The end of the nineteenth century was a difficult time for farmers in Scotland. A decade of cold years made it hard to grow crops or feed animals, and grain growers faced competition from America after the repeal of the Corn Laws. In these harsh conditions, ordinary families still pursued their lives and loves. Blending together fiction and fact, My Father Was a Farmer in New Cumnock tells the story of the Baird family, and of their joys and struggles on their farm.