A man owned a small ranch in New Mexico. An agent of the New Mexico Wage & Hour Board dropped by, on a routine check to see if he was paying proper wages to his help.

"I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," said the agent.

"Well," replied the rancher, "There's my ranch hand who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $600 a week plus free room and board.

"Then there's the cook. She's been here for 18 months, and I pay her $500 per week plus free room and board.

"Finally there's a half-wit who works 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $30 a week, pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday night."

"AHA!! That's the guy I want to talk to! Let me talk to the half-wit," says the agent.

"That would be me." replied the rancher.