Barning Baccer

Pictured here is the tobacco barn that still stands on what was once my grandfather's farm. Housed under the shelter is the old harvester parked by my grandfather about 25 years ago. This stands in reminder of days gone by, those good old days of barning baccer. Now, just in case you don't about barning baccer, allow me to enlighten you. It's southern slang for barning tobacco - a process in which tobacco is cropped from the fields, tied to sticks, and hung in the barn to cure. The harvester was pulled by a tractor with the croppers on the lower level. The tobacco leaves were sent up on the big wheels where it was tied to sticks. There was a big pallet on the backside of the harvester where the tied tobacco was stacked. When the pallet was full it was lowered onto a truck and carried from the field to the barn where the tobacco was hung and cured under extreme high heat. When completely dry it was removed from the barn and packed for market. It was a hot, sticky job, but for me it was a family affair. Grandpa was gracious enough to make sure that each grandchild who wanted a summer job had a part in barning baccer. Gotta love him for that!