A week ago, I was near the tiny Sumner County, Kansas town of Milan at the Mid-Kansas Co-op as part of a sorghum tour organized by the U.S. Grains Council for a group of young Mexican leaders.
The USGC and partner organizations, including the United Sorghum Checkoff Program organized the farm-to-port learning experience of the U.S. grain production, marketing and transportation systems. The team visited farms in Texas and Oklahoma, state-of-the-art cooperative facilities, an ethanol plant and port facilities during their June tour.
I’ve been on these kinds of tours before, and I have to admit this tour was a little more relaxed. Mostly because they spoke and understood English better than other tours I’d been a part of. And it didn’t hurt they were happy and fun to be around.
Officials at MKC gave us the tour and answered many, many questions from the Mexican millers. Alipio Bribiesca was particularly interested in the inner workings of the mill and inspected about every square inch of the place.
After a tour through the inner workings of the main terminal, we made our way up the flights of stairs to the top of the 4.5-million-bushel flat storage building. Inside we about melted looking at the wheat lying in storage. It was a nice reprieve to get out into the Kansas wind a hundred feet up after checking out the flat storage.
We climbed the steps back down and toured the area where the trains are filled with grain and went up to where the operator would direct the grain into the trains. From there, we were taken to the top of the concrete grain bins via a two-person lift. This could be a true challenge for people with space issues. It did not bother me though. At the top of the bins—142 feet—you could see several near by towns and a train even made its way by when we were touring the top. It was quite the sight!
Now, as I mentioned before, this group was young and energetic. Instead of waiting for about 10 people to make the trip down the lift again, one suggested just taking the steps. Now, I get a little squidgy about heights some times, especially when looking down. These stairs were strong and sturdy, but they also allowed you to see the ground below you too. I was carrying a camera and bag and took it slow. I had to tell myself more than once, just chill out, it’s fine. I was never so thankful to get to the bottom step. I nearly kissed the ground. But I didn’t want to embarrass myself.
My legs felt a little like Jell-O, but I’d made it unscathed. Unluckily I had a nearly 3-hour drive home and once I got home I wanted nothing more than to lie on the couch. And that’s exactly what I did. I didnt feel as sore as I thought my un-athletic, out of shape body would the next morning, but was reminded how out of shape I was the following afternoon. I’d spent most of the morning at a meeting, sitting and listening to speakers. Then had an hour drive home. When I got back to the office I realized just how sore I was. No rest for the weary as my husband wanted my help that evening, horseback, to gather some stray steers out of our cows. I don’t ride as regularly as I once did, but awoke the next morning to still sore thighs and a muscle sore back. I was quite the picture of out of shape. But I got the photos to prove I was at the top.
Watch for a story about the tour in an upcoming issue of High Plains Journal.
