Man, I could listen to this for hours. We need to be reminded how easy it is now. Even though I was brought up in similar circumstances it's easy to forget, and take things for granted. Thank you, Mr. Sam.
@@mr.sam-feeltheshine5291 Sam am certainly looking forward to Your next recorded, edited, posted videos with this intended series along with each others that You determine are valuable, useful, helpful, beneficial, meaningful 🤓 All The Best, 😊 Sincerely ☺ Much Appreciated 😆
"We're so poor we can't pay attention"....Absolute classic that my father who has now passed used to say about his youth. Thanks for the story and smile, Mr. Sam!
Wow Mr. Sam it was so joyful hearing your story’s! We’re so fortunate now days to have. Running water/sewer and grocerie stores! You’re a national treasure and deserve all the good that comes your way!
Mr Sam I am 84 and you are my hero at the Freedom Factory, I loved hog killing time on the farm, crakling cornbread made the hard work of scraping hogs worth it,your mom was like mine, she could make a meal out of anything, candied yams and sweet tater pie got you ready for winter , God bless you Sam
I remember him from QVC in the 80’s. I about shit when I saw him on Cleets channel. My childhood flooded into my head at warp speed. This man is def a treasure..
@@kriswhite9324 QVC was like Amazon but on tv. This channel ran 24/7 with every crap product “some good tho” and two people would literally tell you “if you don’t call now this product is gone forever” and make old lady’s call and buy all types of stuff. Like how many plastic Tupperware things you need in life? Or pans? It created tons of hoarders in the 80’s and 90’s. But I do remember Mr Sam. Although I can’t find it online anywhere I feel like he was on there. That’s the first time I saw him. I never forget a face. When I saw him first time on Cletus’s channel I’m like holy crap it’s the guy!!!! I asked him directly on one of his vids and he just loved the post. Which makes me believe I was right. Guys like Sam would travel the country and sell the products at trade shows. QVC hit every Americans home 24/7… Made it easier for sellers too. They could dump 10000 products in a night without traveling. The people on tv always acted like if you don’t call right now you will never get this amazing product ever again. Drove old lady’s crazy. They would stay up all night watching and calling and ordering. Hope this helps a little.
I'm 68 sam. You sure brought back a lot of fond and hard living memory's. Tobacco was king brother. And you worked. Hard. You didn't have trouble sleeping. You practically died the second your head hit the pillow. LoL. Nothing was wasted and you took care of the ground and it took care of you. Pickled pigs feet, pickled eggs, pickled and fried bologna, man we eat good. Fresh eggs 🥚 are still the best! Thanks Sam. We cut from the same cloth brother!
Love it, WNC born n raised. Real mountain folk gettin harder to find. Your story reminds me of listening to my grandpa….your family to come will appreciate this more than you know. These stories of growing up in Appalachia back in the day are gold. Thank you!
Yep! My Dad used to plow their big garden with a mule. All of my people on my Dad's side have been living in north Alabama for generations. My grandmother ( his mother..........the most noble woman I've ever known ) all the way through the 90's kept a large garden where the family would help her. ( Grandpa was killed in a car wreck 5 days before Christmas of '72 ) She would can ( mason jars ) most of it to store in her storm cellar out in the yard for the winter. She kept a single hog every year to slaughter. I'm 62, and I can remember when some of my family members still used out-houses back in the early 70's. Of course they all modernized soon after that. When my Grandpa & Grandma were newly weds, they would pick cotton all day for 50 cents to split between them. Most of his life, my Grandpa was a carpenter and harvested pulp wood on the side. But they always kept that big garden of nearly an acre every year.
Thank you Sam for the reality check. I grew up farming as well and taking our crops to the market. We also sold our own clover honey as we had 4 hives to maintain. Thanks again for sharing your story.
Sam, really appreciate your presence on Cleetus channel, like the only adult in the room at times 😊 You remind me so much of my dads best friend who came right out the Kentucky hills, same upbringing, same kind hearted humor and wisdom. Miss that old boy to this day. Well, I hate to break it to everyone, but just as Sam grew up, those times are coming again. Only in this case, there is barely any folk left who know how to make do with very little, much less be self sufficient in ANY way shape or form. The depression on its way will make the first one a joke. Kind regards from my family to yours Sam.
My hubby was raised on a farm in WV with his 4 other siblings and they had it hard. He said they didn’t have indoor toilet till around 1975. They heated with coal & wood. My mother-in-law canned as much as she could. I was raised north of Pittsburgh PA, so I was raised a lot differently…now still married going on 38 years and for the last 13 years we moved back to my husband homestead. Enjoying the peacefulness of 85 acres, he’s still raising cattle, no close neighbors bothering us and doing just fine. I’m so glad you have joined Cleetus’s family. You are a joy to listen to.
Hey, a fellow from the Burgh! My grandfather worked at a steel mill through the 60s and 70s out of Bethel Park. I love hearing stories about how Pittsburgh once was, but one thing is for sure... You couldn't beat Pittsburgh Steel!
@@Wifiisbetterthenethernet Hello there! Thanks for responding back. Pittsburgh steel was some of the best. My brothers worked out of the old J&L mill in good ole Aliquippa. Now in my area one of the last tin mills closed up Friday laying off my son and 900 others. That's what happens when the government allows Japan to under sell and not have high enough tariffs. But anyway pleasure to talk to another Sam, Clettus fan. Just recently saw a gentlemen wearing a Clettus t-shirt and if coarse struck up a conversation.
Man sam 9:13 my mom told me stories like this of when they grew up, love these stories,please keep sharing. The newer generation needs to hear this, i grew up same way butchering calves,hogs and eating tons of field corn. Simple life but definitely a great way of life in my book. I still know how to make a whistle out of a chicken feather, my family told me about that and other home made Christmas gifts. Still to this day miss real home made feather blankets and pillows. Man you’re reminding me of all those stories and things growing up. I can still smell the smell of home made bacon and the smell of the wood burning stove. Sorry for the rambling but this is flooding my memories, please do more of these, this is awesome.
Stories like this are absolute gold!! It makes total sense that you grew up this way Sam. It explains your work ethic. My 90 year old grandfather (still going strong!!) grew up very similar to you. I farm the farm he grew up on now! I've got a good black walnut story for you. He had asked me if I wanted to pick up a bunch of walnuts with him. I said "sure". We gathered a bunch of them and started peeling the green hull off of them with our bare hands. Keep in mind, I had never done this. My hands were black within about 5 minutes. He then tells me "It'll take a couple weeks to get those stains off your hands" 🤣. I had a wedding to go to that night...... I love these stories Sam. Keep them coming!!
I remember as a kid in the mid 70's hunting soda bottles on the side of the road to earn a dollar and my grandmother ringing a chickens neck to make homemade chicken and dumplings. Not easy time but simpler. Very grateful for anything you got.
Yo you had it made back then never go wrong with gmas home made chicken and dumplings I miss my gmas she made the best with home made noodles all from scratch
YES MR. SAM! We need more stories. This was so great. My Grandfather used to tell his life stories all the time. As a kid I never listened much, but the last time I got to see him I got to sit down with him and hear all his stories. Really wish I would have recorded them. It was a lost treasure. Listening to you here brought back the memories from back then. Thank you, Mr. Sam. May God continue to bless you greatly.
Thank you Mr Sam. Brings back a lot of memories on the farm and it’s all true. Farmer having a hard time, neighbors, friends would help out. It was different times.
Grew up on a farm, I guess we was poor but we never knew it. We grew up eating homegrown and homemade foods that was the greatest in the world. I can still remember my grandmother's fried pies, haven't had anything like them since she passed away. When we ate canned vegetables in the winter, it tasted like they was just picked that day. Thanks for bringing back the good old days.
Sam..... Please keep on making these videos. I love true stories from the heart, of what it was like...... As they say now... Back in the day! I'm 65 and am totally thrilled that your a part of the team! When Cleetus got the Factory Freedom I commented that he needed a senior in the mix to sort of keep things on an Even keel and then you appeared! I am so thrilled for you and will be one of your subscribers for the long haul Sir! Your a great soul and maybe once I retire I'll get the chance to drive down from Michigan and stop in to meet you. That sure would be awesome! Growing up in a sub division or first furnace was an octopus in the basement because that's what it looked like. Fill it with coal for the night and the heat rose through the insulated ducts to give a little heat in each room which was usually gone by midnight. Hey brother you take care.... Don't eat too much fast food especially from the golden arches.... Because that stuff will make you I'll! Now... You need a slogan. You could run with Do it like we did.... Back In The Day! Great for some old muscle car tee shirts! Later! J Poll.
I really feel like this nostalgic vision of Sam’s past and Mom's apple pies fresh off of the farm being sold at the summer market is truly where the saying "as American as apple pie" comes from. Sam truly puts the American Spirit into those fun videos Cleetus/Garrett makes. I truly appreciate what I get to experience by listening to this guy talk.
As a kid, we would gather buckets of walnuts, for fun my mama would line us kids up in a line. She would say go and then throw walnuts at us. The kid that got hit was the slowest! Brings a whole new meaning to drag racing! We never got hurt and we loved it! Thanks for sharing Sam! God bless
The story about using the wire to catch chicken dinner takes me back to my youth. We had 50 hens and every once in a while we’d catch a hen for Sunday dinner. This was a lesson passed down from my father, who grew up just outside NYC, but spent his summers as a youth on extended families’ farms in NE PA. We now live in Appalachia on the VA/NC border, and life really hasn’t changed much from how you describe it. It takes hardy people to live in Appalachia, especially in the winters!
Mr Sam you brought back so many memories of my grandparents farm in eastern NC. Hog killings, packing the smoke house, putting up corn, butter beans and snap peas. It was always a lot of work but the best memories.
That's working for a living. No work, no life....keep shinning Sam. Its very atmospheric, listening to Sam talk and hear, what sounds like wind, but more likely Cleetus revving some monster engines outside and fifty miles away.
Sam your daughters are lucky to get these stories . I could listen to hours of this and I’m not family lol. You have a magnetic personality. People love you no matter where you go. Not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse lol. But keep being you. I hope I get to shake your hand one day. Have a good night sir. I’m so glad you have a channel. Just great!!
Wow, does this bring back memories!! I remember being on the farm back in the 70's as a little kid. I miss it dearly!! My father sold the farm in the early 80's. What I'd give to have that place again! All the hard work and everything!!
Candler NC here… I visit Burnsville frequently… Prices Creek General Store, Coopers Trading Post, etc. You’re a great role model and an endless bastion of humble knowledge. Amazing man you are.
I can relate to this life. My 88 year old Dad grew up not far from there. I still have relatives in that area of the Appalachian mountains. Thanks for sharing and God Bless.
Mr. Sam, my property has (4) black walnut trees. Anytime you need a batch to rekindle the memories, you just let me know. In the fall we are out there using snow shovels to pick them all up. People look at us funny since there is no snow on the ground, but it works great; better than picking up by hand. Saves the back and the black hands. We have a local church that lives a quasi Amish, cult life. They stopped by one year asking if they could have them as they planned to shuck them and sell the nuts. I told them to help themselves. They came back multiple times loading up truck beds from me and my neighbors. Didn't have to pick up a single one that year! They've never been back since 😂. I think they found out just how hard those black walnuts are to crack!
Mr. Sam listening to you tell your story of how you were raised it reminds me so much of my childhood. It really took me back to a time when life was a lot simpler. Back when everyone looked out for their neighbors and the world was filled with love and compassion for one another. I look forward to more stories from your past. You are a blessing to so many 🙏
Thank you Mr Sam My Mom grew up the same way I spent every summer at Grandmas house throwin hay bails pulling weeds all dat Driving tractors at 9 years old I sure miss that farm I am 62 now and look back on precious times Kids dont know how hard you worked from sun up to sundown Keep up the shine Duncan
so much has changed so quickly it's important to preserve as much wisdom as possible. thank you mr Sam! you are one of my favorite people in the whole wide world.
Only 43 Sam, but grew up on a small rural farm in So Indiana, so I can feel the hardships and can only imagine, the difficulties people of your age grew up with. My grandpa, like you, didn't have refrigeration, didn't have indoor water closet.. Until his 20's.. I really love stories of folks like you that have all the knowledge in the world.. Its great having a platform like this that will live on forever, for your kids, grandkids, and even their grandchildren.. I would give anything to have a video of my grandpa's and great grandpa's stories and sort of documentary.. This kind of stuff is timeless and worth their weight in gold to the family you will eventually leave behind..
Mr Sam, I am 42 and grew up in a south Alabama much like you described. Most in the 80s and 90s had passed this but my grandparents and family continued life like this. I thought it was normal. I didn’t realize until much later in life how blessed I was to experience life this way. I often find myself missing those days when life was much more simple and more rewarding.
Hearing the wind in the garage as he tells a story about the cold winter he had as a kid was amazing timing for an ending. Especially seeing how it's told in Florida where I bet the wind is hot af lol 😆
Sam, firstly I gotta say, since you've come into cleeters life his channel has took on this whole new level of greatness, seeing the guys with you, we can truly believe how much they love and respect you and everything you do for them. For me personally I love watching you , you remind me so much of my late grandfather, and I choke up everytime I see you, but it's all happy, thankyou for allowing us a snippet into your life, from one huge Cornish-boy fan
Hey Mr Sam, I really enjoyed hearing part one of your story and can't wait for more💯 You are an inspiration and a role model full of wisdom. Thank you Mr Sam for being a true gentleman and sharing your life with us. Big fan from 🇦🇺
From a younger NC person that grew up working the family field and the neighbors Tobacco fields, you bring me back to my childhood memories and make me miss home. My grandaddy used to take me to pickup walnuts, finishing up with a stop at the corner store for a coke and some salted peanuts, some nibs too sometimes. Stay safe Sam and thanks for the memories.
I did some work around barnardsville it's a small town like where I'm from lancing tn. About a hour east of Knoxville. I remember we always had wood heat in a house built in late 1800s old newspaper was the insulation in the addition built in the 40s I miss that house now. I know my family worked the coal mines all the generations before me and I worked drilling all over the country. I always ran away from my town now I moved back retired and enjoy my life here.
My grandma passed away almost two years ago, and I always loved picking her brain about her childhood. She told me stories about how they had a small shack to live out of as her family went down building a railroad. The structure was built to be rolled on and off a rail car. Her first 'job' was sprinkling water on the ground to keep the dust from their dirt floors under control.
Thank you for sharing Mr. Sam. I enjoyed hearing your story, I found myself smiling the entire video. Made me feel like I was just sitting in the shop with you hanging out.
Really enjoyed the video Sam. People need to hear this stuff. You stories arent that many years ago in a big picture. We need to see how delicate life is and need to learn to fend for ourselves. I lived not far from your hometown in Balsam NC. Keep on keepin on Sam!!!
Sam, I had no idea you grew up right over the mountain from where I grew up. I was just up the road in the Pensacola community in Burnsville. It was an honor to meet you last April at Bristol. You sir are one cool dude and as down to earth as they come. Keep the content coming!
We love you Sam, so glad to have you around brother, the channel and the whole world is a much better, happy and positive place with you around. Much love brother ❤
I know exactly what your talking about those fried pies Mr. Sam my mother and her sister would make them for us and they we're from Kentucky it's been along time since I've had one my aunt has passed away and my mother is too old now to cook brings a tear to my eyes thinking about them. Thank you for your story Sir....
Hi Sam thanks for your story! I come from a small (compared to the US) generation farm in Norway, so facinating to listen to your story and compare to how my grandfather told me the farming life back home was. Very different cultures but one thing is for sure, farm life back in the days where not a easy life. Everyone had to step in and help. My grandfather grew up during the end and after the German occupation, so it was a challenging time for sure! Thanks again for your story and keep them coming.
My father grew up in the same way in east TN. Outhouse, no bathroom inside no running water just a well outside with a hand pump. Twelve kids and only 2 bedrooms in the home. A mule for the plow. He would always say that too; we were poor but we didn't know it. Do more of these Sam, loved listening. Thank you! Edit: spellcheck
God bless you Mr. Sam, love hearing the stories. Thank you for being a great role model and all out great person. World needs more people telling about old ways, makes us appreciate what we all have!
We shared a lot of similar things Mr Sam....we'd lay the green walnuts out to dry and later run them through a hand crank corn sheller that the previous owner had left on the farm. Wild strawberries..... picking pawpaws when they were ripe!!!!!
My grandpa was 1 of 14 children and they also worked on the farm. I love good old fashioned people. You can always tell when they are/were hard workers. I'm grateful that I got to do work with him at a young age into my early adult years. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for him.
Love listening to your stories! Reminds me very much of my grandmother when she was a child in North Dakota. Tough life on a farm, but they made it work. Thanks for sharing! ❤️
What a wonderful story Mr Sam! I sure enjoyed listening, it reminded me of sitting at my Grandpa's living room and hearing his stories. He sure would've loved to have visited with you. He was a B26 Pilot in WWII
I think it´s amazing that you are doing this series for your children and also give us the privilege of listening to your story... As someone who had a granddad grow up in northern Europe (Denmark) during WW2 it´s facinating hearing the differences but also the similarities in your story and the ones he told me...
Thanks for sharing Mr Sam! I was raised by my grandparents in Mississippi and experienced some of the same things in the 70s and 80s. I’m glad you are sharing your story!
At 46 the older I get the more I realize just how easy I had it growing up. Mr. Sam's life seems to parallel that of my father to a great degree. He was born in 1936 in Inman, SC on a farm and moved to Georgia in 1945 to pick peaches in a peach orchard where he and his parents and three sisters lived in a small house on the edge of the orchard. That was the first place he lived that had wood floors rather than dirt. When he told me these things as a kid it just didn't seem real somehow. I lost him almost six years ago now and just like Sam he was tough as nails and good as gold. He always found something to be happy about no matter how much he really could've been unhappy about many things. God bless you Mr. Sam, I look forward to more videos like this, I didn't realize you had your own channel until today so I'll be watching!
Mr Sam we had CBC radio in kenora Ontario Canada they had story hr and a program called the rest of the story. Any you my friend are a book that I could listen to you forever.
Sam you are a great guy. Remind me of my grandfather. You are one of the best things that has happened to Cleetus channel. Glad you have your own. Thanks for all the great stories.
I could sit in listen too you talk all day Sam. You're a man of class and wisdom, and alot can be learnt from a man as yourself. We are all so blessed to be able to connect with you in thisbway and learn from you. From a fellow Canadian Sam, i strive to live half as cool of a life as you.
Exactly that's what my Grandmother told me. She was 7 when the depression started. Ration like crazy potatoes for dinner raise your own food chicken pigs beef . General farm work back in the day!!!
Thank you Mr. Sam stories like these are a little glimmer into the life of our parents and grandparents back when times were simpler and so much harder that some of us just can’t quite understand.
I grew up in a small town now and I’m 22 years old, from a small place called Williams oregon, where there is still a general store and one restaurant, I now live in the town where there are more people and population but now it’s hard even to make a by in rent here unfortunately, it would literally be a dream come true to meet you or Cleetus some day as I feel we all kind of grew up the same way, just a bunch of cool genuine men.
Sam, growing up on a farm is a hard life! It was fun sometimes but there was a lot of robbing peter to pay paul. Some people won't understand, but i know you do! We didn't actually rob anyone... we traded things with other farmers to get by! Had to be done! We raised turkeys, chickens, sold eggs, and whatever else we could to survive until harvest. I never realized how well we ate! Back then "Organic" was just how it was done! BLESS YOU SIR! I knew you were a farmer because of the way you handle yourself! Modest, humble, and really giving! God Bless the American Farmer!
How times have changed...I really enjoy listening to stories like this. It's also puts into prospective how easy & accessible things are this day & age.
I love hearing Mr Sam tell stories. I'm from the Easter part of NC and I grew up on a tobacco farm too. Now I live in a 185 yo house with two walnut trees in the yard. They definitely make a mess! Lol
Sam, I love and thank, and care and pray for you! PLEASE do more of these, so your stories can be shared to younger people, and heck ...youre own family to keep you in their hearts FOREVER! People can't imagine a life WITHOUT Refrigeration, ha. Loved the "Hog Killin" story
We need more stories from you so they can be preserved for future generations to learn real life. Thank you Mr. Sam
That is my whole goal
@@mr.sam-feeltheshine5291 I hope you meet your quota!!!!! My girlfriend says your a muffin!!!!!
O crap i have to fully disclose what a muffin is in my gf terminology and its a cute older gentleman :) In case you were wondering lol
Please Mr Sam more of this makes me think of my grandparents that's gone and the way I live now I love your stories
And I’d like to see some old photos too.
Man, I could listen to this for hours. We need to be reminded how easy it is now. Even though I was brought up in similar circumstances it's easy to forget, and take things for granted. Thank you, Mr. Sam.
People can't imagine a life without REFRIGERATION! ha.
Thank you Mr. Sam, hopefully there's more of these videos to come. I could listen to you read a dictionary and I'd still enjoy it.
Yes it was going to be a 4-5 part Series. So lots more coming
@@mr.sam-feeltheshine5291 Sam am certainly looking forward to Your next recorded, edited, posted videos with this intended series along with each others that You determine are valuable, useful, helpful, beneficial, meaningful 🤓
All The Best, 😊 Sincerely ☺ Much Appreciated 😆
Hand made gifts are way better than anything purchased. Was a pleasure to be part of storytime.
"We're so poor we can't pay attention"....Absolute classic that my father who has now passed used to say about his youth. Thanks for the story and smile, Mr. Sam!
Gotta love an "old guy" in a Buick talking about "back in the day"
For real
That's steve morris' s car.. chevy
@@ALLGODSDIE he literally says buick... 3.8 sfi
Issa GN...
3.8L turbo regal. Looks like a T type rather than a grand national. That was my dream car in high school, I had an 86 regal limited
After hearing this, I now KNOW Mr Sam is living his best life with Cleeter and the boys. And he deserves it.
Bunch love and respect for you Mr Sam!!!
Wow Mr. Sam it was so joyful hearing your story’s! We’re so fortunate now days to have. Running water/sewer and grocerie stores! You’re a national treasure and deserve all the good that comes your way!
Mr Sam I am 84 and you are my hero at the Freedom Factory, I loved hog killing time on the farm, crakling cornbread made the hard work of scraping hogs worth it,your mom was like mine, she could make a meal out of anything, candied yams and sweet tater pie got you ready for winter , God bless you Sam
Mr. Sam is a national treasure. A time capsule, a wealth of knowledge and a real nice guy all wrapped into one
I remember him from QVC in the 80’s. I about shit when I saw him on Cleets channel. My childhood flooded into my head at warp speed. This man is def a treasure..
@@FORCE_PBC Born in 03 here what is/ or was QVC and how is that tied with Mr Sam (Just genuinely curious as I would like to learn) :)
@@kriswhite9324 QVC was like Amazon but on tv. This channel ran 24/7 with every crap product “some good tho” and two people would literally tell you “if you don’t call now this product is gone forever” and make old lady’s call and buy all types of stuff. Like how many plastic Tupperware things you need in life? Or pans? It created tons of hoarders in the 80’s and 90’s. But I do remember Mr Sam. Although I can’t find it online anywhere I feel like he was on there. That’s the first time I saw him. I never forget a face. When I saw him first time on Cletus’s channel I’m like holy crap it’s the guy!!!! I asked him directly on one of his vids and he just loved the post. Which makes me believe I was right. Guys like Sam would travel the country and sell the products at trade shows. QVC hit every Americans home 24/7… Made it easier for sellers too. They could dump 10000 products in a night without traveling. The people on tv always acted like if you don’t call right now you will never get this amazing product ever again. Drove old lady’s crazy. They would stay up all night watching and calling and ordering. Hope this helps a little.
Pleasure to listen to your story Mr. Sam, enjoy you on the shows ! Thank you sir, and keep buckled up or, YER DONE! 🤣
Really interesting to hear about your upbringing.
I'm 68 sam. You sure brought back a lot of fond and hard living memory's. Tobacco was king brother. And you worked. Hard. You didn't have trouble sleeping. You practically died the second your head hit the pillow. LoL. Nothing was wasted and you took care of the ground and it took care of you. Pickled pigs feet, pickled eggs, pickled and fried bologna, man we eat good. Fresh eggs 🥚 are still the best! Thanks Sam. We cut from the same cloth brother!
I could listen to Sam's stories all day. The sound of his voice, his laugh, and the way he explains stuff.. gold❤
Was a pleasure meeting you at Walmart on Tuesday evening Mr. Sam. Thanks for being you!😊
That was the fastest 14 min of my life.
We need a 3 hour special! Nothing better than the old time stories.
Love it, WNC born n raised. Real mountain folk gettin harder to find. Your story reminds me of listening to my grandpa….your family to come will appreciate this more than you know. These stories of growing up in Appalachia back in the day are gold. Thank you!
Had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Sam at the Freedom 500. The most pleasant and down to earth man you’ll ever meet.
Yep! My Dad used to plow their big garden with a mule. All of my people on my Dad's side have been living in north Alabama for generations. My grandmother ( his mother..........the most noble woman I've ever known ) all the way through the 90's kept a large garden where the family would help her. ( Grandpa was killed in a car wreck 5 days before Christmas of '72 ) She would can ( mason jars ) most of it to store in her storm cellar out in the yard for the winter. She kept a single hog every year to slaughter. I'm 62, and I can remember when some of my family members still used out-houses back in the early 70's. Of course they all modernized soon after that. When my Grandpa & Grandma were newly weds, they would pick cotton all day for 50 cents to split between them. Most of his life, my Grandpa was a carpenter and harvested pulp wood on the side. But they always kept that big garden of nearly an acre every year.
Thank you Sam for the reality check. I grew up farming as well and taking our crops to the market. We also sold our own clover honey as we had 4 hives to maintain. Thanks again for sharing your story.
Sam, really appreciate your presence on Cleetus channel, like the only adult in the room at times 😊 You remind me so much of my dads best friend who came right out the Kentucky hills, same upbringing, same kind hearted humor and wisdom. Miss that old boy to this day. Well, I hate to break it to everyone, but just as Sam grew up, those times are coming again. Only in this case, there is barely any folk left who know how to make do with very little, much less be self sufficient in ANY way shape or form. The depression on its way will make the first one a joke. Kind regards from my family to yours Sam.
My hubby was raised on a farm in WV with his 4 other siblings and they had it hard. He said they didn’t have indoor toilet till around 1975. They heated with coal & wood. My mother-in-law canned as much as she could. I was raised north of Pittsburgh PA, so I was raised a lot differently…now still married going on 38 years and for the last 13 years we moved back to my husband homestead. Enjoying the peacefulness of 85 acres, he’s still raising cattle, no close neighbors bothering us and doing just fine. I’m so glad you have joined Cleetus’s family. You are a joy to listen to.
Hey, a fellow from the Burgh! My grandfather worked at a steel mill through the 60s and 70s out of Bethel Park. I love hearing stories about how Pittsburgh once was, but one thing is for sure... You couldn't beat Pittsburgh Steel!
@@Wifiisbetterthenethernet Hello there! Thanks for responding back. Pittsburgh steel was some of the best. My brothers worked out of the old J&L mill in good ole Aliquippa. Now in my area one of the last tin mills closed up Friday laying off my son and 900 others. That's what happens when the government allows Japan to under sell and not have high enough tariffs.
But anyway pleasure to talk to another Sam, Clettus fan. Just recently saw a gentlemen wearing a Clettus t-shirt and if coarse struck up a conversation.
Man sam 9:13 my mom told me stories like this of when they grew up, love these stories,please keep sharing. The newer generation needs to hear this, i grew up same way butchering calves,hogs and eating tons of field corn. Simple life but definitely a great way of life in my book. I still know how to make a whistle out of a chicken feather, my family told me about that and other home made Christmas gifts. Still to this day miss real home made feather blankets and pillows. Man you’re reminding me of all those stories and things growing up. I can still smell the smell of home made bacon and the smell of the wood burning stove. Sorry for the rambling but this is flooding my memories, please do more of these, this is awesome.
Stories like this are absolute gold!! It makes total sense that you grew up this way Sam. It explains your work ethic. My 90 year old grandfather (still going strong!!) grew up very similar to you. I farm the farm he grew up on now! I've got a good black walnut story for you. He had asked me if I wanted to pick up a bunch of walnuts with him. I said "sure". We gathered a bunch of them and started peeling the green hull off of them with our bare hands. Keep in mind, I had never done this. My hands were black within about 5 minutes. He then tells me "It'll take a couple weeks to get those stains off your hands" 🤣. I had a wedding to go to that night...... I love these stories Sam. Keep them coming!!
They dont make em like they used to....love this man!
I remember as a kid in the mid 70's hunting soda bottles on the side of the road to earn a dollar and my grandmother ringing a chickens neck to make homemade chicken and dumplings. Not easy time but simpler. Very grateful for anything you got.
Yo you had it made back then never go wrong with gmas home made chicken and dumplings I miss my gmas she made the best with home made noodles all from scratch
I would be willing to pay a "Pay per view" for the sequel. Get Cleetus to set that up!!
YES MR. SAM! We need more stories. This was so great. My Grandfather used to tell his life stories all the time. As a kid I never listened much, but the last time I got to see him I got to sit down with him and hear all his stories. Really wish I would have recorded them. It was a lost treasure. Listening to you here brought back the memories from back then. Thank you, Mr. Sam. May God continue to bless you greatly.
Thank you Mr Sam. Brings back a lot of memories on the farm and it’s all true. Farmer having a hard time, neighbors, friends would help out. It was different times.
Grew up on a farm, I guess we was poor but we never knew it. We grew up eating homegrown and homemade foods that was the greatest in the world. I can still remember my grandmother's fried pies, haven't had anything like them since she passed away. When we ate canned vegetables in the winter, it tasted like they was just picked that day. Thanks for bringing back the good old days.
Sam..... Please keep on making these videos. I love true stories from the heart, of what it was like...... As they say now... Back in the day! I'm 65 and am totally thrilled that your a part of the team! When Cleetus got the Factory Freedom I commented that he needed a senior in the mix to sort of keep things on an Even keel and then you appeared! I am so thrilled for you and will be one of your subscribers for the long haul Sir! Your a great soul and maybe once I retire I'll get the chance to drive down from Michigan and stop in to meet you. That sure would be awesome! Growing up in a sub division or first furnace was an octopus in the basement because that's what it looked like. Fill it with coal for the night and the heat rose through the insulated ducts to give a little heat in each room which was usually gone by midnight. Hey brother you take care.... Don't eat too much fast food especially from the golden arches.... Because that stuff will make you I'll! Now... You need a slogan. You could run with Do it like we did.... Back In The Day! Great for some old muscle car tee shirts! Later! J Poll.
Great stories. Please continue to share. Reminds me as a child visiting the grandparents in the fall for hogs getting smoked and picking up walnuts.
I really feel like this nostalgic vision of Sam’s past and Mom's apple pies fresh off of the farm being sold at the summer market is truly where the saying "as American as apple pie" comes from. Sam truly puts the American Spirit into those fun videos Cleetus/Garrett makes. I truly appreciate what I get to experience by listening to this guy talk.
As a kid, we would gather buckets of walnuts, for fun my mama would line us kids up in a line. She would say go and then throw walnuts at us. The kid that got hit was the slowest! Brings a whole new meaning to drag racing! We never got hurt and we loved it! Thanks for sharing Sam! God bless
The story about using the wire to catch chicken dinner takes me back to my youth. We had 50 hens and every once in a while we’d catch a hen for Sunday dinner. This was a lesson passed down from my father, who grew up just outside NYC, but spent his summers as a youth on extended families’ farms in NE PA.
We now live in Appalachia on the VA/NC border, and life really hasn’t changed much from how you describe it. It takes hardy people to live in Appalachia, especially in the winters!
Mr. Sam, I could sit and listen to you tell stories for hours.
God bless mr sam the man is a national treasure he reminds me of some of my family.my dad was from hazard Kentucky mom wolf county
Mr Sam you brought back so many memories of my grandparents farm in eastern NC. Hog killings, packing the smoke house, putting up corn, butter beans and snap peas. It was always a lot of work but the best memories.
That's working for a living. No work, no life....keep shinning Sam.
Its very atmospheric, listening to Sam talk and hear, what sounds like wind, but more likely Cleetus revving some monster engines outside and fifty miles away.
Perfect. My dad is 77 and has similar stories. Clothes made of flour sacks, selling gravel to the county, recycling bath water. .
Sam your daughters are lucky to get these stories . I could listen to hours of this and I’m not family lol. You have a magnetic personality. People love you no matter where you go. Not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse lol. But keep being you. I hope I get to shake your hand one day. Have a good night sir. I’m so glad you have a channel. Just great!!
Wow, does this bring back memories!!
I remember being on the farm back in the 70's as a little kid. I miss it dearly!! My father sold the farm in the early 80's. What I'd give to have that place again! All the hard work and everything!!
Candler NC here… I visit Burnsville frequently… Prices Creek General Store, Coopers Trading Post, etc. You’re a great role model and an endless bastion of humble knowledge. Amazing man you are.
Gotta love Prices Creek General Store. Can get gas, groceries, some hardware, ammo, and a bbq sandwich at the same place.
I can relate to this life. My 88 year old Dad grew up not far from there. I still have relatives in that area of the Appalachian mountains. Thanks for sharing and God Bless.
Sam is a Treasure. Reminds me of my family History in Georgia. Thank you.
Yes, please make a series of these stories. I really enjoyed listening. Thanks so much for sharing your journey. Best of luck. Take Care!!!
Mr. Sam, my property has (4) black walnut trees. Anytime you need a batch to rekindle the memories, you just let me know. In the fall we are out there using snow shovels to pick them all up. People look at us funny since there is no snow on the ground, but it works great; better than picking up by hand. Saves the back and the black hands.
We have a local church that lives a quasi Amish, cult life. They stopped by one year asking if they could have them as they planned to shuck them and sell the nuts. I told them to help themselves. They came back multiple times loading up truck beds from me and my neighbors. Didn't have to pick up a single one that year! They've never been back since 😂. I think they found out just how hard those black walnuts are to crack!
Mr. Sam listening to you tell your story of how you were raised it reminds me so much of my childhood. It really took me back to a time when life was a lot simpler. Back when everyone looked out for their neighbors and the world was filled with love and compassion for one another. I look forward to more stories from your past. You are a blessing to so many 🙏
Nice to hear your life story.
Cheers from Northern Sweden! 🇸🇪
Thank you Mr Sam My Mom grew up the same way I spent every summer at Grandmas house throwin hay bails pulling weeds all dat Driving tractors at 9 years old I sure miss that farm I am 62 now and look back on precious times Kids dont know how hard you worked from sun up to sundown Keep up the shine Duncan
Man, the algorithm worked tonight thankfully and stumbled upon your channel. Cleetus needs to promote this, get the word out, you’re a treasure.
so much has changed so quickly it's important to preserve as much wisdom as possible. thank you mr Sam! you are one of my favorite people in the whole wide world.
It's so important to get stories like this recorded and saved. Thank you.
Only 43 Sam, but grew up on a small rural farm in So Indiana, so I can feel the hardships and can only imagine, the difficulties people of your age grew up with. My grandpa, like you, didn't have refrigeration, didn't have indoor water closet.. Until his 20's.. I really love stories of folks like you that have all the knowledge in the world.. Its great having a platform like this that will live on forever, for your kids, grandkids, and even their grandchildren.. I would give anything to have a video of my grandpa's and great grandpa's stories and sort of documentary.. This kind of stuff is timeless and worth their weight in gold to the family you will eventually leave behind..
Mr Sam, I am 42 and grew up in a south Alabama much like you described. Most in the 80s and 90s had passed this but my grandparents and family continued life like this. I thought it was normal.
I didn’t realize until much later in life how blessed I was to experience life this way.
I often find myself missing those days when life was much more simple and more rewarding.
Hearing the wind in the garage as he tells a story about the cold winter he had as a kid was amazing timing for an ending. Especially seeing how it's told in Florida where I bet the wind is hot af lol 😆
One of the purest souls I’ve been in the presence of. Stay blessed Mr. Sam
Sam, firstly I gotta say, since you've come into cleeters life his channel has took on this whole new level of greatness, seeing the guys with you, we can truly believe how much they love and respect you and everything you do for them. For me personally I love watching you , you remind me so much of my late grandfather, and I choke up everytime I see you, but it's all happy, thankyou for allowing us a snippet into your life, from one huge Cornish-boy fan
Hey Mr Sam, I really enjoyed hearing part one of your story and can't wait for more💯
You are an inspiration and a role model full of wisdom.
Thank you Mr Sam for being a true gentleman and sharing your life with us.
Big fan from 🇦🇺
I could listen to your stories for hours. Thanks for sharing this with us!
From a younger NC person that grew up working the family field and the neighbors Tobacco fields, you bring me back to my childhood memories and make me miss home. My grandaddy used to take me to pickup walnuts, finishing up with a stop at the corner store for a coke and some salted peanuts, some nibs too sometimes. Stay safe Sam and thanks for the memories.
I did some work around barnardsville it's a small town like where I'm from lancing tn. About a hour east of Knoxville. I remember we always had wood heat in a house built in late 1800s old newspaper was the insulation in the addition built in the 40s I miss that house now. I know my family worked the coal mines all the generations before me and I worked drilling all over the country. I always ran away from my town now I moved back retired and enjoy my life here.
My grandma passed away almost two years ago, and I always loved picking her brain about her childhood. She told me stories about how they had a small shack to live out of as her family went down building a railroad. The structure was built to be rolled on and off a rail car. Her first 'job' was sprinkling water on the ground to keep the dust from their dirt floors under control.
I love cars! I just don't know how you have much love and patience to keep them clean!!! RESPECT!!
Thank You Mr. Sam ! For the story and for your Service to our country!!! Please tell many more!!!
Sam, you make me miss my grandpa. We used to sit out in the garage and talk about his back in the day moments.
Thank you for sharing Mr. Sam. I enjoyed hearing your story, I found myself smiling the entire video. Made me feel like I was just sitting in the shop with you hanging out.
Really enjoyed the video Sam. People need to hear this stuff. You stories arent that many years ago in a big picture. We need to see how delicate life is and need to learn to fend for ourselves. I lived not far from your hometown in Balsam NC. Keep on keepin on Sam!!!
Really enjoyed a little history of your childhood Sam. We need more.
Sam, I had no idea you grew up right over the mountain from where I grew up. I was just up the road in the Pensacola community in Burnsville.
It was an honor to meet you last April at Bristol. You sir are one cool dude and as down to earth as they come. Keep the content coming!
We love you Sam, so glad to have you around brother, the channel and the whole world is a much better, happy and positive place with you around. Much love brother ❤
I know exactly what your talking about those fried pies Mr. Sam my mother and her sister would make them for us and they we're from Kentucky it's been along time since I've had one my aunt has passed away and my mother is too old now to cook brings a tear to my eyes thinking about them. Thank you for your story Sir....
A story that I can relate to, close to Sam's age. It was all too short , but very much appreciated . Thanks Sam.
Hi Sam thanks for your story! I come from a small (compared to the US) generation farm in Norway, so facinating to listen to your story and compare to how my grandfather told me the farming life back home was. Very different cultures but one thing is for sure, farm life back in the days where not a easy life. Everyone had to step in and help. My grandfather grew up during the end and after the German occupation, so it was a challenging time for sure! Thanks again for your story and keep them coming.
My father grew up in the same way in east TN. Outhouse, no bathroom inside no running water just a well outside with a hand pump. Twelve kids and only 2 bedrooms in the home. A mule for the plow.
He would always say that too; we were poor but we didn't know it.
Do more of these Sam, loved listening. Thank you!
Edit: spellcheck
God bless you Mr. Sam, love hearing the stories. Thank you for being a great role model and all out great person. World needs more people telling about old ways, makes us appreciate what we all have!
We shared a lot of similar things Mr Sam....we'd lay the green walnuts out to dry and later run them through a hand crank corn sheller that the previous owner had left on the farm. Wild strawberries..... picking pawpaws when they were ripe!!!!!
Thank you for this Sam! You definitely grew up in the hard working generation. Thank you for your service also!
My grandpa was 1 of 14 children and they also worked on the farm. I love good old fashioned people. You can always tell when they are/were hard workers. I'm grateful that I got to do work with him at a young age into my early adult years. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for him.
We need a series - Story Time with Sam! This man’s a legend! Thank you Sam for sitting down with us and sharing your stories!
Love listening to your stories! Reminds me very much of my grandmother when she was a child in North Dakota. Tough life on a farm, but they made it work.
Thanks for sharing! ❤️
What a wonderful story Mr Sam! I sure enjoyed listening, it reminded me of sitting at my Grandpa's living room and hearing his stories. He sure would've loved to have visited with you. He was a B26 Pilot in WWII
Mr.Sam you are an absolute Gem. You are the type of man that’s friends with everyone such a good soul.
I think it´s amazing that you are doing this series for your children and also give us the privilege of listening to your story... As someone who had a granddad grow up in northern Europe (Denmark) during WW2 it´s facinating hearing the differences but also the similarities in your story and the ones he told me...
Thanks for sharing Mr Sam! I was raised by my grandparents in Mississippi and experienced some of the same things in the 70s and 80s. I’m glad you are sharing your story!
These stories are great and lost to alot of the kids today I love hearing about the old days warms my heart. Keep them coming Sam
At 46 the older I get the more I realize just how easy I had it growing up. Mr. Sam's life seems to parallel that of my father to a great degree. He was born in 1936 in Inman, SC on a farm and moved to Georgia in 1945 to pick peaches in a peach orchard where he and his parents and three sisters lived in a small house on the edge of the orchard. That was the first place he lived that had wood floors rather than dirt. When he told me these things as a kid it just didn't seem real somehow. I lost him almost six years ago now and just like Sam he was tough as nails and good as gold. He always found something to be happy about no matter how much he really could've been unhappy about many things. God bless you Mr. Sam, I look forward to more videos like this, I didn't realize you had your own channel until today so I'll be watching!
Mr Sam we had CBC radio in kenora Ontario Canada they had story hr and a program called the rest of the story. Any you my friend are a book that I could listen to you forever.
Sam you are a great guy. Remind me of my grandfather. You are one of the best things that has happened to Cleetus channel. Glad you have your own. Thanks for all the great stories.
I could sit in listen too you talk all day Sam.
You're a man of class and wisdom, and alot can be learnt from a man as yourself.
We are all so blessed to be able to connect with you in thisbway and learn from you.
From a fellow Canadian Sam, i strive to live half as cool of a life as you.
Stories like that is never coming back.Thank you Sam for telling your story. Love from Sweden.
Exactly that's what my Grandmother told me. She was 7 when the depression started. Ration like crazy potatoes for dinner raise your own food chicken pigs beef . General farm work back in the day!!!
Thank you Mr. Sam stories like these are a little glimmer into the life of our parents and grandparents back when times were simpler and so much harder that some of us just can’t quite understand.
Thank you Mr.Sam I enjoy your stories and input.Cleetus is blessed to have your company.
I grew up in a small town now and I’m 22 years old, from a small place called Williams oregon, where there is still a general store and one restaurant, I now live in the town where there are more people and population but now it’s hard even to make a by in rent here unfortunately, it would literally be a dream come true to meet you or Cleetus some day as I feel we all kind of grew up the same way, just a bunch of cool genuine men.
Sam, growing up on a farm is a hard life! It was fun sometimes but there was a lot of robbing peter to pay paul. Some people won't understand, but i know you do! We didn't actually rob anyone... we traded things with other farmers to get by! Had to be done! We raised turkeys, chickens, sold eggs, and whatever else we could to survive until harvest. I never realized how well we ate! Back then "Organic" was just how it was done! BLESS YOU SIR! I knew you were a farmer because of the way you handle yourself! Modest, humble, and really giving! God Bless the American Farmer!
How times have changed...I really enjoy listening to stories like this. It's also puts into prospective how easy & accessible things are this day & age.
I love hearing Mr Sam tell stories. I'm from the Easter part of NC and I grew up on a tobacco farm too. Now I live in a 185 yo house with two walnut trees in the yard. They definitely make a mess! Lol
Sam, I love and thank, and care and pray for you! PLEASE do more of these, so your stories can be shared to younger people, and heck ...youre own family to keep you in their hearts FOREVER! People can't imagine a life WITHOUT Refrigeration, ha. Loved the "Hog Killin" story