Farm Repairman

Farm Repairman

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Everyone knows about the breadth of knowledge that every farmer has to have. I’ve said this ever since I began doing this broadcast. They have to be an economist, meteorologist, botanist, veterinarian, you’d almost say professional gambler, what with all of the variables at play when raising crops or livestock, as well as having to be a mechanic. That said, what if a piece of equipment breaks down, particularly during harvest, and the farmer is not sure what to do. Well… It’s early on a Sunday in the fall and 83-year-old farm equipment repair man Russ Rico is preparing his 1979 Chevy retired ambulance and now service truck, for a farm call. “Everything I need is in there. Whatever the tractor or whatever breaks down, i fix it.” Over the years, Russ has lost tools out the back door, hence, the mirror on the deck. “Over the years I’ve had a toolbox that fell out. That ain’t fun. What is kind of fun about it though is that I know their falling out. I look in the rearview mirror and see the little sockets trying to catch up.” With that kind of positive attitude, it’s no wonder that Russ has been in business so long.
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