Joe Peck has managed to balance the neat trick throughout his lifetime of being a full-time farmer and a part-time Renaissance man.

Peck's wit and wisdom of life on the farm has been honed through the years. He has talked a lot to audiences and written for a variety of publications. His often humorous accounts have been published in the collection 'A Tractor In The House & Other Smashing Farm Stories.'

The feedback has been positive, Peck said, although somewhat surprising.

'I hear from a lot of the farmers who say they like it, but I'm surprised by how many young people like it also,' said Peck, who has been active in the community in a number of guises.

'For 20 years I had a daily radio show on WKHA, a short morning program daily that was kind of fun,' he said. 'I was also active in the Schuylerville Community Theater with 'Heaven Can Wait' and 'Fiddler on the Roof' -- some of the old favorites -- then I got busy in the speaking business.'

Besides his recent interest in storytelling, Peck keeps busy milking his 100 registered Holsteins on the farm, in partnership with his son David.

Peck's 228-page compilation includes more than 100 entertaining tales of life on the farm. It is on sale at area bookstores and farm supply dealers for $14.95.

Peck will be signing copies of his book from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Walker's Farm, Home & Tack Store in Fort Ann; 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Peckhaven Farm in Saratoga Springs; 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at Country Power Products in Greenwich; 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 13 at Gardenworks in Salem, and 2 p.m. Nov. 20 at Borders Books & Music on Broadway in Saratoga Springs.