Page 24 - Gary's Book - Final Copy 7.9.2017_Active

cannot fathom the stupidity of the social workers or schoolteachers for not seeing
or reporting what was going on.

In addition to working on Alma and Steve Jurnic’s farm, we were to work on
another farm for additional money, which we never saw. Danny, Jimmy and I
worked on a large tomato farm that had 20,000 tomato plants. We suckered and
poled plants; we picked, packed, and plowed. I learned to drive Ford, Farmall, and

John Deere tractors. I really enjoyed working for those two owners because we got
breaks, drinking water and good lunches. At the Jurnics’ place, we very seldom got
drinking water during those hot, humid summers in St. Louis. Somehow, we never
got dehydrated, though.

The Jurnic Farm had sheep, goats, cows, horses, pigs, chickens and turkeys.

During the summer, we grew tomatoes, corn, watermelons and strawberries. In the
vineyard, we grew Concord grapes, so Steve made wine in the cellar of the large
farm house. We also had several large hay fields that required cutting every several
weeks.

During the week, Steve would go to his tailor shop in St. Louis where he made
suits and dresses. On the weekends, he would help us with our chores, and then,

together, we would slaughter the various animals. We worked hard in the
smokehouse to make lard, jellies and jams. Unfortunately, we were required to
sleep in the smokehouse when we were negligent in doing our chores, which
included milking the cows in the morning and again at night, cleaning the chicken
house, collecting eggs and feeding the animals. On special days, we would pick up

cow pies in the pasture or cut grass. There were always large trees that needed to
be cut up. Having no chain saws, we used large bow saws like the lumberjacks
used.

Due to all the chores, we did not attend school on a regular basis. But this never
bothered the teachers or social workers. Consequently, I failed seventh grade
during my life at the Jurnic Farm. Steve, being from the old country in

Czechoslovakia, was used to working hard and doing everything manually. He had
a mule that he used for plowing, and we all used a shih for cutting hay. I still, to
this day, have that shih.

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