Saturday, September 13, 2025

Farmers are Union Suit Fans

My two granddads and my two great granddads and, I suppose, their dads, midwest farmers all, wore union suits while they farmed, six days a week, and wore them to church on Sundays. A couple of them wore their union suits seven days a week, year round.  It's been a farmer thing for a century and a half to wear warm, comfortable one-piece, long underwear.  My dad and uncles, as boys, grew up on farms and, you guessed it, wore union suits. 

From them, I've come to love union suits, happily having worn them as long as I can remember. And, I'm not even a farmer. But, farming runs deep in my blood as does my inclination to wear their style of long johns!

Clem recently sent along a photo and story of a modern day farmer who, like my ancestors and me, chooses to wear union suits. Sometimes, apparently, that is all he wears as he, well, farms....


The caption reads:  
Farmer Brian sometimes works in the field wearing just his union suit or long johns. He was brought up to wear long underwear from November 1st to May 1st. He adjusts his outer wear to fit the actual temperature. That's thinking outside the box.

Over the years, several of you union suit fans have sent me your union suit wearing stories and photos, having grown up on farms, which I have posted in this blog. 

All the best unionsuiters, Chris

8 comments:

  1. I grew up on a diary farm my brothers and I all wore the classic 1970’s waffle weave long johns. They served as pajamas also. I now wear unions from November to April working construction, unions are better when wearing a tool belt all day. Artie up in Maine

    ReplyDelete
  2. That’s a fine looking union suit farmer Brian is wearing. The material appears to be of high quality as does the workmanship. The fit is snug but not tight with no puckering or pulling from the buttons. While we can’t see the ankles, the sleeve are long enough and snug enough to keep out drafts. If I knew the brand and they were still being sold I would support the company and buy one ……..Buckeye Mike

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey, Buckeye, it could be a vintage union suit to go with the vintage tractor. ----- Retro Jeff in Illinois

      Delete
    2. If I had to guess I would say they are Stanfield’s. Very well made and comfortable. Artie up in Maine

      Delete
    3. If I had to guess I would say they are Stanfield’s. Very well made and comfortable. Artie up in Maine

      Delete
  3. Nice union suit. I need to buy some.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I started wearing union suits after seeing my grandpa who was a farmer wearing his....Max - Topeka

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's about that time of year again. The nights have been cool in South Dakota of course have been stuck in newmexico with work and it's still hot.... Charles from Sd

    ReplyDelete