My name is Tracy Zeorian. My titles include Wife (and business partner) to Jim since 1982, Mother to four amazingly strong women and Grandma to three little people who have completely stolen my heart.
I am a third generation custom harvester who cares deeply about telling my story. The custom harvesting industry is one segment of Ag that most people know nothing about. I created this blog for you – to follow our journey and go where we go. To learn what a custom harvester is and to experience the challenges we go through to get food on your table.
My grandparents began this gypsy-way-of-life in 1951. My harvest story began in 1972 while tagging along with my Grandpa and Grandma for the first time. I met Jim the summer of 1975 (he hired on with their crew) and I married him in 1982. We never intended on being custom harvesters…God had a different plan. I desperately love to drive combine and could sit in the seat day after day after day after day after…
I believe God should be first, family second and our job comes last. I hate the word impossible and will go to great lengths to prove truth and justice. I tend to trust people way more than I should (until they prove otherwise). I wish I was witty and funny. I believe my sole purpose is to help people whenever and however I can. The experiences I have had – both good and bad – have made me who I am today.
I nominated you for versatile blogger 🙂
http://whileitwasfallingapart.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/versatile-blogger-award/
This sounds like an incredibly fascinating life! I don’t even know what a combine is, but I’m going to research it so will soon.
Thanks for the nomination. I’m trying to figure it out. BTW, you might be the ONLY person on the face of planet Earth who knows my blog exists. No exaggeration.
Off to research combines…
Well, then, I’m really lucky I found your blog! As far as a combine goes, let me know if you have any questions after you do your research. 🙂 In a short story, it’s the machine used to harvest the grain after it’s gone through the growing process and is to the point of harvest – wheat, corn, soybeans, sunflowers, etc. If you follow me, you’ll find out more about our way of life starting in May.
I just found this link and thought you might enjoy it too:
http://versatilebloggeraward.wordpress.com/blog-button/
Hi Tracie, I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Award, http://ndjmom.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/my-first-award-the-sunshine-award as if you need more sun in your life right now when the temperature is rising.
But seriously, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching you and the girls on your summer adventures. Yes, I know it’s work, at times it’s boring, but like you have said, you can’t imagine your summers any other way.
I’m getting an early start on my notifications, but the post will be up in the morning.
Hey there!
I’ve nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. Check out the link to your blog here: http://thesugarlump.com/2012/08/16/one-lovely-blog-award-take-ii/
Best wishes,
Sugarlump
Would like to have you as Featured Farmer on my site. please email me judi@farmnwife.com
Hi Judi!
What an honor! I emailed you but with the holiday, who knows if I actually sent it. 🙂 Did you receive one from me?
Hi Jim and Tracy! Read your article on MacDon Magizine Thanksgiving morning and really enjoyed it. The Zeorian family is very unique. My family and I are custom harvesters in Florida. I would like more information on joining the US Custom Harvesters Association.
Look My wife up on Facebook: Donna Conrad (Cover Photo is large family on New Holland Combine)
Hi Bill!
Thank you for leaving your comment and your kind words. We are really no more unique than other harvesters. We just seem to be in the spotlight more than others. Maybe not a good thing…but it’s a great way to tell the story of the custom harvester.
I will look your wife up on Facebook and give you more information about the organization. We’d LOVE to have you join the USCHI family! It would be great to meet you at the convention in Wichita (March 6, 7 & 8).
Take care and God bless!
Bill,
Did she change her picture? I’m not seeing a picture of the family and combine. If you’d rather, you can email me at uscustomharvesters@gmail.com
taking a quick visit to all the Christmas in the Country ladies–what a fun journey you have benn on–Your grandma’s offer reminded me of Holly Martin’s column this week in the High Plains Journal–about inviting visitng family, or neighbors to do chores or see the hidden gems of rural life.
Thank you, Amber, for taking the time to leave a note. It HAS been a fun journey – sometimes a little tough. 🙂 I’m so glad she asked me to go with her! It definitely created a direction for my life.
Merry Christmas in the Country, Tracy! It’s nice to meet you online.
Best,
Emily Grace
Merry Christmas to you too, Emily!!
Love all my new blogging friends. Take care and make memories.
Tracy’
Like to know where in Nebraska you r located. Looking for a cowboy church to attend.
I can’t help you with a cowboy church. Sorry!!
Loved your page! We have a greenhouse business/crop farm just across the border in NW Missouri…look forward to keeping up w your adventures!
Thank you, Julie! I’m excited to have a new person join our journey! It’s a bit slow now but it’ll pick up in a few months…promise!
What an interesting way of life! I’m from NYC and I know nothing about harvesting but it sounds lake a lot of fun. I was wondering – harvesting sounds like fun, but who does the planting and how long does it take?
The farmer does the planting and taking care of the fields until the crop is ready for harvest. As far as how long does it take? I’ll give you an idea of the cycle. When we finished cutting wheat in Colorado this fall, there was about a month window before the planting of the 2017 crop happened. Planting began late September and we won’t harvest it until July. It will weather the winter months by going dormant. When spring arrives, it will come out of dormancy and begin growing again. You can see more about our 2016 harvest by visiting the All Aboard Wheat Harvest blog. I’m excited to learn that you’re from NYC and found my blog! I hope its done its job…to educate you about where your bread comes from.
Hi Tracy, You popped up in my twitter feed back in January & caught my attention. I’ve been trying in vain for 30 years to get my wife to drive one of our combines. Well done & keep up the good work. I’ve enjoyed reading your story and looking at the pictures of Zeorian Harvesting and trying to estimate crop yields. All the best for the coming 2017 harvest run.
Thank you, John! I don’t think you’re probably gonna get her talked into driving if you’ve been working on it for 30 years. 🙂 I’m awfully glad you enjoy my stories…that does my heart good! Pray for the harvest and the harvester (as well as the farmer) this year. I’ve got a feeling it might be a tough one!
Love the blog
I appreciate so much your daily posts. My fantasy was to always be a “wheatie.” It began when I was 13 years old. Dad hired a neighbor to harvest 8 acres of wheat. The neighbor used a 1955 Farmall H tractor to pull a Allis Chalmers 60 combine. Dad had gone to a National Science Foundation event and my Granddad was supposed to be on the platform and bag the wheat. He was suddenly hospitalized and I was the only one available. The no-nonsense neighbor showed me how to switch bags and tie the full one. He then told me to start to work and learn how to be a man! If I remember correctly it took us over six hours to harvest that crop.
Then when I was a freshman in college I spent a summer working for Green Giant operating a reaper harvesting green peas.
I then spent 17 years working for the Farm Credit System but then God called me to a different assignment. Then in 2009 we bought a fifth-wheel RV and traveled some. Seeing the wheat harvesters in OK, KS, and MT fascinated me. Due to a financial necessity I obtained my CDL and spent some time over the road and again enjoyed seeing the “wheaties” at work as I traversed the country.
After retirement and living in our RV for over 3 years my wife had enough and we built a house. Now she has moderate onset dementia and does not want to travel.
So, last month I surrendered my CDL and continue my fantasy journey with the Zeorian crew! Thanks so much. Most people have no clue as to what a deer antler can do to spoil your day!
Bill Walker
billwalk13@hotmail.com
WOW!!! I loved reading your memories, Bill! What an adventurous life you have lived. I’m so very glad you enjoy sharing our daily harvest stories. I have so much fun sharing what it’s happening and then reading from those who watch. It’s crazy just how many times people comment about my videos spurring memories of their harvest days, as well. Thank you for taking the time to send your comment. Blessings!