original: Most of the population were engaged in farming, dairy farming, or tanning.
simplifications: Majority of people were farming, dairy farming, or tanning. Most of the population were into farming and tanning. Many people were farming, dairy farming, or tanning. Most of the people worked with farming, dairy farming, or tanning. Most people spent their time farming or tanning. Most people did farming, dairy farming, or tanning. The majority of the population were engaged in farming, dairy farming, or tanning. Most of the people farmed or tanned. The majority of the population spent time farming, dairy farming, or tanning. Most of the population was involved in farming, dairy farming or tanning.