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Chevrolet Dealer Robert Knoepfler sold 15 new cars and trucks in April, cleared out 25 used ones. At first he figured that he had simply cut into his competitors' business. Then Clay Carriker, manager of Greene's Ford, said that his new-car sales for the past 60 days were 20% ahead of 1957, used cars 30%; high-priced new trucks were slow, but lower-priced used trucks were hot. Another major beneficiary of the farmer's new-found prosperity was the farm-machinery business. Owner Don Berkemeir of the Lytle Implement Co. reported that he sold 25 new tractors so far this year, drew groups of up to 25 farmers at a time to his showroom to view the latest in mechanical hay balers. "Business," said Berkemeir, "is within a few dollars of double last year." Used tractors taken back as trade-ins scarcely stay in the shop long enough to be oiled and repainted. Fresh from selling off 160 head of feeder cattle, Farmer Bill Hynick, 45, dropped by recently, plunked down $1,950 for a two-year-old model. "I've been thinking of buying for a couple of years," said Hynick. "Until now, I couldn't do it."
Not only has returning farm prosperity benefited virtually every Oskaloosa business (Lumber Dealer Jim Mathew figures his sales are up 50%, due largely to farmers fixing up the old home place or repairing the barn), but it has brought a flock of new civic improvements in progress, e.g., three new schools, a $200,000 bowling alley and amusement center. Two years ago Oskaloosa, hungry for an industry payroll to offset the setbacks to farming, almost landed an American Chain & Cable Co. plant, but at the last minute lost out. Putting its finger on the reason, the Iowa Development Commission said: "Poor community attitude." Last week a commission pulse-feeler passed through, asked a workman in overalls what he now thought of Oskaloosa. "Best damned town in Iowa," the workman roared.
"Back on His Feet." Oskaloosa's good fortune was not unique. The Central Iowa Farm Business Association completed its annual report on 153 representative farms, reported net income in 1957 averaged $11,200, or 32% over 1956's $8,467 and more than 2½ "times 1955's low of $4,235. For a national view, the Farm Journal polled its regional correspondents, found business noticeably better in every section except the Southeast, where row-crop farmers have been hit by weather and acreage cuts, but livestock and poultry farmers are prospering.
Having recently been through the mill, most farmers were being prudent with their new prosperity. In Fresno, Calif., heart of the San Joaquin Valley machine-farming area, Julius Neilsen, Bank of America farm-loan representative, said: "I never saw so many farmers come in ahead of time and pay off their loans." The Iowa Life Insurance Co. reported its sales to farmers through April were up 78% over last year. And, said Red Oak Agent Stanley Fagerland: "When the farmer gets around to buying life insurance, you know he is getting back on his feet."