Folklore

There can be many stories told...today and of old, about Farming Folklore. The way in which someone categorizes a folklore is found in five simple steps, the story needs to be: informal, traditional, oral, have variation, and have folk (Folklore). By following these steps you are better able to identify several examples of folklore. Soon you will begin to realize how popular and often farm folklore is used around you. The type of folklore I would like to talk about is, traditional. 

The example story I would like to use is called: "The Crows are in the Corn". This tall tale story originated in the plains of Georgia. The example I will be exploiting is retold by a man named S.E. Schlosser. I will present the text by which he tells the story, and then explain in my own words how it relates to us today in farming. 

In the words of S.E. Schlosser he said:

"It happened in Georgia not long ago, that a farmer and his wife decided to sleep late, like the rich folk do. It was a beautiful Sunday morning, the kind that brings all God's creatures out to play. But not these farm folk. No, they just slept and slept and slept.

The crows were gathered in a large oak tree, having a big morning meeting. They noticed that there was nobody stirring around the house, and that the corn was ripe in the field. So they adjourned their meeting mighty quick and flew over to the field to eat some corn.

"Caw-n, caw-n," they cackled excitedly.

The old rooster woke up to their activities and started to crow excitedly to the sleeping family. "Wake up, wake up, wake up!"

The farmer and his wife just kept sleeping, and the crows kept eating the corn.

"Caw-n, caw-n," they called.

"The crows are in the corn! The crows are in the corn!" The rooster cock-a-doodle-dooed with all his might.

The farmer kept snoring, and his wife just rolled over and pulled the pillow over her head.

The rooster was frantic. He tried once more: "The crows are in the corn. They're pulling up the corn!"

The farmer and his wife kept right on sleeping. And the crow's kept right on eating.

The rooster quit crowing in disgust. Nothing would wake the farmer and his wife.

The old turkey came strolling into the yard and watched the proceedings. Finally he said to the rooster: "The corns all et up, all et up, all et up."

When the farmer and his wife finally rolled out of bed, they found that the corn was all gone. That is why in Georgia we say "the crows are in the corn" when it is time to get up"(Schlosser)

After reading this story about "the crows are in the corn" I think it refers to a farmers work. If a farmer becomes lazy, sleeps in, or gives up on his farm; "his corn is all gone". Just as this story was applied to the creators of it, this story can still be applied to us today. If a farmer slacks in his efforts; whether it be: corn, alfalfa, or livestock it could be lost. It is important to not sleep in, while duty calls and work is to be done. 

Work Cited:

 Schlosser, S.E. "The Crows Are in the Corn." American Folklore. 14 Dec. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2015. <http://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/08/the_crows_are_in_the_corn.html>. 

 "Folklore." Canvas. Utah State University. Web. 11 Oct. 2015. <https://usu.instructure.com/courses/384381/assignments/1891614#submit>.