05/07/17
The excitement builds as the start of #harvest17 approaches for our crew. Everyone is here, everyone is ready, combines are ready, trucks are ready, trailers are ready, everything is just plain ready! Everyone wants to hit the road…now!!
Well, I know there are some that will read this and you may have already started cutting but we won’t smell the pleasing aroma of wheat, straw, chaff and dust for another couple of weeks, anyway. The plans are to hit the road in another week and be gone until mid November. But of course, plans change!
So one last week of getting a little bit of this and a little bit of that done. I’m sure you all can relate!
The past week has probably stirred up some feelings of anxiety and worry for some that really weren’t welcome as a large area of the western winter wheat area was punched by a good old spring blizzard. Many of you are wondering what will the final result be?? Will there be wheat to cut? Did it freeze? Will the adjusters take it out now so other crops can be harvested? Will we cover our expenses with what crop remains to be harvested? Of course, it’s all out of our hands. We can’t control the weather…we leave it in God’s hands.
I can remember back in the early 80’s our first stop in southern Kansas was hailed out and the second one in northwest Kansas froze out, but things were fine. New jobs were found and harvest went on. We can always have a plan, but it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re in charge!
Every year, we face obstacles in this crazy business of no guarantees, no year is perfect, no two years are alike and we keep our faith. When one year ends we just get ready for the next to come.
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".
