10 Reasons Why People From Kentucky Are Unbelievably Tough
By Jenn Shockley|Published July 30, 2015
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
Life can be hard and work can be rough, depending on where you grow up in Kentucky. It’s not uncommon in the country to spend a lot of summers working the land. I’m not saying life at the office is all rainbows and ponies, but the biggest hazard is often a paper cut, headache, or a hemorrhoid. Outside of work, there are plenty of things that help toughen up Kentuckians too.
Here are 10 reasons Bluegrass folk tend to be pretty sturdy:
Most people either play sports, or watch them. It varies according to person, as not everyone likes basketball or football. Those that play are often a little tougher than those who prefer a remote to a ball.
People jokingly say, "if you don’t like Kentucky weather, just wait a day, it will change." That is pretty much a fact, and it helps toughen us up. This also causes allergens, which serves to strengthen our immune systems… in a way.
We have a lot of veterans and active military spread across our state. Most military father’s share some of their training with their children at some point, so they can protect themselves. We learn how to cook on a fire, hunt, find roots, water, etc… at least some of us do.
Communities that lack in size often have generations that stay in town and continue the line. This allows for traditions to be passed down from one to the next. This strengthens the bond that the community and residents share.
Hay Fever comes around every year, and when it does, it's hard work. Each field has to be cut and then bailed. Methods vary from square to round, depending on machines. Some use modern methods that bind the bails, others require a more hands-on method. Risks come with working hay, as it has to be tossed on a wagon, then moved to a secure area. Either way, it is tough work.
Someone has to raise and tend that beef people purchase in stores, and that is another job that farmers do. It takes strength and intelligence to properly raise and nurture animals used for meat, dairy, and other products. It also means stalls have to be cleaned, which is a seriously dirty job.
When a good crop comes in, there's another type of work to be done. The crops must be gathered and preserved in different ways. Some must be boiled, others blanched, frozen, canned, prepared for market, or placed in a root cellar. You want to toughen up, dig a few acres of potatoes by hand.
There are not many climates that will weaken someone born and raised in the Bluegrass. We deal with multiple seasons, temperatures, humidity levels, and forms of moisture. Rain, snow, flooding, and foggy mornings are all likely in Kentucky, some come one right after another.
Tending a garden can be hard work. You work the soil, plant the seeds, tend the plants, but never know if the crop will turn out well. It's hard, tiresome work, but it's good for the soul.
Kentuckians, as a people, seem to come together. Most of us want our state to be a better place and are willing to do what we can to help. When something goes terribly wrong, we bond together as a people. It may not be physical toughness, but mentally, we are strong also.
When it comes to Kentucky tough, it can be mental or physical, as we all have our strengths and weaknesses. In the end, Kentuckians endure and we overcome. It is in our very nature. There are plenty of other reasons the people of the Bluegrass State are some tough cookies, so please share your thoughts in the comments below!
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