Erica Brown – Brown Acres Custom Harvesting
We (Mick & I) made it back to South Dakota last night with the tractor and grain cart. The rest of the crew was back on Monday.
They harvested an average crop of wheat in a very beautiful area high above the river on Tuesday. I was hoping to be back in time for photo opportunities in this field, but missed out. It feels like you’re in a piece of art while you’re harvesting the field. We were able to stay home extra days due to rain on Wednesday. Thursday it was still too wet to harvest, but everything was moved 50 miles to our next field.
We are harvesting in rattlesnake country – our dog, Peaches was bit by a rattlesnake 2 years ago in this area. It is a very secluded beautiful area of South Dakota that most people will never see. The roads are hilly with lots of twists and turns. After driving many miles on pavement, we drive many more miles on gravel starting out at the top and working our way down to the river bottom and then back up to where the field is located. The truckers don’t like it very much, but the elevator shuts down at 8:00 Mountain time which helps make an earlier night. The trucks are filled after the last elevator load and will be delivered to the elevator in the morning.
I made them Tater Tot Hotdish for supper; they all love it. I try to stick to simple recipes they all like, if I can. I also brought a fresh cut juicy pineapple, bread & butter and a bag of Oreos.
1. Be ready to go at the drop of a hat...sometimes without a lunchbox.
2. Has removed the word impossible from her vocabulary!
3. Can hold a baby, take care of a toddler and drive a tractor or combine all at the same time.
4. Must be able to cook for a crew - large or small.
5. Must be able to read minds.
6. Must be able to banter with a parts man until he realizes you DO know what you're talking about.
7. Must be the entertainment director for those rainy days.
8. Be a wife, mom, friend, helper, cook, problem solver, taxi driver or extra crew hand at all times.
9. Can handle the call that makes you react, "You need what? When?" Dropping everything you're doing to make it happen.
10. At the end of the day say, "I really do love this life".