“Ponytail or messy bun? Hat or no hat? What’s the temp? Should I wear a sweater or just bring one with? Better pack at least one fruit in my lunch backpack (it’s basically my field purse — it holds my whole life, not just a lunch) so I feel better about myself…and about the cheeseburger and tater tots I’ll likely order from the drive-in after my 12+ hour day. Crap, better throw some concealer under my eyes, just so people don’t think I’m the walking dead.”
That there is just a cute little snippet of my routinely internal conversation each morning. Does it sound familiar? I hope so. I can’t possibly be the only one. Hi everyone, my name is Stephanie Osowski. I’m 26 years old and I stand at a whopping 5’3, but I like to think my big personality makes up for my short height. I graduated from North Dakota State University in 2014 with a major in agricultural economics and minor in animal science. I’ve been involved in agriculture since birth, as I was mere hours away from being born in a combine. I’ve been driving tractors, trucks and combines ever since I could reach the pedals. When I couldn’t reach, there would simply be a pillow to sit on. My owner’s manual for everything was just four words — you’ll figure it out.
I grew up in a custom harvesting family. My dad, mom and brother Brandon and I would travel the Midwest with one purpose — cut all the wheat we could while traveling back north to our hometown of Grafton, ND, where we would unload the combines and start all over again. You could also find my pictures and articles in the All Aboard Wheat Harvest segment in the High Plains Journal for the past 6 years, regaling our daily harvest trials and tribulations.
Peter, Stephanie and the Osowski family.
Growing up on harvest was mega unconventional, but the best thing ever. There were brief teenage angst moments where I would have disagreed with that, but subconsciously I always knew I was fortunate. I had my first sleepover in Oklahoma, took swimming lessons in Kansas, made friends in numerous zip codes and always had the best tales of summer when school started again. Not only did I learn to always be flexible, have a strong work ethic, and the ability to be able to hold a conversation with a pile of rocks, I met my handsome South African boyfriend a few years back on the harvest run. In a campground in Kansas, no less. Super classy, we know, but a classic harvest tale.
The year 2017 was the first year in my 26 years of life that I didn’t go on harvest with my family. Why? Because it was all I knew. I needed new perspectives. I needed a change. But I still wanted to be on harvest. So, I hopped on as simply the hired hand on another harvest crew and that’s exactly what I got — new perspective and whole lot of change. Now, as of May 3rd, 2018, I am working for a farmer around home to gain yet more experience and perspective. I’ve never farmed before, are you kidding me? I’m a harvest girl. So the learning curve is real but I’m loving it so far. Peter got a job around home working for a farmer as well so I guess you could say we are starting to plant some roots.
I wear a few hats when it comes to my career choices. I love kids and combines. If I could combine (see what I did there) them into one job, I would. And maybe one day I will. That being said, I do a ton of nannying/substitute teaching/daycare assisting in the non-farming months. One of my favorite jokes that has probably been repeated too much is that some of my favorite humans are 2-3 feet tall. Aside from my passion for the agricultural industry, I think the biggest motivator to do what I do is for those little girls who are growing up in a farming family, but have brothers that will assumably take over the family operation one day. Girls can do everything boys can do, right? Isn’t that what we teach our kids now and always? One family I nanny for quite a bit is a prime example — farming family, big brother with two little sisters. Our favorite thing to do when I’m there is play farm toys. Big brother will sometimes say to his one sister, “The farm is for the boys. Girls can’t drive tractors.” Their mom always pipes up when she hears this saying, “Ahh ahh ahh, but what about Steph?” Drop the mic. His tune changes entirely and his sister is then handed a tractor to farm in the carpet right next to him.
I look forward to being able to continue to share my journey, thanks to Tracy and her HarvestHer page. Please follow along — if I can promise you anything, I can promise you it won’t be boring.
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".