Our 4th of July was a little unlike any we’ve had in the past. We shared nearly two hours of the day with Teresa Scanlan (2011 Miss America) in our wheat field. Conrad Weaver (Conjo Studios) brought her to the field to “hang out” with us for a little while and to experience being in the combine while learning about our industry. Teresa is a true agvocate (advocate for agriculture) and is helping Conrad promote his documentary, The Great American Wheat Harvest. We had met her for the first time while we were in DC last March for Ag Day. Taylor and Callie found her very easy to talk to and enjoyed the company of someone closer to their own age. You can read here about the field-time-fun.

Jim said they laughed a lot and she was down to earth. Of course she’s down to earth – she’s from Nebraska!

July 4th wasn’t right without Jenna. It was the first time we hadn’t got to include her in our festivities. It was probably for the best. We ended up working til nearly 10:00 pm. Taylor and Callie had supper ready for us – we just had to grill the burgers and brats when we got back to the cottage on wheels. I know it bothers the girls when we work that late. And to be honest, I was hopeful we’d be able to shut things down earlier than we did. I had called Taylor while I was driving to the elevator and told her she and Callie should crawl up on the trailer roof and watch the fireworks that were beginning to be lit. The horizon is so flat with nothing to block the view for miles and miles. When I turned into the yard, I saw they had taken me up on the idea.  After we ate our supper (shared it with Mat and John aka “The boys”), we shot off the girls’ few fireworks. I secretly thought maybe when I got back to the cottage, Jenna would be there waiting to surprise us. She was not. She, however, got to experience her first “real” 4th of July at home with Curt, Jamie and Eli.

We’ve hit a wall (a giant, cement one) here in the Garden City area. Seriously down to the final 80 acres of irrigated wheat and the moisture tested 18% – 19%. This was early evening Friday.  So, we have sat for the past two days. It was ok with me as I had things to get caught up on and was sort of wishing for a rain day anyways. Callie told me I should be careful for what I “wish” for. 🙂 I say this because the schedule we thought we were on for getting finished up, cleaned up and moved to Limon just flew right out the window.  Normally, I really wouldn’t care about the “schedule” but this time I really do. Curt, Jamie and Eli have plane tickets bought and will be arriving in Denver on Thursday morning. I had hoped we would be comfortably moved and sat up in our new hometown before that day arrived. I have to believe it will all work out for the best.  We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to get back in the field tomorrow. The past two days have brought 100+ temps and strong south winds so surely it will be good to go! I got caught up on my book work AND we saw a movie – The Lone Ranger.  Johnny Depp’s character, Tonto, is the best!

On Friday night, after we hit the cement wall, we went to the shed where “The boys” are sometimes found. They were there. And there was a stripper head there too. I haven’t been up close to one of these before.  So, I said, “Ok, guys, explain to me how this works”. And, they did. Now, I’d like to be in the cab of a combine when this thing is in action. Very interesting! There are more and more of these heads being used because farming practices change. No-till farmers like these because they leave the straw – which collects snow and prevents erosion.

Jim and “the boys” looking things over.

These rows of teeth spin exceptionally fast.  As they’re spinning, they rip the heads of wheat from the stems and shoot them into the auger which moves the wheat to the feeder house and into the belly of the combine. 

Looking at the bottom of the head.

Last week, Taylor had to take me to the field.  We came upon a crop duster spraying a field of corn. These guys simply amaze me! They are either really brilliant or really NUTS! When the one we were watching only narrowly missed snagging the electrical wires, I had to wonder if we were going to watch a plane crash. Nope – he just kept right on dipping to the ground, releasing his spray and then  narrowly missing the lines again as he gained altitude to turn around and do it all over again.

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Let’s hope we can break through that cement wall tomorrow and be back in the field going round and round that last 80 acres!