Jerry Summers: An Old Farmer’s Common Sense

The Ole McDonald Farm project may be a little confusing, as the Ole McDonald Farm project appears to have run into a slight problem (much to the chagrin of some Hamilton County Dads – no sexism intended) when the hired consultant did not give 100% approval for an industrial site. Adding some humor to an agricultural veteran’s $16,000,000 question:

1. Your fences need to be horse-height, hog-proof and bull-proof.

2. Keep the skunks and bankers away.

3. Life is easier when you plow around the log.

4. A bumblebee is much faster than a John Deere tractor.

5. The words that seep into your ears are whispered… not shouted.

6. Evil does not happen overnight.

7. Forgive your enemies; It confuses them.

8. Do not corner something that you know is more cruel than you.

9. It doesn’t take a great person to carry a grudge.

10. You can’t turn back a cruel word.

11. There are several puddles on every road.

12. Expect to get dirty when you roll with the pigs.

13. The best sermons are not what is preached, but what is experienced.

14. Most of the things people worry about will never happen anyway.

15. Do not judge people by their relatives.

16. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

17. Live a good, honorable life… Then when you are old and think about the past, you will enjoy it a second time.

18. Don’t get involved in anything that doesn’t bother you.

19. Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of the Rain dance.

20. If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging.

21. Sometimes you get, sometimes you don’t.

22. Probably the biggest nuisance you will ever have to deal with is watching you from the mirror every morning.

23. Always drink water downstream from the herd.

24. Good judgment comes from experience, and much comes from bad judgment.

25. It’s much easier to let the cat out of the bag than to put it back in the bag.

26. If you start to feel like you’re being influential, try giving orders to someone else’s dog.

27. Live simply. Love generously. Get deeply involved. Speak gently. Leave the rest to God.

28. Don’t fight with an old man. If he’s too old to fight, he’ll kill you.

29. Most of the time it comes down to common sense.

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If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers’ articles or have suggestions or ideas for future Chattanooga area historical work, please contact him at: [email protected])