Jenny Burgess – Burgess Hill Farms
I write this journal tired from harvest. But we’re done, done with corn harvest 2016! Finally.
We were supposed to be done yesterday but a broken belt on the combine hindered our progress. After a call to a town that was close and realizing that they didn’t have it, of course, my dad had to drive to a town 45 miles away to get it. That put most of our day twiddling our thumbs.
When moments like these happen, I find something to do. I don’t like to sit idle. Just a couple of days ago, the combine was down again, so I jumped in our four-wheel drive tractor and started disking ground.
This year was our best corn crop to date! We’d enjoy it a little better if the markets weren’t so bad. All of the corn we harvested this year went to our local Ethanol plant. We get a little more than other places.
My finished thought is…I still love what we do, because we do it together. No matter the markets, weather, or crop losses. It’s ingrained in our very nature and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. How many other people can say that about what they do every day?
-Jen
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".