For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 01, 2012

True.

I’d be ready to go home right about now!

I once managed to screw up a tractor in an open field. I was driving too fast when I hit a muddy area and tore off the front tire.

And so begins another round of overused [and tiresome] ‘jokes’ about women drivers.

And look at John’s expression in the second panel… like a dentist would be any better at it!

Those combines can cost more than my first house! I would be wary to let anybody drive one.

I do think it’s cool that Elly wants to try everything at the farm. John’s attitude is like “meh, let me sleep” but she is at the pigs getting born and driving the combine- that is awesome!

What is she going to hit? A very expensive crop that literally puts bread on the table.

It’s like I told my husband – I can drive ANYTHING, just give me a 10-acre field!

Is there a safety factor here? I often hear about people getting messed up with farm machinery. Does Ellie know how to stop the thing? Turn it around? Deal with hidden obstacles?

I’m glad that the thinking of Dan’s friend from yesterday has not rubbed off on Dan as far as women are concerned.

Rocks, boulders, stray cow.

Elly can do anything she puts her mind to.

Modern farm equipment are controlled by computer and GPS. they pretty much drive themselves

@robert tinsleyProvided the farmer was able to afford that kind of machinery. I farmer friend of the family kept his running in tiptop shape and they were all old. From 1973-1976, I worked at a horse barn where the owner had a 1954 Farmall. It seriously needed the battery replaced but it still ran exceedingly well. The only draw back to it was some time in the past, somebody bent the hitch. With the manure spreader on it, I could never back it into the shed. I had to park it forward. But it was the easiest to back it out to muck out stalls.

I still use a scythe on occasion – particularly to get fast-growing grass (weeds) between mowing.

Notice how Dan asked Elly if she wanted to give it a shot driving the combine . . . and not John?!?!?! Pretty telling if you ask me!!!!!!!!!! ;-)

Umm…Where’s Arnold???

Arnold is laying in front of the combine (we can hope).

Or hit a ditch, erosion can make them pop up unepectedly.We had a hired man on an F-12 (or F-20) that mowing a field, hit a two foot ditch, front wheels went down, and front end of tractor just leaned over foreward, with the steering wheel androd sticking straight up!

Ahhh, 1970s humor… so condescending.