Great feature in the Chicago Tribune today about Harold Bergman, who is one of the last 184 farmers working the land in Cook County.
And he’s doing more than just driving the tractor. This scrappy 93-year-old is still wrestling 200 50-pound bales of hay a season.
The iFarmer can attest that baling is not a job for the faint of heart.
Sadly though, his last 38 acres is up for sale. [The Cook County Forest Preserve condemned 150-acres of his land in the 1960s.]
Because of encroaching residential development, the property is likely destined to house houses.
Too bad really…we have enough housing stock in the region. But with estimated values hitting a max of $13 million, it isn’t likely that these last 38 acres will remain farmland. That’s an irresistible price.
One thing the article doesn’t address is where horse owners will get their hay once Bergman officially retires. It’s getting tougher and tougher for animal owners to find hay suppliers.
Click on the above image to see the Trib’s photo gallery of Bergman.
Virtual Farmgirl 