42 I CHRONICLESnthem. There are some who might ask,n”If we’re so worried about the farmer’sn’way of life,’ what about the doctor’s?nthe grocer’s? the schoolteacher’s?”nBut in the face of the brave determinationnof Jaeger and Tyndall and thenpeople at FOOD, such questions seemnmean and petty. They aren’t asking forna handout or a tax break or a betterthan-evennchance of success — at least,nnot here. They’ve come up with anproduct to sell, and proceeds will go tonneedy farm families across the countrynfor food, clothing, housing, and jobnretraining, with part of the moneyngoing to state mental health organizationsnand a college scholarship program.nThe product? The 1988 “DakotanMen” calendar, featuring, on heavynsatin gloss, 14 of the ruggedest, bestlookingnguys that ever tossed a bale ornoverhauled a Deere. All single. Alln”looking,” or so they claim. As wholesomenand inviting a bunch of males asnyou could find this side of The CosbynShow. (The saltiest month is October,nfeaturing Ted Hanson, 24, who says,n”Friendship is a critical first step in anmutually supportive relationship,” andnfeels that “farming provides an opportunitynfor creative and aggressivenminds.” Ted is “a free-spirited man”nwho enjoys “fishing naked and Frenchnkissing in a classic ’57 Chevy.”)nJanuary’s Gary Reiswig, 22, sits in anbarn in his sheepskin coat and a plaidnflannel shirt, nuzzling a colt. Garynsays, “I like girls,” and adds that henwants a wife to go along with thenwinters and his chosen farm life.nGary’s not stupid. Kevin Pifer, 28, anfarmer and fledgling politician, standsnin the state capitol with his pinstripenjacket over his white-shirted shoulder;n”Harvest season is a beautiful time ofnyear to share intimate moments withnsomeone special,” he says. DennisnDipple, 28, likes “open, honest people,nphysical fitness” (in front of hisncombine, Dennis Dipple ripples innjeans and a body shirt), “studying thenmarkets and a sense of humor,” andnfeels that “women can be some of yournmost supportive friends.” Perry Miller,n26, FOOD’S director of public relations,npresents the only real beefcake innthe calendar as he poses in a bathrobenwith one leg exposed to mid-thigh,nopening a Ghristmas present on anstylish hearth. There is a lot of whitentooth in this calendar, and more thannan occasional soft mustache. Thesenguys reek of rugged sensitivity. You canngive this calendar to your Mom or yournmaiden aunt with a clear conscience.nBack in June, all of the Dakota Menn(13 months and a cover) were auctionednoff to 14 young women forndates, which the men paid for themselves.nProceeds from the auction wentnto FOOD. Since early spring 1987,nthere have been dozens of local andnnational television and radio interviews,nincluding a spot on the Todaynshow (FOOD is now trying to getnthem to do a follow-up story), andnthey’re “coming at Johnny Garsonnfrom three different directions,” saysnRoger Jaeger, founder Larry Jaeger’snbrother, board member, and Mr. February.nFeatures in Cosmopolitan andnWomen’s World will come out in a fewnmonths, and even farm journals —nread mostly by men — are covering thenstory. Twenty-five thousand calendarsnwere sold in the first two weeks,nthrough 85 North Dakota accessnpoints and displays in Waldenbooks inneight other states, and FOOD is planningna mailing to 3,000 college bookstores.nIn Texas, 8,000 nursing studentsnwill sell the calendars as anfund-raising project for themselvesn(“We’re very willing to negotiate on,nterms,” says Roger Jaeger). As if all thisnisn’t enough to guarantee success, thenhuge Women’s International BowlingnGongress, which wifl convene in Bismarck,nNorth Dakota, in 1989, is interestednin “doing something” with thencalendars.nThat afl 14 1988 Dakota Men arenNorth Dakotans is a coincidence,nRoger Jaeger tells me; FOOD considerednmen from several states. What’snmore important is that every single onenof them is an honest-to-God farmer.nAnd plans are already being made fornthe fall 1988 pageant (to pick the 1989nDakota Men), which will be held innSouth Dakota in order to get morenentrants from there and widen thencalendar’s appeal. Nineteen eightyninenis both North and South Dakota’sncentennial, which won’t hurt at all.nGlearly, FOOD is not fooling around.n”Farming schedules make it hard tonget all the Dakota Men together,” saysnRoger. “We were very lucky this Junento get all the guys into a barn for angroup shot.” (Farmers will understandnnnjust how lucky that mid-June shot was,nespecially since all the men wore tuxedos.)nThe original projection was thatnFOOD would sefl a million 1988ncalendars, at $8.95 retail. They won’tncome close to that figure this year, orneven next. But hundreds of thousandsnof farm families are genuinely in trouble,nnever mind the reasons, andnFOOD aims to sell an honest productnin an honest way to help them. Somethingnhere appeals to me. Possibly it’snFront Gover Jeff Dahl, 31, who likesnthe feel of black velvet and ridingnbareback in the warm summer rain.nJane Greer edits Plains Poetry Journal.nThe toll-free number for informationnon FOOD and calendars isn1-800-345-8000.nLetter From anSodbusternby David TillotsonnBreaking the Antaean BondnGorn planting season has arrivednagain, and the soil is moving. Hotnspring winds that have foresters on rednalert are picking up the earth, claynfractions first, and sending it off. Thisngale mocks the fine print don’ts on then50-pound sacks of rootworm pesticide.nIt too is blowing in the wind. No waynwill the stuff conform to the encyclopedicn”Regulations for Application”nprinted on the bags.nHalfway between Milwaukee andnMadison, towering clouds of soil risenfrom the pithy muck-farm fields asn”Black Rollers,” ghosts from the 30’s,ndrift across 1-94, a mystery to thenhedonistic rubberneckers heading towardna rock concert in Mad Gity;n”must be a fire over there somewhere.”nNorth of Uvalde and hours westnfrom San Antonio in “Gactus Jack”nGarner’s West Texas hill country, thengoats have pared much of it down tonbedrock. Like Rodney Dangerfield,nthe goats don’t get no respect, but theyndo get all the mesquite, cactus, rabbitnbrush, the tough thorny things that anynother self-respecting grazing critternwould leave unbrowsed.nWe can see white slabs pepperingn