I remember the hay fields also. I started out as one of the wire pushers on the baler, finally graduated up to the tractor driver..
Good $$$$ doing baling on contract back in the day.
1 1/2 summers and I paid for a Allis Chalmers tractor and round baler.
I always hear stories of dad baling straw during his hs days. I think the most they did was 12,000 bales of straw one summer. I hate doing straw even tho they are lighter.