Welcome to the Unger Century Farm Blog
We have created this blog to collect stories about the Frank Unger Farm that is turning 100 years this summer. We are planning a party this summer and thought it would be fun to collect stories on the internet. It would be great to have people post stories that we could share at the party and put in a book. If you have memories of the farm that you would like to share, let us know and we will get them posted. Thanks and let us know if you have any questions.
Melissa, Luke, and Katie Unger
posted by Ungerlu @ 5:27 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
There are multiple stories that I could tell, since the first 18 years of my life were spent on the farm. So for my first story I think that I tell about my experiences with my darling sister, Katie, picking berries for the Saturday markets. Katie and I had our ups and downs, as pickers and as sisters. We were not what you would call hard workers when we 10 and 12, instead we were almost lazy. We would sit on buckets while picking berries, because it was hard to stand up for that long. We would get really distracted by throwing blueberries at each other's heads, it was impressive how far a blueberry could bounce. Even more fun, would be competing for who could catch the most amount of blueberries in one's mouth. Those are all stories of when we would get along, but it was not always that sweet. When you are sisters and during the summer you don't have the chance to get away from the farm very often, it is not shocking that at some point you turn on each other. Katie and I would often fight about nothing and yell and scream and sometimes hit during those summers picking berries, but in the end we are closer because of it.
I will tell more stories as I think of them, Please post and tell your own stories.
Melissa Unger
As Melissa said in her comment, summer work on the farm make up many of our childhood summer memories. Some of the most memorable farm stories were the little accidents and mistakes made during the course of our work days. I will not share anyone else's blunders, but I will offer one of my most memorable mistakes.
I was at home from college, helping my dad during the combining season. I was down at schultz's bottom (Ok this didn't technically happen on the farmstead) and I had just finished putting diesel in the combine. I jumped back into the combine and started backing up. I couldn't figure out why the combine wouldn't move. Everything had been working perfectly, just moments before. The engine was humming, but the machine would not budge. Finally, I idled the combine and stepped out to see what was the matter. Turns out that I hadn't moved the pickup that I had just used to put diesel into the combine. I had been trying to back over the pickup. Needless to say, this was not good for the pickup or the combine. One of the belts on the combine had been rubbing and there was the smoke of burning rubber pouring out. I was very nervous that something would catch on fire. After a frantic call to my dad on the cell phone, he came out to asess the situation. The combine was only minorly damaged and a fire was not started.
I don't think that pickup was ever quite the same. Actually, I think it was totaled that day.
Luke Unger
I have many wonderful memories of the farm; I grew up feeling like the Unger family is my second family -- best friends -- which is why many of my memories are of moments together. My parents and big brothers worked on the farm many summers (Mom as field boss & the boys doing everything else!) and so I got to play at the house. Here's some of the wonderful memories of my years with the Ungers:
* In the blue house, we'd build forts out of the hay in the loft of the barn - I had so much fun! Our imaginations would lead us on many fun adventures!
* As a little girl, I loved that there were kittens to play with (in the barn, attic of the garage, etc.), fields to run in, and plenty of games to play!
* I’d shoot baskets (balls) with Ben in the loft of the barn while having long conversations! (He usually beat me!)
* The girls & I would explore the little house (playhouse) in the woods.
* Many summer nights, I’d help pick and snap beans for dinner or canning. (Remember Mom & Sue making sauerkraut?)
* There’ve been plenty of fun parties in the potato cellar, quiet moments playing the piano in the basement, checking out Ben’s cartoon figures (him declaring he’d be a bachelor major league baseball player or president someday), and long conversations at night in the girls’ room (when I’d sleep over).
* Sledding down the hills and warming up with cocoa.
* Helping stack the wood in the pickup when Dad would take the chainsaw to cut down some trees on the property (often getting a touch of poison oak!)
* Listening to all Luke’s combining stories (like the summer he swore a house near the field was haunted!)
* And, finally, there was all the jumping and conversations on the big trampoline outside.
The Unger farm stirs all sorts of wonderful, cozy feelings of comfort and happiness. It’s always been one of the most beautiful places on earth!
- Liz (Wasko) Priddy
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