Hanna, Walter and Billie 1983-11-14
The Hannas discuss their experiences farming in Floyd County, Texas.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Walter and Billie Hanna
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: November 14, 1983
Location: Floydada, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Walter Hanna’s early involvement in agriculture,
Walter Hanna’s background,
Born: Quanah Texas,
To Floyd County (1910),
Terry County Texas (1909),
Farm land,
Farm land purchased in Floyd County (1920),
Breaking sod,
Land prices,
Terms of sale,
Floyd County agriculture (1920s),
Crops raised,
Livestock raising,
Hanna’s hog operation,
Hog raising in county,
Marketing,
Decline in hog raising,
Involvement in sheep raising,
Initial involvement,
Marketing,
Easter lambs,
Livestock raising (again),
Hog versus lambs,
Switch from hogs to sheep,
Shipping of sheep and wool,
Tractors,
Models used.
Tape 1, Side 2: Models used (continued),
Farmer acceptance,
Problems,
Changes wrought,
Irrigation,
Awareness,
Early use,
First well (1936),
Motor,
Cost,
Teaching school Harmony Community (1922-24),
Increase in students,
Reasons,
Farm hands,
Tech students,
Irrigation (again),
First well (again),
Financing,
Diversification,
Egg marketing,
Floyd County (1930s),
Hauling livestock feed,
Irrigation (again),
First well (again),
Fuel power,
Water sales,
Anecdote: Repairing ditch,
Watching the watch,
Techniques learned,
Leveling ground,
Changes wrought,
Siphon pipes,
Effect on production costs.
Tape 2, Side 1: Early involvement in sheep raising,
Mrs. Hanna’s influence,
Negro versus Mexican labor,
Migrant workers,
Vegetables,
Migrant labor (again),
Submersible pump,
Irrigation wells,
Decline in water tables,
Water district,
Public perception of water supply,
Characteristics of a good farmer,
Hanna’s favorite aspect of farming,
Diversification,
Russian thistles,
Insects,
Pesticide use,
Fertilizer use.
Tape 2, Side 2: Blank
Range Dates: 1909-1983
Bulk Dates: 1920-1966
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
