This tale of rural wisdom is from Mel Lett.

The Iowa Wage and Hour Department claimed a man owning a small farm was not paying proper wages to his help and sent an agent to interview him. “I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them,” demanded the agent.

“Well, there are my hired hands. One has been with me for four years; the other for three. I pay them each $600 a week, plus free room and board. The cook has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $500 a month plus free room and board. Then there’s the half-wit that works here about 18 hours a day. He takes home $10 a week and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every week,” replied the farmer.

“That’s the guy I want to talk to; the half-wit,” said the agent.

The farmer said, “That would be me.”