The Bluffton News

Aerial Photo Of Mystery Farm 'Catches' Farmer, Too

When George Bame stopped at noon one day early in September to change the tire on his baler he was not aware that he was being photographed in his barnyard from the air. He appeared as a small speck in Mystery Farm photo No. 18 published last week in the identification contest.

George operates the farm located on the Rawson road half a mile north of the Lincoln highway. It is owned by his father-in-law, Charles R. Baker, who is now living in Ada and doing carpenter work instead of farming.

The farm was acquired by Mr. Baker in 1917, and he lived on it and farmed until a year ago when he moved to Ada. George and his family took over the operation a year ago in February.

In addition to George and Mrs. Bame, the former Dolores Baker, there are three children, Carolyn 18, who works with her mother at the Triplett Electrical Instrument company; Marilyn 14, a freshman at the Cory-Rawson high school, and Dennis, 9, a pupil at the Trinity Lutheran parochial school.

The Bames are all members of Trinity Lutheran church where George has been a member of the Church Council for the past seven years.

In addition to the 80 acre Baker farm, George also handles an additional 35 acres owned by Mr. Baker and 60 more acres of the C. A. Gossman farm, putting 175 acres under his plow.

The operation, considered general farming in this area, leans heavily toward dairying with a herd of 14 Jersey cows now being milked. Mr. Bame is presently considering the possibility of adding to his dairy facilities to comply with Grade A regulations.

In addition to the milk cows he maintains a breeding flock of White Rocks for the local Amstutz Hatchery. The flock is comprised of approximately 400 chickens.

Hogs are also an important part of the Bame farm operation. He keeps registered Hampshire sows but cross breeds them to give what he believes is a "cheaper gain"...more pork for less grain.

Practically the entire farm crop production goes to feed the livestock, and although a program of commercial fertilization is followed on the crops, Mr. Bame believes that the long range fertility of a farm is best maintained by having adequate live-stock as a source of organic fertilizer.

Spectator sports is George's favorite pastime now, although as a younger man he played a lot of baseball for the old Jenera ball club. Now, he follows football and basketball as well as his old favorite.