I’ve been away for a little bit…
I’ve been extremely busier than normal with putting together a fairly large event for the U.S. Custom Harvesters. We’re celebrating our 31st annual convention and trade show in Wichita, KS on March 6 – 8. It’s been a work in progress, that’s for sure. The biggest event I’ve ever done was Jamie and Curt’s wedding. That seems like a piece of cake. 🙂
Jenna, on the other hand, knows exactly what this is all about. She’s the trade show coordinator for CLAAS and travels the farm show circuit with the CLAAS equipment. She knows how hard it is to make things work and click and look good and deal with stress. So, for the past several days, I’ve talked to her about all of this because she knows and understands.
Jenna is on the road again. She drives the company pickup pulling the CLAAS trailer from farm show to farm show. The Louisville Farm Show was the first one for 2014. She’s now moved to San Antonio for Commodity Classic. And, she’ll finish this multi-city tour with the USCHI convention in Wichita. So, if you’re planning to attend Commodity Classic (or the USCHI convention) make sure and stop by the CLAAS booth and tell her hello!
One day, recently, I received an email from her with an attachment and this is what it said:
I just found this on my computer from the first farm show last year summer. I wish I had time to journal/write like this…usually I’m too exhausted. 🙁 Anyways, just thought it was fun!
The entry was so good, I felt like I should share it with you – as well as – the picture of Jenna and her German intern name Jan (pronounced Yawn).
June 16, 2013
Waukon, Iowa –
Jan (“Yawn”), a German intern, met me at CLAAS at 3 pm.
As I was about to get in the driver’s seat, Jan asked me, “So, uhh, Jenna, you have driven, uhh, a big truck and trailer like this, uhh, before?”
I don’t think he was necessarily worried, but I sensed some hesitation. “Well, I used to pull the combine header behind the pick-up when I was on harvest,” I said.
It was good enough for him, I guess. And away we went.
We were chatty for the first couple of hours – Jan told me about his recent travels across the States, I told him about my recent travels across Germany – and Des Moines came fast.
We stopped for fuel in Ankeny. After filling up the tank, we went inside to get something to drink. We both grabbed Mt. Dews.
On moving days on harvest, my sisters and I would buy Dews and Laffy Taffy – the greatest combination, probably ever. What’s a road trip without Laffy Taffy? It’s not.
I grabbed a piece and asked Jan if he wanted one, too. He asked what it was. “I don’t know…it’s taffy. Strawberry-flavored taffy.” Blank stare. “It’s strawberry taffy with jokes on the wrapper – get it? Laffy Taffy!” Blank stare. “Ok, I’m just going to buy you one.”
On our way back to the pick-up, Jan called me out. “You eat a lot of sugar.”
Hey man, back off.
So we drank our pop and ate our Laffy Taffy (the jokes weren’t that funny – weird) and listened to country music and drove across Iowa.
The countryside was beautiful at dusk. And when I told Jan so, I think he made fun of me, but I’m not sure.
He did compliment my driving skills, though. “You are a good driver, Jenna. With many other women I would be frightened, but with you, no.” Redemption.
Around 8:30 pm we realized we had gone pretty rural. And, dang, we hadn’t had supper. I told Jan we better stop the first time we see something because we might not see something again.
As we approached Lafayette, I spotted a Dairy Queen sign. Bingo.
“Have you ever eaten at Dairy Queen, Jan?” Because you’re about to.
I parked the rig at a gas station and we walked across the street to DQ. It gave me a bit of a funny feeling – it felt an awful lot like a night on the harvest trail.
I’m not sure how much Jan liked his bacon cheeseburger, but it was food. We ate quickly and got back on the road.
Around 10 pm we saw the lights of Waukon. On the edge of town, there was an equipment dealership.
“John Deere. John f—ing Deere,” Jan said. And I laughed for a really long time.
As a hobby I follow Howard Hales reports on the USCHI site ,plus tune into All Aboard Wheat Harvest. Love the calendar. As an ex Alberta grain farmer I build & collect 1/64th scale farm toys, my star ship collection is MC Harvesting a complete setup. One of our high lights on this years winter getaway was meeting Carol & Donley Duerksen we met on a shuttle bus in Houston TX. Both of our connecting flights were buggered because of weather.
Thanks for taking time to let me know you’re out there, Tom & Sandi!! Sounds like you keep up with the harvesters pretty darn good! Between Howard and the HPJ, you should know where the cutters are and how things are looking! I know Carol & Donley. They’re members of the US Custom Harvesters and I usually see them at the Safety Meeting in Colby, KS. You say you’re an ex Alberta grain farmer. Now what do you do? Do you get to head south every winter (lucky!)?
Leaving the grain farming life style to a career in the golf course industry,I,am a journyman turf equipment tech.Spent 20 years on Vancouver Island, then got an job offer in Calgary on a high end course,plus four of our children are here & the #1 reason for coming back to Alberta Grandkids !!!! We also have three children & five grandkids in the US ,Blended marriage with Sandi & me.In a way working on the maintenance side of golf course’s is another side of agriculture, growing grass & working with Mother Nature. We try to get away south for a couple weeks in the winter. Sure like Texas , South Padre Island fits us well. Tracy & Jim if any of your family wants to experience the Calgary Stampede we have room for them in our home in Cochrane.
We’ve been to Calgary a couple of times for the Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters’ convention. A beautiful city! BUT so cold the first week of December! I don’t know how you northerners do it. WOW! Our part of the world doesn’t have a clue what cold is. Some day, we may have to take you up on that Calgary Stampede offer! And, if you’re ever in the Midwest – please stop in and say hello!
Sounds like a good deal, Where is the 2015 uschi convention going to be held,might have to check it out
It will be in Grand Island, NE. January 27, 28 & 29
Thank’s,was in Grand Island back in 1985,on NH. combine plant tour,our family run Massey’s from 47 to 83. MF’s dealership network started slide in the 80’s , plus rotary tech. was the way to go for clover seed harvesting which fit into our cropping setup.I run a TR85 for 10 years ,the best combine we ever owned. MC Harvesting, my 1/64th harvesting outfit runs 3 NH 8090’s. The tradition continue’s