Packed and ready to go!
The third annual “Freeze Your Nads Off” camping trip has come and gone – three weeks ago already. The day we packed up and headed out was also Taylor’s 18th birthday. A long time ago, I started a tradition of decorating the kitchen for each of the girls when it was their birthday. It seems I always do it the same way – simply because how differently can you decorate a room with streamers and balloons? I decided to try something a little different this year.
The flags can attest to the strong winds as we entered. As it was, this was calm compared to what we endured later in the day.
The plan on Friday was for Jim and The Yellow Beast to get back to picking corn AFTER the trip to Husker Harvest Days on Wednesday. That plan was spoiled by the hot temps that made their way back into the region. It was 96 degrees on Tuesday. I tried to justify to him why it would be ok for his taking Wednesday off to make the trip to Grand Island. “It’s still so early in the fall”. “What? Is it going to start raining now?” “It’s not like the weather’s going to drastically change”. However, because of his strong work ethic all my attempts were met with a strong NO! I wanted to go. Mark, Candi and Jenna were still planning on the trip, so I decided what the heck?! (One more day to pretend like I have nothing better to do.)
Yep, we literally were out of the country!
The U.S. Custom Harvesters Board of Directors were invited by the Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters – www.acchi.com – to attend their annual convention and meeting in Calgary, Alberta. Jim and I decided it was time to make a trip north and participate. Kent Braathen and Roger (and Lisa) Sammons were also able to attend. (You can click on the address to view the ACCHI website.)
What a wonderful experience!! Over the past 30 years, there’s been a lot of history between our two groups – and some of it not so good. My feelings are it’s time for a change. After all, we are all harvesters and we have a job that needs to be done – “harvest the crops that feed the world”. The same problems that affect the U.S. harvesters also affect the Canadian harvesters. The attendees welcomed us and made us feel like we were part of their family. “Family” – a common denominator of the two groups. We ARE family and that feeling is felt when attending both group’s conventions. There’s nothing quite like being a member of the harvesting family!
After the convention was over on Saturday, we headed for the Calgary Tower for lunch. Then the snow began. Not much snow (maybe 4 inches) but who wants to go out when that begins to put a damper on things? So, for the evening, we opted for pizza and stories in the hotel room with the others who were still hanging around.
On Sunday, we took a quick trip out of Calgary and headed to Banff for an afternoon of sightseeing. We stopped at a majestic old hotel and walked around it for a while and then headed for the gondola ride up the side of a mountain. BEAUTIFUL!! I was certainly wishing we had more time to take in all the beauty that Banff and Canada had to offer. 
The trip was way too quick but definitely worth it. Thank you, Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters, Inc. for making me feel so welcome! You are an amazing bunch of people. Now I can’t wait til summer so I can be watching for you on the road.
We’ve seen this lake many times from the ground. This is Fort Peck Reservoir. Was so much fun to see from the air!
A perfect picture of an agriculture quilt!
Downtown Calgary from the hotel window.
Jim and Kent Braathen
The Olympic ski jump where “Cool Runnings” was filmed.
The view from inside the gondola on our way back down the mountain.
Goodbye Calgary!
More pictures can be viewed on the Zeorian Harvesting & Trucking FB page.