Dear County Agent Guy

by Jerry Nelson

In the tradition of Mark Twain and Jean Shepherd, Dave Barry and Garrison Keillor, Jerry Nelson is a humorist whose beat is the American heartland, a small-town world of pickup trucks and Sunday night pancake dinners, dropping in on neighbors and complaining about the county agent.

His depictions of daily life, from the point of view of an ex-dairy farmer and taciturn husband with a twinkle in his eye, are read by 250,000 people a week—and occasionally woven into Prairie Home Companion scripts. These are stories of courtship; childbirth—he offers the delivery room doctor the use of his calf puller; family; neighbors; chores; and the duties of a father—why is it that a man who spends his days in cow manure can't change a baby's diaper? Knee-slappingly funny one moment, poignant the next, it's a very special look at a distinctly American way of life.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Short Stories

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2016

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Are you the head of household?"

I glanced around to make certain that my wife was out of earshot. "Yeah," I said at last.

Okay, so I bought this one as a Christmas gift for my husband because I wanted to read it . . . kind of like that time he gave me a birthday present of trees for his train set.


Nelson is a fourth-generation Midwestern dairy farmer. (Does that mean milk runs in his blood?) He also possesses a sense of humor, which is clearly on display in this collection of essays about farm living at its finest. Most of these are pretty funny; some are touching, namely an essay about the author's attempts to tear down an old house on his property which led to a marvelous find - a letter from his then 18-year-old father, written while he was serving in the South Pacific in 1944.

I particularly enjoyed this "rural" 911 call:

Caller: Send help! This is Alma Klinkhammer and we live on the old Jensen place!

Dispatcher: Okay, Alma, stay calm. Now, which Jensen place? The "Tramp" Jensen place or the "Crazy" Jensen place?

Caller: I don't recall.

Dispatcher: Well, "Tramp" was the one who always had that three-legged dog following him around, and "Crazy" was the one who kept that big flock of sheep.

Caller: Oh. Send them out to Tramp's then. Say, didn't those boys have a sister named Olga?

Dispatcher: Why yes, I believe they did. Isn't she the one who ran away with the Tattooed Man from the circus when she was sixteen?

Caller: Yeah, that's the one! And didn't their father have a glass eye?

This was just like listening to my relatives' conversation during every single Sunday dinner I attended.

If you've ever lived on a farm, or even near a farm, you would probably enjoy these. True - they are indeed corny, and folksy, so if you don't like listening to your Uncle Zeb tell stories about the good old days - avoid.



All tales guaranteed Hank Kimball approved.

[Beth Brekke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short-story, comedic memories of life on the farm. I have enjoyed Jerry's column in the Dairy Star magazine and was thrilled to receive this book from a friend. Your level of enjoyment will depend on your own life experiences and whether or not you can relate to the content. If you have a farm/rural background, pick this up and keep it handy for when you have a few spare moments.

[Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear County Agent Guy is absolutely hysterical. I must admit I originally chose it on NetGalley because I am doing a 2016 reading challenge, and I needed a book in the Humor category. Not sure what to expect, I started it and could not stop reading – the book was so funny save a few sections where the intricate details of farm equipment made me skim those parts. Winter Storm Stories and Labor and Delivery were my favorites of the comical stories. Uncle Wilmer and That Old House were touching and so well written. I also enjoyed all of his references to his Norwegian heritage. I was reading this book while I was at the car wash and laughed out loud so many times that everyone around me wanted to know what I was reading.

I am a big fan of Garrison Keiller and Bill Bryson. Jerry Nelson’s writing and stories remind me of them. Apparently a number of these stories have been printed in his syndicated column, but I had never encountered him before. I am now a big fan and will look for his column. This was a highly enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jerry Nelson for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Indydriven · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on May 3, 2016.

Dear County Agent Guy is a book comprised of a series of essays that originally appeared in newspapers across the Midwest. They were written by Jerry Nelson who operated a dairy farm with his wife in South Dakota. They raised two sons on this farm and these essays are antidotes of living the “rural life”.

I had high hopes for this book as I had just recently finished reading a laugh-out-loud funny memoir of a similar fashion set in England. Unfortunately, my hopes were soon dashed. Although the author does try to inject humor into each story, I feel it is humor that mostly would appeal to a white male audience aged 50 to 75.

The main thing that bothered me about this series of essays is how sexist they are. Now, I was raised on a grain farm in the 1960s, 1970s and early 80s in Saskatchewan. I understand that farmers think differently than “city folk”. I also grew up in a time, and a setting, where women were not acknowledged as equals. However, it is now 2016 – if some of these essays were written a number of years ago, shame on the publisher for not having the author update them.

The essays that I found most offensive were:

- The farmer had to call in a vet as he had a cow that had a displaced stomach. The essay was three pages long and he referred to the vet as the “lady vet” eleven times on three pages. I guess it was really important for his audience to know that he let a “lady vet” work on his animals.
- When they were expecting their first son, his wife insisted that he attend Lamaze class with her. The instructor was a woman that he described as being “one of those high-strung types”.
- And the worst one yet, he described going to a mall at Christmas time and seeing men there with their wives. In his opinion, men don’t want to be at the mall but were there to ensure that their wives don’t spent too much of their (the husband’s) hard-earned money. At one point, the farmer found “his manhood stripped away” because he found himself in an aisle filled with feminine products. I just wanted to reach through my I-pad and slap this idiot silly.

The author was going for a charming, folksy read. He got the folksy part right but certainly not the charming. One star.

[Kjersti Milliner · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorites! Thank you Jerry and Mrs. Nelson- I have read it three times! The second, my mother was very ill and it was a God-send for us both! She is actually your mother's cousin, Jean Bloker was her maiden name. That does not effect my review though- just that I am proud to have such a witty, talented writer in " the family";). The first time, I read it in two days, the next , as I said, read it during my mother's illness, to her- what joy it brought us- it is good medicine to have a laugh! The third being when I go over to see her now, it sits on her end table and I just open it and relax and have a chuckle ( except for the serious story about the terrible accident you were involved in- I had never heard of anything like that, but Mom explained to me was a serious and very real farming danger). Her father, a dairy farmer in North Dakota, passed away before I was born and I never understood why anyone would pick that area ( because of the harsh elements) to farm. Reading your book, besides loving the wit, made me see it all differently. That was really nice for me to get a glimpse into his world, since I never got to meet him, even though yours was the modern version. When you told stories of you as a boy, I could picture things even more. Sadly, a difference in work ethic from you farmers and a lot of people today. And the respect for the old house, that you never could tear down, I really get that. I absolutely loved and and appreciated the book! I read your articles and columns now, on line. Please write another! God bless- Kjersti Knudtson Milliner

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading a few of his humorous newspaper columns, I had become a fan of Jerry Nelson. So I welcomed the chance to receive an entire book of his down-to-earth, sometimes sentimental, often quirky and but mostly beautiful observations of rural life. His laugh-out-loud take on himself as a husband and father, dairy farmer and sometimes reluctant traveler to more civilized areas beyond his South Dakota homestead ring true each time. I would finish one essay and say, "that's my favorite," only to be equally impressed with the next one. "The Ghosts of Horses Past" ranked right up there. Nelson reflects as he and his son go out for the spring inspection of a pasture fence, a ritual the author and his own father (now gone four years) had done many times. Nelson's smooth writing style captures the minute details of seasonal changes and puts them and life into perspective. You don't have to have lived on a farm to enjoy this, but you may laugh more and shed a few more tears if you have experienced Jerry Nelson's world firsthand.

[Vibha Hegde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

There are no words to describe this book! Epic, fantastic, hilarious and the best book focused on farmers ever written! The author is so amazing in his way of expressing the anecdotes from his life regarding events that we may consider as extreme stress. Not just that, the book portrays the wonderful life on a farm and amidst nature's love. There is so much wonderful stories that may feel closer to few were raised on a farm, like growing up with a lot of children who are put to work based on schedule. Things that make life a tedious journey are portrayed in such a way that the readers feel like a regular and normal life full of amusement, curiosity, wonder and not to forget humor. It's such a good book that I can't even express it!
For a detailed review visit my blog: https://dreambookreviews.wordpress.co...

[Bob Schnell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Advanced reading copy review Due to be published May 2016

This book is a collection of amusing and touching anecdotes about life on a dairy farm in South Dakota. Most have been previously published in the author's weekly syndicated column. Garrison Keillor is such a fan that he has woven some of the stories into his "Prairie Home Companion" scripts. For people who like to read on the porcelain throne, this would make a good addition to your bathroom library. Overall it is a bit too folksy for cynical city dwellers like me.

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are involved in agriculture, and especially if you are a farmwife, you will enjoy this collection of essays. Laugh out loud funny. It was a great choice as I wanted something simple after reading an emotional memoir.

[Susan O'brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful! A lovely book to read sitting on my porch listening to the neighbor's donkey braying and another neighbor's sheep baaing.

[Larry Brekke]

I can relate to a lot of the things that he is going through on the farm. I enjoyed it.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fourth generation dairy farmer has a knack for writing humorously about life on the farm, and has contributed to several farm magazines over the years.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jerry Nelson has some pretty funny anecdotes to tell about his life as a dairy farmer in South Dakota. There are no holds barred as he describes his misadventures in finding a wife, childbirth, raising the kids, calving, ploughing and dealing with grain silos. Then there was the time he almost died of hydrogen sulphide poisoning while trying to fix a pump in a manure pit. After writing a letter complaining to his county agent about the interminable rain (because who else can you complain to about the weather?) asking how to get rid of the waterbirds and jet skiers from his cornfields, he was encouraged to start writing a weekly column about life on the land. This book has plucked some of his best columns from over 20y of observing the ups and downs of farming life, to put into this anthology.

The great grandson of Norwegian pioneers, Jerry's family have been on the land ever since (and probably for generations before). His descriptions of the good times and bad times of life on the farm are often hilarious but his love and attachment to the country and the changing seasons also shines through.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Workman Publishing for a digital copy of the book to read and review.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear County Agent Guy is one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. Being married to a man who grew up on a farm, I read him parts of it and he laughed out loud. Each story stood alone and many of the stories had previously been printed in a syndicated column. Stories about Winter Storms, Labor and Delivery (I loved this one), Calf pullers and others were hilarious, while ones like Uncle Wilmer and That Old House were touching and well written. I also enjoyed all of his references to his Norwegian heritage (Lutefisk anyone?).

Apparently Jerry Nelson has written a syndicated column for various farm magazines for years, which might be why I had not heard of him (I do not read farm magazines) but this is a great way to introduce his wit and life on a farm to others. I will look for more books by this humorist, it might even get my husband to sit down and read a book. This was a highly enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jerry Nelson for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read "Dear County Agent Guy" in our local newspapers for years so didn't purchase the book immediately as I thought, I've read all of this already. But, when I finally read it, I was pleasantly surprised to discover essays that were not at all familiar except for Nelson's trademark wit and humor. I really enjoy Nelson's vocabulary in his take on ordinary events on the farm and in rural settings. There are many stories to which I can relate. It was also interesting to read the origin of the columns and book which is the actual letter to his county agent describing his woes with the weather and all the difficulties on the farm. As a former Extension employee, I always wondered about the title. Not all the essays are humorous; some are poignant commentaries on his family, father and his brush with death while checking a pump in a manure pit. For anyone with a rural or farm background, I'd highly recommend this. The writing is terrific.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty funny book. The stories were all pretty short along with the book. There were several laugh out loud moments especially during the stories about the author and his wife. She definitely deserves an award for some of the stuff that she's put up with.

I also got a full blown description of what lutefisk is. Gross! I read Murder mysteries and this was the first time I almost threw up from a book. Ugh!

I digress, I thought the author did a great job with his stories and I enjoyed reading them. I don't think you necessarily have to be a farmer to enjoy this book as he pretty well explains what he's talking about so you do get the gist of the story. I would recommend this book if your into humor.

Thanks to Workman Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read, review and get to know Jerry Nelson a little better in exchange for an honest review.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When this book showed up in Shelf Awareness, I knew it was one that I wanted to read. I worked for a short while as a 4-H specialist/extension agent. This book brought me close to home and the stories of those who work for the county. In this book, Jerry shares his column ‘Dear County Agent Guy’ and the stories that follow. Stories of the farm, stories of crops, animals, and everything in between. I enjoyed the book and had several laugh out loud moments.

I recommend this book for those that have an interest in the rural life and what it is like to live in the Midwest. I know having grown up in these places that this book is an accurate depiction of what it is really like and I appreciated this story very much.

[HoopoeGirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I had read Jerry Nelson's work as a weekly feature in my local paper 20 years ago, he would have been a 4-star columnist with his humorous, small-town style of writing. As a compilation piece in 2018, his writing is full of gender stereotypes and cliches that at best annoy and at worst offend a modern day reader. Unfortunately the essays reveal him as a sweet, middle America man with outdated viewpoints and an old-fashioned writing style. Well written, and a fine choice for anyone seeking a nostalgic folksy read where the women are wives and the men are men, but for the rest of us, not so much.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I’ve been off the farm three times longer than I was ever on it, I still consider myself a farmer’s daughter. The smell of freshly turned soil, the coolness of a maturing corn crop and the taste of fresh harvest are happy touchstones of my life. In Dear County Agent Guy, author Jerry Nelson brings to life all the gifts and foibles of ag life and sets them to the music of laughter. An entertaining, uplifting read.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a journey down memory lane involving life on the farm. I laughed so much at his stories and felt sadness and tears with other stories. The writer is really in touch with the subject of rural living both now and in the past. Based in Brookings , South Dakota and living in Volga, S.D. The author describes the area and the people well. I have visited both places and he is right on target. A funny and nostalgic read .

[Bookish_predator · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Huge thanks to Jerry Nelson, Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Funny and quick read, I enjoy reading books that are bind ups of newspaper and magazine articles, like Bill Bryson's I'm a Stranger Here Myself, so this one was right up my alley.

Will definitely read more by this author.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Nelson's farm essays. I grew up on a farm, not a dairy farm, and enjoyed his anecdotes. I enjoyed his style and vocabulary. His house sounds like it could be a fun place to visit. I bought a copy as a gift for someone I thought would enjoy it. The quick chapters would be helpful to those who don't necessarily read novels and would find commonality in the words.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, memoir-ish, read on farming and generally living out in the middle of nowhere in the Dakotas. There was humor and a genuine appreciation for life and all the small frustrations and tiny accomplishments that fill out days. I liked the writing style and it was overall an enjoyable & short read.

[Jayme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed to read something warm and fuzzy after finishing several very intense contemporary fiction books and this little gem was just the ticket. It made me recall some wonderful memories I had forgotten when I spent the summers at my Uncle and Aunt's farm in western Minnesota when I was younger- just charming and folksy.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminds me of listening to my northwest MN farm family shoot the shit as a kid. Its dated and fairly sexist in today's lens but nonetheless I can hear all the old cow farmers saying these same stories. Its a quick read, segmented as it is a collection of articles. Meh, decent read while sipping iced tea on my front porch.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

This book is an interesting, folksy collection of short essays written by a former dairy farmer about family and small-town life. It's funny in a lot of spots and an enjoyable read overall.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful,funny book filled with witty stories about the life of a dairy farmer. Sort of like Garrison Keillor would write.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some 'laugh out loud' funny spots. A lot that a SE South Dakota farmer, or probably anyone from a farm from the Midwest, can relate to! A quick, easy, entertaining read.

[Lina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, lighthearted, sometimes downright hilarious reading experience.

[Elizabeth Vanderesch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet enough book. My 75 year old uncle will love it. Guess who is getting a copy for his birthday?