Interview with Jacob Hughes Graves, III, October 31, 1991

Interview Summary

Hughes describes the early history of his family farm in relation to the production of hemp. He describes the planting and harvesting process of hemp and what part of the plant is used for the fiber for rope. He describes the government's immense need for hemp in rope production for the war effort during World War II and the privileges afforded to Hughes because his farm was one of the main producers of hemp in Kentucky. Hughes describes the decline in hemp production after the war because of the use of nylon and the loss of their biggest buyer--the U.S. government. He talks about the difference in hemp's association with marijuana from when he farmed hemp and the time of the interview (1991). He talks about the wild hemp that grew on his land and the threats posed by the government because of the tight controls on marijuana and hemp. He describes the by-product of his stepfather's seed cleaning facility--bird seed made of hemp and other weed seeds.

Interview Keyword

Hemp production Heritage farms Seed cleaning facilities Wild hemp seeds Marijuana Government programs War effort

Interview LC Subject

Agriculture--Kentucky Family farms Hemp Hemp farmers Hemp industry Hemp industry--Kentucky World War, 1939-1945 Farm life--Kentucky Crops Traditional farming Agriculture

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.