By Seth Rhodes
2^nd grade, Kern county
Illustrated by Natomas High School

One day I walked into a field and saw a farmer planting corn. He had on overalls, a blue and orange checkered shirt, and wore a top hat. He was a magical farmer. He had a gold, magical stick. I asked him to give me 3 wishes. He said, "Yes." My first wish was to travel back in time to learn about farming in the olden days.

Before I knew it, we flew back in time to the early 1900's. There was my great, great grandpa, Ernest Hunt. He was plowing a field with a team of horses. His son, Paul, plowed fields barefoot for $0.25 a day. Then I saw my Papa Max when he as about as old as me. He was milking cows by hand. I learned that a 40 to 60 acre farm was big enough to support a family. My grandpas were really hard workers.

My second wish was to see what farming is like today. We flew off and saw my Uncle Rodney plowing a field with a big red tractor. It had an air conditioner, a radio and a computer. He was listening to "Only in America" by Brooks & Dunn. Boy, have things changed! Uncle Rodney told me that it now takes hundreds of acres to support the same size family as before. There are better seeds and fertilizer today that make plants grow bigger and better. Now the dairies milk cows with machines. It is easier than milking by hand. Farming is a little easier now, but it is still hard work. Farming is still important to us because it feeds many families.

My third wish was to see farming in the future. The magical farmer giggled and said, "Yes, let's go!" I saw a farmer planting corn in the field. Wait, that's me! I'm 30 years old. I was using remote controlled tractors, improved fertilizer, and better seeds. Robots are hauling hay. This is cool! There are enough crops to feed the whole world.

The magical farmer said it was time to go home. We didn't get home until midnight. The magical farmer went "POOF" into thin air. I ran home as quickly as I could. I went to bed and thought about my adventure. I decided that when I grow up I want to be a farmer, too.

Farming is important to everybody. Without farming we would not have food to eat. It was important in the olden days, it's important today, and it will be important in the future.