The narrator recalls memories of their grandfather, who held the position of chairman on a committee related to agriculture, though the specifics of his rise to that role are unclear. During meetings, the leader of the Grange, which represents farmers nationally, would often start by highlighting the poor crop yields over the past two decades, addressing the senator directly.

This statement would provoke hearty laughter from the grandfather, leaving the Grange members confused about what was funny. The humor seemingly stemmed from the disconnect between expectations and reality in agriculture, pointing to an absence of standard norms in crop performance that had not changed over the years.