tobacco setting audio interviews

Farmers Featured:

Dallas Hamilton, Harold Malcomb, Arthur Hamilton, David Smith, Berta Gayle, Helen Bourne, Myra Cooper Ayres, Elizabeth Prewitt, Freida Smith, Joy Morgan, Junior Grisham, and David Chappell.

This mural is number two in the production of tobacco and features four vignettes showing the progression through the years of setting of tobacco. “Setting by the Season” was done by placing the plant in the ground with your fingers or a wooden peg. “Setting with Hand-Held Jobber” required two people; one to operate the jobber and one to place the plant in the jobber. “Horse Drawn Setter” was much improved but short on comfort as the workers were dragged along the ground. “Setting with the Tractor” increased productivity and speed of setting. It is still done today usually with four or more workers instead of two.

This mural is located about 8 miles north of Owenton on Highway 127 North.