Bio, 2009: Sally Ground Mahar
In 1964 if someone had told me that I would be doing the things I'm doing now, I would have said that they had lost their mind! But life has a funny way of changing the plans we make.
I married, Ed Mahar from Perkins in 1965, a scant 44 years ago. We lived in Mid-West City until our first child was born, then we moved back to Perkins. In 1921 Ed's grandfather had bought 160 acres South West of Perkins and farmed it with his three sons. Ed's father bought another 160 acres, two miles North of that place in the mid 1950's and farmed it with his son, Ed. And long story short, Ed and I now farm on both of the family farms, with our son, Rick, and grandson Mitchell. We have a small cattle herd and raise alfalfa, and wheat.
In the mid 1980's we took a break, and went to California for about 7 1/2 years, and then the company sent him to Wichita, Ks. for about 4 + yeas, then another year in St. Joseph. Mo. But we wanted to come back home. We didn't even know we liked Oklahoma until we left.
I help my husband do what I can, I feel so sorry for him sometimes. I have planted wheat behind him as he worked the ground. And I even haul hay sometimes. He asked me if I would help haul hay for him a couple of years ago, and I said sure, thinking I would be in the tractor or the feed truck hauling one or two at a time (big round bales). But when I got there he showed me to the semi truck! As he proceeded to explain about the air brakes and the split shifter, I began to shrink in fear, the poor man took one look at my face and said "honey, find a gear--ANY gear will do, and follow me to the field."Somehow I managed to get the job done, but I was a nervous wreck!! We have a lot of fun working together though.
I love this time of year. Our cows are calving, and that is always exciting to me. I love to see those little ones struggling to get up right after they are born, and in a matter of hours they have found the groceries, and are walking beside Mom with those clear,bright eyes, with eye lashes that any woman would kill for. A few more hours and they are trying to run and kick and buck, on the wobbliest legs, its just amazing to me.
My husband has been in the seat of a bull dozer since he was 14 years old, and farmed for most of his life as well. I worked at Del State Bank, as an IBM proof operator, and had a catering business in Perkins. I cooked for the Chamber of Commerce meetings, and the Cimarron Coop, for a number of years. I managed a Subway Sandwich place in California. Then I decided to go back to shcool and take a computer course at the high school with my daughter.
Ed has retired from his dozer business and ALL we have to do now is farm and take care of our storage business. We bought a new fifth wheel trailer and have done some traveling but hope to do a lot more shortly.
©2009 Stillwater High School Class of 1964