Fortunately the hog market was rebounding that year. The money started dribbling in. The McKenzies and the Stamps lived through a severe meltdown in 1993 that forced a lot of their comrades to leave the industry. But rough times in the hog industry are invariably followed by prosperity. The gung-ho years of 1996 and 1997 brought one such upturn.
Good years help to re-build financial assets.
Good thing too, for the disaster of this past winter was unparalleled. Downtown Marcellus was deathly quiet while hog farmers endured the worse depression in their history. Farmers stopped spending money. With no business coming in, Learman would sit alone in his shop. The farmers have always been good to us.