From School Library Journal Grade 4 Up-- "It is not a lucrative business and it is awfully hard work." With such a sentiment so universally expressed by the folks from Luna County， New Mexico， one might well ask， "Just why do people stay in farming and ranching?" The answer to this mystery unfolds gently through probing interviews and revealing photographs. Spiced with anecdotes and local color， the prose is friendly and highly readable: " 'They say，' Smokey said to us once， 'that if you wear out a pair of boots in this country， you will never leave.' But then he couldn't resist adding， 'Of course， if you stay that long， you won't have enough money to leave.' " Ashabranner weaves several dramatic subplots into the skillfully written prose: the ever-present threat of drought; the interplay of the generations; the effect of history and chance on the present; and the impact of geography on an area's development. The balanced selection of interviewees presents a complete portrait of a community: young and old， men and women， minorities， newcomers and old-timers. The clear black-and-white photographs complement the text perfectly. Throughout the book， readers meet many people， each unique， yet all similar in their tenacious love of the land and willingness to struggle to make a living from it. There is much to be learned and enjoyed in this short piece of fine nonfiction. --Lee Bock， Brown County Public Libraries， Green Bay， WICopyright 1989 Reed Business Information， Inc."