Karly Cherney – C & K Harvesting & Trucking
Where did the summer go?!?!
I have heard that many times in the last couple weeks and have been asking myself the same thing!
We had a very busy wheat harvest and seemed to be running behind the whole time until we caught up to spring wheat in Montana. It is great to have many long days in the field but some time off waiting for spring wheat to ripen was alright also.
We got to enjoy some local sights and catch up on other things, as well. I spent most of the summer jumping in and out of the tractor and cart, combine and truck…wherever an extra hand was needed…which didn’t bother me one bit! My girls did a great job with most of the meals and also being the extra helpers in the field. My son, Billy, was normally by my side trying to take over the drivers seat, especially on the days he was tired of listening to his older sisters!
Love this view!
As the days flew by, I tried not to look at the calendar creeping closer to the dreaded “First day of school”. It’s funny how I look back to when we had our first daughter and people would ask “What will you do with harvest when she starts school?” I would just say we’ve got a few years before we have to worry about that. In the blink of an eye, we were at that point!
First day of school as Sophomore, 8th grade and 2nd grade.
From kindergarten to 6th grade, we would enroll our kids in school in the North Dakota town we were harvesting in and then transfer them to our home school when we got closer to home for fall harvest. I did that as a kid on harvest with my parents, as well, and have great friends and memories, as do our kids now also. But, as they became very busy with sports and activities in Jr. High, I opted to start bringing them home so they don’t miss much of their activities.
It is the hardest part of the season for me and I drive many miles with tears in my eyes and a pit in my stomach with the thought of leaving harvest behind but my kids are only little once and I will be there to support them! We have great friends at home that lend the helping hand to our kids when I have to go back and forth to help.
Got to enjoy Richland County fair in Montana on one of our days off.
Our crew did finish wheat harvest in Montana and moved to Oklahoma last weekend. I have already made a couple of trips back and forth to move our home on wheels and other equipment for fall work. We will spend our fall harvest within 3-4 hours from our headquarters, so now starts the many trips back and forth for me keeping up with kids’ ballgames and the crew. Some people think it’s a little crazy running all over the country, but I say you have to be a little on the crazy side to be a custom harvester and love it as much as I do!
Fall harvest in Oklahoma. Thanks to Spanky for the picture.
The crew has started on corn in Oklahoma and we start our first ballgames of the season this week, as well. The kids and I are looking forward to spending Labor Day weekend back with our crew enjoying harvest life again!
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".