My Turn Cotton Memories
S
o often I hear myself say, Washington. And — then suddenly it seemed like — we “What a wonderful life were off to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1982. I have had.” Recently, Cotton Bales, cotton pictures, cotton everything soon someone said, “Tell me decorated our Memphis home as Jerome took over the about it.” Field Director’s job — and later became Deputy Director I thought, what would I say? — at the USDA’s Field Office in Memphis. Visiting cotton How would I describe what I fields, cotton gins and cotton offices throughout the Midhave experienced in my 89 South was next on our agenda. And then that sudden years? request by Jerome for me to take him to the grocery store And, before I could think of to learn what a bar code was became a key moment. what I wanted to say, I looked The nation’s cotton crop had long been classed by hand Anne around at some of the photo- and recorded by hand. Jerome was instrumental in develBoyd graphs and memorabilia in my oping and implementing the HVI machine, which would cotton-filled house and thought class the cotton and use a bar code. Basically, it brought I would want to include a lot about how cotton has been the classing of cotton into the computer age. a major part of my life. But before I get there, let me start The problem was most farmers were very skeptical of with some other memories that come to mind as I look any new system. Especially one that the government was around my home. forcing upon them. So, Jerome not only had to recruit I see my “War Rations Book” issued to me at the age of and train staff to operate the new system, but he also had 8. I remember sitting by the radio back in western North to negotiate with individuals and organizations, both Carolina listening to the President of the United States inside and outside the government. (Franklin D. Roosevelt) saying The annual Mid-South Gin that the Japanese had bombed “A home filled with cotton Show here in Memphis was Pearl Harbor in Hawaii — and a wonderful memory, and memories we continue to always that we were at war. we often attended all the various The next memory I see is our cotton meetings from coast to treasure today.” high school graduation yearbook coast. I think the cotton meetings from 1951. That book reminds me that I first met my held in New Orleans, Louisiana, are among my fondest. future soulmate in seventh grade when we were seated For many years, we grew a small patch of cotton in alphabetically. He — Julius Jerome Boyd — sat in the seat our backyard. Hal Lewis sent us seed every year. Guess I behind me, Anne Bischoff. better add modules to my cotton memory list. So many After high school graduation, it was off to college for changes. both of us — me to Western Carolina in Cullowhee, My wonderful family is pictured all over this house. North Carolina, and Jerome to North Carolina State in Our two sons and daughter graduated from the Raleigh. And then his military picture greets me. After University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Our wonderful two years at N.C. State, Jerome served for a couple of grandchildren graduated from Ole Miss, Notre Dame years in the military. Marriage pictures are everywhere and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, from that day, Jan. 23, 1954. Maryland. Those pictures of graduations and fun times And then, after serving his time in the U.S. Army, sit among the cotton items and memories. Jerome returned to N.C. State to finish school and started We still gather the family together almost every Sunday working part-time with the State Extension Service in night for what someone lovingly labeled “gather at five Elizabethtown, North Carolina. and eat at six.” In June 1959, his 42-year cotton career began in Cotton on the mailbox, cotton on the front porch, cotColumbia, South Carolina. He worked as a field represen- ton bales and pictures throughout the house let you know tative and cotton classer in Columbia. Shortly thereafter, you are entering a home filled with cotton memories we we were transferred to the Atlanta, Georgia, office before continue to treasure today. we packed up and moved to the suburbs of Washington, — Anne Boyd D.C. We lived in Fairfax, Virginia, for 17 wonderful Cordova, Tennessee years while Jerome worked out of the USDA’s office in boyds777@bellsouth.net Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Cotton Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to csmith@onegrower.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022
COTTONFARMING.COM
