The Civilian Conservation Corps?born out of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal at the height of the Great Depression?supplied jobs to more than 77,000 Minnesotans in need. Their work left a lasting legacy, visible today in Minnesota's thriving forests, state park amenities, and soil conservation practices.

Hundreds of interviews complement oral historian Barbara Sommer's lively text with personal accounts that animate the history of the CCC in Minnesota as camps were created and projects tackled throughout the state. The "boys" look back - often fondly - at this program, which, for many, was their introduction to the workforce and to life away from home.

Accolades for Hard Work and a Good Deal:

• Winner of the 2009 Minnesota Book Award in the Minnesota Category
• Winner of the 2009 Northeast Minnesota Book Award in the General Nonfiction Category
• Winner of the 2009 Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)

Barbara W. Sommer, an oral historian for more than twenty-five years, has served as director or codirector for numerous oral history projects and coauthored related publications. She is a founder of the Oral History Association of Minnesota.