Close, Steve 2013-06-27

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This interview features Steve Close, a Colorado farmer and active member of the American Agriculture Movement. Steve discusses farming in Walsh, Colorado and the Farm Crisis of the 1970s. He recounts the various farm strikes and protests of the movement and remembers his involvement in the D.C Tractorcade of 1979. Close voices both the regrets and triumphs of AAM, and its impact on farming in America.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Steve Close

Additional Parties Recorded: n/a

Date: June 27, 2013

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Andy Wilkinson

Length: 02:43:31 (2 hour, 43 minutes)


Abstract

Early life and introduction to farming; Farming in Walsh; water-witching; Working for Defense Department; 1977 farmer’s strike; Regrets about strike; Benefit at Texas Stadium; 1977 protest in D.C.; 1978 protest in Denver; 1978 protest in Springfield; Tractorcade to D.C.; Tractorcade continued; Colorado Rural Rehabilitation Commission; FMHA issues/1981 blizzard aftermath; 1981 blizzard continued; Greeley Natural Gas Class Action Suit; Corrupt FMHA practices; Life after farming; Political Action Committee; PAC continued


Access Information

Original Recording Format: born digital audio

Recording Format Notes: audio CD recording available for listening in our Reading Room

Transcript: found here: http://hdl.handle.net/10605/214973



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.