Jamie told me a couple of days ago she had lined up a personal tour of the CLAAS of Omaha plant with Jenna.
Jenna started working for CLAAS quite some time ago. I grew up respecting someone’s place of employment which meant don’t visit unless there’s a need and don’t call unless there’s an emergency. So, when Jamie told me she was going to visit Jenna at work, I thought…”well, heck, if she’s going maybe I’ll tag along too”. If Jamie hadn’t gone, I may have felt like I couldn’t visit until another group of custom harvesters made their way to the plant.
Jenna’s discussion included a free CLAAS pen but we could only get it if we answered her questions correctly. This is what I learned today about CLAAS. CLAAS is a family owned company which August Claas began 100 years ago. Helmut (August’s son) and Cathrina (his granddaughter) are still very much involved with the family business. Claas is the world leader in rubber tracked wheel technology for combines (“got yer tracks on?” – inside joke with the Zeorian clan) The newest, biggest CLAAS tractor was named after us…Xerion (not really but it definitely is pronounced the same as Zeorian so it sounded good). There was quite a bit more information but I sort of forgot it after Jen threw my new CLAAS pen to me after answering my question correctly.
One thing I haven’t forgotten is the video she showed us. I honestly believe there is a disease or a name or something for what happens to me when I see a combine in a wheat field. I just can’t explain what it is. Maybe one of you can help me. Why do I get such a warm, fuzzy feeling inside when I see a combine moving through a field? I swell up with a sort of combine/agriculture pride when I watch the monster eating its way through the wheat field. I told Jenna I thought her boss should show this video to us during the USCHI convention in January. This video is guaranteed to make you feel pretty darn good about what we do! It’s filmed in Germany but even the German wheat fields need harvested the very same way we do it here in the good ‘ole USA!
After the video presentation, we found a pair of safety glasses and our tour guide led us through the plant. Last March, while we were in Grand Island for the USCHI convention, we took a tour of the CNH plant (Case & New Holland). After stepping into the CLAAS plant, I realized there was something missing. Noise. This plant is more slower paced and less noisy. I think I liked that. I realize the CNH plant produces more combines in a day’s time but the working conditions in the CLAAS plant seemed a little less chaotic and a little more desirable to me. Jamie and I were able to see the combines being built in several different stages. I wasn’t allowed to take any pictures inside the plant but did get one of all the combines being held in a lot behind the plant. According to Jenna, each one of those combines were built to fill an order for an individual. Impressive.
Thank you, Jenna, for taking time to give me and Jamie a tour of the CLAAS of Omaha combine plant! It’s quite evident that you love what you’re doing. You certainly provided me with a combine “fix” – for a little while! If you’re ever in the Omaha area and need something a little different to do (or need a combine fix), I would recommend the combine plant tour. Tell Jenna I sent you!
