On South Georgia’s few remaining tobacco farms, much of the work is still done by hand, and mostly by Latin American migrant laborers. They do the hardest work in agriculture, and, politics aside, are essential to its survival.
Migrant Tobacco Workers, Atkinson County
I think your postings of agricultural crops has resulted in nice memories for people…
I hope so. I enjoy hearing them so much.
In Treutlen County Soperton GA we topped, suckered; hoed, cropped etc by hand. Did not have the technology of today’s farmers. What an awesome time to be alive working along side each other.
Friends, family & farm hands. Then we’d eat a big meal oh so good. Life was fun but we worked together.
I, too, did this kind of work during my summer days in Mitchell County, Ga. It was hard work but I am proud of the work ethics that my siblings and I have because of it.
that is a good picture, just looking at it makes me tired. i was raised in atkinson co near mt zion church. if the young people had to work like we did, they could not take it. we croped tobaccoby had and our cotton picker was a sackon your shoulder. we always had something to do. m g griffis
i was raised on a tobacco farm and grew tobacco myself. The hard work taught me a good work ecthic . All children need to learn to work instead of playing video games . The tobacco made it possible to grow and fiance the food crops (such as corn and soybeans,also gardens) so we could eat. In the early days the mules were a very important resource on the family farm. I am thankful for my upbringing, and by the way I love this site. And by the way I still know how to plow a mule if I have to. (A COUNTRY BOY WILL SURVIVE). Bill musgrove Nicholls ,Ga
I feel this one too! Working in tobacco in Bacon County growing up – I was an ace stringer!
I’m just amazed they still do a lot of the work by hand…
Such a beautiful plant to be so deadly. Growing up, we made a living growing tobacco in Jeff Davis County. I have hoed many a row and cropped many a leaf. The tar clung to you and some got sick from the juices that seeped through your skin. The best part was the dinners served by farm folk on Puttin-in days. Those days are gone but not forgotten. The smell of mule and green tobacco still hides in the recesses of this old farmer’s brain. When cooked (cured) the golden leaf was sold at auction and turned in to chews, dips, and smokes for people all over the world. South Georgia Tobacco Patch….my back still aches when I hear those words.
My father, who also helped on his family’s farm cropping tobacco as a young man, would certainly agree!