Inside cover of SFJ

@Plowboy 8273 wrote:

We quit getting it because of the politics and bazaar editorials. It used to be great but Lynn gets off on some tangents now days. More worried about the government than the actual day to day work of the draft animal world which we are all really interested in instead of rampant BS.

I agree. Also the the last few issues have been late or non existant for me and no respondse from SFJ

@Carl Russell 8280 wrote:

What started as a labor of love, has turned into outright labor, and I know Lynn has been trying hard for several years to find someway that he remains inspired by SFJ, which has led to a more eclectic expression.

In my mind it is still the best publication that I can subscribe to. There is no other publication that is more connected to the community that I have interest in.

One person’s creative expression is often misunderstood by many, and SFJ has always been an attempt by Lynn to include the expressions of many in concert with his own, a huge, uncertain, and generous enterprise.

Carl

I have subscribed to SFJ since 1983 and have a copy of every edition they have ever printed. An Amish guy in Pennsylvania named Andy Raber introduced me to it & I have taken it ever since.

I never did get much into the editorials or the letters to the editor for that matter, just skimmed through them. Mainly I focused on the actual articles. Last year they had a deal where you could sponsor a subscription for a high school library, FFA chapter, etc and they would match it with another subscription to that school or to another school.

My wife and I are big on FFA, me being a former Ag teacher, so we sponsored 3 high schools. Last week I was visiting one of the Ag teachers at one of the high schools that we had sponsored. He told me “I was looking through the magazine that you sent to us, man there is some radical stuff in the editorials and the letters to the editor. WHO subscribes to this stuff anyway?” I mumbled something about “forget about the editorials, just have your kids look at the articles”. Kind of an awkward moment. Not sure we will sponsor any schools when the renewal comes up.

That said; I know Lynn has had a tough time trying to keep all of his irons in the fire. I don’t have any idea how he has been able to do all the things he does AND put out a periodical. It has to be tough keeping that many balls in the air at the same time. Kind of like a friend of mine use to say “sort of like wrestling an octopus”. Hopefully he will be able to figure something out, because as Carl said it is still what I consider to be one of the best publications I can subscribe to. (For me it is for the draft animal info)

While I was in prison, I wrote to Lynn, asking how much a single copy cost – and instead of replying, he sent a free copy… I wrote the magazine a letter requesting information (or sources of same) on farming with donkeys, explaining that being in prison, my ability to locate any info was limited. He printed the letter, and not one, but two different people chose on their own initiative to pay for a 1-year gift subscription for me. I never heard much on actually working with donkeys, but the generosity and willingness of not just this company, but the community it represents, impressed me.
And I find the Nordell’s articles, and information gleaned from the letters sent in to be quite useful at times. It also put me on a trail that eventually led me to this site.
I’ll keep my subscription going.

I too was disappointed in SFJ when things started to get “out there” and there also was a lot of repeat articles EX. McD #9 mower stuff in both a mid 90’s issue and a 200_ issue. BUT now I have a different perspective, one which I think applies to our DAP discussions as well:

1) take from it that which suits your needs
2) disregard that which you find incompatible w/ your perspective or needs
3) contemplate those things that may challenge your current ideas and then decide whether to employ #1 or #2 above.

I think Lynn has taken on a challenging task in SFJ to try and provide pertinent, interesting and new information related to horse farming and to expect it to be perfect and all things to all people are unrealistic and unfair expectations. I, for one, now have a new appreciation for SFJ.

There is no doubt Lynn has compiled alot of good information from old books and manuals and compiled into his books. His books are great and his magazine was and maybe can be again. It has a broad audience but it is narrowing because I know of at least a dozen others that are letting there’s go disappointed in the content. While folks should be well informed and proactive radicalism still makes you look like a freak to the masses and the public will have a hard time taking you seriously. I have written successful articles for some major magazines and maybe I should send some to Lynn if I get some new one’s written because he sure needs content. I do event coverage and profile/biographical articles on places I’ve been and my panel of mentors. I hope for the sake of the publication that it can be what it once was in the near future.

You may not agree with everything written in the SFJ or wish there was different content………….to me Lynn and his family, care enourmously about small ag. ,draft animal power and quality of life apart from mainstream beliefs. Thats good enough for me.

neal mcnaughten
unity, me.

It is something Lynn has been brewing for a couple of years now. It seems like it is how he sees SFJ adapting to a higher level, using the connections for more than information trading. I like the concept, but a project of that magnitude stymies me. I will try to contribute on a more local basis.

Carl