Former Tobacco Farmers Getting New Skills

Source from:  Sunday, March 11, 2007 COALTON, Ky. (AP)  03/13/2007

Former tobacco farmers in northeastern Kentucky are getting some new skills that will likely help them save money. The farmers are learning the basics of welding in a course at Ashland Community and Technical College. College spokesman John McGlone said the course is funded with tobacco buyout money. The funds are set aside to help with the transition to other income sources or to farm more efficiently. Greenup County farmer Dusty Haight is glad he took the course. He's built a trailer that he hauls behind his Chevy pickup. It may not be much to look at, but he's proud of it anyway. The frame came from a derelict camper. He put it on an axle and rusty leaf springs from a Model A Ford, welding every joint on it himself. A little more than a month ago, Haight didn't know much about welding. He and 11 other farmers are learning the basics. The first four weeks of the eight-week course are devoted to basic techniques, instructor Curtis Bowman said. He said by the fifth week, the farmers were moving into more advanced topics. The course has a major fringe benefit. Once they complete the course, the students will take home their own welder, worth around $600, Bowman said. Enditem