ilys plans both lynn lyn and oren were called into service resulting in an acute lack of help on the farm lynn lm 44 veteran of both world wars entered the army in 1940 when the alabama national guard was called into service oren 31 also was a member of the national guard and entered service early the following year A temporary re 9 az 15 P V q IM Y fa q I 1 s 41 0 SEEK EXPERT GUIDANCE the bowden brothers and their par ants have proved that they are good farmers but they frankly admit they dont know it all here james 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 arm but he later was called back into service upon their discharge early in 1943 both brothers returned to the family farm arm intent on purchasing the acre farm previously rented by the family the brothers arranged the necessary financing with farm see security arity administration which permits 40 years at 3 per cent interest for repayment of farm p purchase loans A major factor in the fam ilys success was the diversified farming plan which the agency helped the family to map out faced with a debt contracted in purchasing the farm the bowdens boldens embarked on an ambitious farm program designed to wipe out the debt in shortest possible time within a year they had paid oil off more than halt half the debt today only three years later the final payment has been made to the govern 50 4 r V p 4 aj 4 S 74 PIGS BOOST INCOME oren bowden Is hown here with brood sows bows and some of the young porkers corkers which will be ready for market in the fall returns from cattle and pigs pies increase earnings on the bowden farm which is operated on tt a well rounded diversified farming plan ment agency and the bowdens boldens are full owners of their land with acres of the farm arm under cultivation the bowdens boldens produce peanuts as the main cash I 1 crop carrying out their plan ot of diversified farming arming they also have cotton hogs and 12 head of beet beef cattle principally of the black angus type to develop their herd they recently purchased a purebred angus bull in 1944 the bowdens boldens marketed 20 tons of peanuts worth of hogs and CO 60 worth of cattle they had bother 15 other hogs left over tor for marketing by the end ot of that year as well as 12 stock hogs and anda 2 milk cows sale of chickens and eggs also added to farm returns the following year included c 20 tons of peanuts 4 bales c of f cotton and about worth of hogs after these sales they had 24 duroc duren shoats 4 b rood brood sows bows and 30 pigs on hand as well as their beef cattle the old folks are helping the veterans progress in their farming venture the elder bowden raises garden produce selling worth of cabbage from a few rows in his garden last year intent on increasing the returns he has planted six 80 foot rows of cabbage this year mrs bowden also Is active in work around d the house and garden size of the family also has been increased after the last farm payment was made oren was married and brought his wife to the family farm home today the bowdens boldens are considered successful alabama farmers each member of the family does his proper share of work and all reap the benefits of good living on a well operated farm furthermore the elder mr and mrs bowden can take more time to enjoy the peace and security of farm life now that their boys like so many others are home again from the war n CARES FOR cabbage most of the gardening on the bowden farm Is 1 done by J W bowden 69 father of the bowden brothers here he Is working among his cabbages which netted la in 1945 |
