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The First of Many Issues. Child Labor.

MYT Farms

Well-known member
Hello to all.
I have decided I wanted to get some ranchers' opinions on some of the recently discovered issues I have been exposed to. Yes, this is partly through reading Salatin, but it is also from talking to other adults in the family. In fact, I never realized that many of the things I have done in my life are flat out illegal!! Now, I am developing my own opinions of how farming could or should be done, and they don't exactly mirror Salatin's or really most anyone else's. My developing view of politics is becoming more clear to me as well. That said, I believe I should start with this issue, very dear to me. Child labor.

I want to grow up to be a farmer/rancher. At 2, I was paging through farming and cattle magazines, and I have only grown fonder of AG as I grow older. However, growing older, I have also realized that farming isn't as easy as I thought. Not only are many operations required to be learned, but the politics of producing food, a farmer's main job, are becoming more complicated and bound up with red tape as we speak. However, that has not hampered my aspirations. To get a start in learning about implements and tractors, I work for a local man who has old Farmall and John Deere tractors. I have worked from the bottom of the ladder up, and have learned what hard work means. I have also started leaning about engines, fuels, tires, plowing, planting and many other things that will be invaluable to me. However, whenever I drive a tractor around his place or pick up a power tool, I am doing illegal work. Have I ever hurt myself? No. Does my boss go above and beyond to make sure I wear protective gear and am under supervision? Yes. Yet, this job that brings me revenue and knowledge is illegal because I get paid.
Sawing wood with a Skill saw and loading it into a trailer for salable firewood is illegal. I'm using the saw and getting paid for the fruits of my labor.

What are your thoughts on child labor? Mine is that it ain't the government's business.
 

MYT Farms

Well-known member
Well? Do you think the government should continue to protect me from myself or allow the parents, child, and employer to decide what is best?
 

mrj

Well-known member
MYT Farms, I'm with you on the 'child labor' issue on farms. Did you know it also is illegal to hire a person under age 16 to shovel out stalls in a barn. Manure is considered potentially a harmful substance.

However, there are some parents and some people who do not follow the best safety practices and kids have been injured or died because of it. That is why we have too many laws that seem unnecessary for sensible people. Some have to be protected because there simply is not enough common sense to go around anymore!

Good luck with you education and career dreams.

mrj
 
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