I’m amazed at the lack of common sense these days. There is a lot of book-smart people out there, but not a lot of common-sense-smart people. You can give some people a fly swatter and they wouldn’t know the first thing about what to do with it.

We’ve all heard of common sense, but where does it come from? Well most of it is acquired from attending the School of Hard Knocks and much of it was also passed down from those that had it passed to them or had the opportunity to gain it for themselves firsthand.

Growing up on a farm, and being around animals and equipment you get a crash course in common sense from a young age. So I’ll share a few things I’ve learned over the years.

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1. Always check an electric fence wire with the back of your hand. Because if you can grab it, you might not turn loose.
2. Never accept a challenge to pee over an electric fence the results can be shocking.
3. If someone says the electric fence wire isn’t “hot” make sure to look to see that they don’t have rubber soled shoes on before you give it a touch.
4. Just because that old milk cow is gentle don’t mean she’ll let ya ride her.
5. Don’t sneak up on any animal when they’re eating.
6. All paint horses buck.
7. Duck eggs laying in the sun are time bombs, don’t mess with em they can go off unexpectedly and the end result stinks.
8. Some people are like skunks, their behavior is best enjoyed from a distance.
9. If something won’t start check to see if it has fuel first.
10. Cross threading a nut is not considered a good alternative to a locknut.
11. When there’s an option between using a crescent wrench and a boxed end wrench, always go for the boxed end.
12. A crescent wrench is not a hammer!!
13. Before you grab a hammer try the penetrating oil.
14. Screwdrivers are not pry bars, and a pocket knife is not a screwdriver.
15. You can learn how to make your Pa mad and what not to do by watching your brother… and it’s best not to laugh at his outcome.
16. You’ll hurt people’s feelings less if you just tell it like it is. Trying to be politically correct is the same as trying to pick up a turd by the clean end.
17. I’ve learned that most of the time luck is spelled “W-O-R-K”
18. Men you should never compete with a woman. If you win you haven’t done any- thing, if you lose you’ll never live it down.
19. You can go broke buying bargains.
20. When an old man says “let me tell you something” it’s best to give him your full attention.

Just a few words of wisdom from a dumb farmer that’s been there and done it all.