Cash crop
story by Quenest Harrington
Billy Dale Smith comes from nine generations of tobacco farmers.
“It’s always been in my blood and it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” he said.
Due to the expansion of his farm in the late 80s, Billy developed a need for outside help. But the limited availability and consistency of local workers left him with a dilemma.
So Billy, 51, did what many farmers do – he turned to migrant workers.
He currently employs eight workers from Mexico, some of whom have been with him for more than 15 years.
When their contracts void at the end of each year, the workers return home to Mexico. There they have the option of choosing new jobs or going back to Smith Farm.
Workers that choose to return to the states tend to stay with Billy despite the grueling work and long hours.
“He is a good boss,” said Bernardino Ruiz, who has returned to Smith Farm for the past 15 years.
Bernardino and the other migrant workers took jobs on the farm to take care of their families back in Mexico, where job opportunities are scarce.
“My son, he has disabilities, and he has to attend a special school,” worker Raul Hernandez said.
He uses the money he makes at Smith Farm to help make life comfortable for his wife and son. Hernandez and the other migrant workers also make life more comfortable for Billy.
About four years ago, Billy tore his meniscus and discovered shortly after that he had arthritis. Billy said his workers help him a great deal with the physical labor that he cannot complete.
“These guys here, they’re just like family to me, “ he said.
To begin the day, Billy Dale Smith clears out a barn on his tobacco farm.
Migrant worker Johnathan Bererra, 19, smokes tobacco leaves on Smith Farm. The Mexico native has been working on Billy Dale Smith's farm for about a year now, and he sends almost all the money he makes home to his family.
From left: Francisco Tovar, Luis Tapia and Raul Hernandez clean tobacco leaves on Billy Dale Smith's farm.
Migrant worker Cecilio Arce hitches a ride to a barn on the back of Billy Dale Smith's truck on Smith's tobacco farm.
Luis Tapia, Francisco Tovar and Johnathan Berrera eat venada (which means deer in English) at a cookout during a lunch break from working on Billy Smith's tobacco farm.
Billy Dale Smith and two of his employees, Cecilio Arce and Donaciano Arce, relax after a long day of work on Smith's tobacco farm.
Jimmy Johnson, 47, and Billy Dale Smith, 51, inspect a tobacco leaf from a shipment they dropped off at the Conwood tobacco processing plant.
A long day of stripping tobacco on Billy Dale Smith's farm drives Luis Tapia to the deck for a catnap.