What to wear to care for farm animals

Looking after farm animals of any description means that you should expect it to be a messy and physically demanding job. Designer clothes and labels should be avoided as they will never be the same again if you wear them to muck out the pigs! However, there are some clothes that will be suitable.

Dress for comfort

Jeans are a good choice for farm work as they are made from a hard wearing fabric but they are not always the most comfortable if you have to do a lot of lifting. They are great in winter and you can wear black tights under them for extra warmth. Clothing items like black tights or leggings will be comfortable and they can also be worn under waterproof trousers for days when the weather is not great.

Don’t wear anything too tight as it’s likely that you’ll be doing a lot of bending, stretching and lifting while you look after the animals. This means that the best clothes are those made from stretch fabrics such as jersey. In the summer, t-shirts are a good choice while in winter, light jerseys and jackets will help you to move easily. Keep a heavier jacket to hand though for the coldest days.

Footwear

No matter what time of year, you will need sturdy, waterproof footwear. Animal care means moving feed and equipment and the last thing you need is an injury if you drop anything on your foot. It is a good idea to invest in the best quality footwear that you can find and some workwear suppliers will be able to advise on good brands.

Farm Films

Since the very creation of moving pictures farm animals have been portrayed. In fact, some film scholars cite footage of a running horse as the first ever example of a movie. Over the years a wide range of cinematic genres have been set on farms.

Whilst some movies feature action packed showdowns the ones about farm life tend to be more understated. The main exception is westerns. These films are sometimes about characters trying to transport cattle across harsh environments. Other times there may be shootouts on a farm.

The Wizard of the Oz is arguably the most famous farm film. Life in this setting is depicted as drab thanks to a sepia colour palette. The main character’s life only becomes more colourful when she leaves the farm.

Farms are often used as the setting for horror films. For example, in Signs a family is terrorised by aliens hiding in crop fields. Occasionally farm animals themselves are turned into movie monsters. This has occurred in Black Sheep and Isolation. However, these environments can also be places where magic and romance blossom. Farms are extremely versatile places for filmmakers to utilise.

Children’s Books

Farm animals have certainly become an important part of popular culture. Since farms around the world tend to contain similar species it makes sense that international authors would choose to depict them. Sometimes they are given human traits. This is very common within children’s literature where talking animals have become an important trope.

It is interesting how many of the greatest children’s books are set on a farm. As kids learn to read they may be given books where these creatures are the main characters.

Illustrations are a key part of this type of literature. Colourful drawings of the animals help to keep the young reader engaged. In fact, the artwork usually dominates the page. Books aimed at older children will utilise more text. Good examples of this include Charlotte’s Web and War Horse.

Children are not the only readers who can enjoy these books. There are several farm based novels written for adults. For example, Animal Farm uses these creatures to create a complex political satire. It is possible for people to grow up and find new farm set books as their reading skills advance. Stories about farm animals are likely to remain popular in the near future.