Bull Threshers and Bindlestiffs: Harvesting and Threshing on the Northern Plains by Thomas Isern 

Bull Threshers and Bindlestiffs is a panorama on a continental canvas: the Great Plains of North America, stretching from Texas to Alberta. Onto this surface the author lays the large features of regional practice in the harvesting and threshing of wheat during the days before the combined harvester--harvesting with binder and header, threshing with bull thresher and steam engine. Into the picture he places the key figures who accomplished the task of gathering the grain--the farm men and women, the custom threshermen, and the bindlestiffs, or itinerant laborers. Affectionately he sketches the small details of folklife that comprised the everyday work and culture of the wheat belt--building shocks, loading racks, constructing stacks, pitching bundles into the separator, hauling water to the engine, drinking deep from the crockery water jug.

Paperback

264 pages

ISBN: 0700631577

About the author: Thomas D. Isern is a prominent figure in the field of history, particularly focusing on the Great Plains of North America. He has co-authored several books, including "Pacing Dakota" and "Dakota Circle: Excursions on the True Plains." Isern is also known for his contributions to public radio and folk music, with his radio feature "Plains Folk" reaching a wide audience. His academic work includes teaching and research on the history and folklore of the Great Plains, and he is actively involved in preserving and promoting the region's heritage. 

Image description: The cover image shows an ombre brown background. In the center of the cover there is a black and white image of a harvesting scene. The title and subtitle are displayed above the photograph; the author's name is displayed below the photograph. The logo of Kansas open books is also displayed at the bottom of the cover.