4.00pm - Monday 24th August 2026 1,863

Listen on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/episode/457gjJjYoerxtEhS1hEa7H

What was farming really like before modern tractors, combines, GPS and technology transformed agriculture?

In this fascinating podcast, we sit down with the McClean family to explore over 80 years of farming history, sharing first-hand stories passed down through generations. From steam-powered threshing to today's modern agricultural machinery, this episode captures a disappearing way of life that shaped rural Northern Ireland.

This isn't just a conversation about machinery—it's a remarkable insight into resilience, family values, hard work and the people who helped transform British and Irish agriculture.

Whether you're a farmer, machinery enthusiast, rural historian or simply love hearing authentic stories from generations past, this episode is packed with fascinating memories you won't hear anywhere else:

00:00:18 - Introduction
00:01:54 - Family presence in Donegal and buying first Fordson Major
00:08:41 - Growing up in the countryside, school and life in the 1950s & 60s
00:17:06 - Procuring the first thresher and the beginnings of business
00:33:27 - Evolution of machinery and the family business
00:45:54 - The first combine harvester
01:00:28 - Appreciation of the simple things in life
01:22:44 - Facing hardships in life
01:37:19 - Adverstiy and family

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Who are McClean & Co?
Just a bunch of lads who love machinery, loud exhausts, black smoke, and making farming videos.
We’re the team behind FarmFLiX and the tractor rodeo #onThePull — and this channel is your backstage pass.

👉 Watch more from the team on FarmFLiX — Real Farming | Real People
https://www.farmflix.tv

👉 See upcoming #onThePull events
https://onthepull.co/