Kansas: Respectfully to those who are, I’ve never really been into soap operas. I feel that life has enough twists and turns without consuming more, especially when I’m living a real life soap opera in the form of harvest.
No, most harvesters don’t seek out drama. However, drama naturally finds harvesters. In fact, some of it is so unexpected, that unless you’ve lived this life to understand, some of our stories are almost like highly exaggerated, tall tales. But they’re real and I wish I would have written them all down over the years. Alas, there’s just not enough hours in the day.
Let me give you an example of weather induced drama. We typically harvest at multiple locations across Texas. This year, drought took those acres, one location at a time, and enabled those farmers to cover the few acres not zeroed-out with their own machines.
Crew has begun staging equipment along our harvest trail to be ready when the time comes.
Despite that disappointment, one last location was looking like it would make it. That was until the insurance adjusters discovered there was virtually no grain in the beautiful heads. It appraised out at two bushels an acre. No wheat harvest would happen for that farm in 2025.
It’s one thing to lose a stop, it’s another to lose an entire state. I suppose there’s a first time for everything.
Due to the poor crop, additional acres to harvest just weren’t available. Then, unexpectedly, a fellow harvester reached out as it appeared they may need help to cover some fields. It isn’t unusual for crews to ask friends and acquaintances to cover acres if conditions warrant it, and we were thankful for the nod.
The crew immediately sprang into action and excitedly prepared to roll out. However, in less than 24 hours from the original call, the farmer had decided to go another direction, and disappointment was felt once again. Even though it didn’t work out, we appreciated the harvester considering us for the job.
I can’t remember the last time we were home for Memorial Day weekend. However, that change allowed the kids and I to head to the Fort Wallace Rodeo where both children participated in the steer riding event. They had a blast competing and seeing their classmates and friends from the area.
We had planned to head to southern Oklahoma this weekend with a tentative June 1 start. This past week, much of the southern plains experienced rains and unseasonably cool weather, delaying the crop’s ripening. The crew remains on standby for a later departure and continues to work through even the tiniest details to ensure we hit the ground running.
Even the smallest details are being covered.
As stressful as the unknowns of agriculture and loss of business can be, we were recently reminded of how quickly a person can lose everything they’ve worked for.
On Sunday, May 18, the beautiful little town of Grinnell, Kansas, experienced the devastation of an EF-3 tornado. The close-knit community, where Ryan’s late mother once lived, isn’t far from our farm and harvest headquarters. Because we weren’t on the road, our family, and some of the crew, had the opportunity to help with cleanup the day after. Over 700 people flocked to help that first Monday. Complete strangers became friends as we sifted and sorted anything we could salvage for those affected by the tornado. The amount of work accomplished in such a short amount of time was staggering, all possible by people recognizing and responding to a need.
How do storms do what they do? Amongst the rubble, this lightbulb was completely intact!
On the way out of town, I asked Lady A if seeing and working through the devastation had been too much for her young self to experience. Her answer was so profound for someone so young, “No Mom. Now I know if something like this happened to us, people would come help.”
Yes, sweet girl. Even through the soap opera that is life, we help our own out here in the rural parts of America. Whether it is harvesters sharing acres, strangers coming together after a storm, or a host of other tough events, we can get through the hard times with faith and a little help from our friends. And that, AAWH readers, is what life is all about. If you’re interested in helping the community of Grinnell, the “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” fund has been set up through the Gove County Community Foundation here: https://gnwkcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1236
Laura can be reached at [email protected]
The storms have really put on a show lately.
