Learning the complicated language of farmers


March 30, 2012|BY GERALD KRUEGER, Special to the Farm Forum

Some of us were discussing the use of talking with our hands and the humorous aspect of hand signals used in farming.

Most farm women are exposed to hapless moments when their husband and fellow farmer is trying to communicate with his hands when the two are out of reach of voice or there is too much noise.

One of the few times throughout our farming career when Mary Ann used to become a bit perturbed with me was when I would try to tell her something to do with hand signals. I had never briefed her on what all the signals meant, so she was completely in the dark whenever the situation called for hand signals. If you know Mary Ann, she was never shy with the admonishments and could put words together so fast it was just fascinating.

Along these lines, she used to just hate the words over the phone or hollered to her: “Honey what are you doing right now?” This usually meant: “Will you come pull me out, I'm stuck or this machine won't start and will you pull me?” It always seemed that no matter how meticulous she was, she never quite did it right. My offering advice always brought her to the brink of telling me to do it myself.


Looking back, it seems Mary Ann always got the dirty jobs on the farm. She was always on the business end of the cow pushing it down the chute while working cattle. She would perform miracles after a day of working the cattle. Covered with bovine debris, she would step out of her farm garb, shower, dress and look like a million bucks immediately.

What seems simple to me, giver of hand signals, might be hogwash to the recipient.

For instance: making a fist and coming back toward the body means throttle back the machine the other person is running. Others mean: Taking both thumbs and pointing them outward: Let's go or let's move. Making an upsweep with the arm and hand: Close the gate. Swinging it the other way: Open the gate.

Pushing downward with your hand flat: slow down. Curving the arm and bringing it toward you: come on. Pushing away from your body: proceed forward. Pulling your finger away from your palm: unhook. Holding your thumb to your lips and lifting it up: I'm thirsty. Putting imaginary things in your mouth: it's time to quit for lunch. Putting your hands together and pulling them apart: did you bring a log chain?

Waving your hand back and forth level: Everything is working smoothly. Putting a hand to the ear: You have a phone call. Crooking a finger into a question mark means you don't understand. Pointing a finger forward: Go forward. Holding a thumb and finger together: just a little bit more.

What great times to be remembered.

Nuff said.


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