our unplanned raincation

This custom cutter business of ours is one low-budget operation!

What I mean is…we do things on a pretty low-scaled manner. There’s nothing big and/or impressive about our crew – except The Beast.

We do whatever it takes to get by so we can be on the road again next year. This “crew” that I speak of is just the two of us. Jim and me…me and Jim.

It takes us a whole lot longer to do anything. More so than most crews with hired men. It’s okay – it’s how we roll.

It was a week ago Jim told me we were done cutting wheat for 2019. Since then, he’s done quite a little servicing and maintenance on trucks, dug out growing wheat from the combine and header and cleaned. Well…I cleaned. I cleaned trucks, pickups and the trailer house. Needless to say, once we roll into home, home for the last time, we’ll be ALMOST ready to cut beans and corn. (In Nebraska, we pick corn.)

We finally left Jordan this afternoon about 3:30. We’re parked for the night at Belle Fourche, SD. And because we are the low-budgeting kind, we will be spending the night in the parking lot of the livestock sale barn…in the luxurious Hotel Pete.

Because I have time tonight (not much to do in a semi), I thought I would share the beauty of the mountains we saw on our raincation.

It was such a welcome break! We spent three nights out. First night in Thermopolis, WY. Second night in a cabin in Silver Gate, MT. The final night in a lovely cabin south of Anaconda, MT.

We left Jordan a little after noon on our first day (Monday). It had been drizzling most of the morning.

The pickup hadn’t been washed all summer. Jim knew it was probably a silly thing to do (because of the forecast) but he paid to have it washed for the trip. It lasted a day.

The next morning, we walked to the hot springs bath house. You’re only allowed to sit in the free bath house for 20 minutes. But that was plenty long enough. This is the Bighorn River.

This is outside pool at the free bath house.

The only one of six hotels built in the early 1900’s left. It looked amazing. Unfortunately for us, it was full or I would have booked a room here.

Those dark clouds were right over the area we were going towards.

Those clouds you see held snow. We just missed seeing it falling from the sky.

Home for the second night. It was so cute!

We went to the Miner’s Saloon for a really tasty meal!

The moon was so bright as we were headed back to our cabin.

The next morning we headed for the road that went across the northern edge of Yellowstone Park.

FINALLY! After 50 some years…I saw a bear in the park!

We spent the third, and final, night in a cabin at the Sugar Loaf Lodge and Cabin Resort. This find was a Godsend. When we arrived, Monica (the owner) met me at the door with the key to an upgraded cabin and a grocery bag. The grocery bag held all we needed to fix an amazing steak supper. Everything she did for us was appreciated so much more than she will ever know! What a perfect way to end our raincation!

Jim looks pretty relaxed – considering there was NO TV or cell service.

If you ever get to the Anaconda, MT area and want a beautiful place to get away from it all, this is where it’s at!

The Rimrocks on the north edge of Billings.

I really dislike seeing mountains in the rear view mirror!!

ready to begin a new year

Dec31 by Nebraska Wheatie

**WARNING – this could be much longer than you’ll want to spend reading and could have way more pictures than you’ll care to scroll through. However, if you find it interesting at all, just take a break and come back later. :)**

There were other things happening in our lives other than harvest. I had to look back on the past couple of posts just to see what I have already told and how much I really do have to get caught up on. The last post was about what I learned about fall harvest. And it was plenty.

But there was more to the story than just harvest.

Birthdays

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checking things off my list

Oct19 by Nebraska Wheatie

Yes, we have started fall harvest. Up to today, though, Jim guessed only about 5% of the crop has been harvested in our area.

It was two weeks ago today that I crawled off the combine (I’ve been hired to drive a New Holland combine for a neighbor). I haven’t been back since. I was just sort of feeling like I was getting it. I’ve never picked corn or cut soybeans. Ever! I may have crawled in the seat for a little while way back when to help Jim while he got a truck moved or something. But to say I’ve had experience with corn or soybeans? Nope!

Picking corn is a whole different animal than cutting wheat. You have to line the combine up with rows, know how the field was planted with terraces and watch to make sure you’re on the right row. It’s not mindless cutting like wheat is. There’s not much forgiveness. If you’re off a row, the entire plan is off. And…I’m TRYING to do a good job for the farmer that hired me. The expectations I have on myself are great.

We had an amazing amount of time off due to rain (3+”) and SNOW ( 4″). Jim got back in the field today. I will be back tomorrow afternoon. The entire central part of the United States has been unable to harvest due to the amount of wet stuff we’ve had. With the cooler temps, it takes a whole lot more time to dry the grain and the ground than when we have rain delays in the summer.

So…what have I been up to the last two weeks, you ask? Even if you really don’t care, I’m about to fill you in. Continue reading →

returning to “normal”

Sep23 by Nebraska Wheatie

One week ago yesterday, we began the final journey home.

Our first trip – Pete/the “job” trailer and Frank/the header trailer – began two weeks ago today.

So, within the past two weeks, we’ve traveled nearly 3,000 miles getting equipment moved back home. The same road gets a bit weary and I often think about the over-the-road truckers and how monotonous their days must get.

Once the final turn is made and the trucks are shut off, the reality of what’s next sets in. And it doesn’t take long for the harvest mode mentality to disappear. In fact, it all feels like a dream now. A bit of a post-harvest “hangover” or depression sets in. I can’t explain why it happens or even why it does what it does but unless I get busy right away, it can feel pretty rough.

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harvest and plans = change

Aug30 by Nebraska Wheatie

As most who know or have been part of a harvest…things have a tendency to change.

And, that’s just what happened on the very first day of our bonus acres here in Jordan. We were hired to cut approximately 300 acres. The farmer had his own machine and just needed a little help. Just enough to take the edge off what was ahead of them. It’s beginning to get late in the season and the help would give them a boost and it would help us. A win, win situation!

The first day of our bonus acres. Jim and Denim making a “plan” before we got the day started.

Looks like an awful lot of wheat. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!

Thanks for the picture, Robin!

There she is! Robin in her machine just doing what needed to be done…until the fire.

And it all began just as planned – until the fire.

I’ve never witnessed a fire starting in a field…ever. Robin and I had been working on opposite ends of the field just to stay out of each other’s way. We’d sometimes make it to the truck about the same time and give each other a wave and a smile. The piece I was working on curved and turned and ended up right behind her. As she turned the corner, I THOUGHT I saw flames dancing in the field behind her. Were my eyes playing tricks on me?

My brain told me, “Surely not, or she would have stopped.”

But she didn’t stop. And the closer I got, sure as heck…we had a fire. And not only one, but two. It was late enough in the day the portable two-ways we were using were beginning to lose battery. I quickly grabbed mine and pushed the button, “Robin, if you can hear me, we’ve got fire. I’m right behind you and I see flames”.

What happened next seemed like it happened in slow motion. My first thought was, maybe it will burn itself out. It wasn’t. I could see the spots were growing fairly quickly. The next thought was, I could run over it with the combine – BAD THOUGHT. I didn’t do that. I wasn’t going to risk our livelihood. And then I thought…the fire extinguisher! I didn’t even know if I could figure out how to make it work but I shut the machine down, opened the door, flew down the steps and yanked it off the ladder. I sat it on the ground, pulled the pin and sprayed water on the flames.

One of two burn areas.

After I got the first one saturated with water, I ran (and I don’t run) to the second spot. Robin was using what little water she had left in her gallon jug on the flames and then started throwing dirt (hoping to choke the flames). I had just enough water left in the extinguisher to help put out what flames were still struggling to eat away at the straw. She says she was panicked. I didn’t see that in her demeanor or her face. As a matter of fact, I thought she seemed very, very calm. I was the one running around like crazy thinking the whole field was going up in smoke.

We had the fires out as Jim pulled up to the scene in the pickup. We all went to the combine to see if we could find what it was that was throwing fire balls. We found the problem right away as it was still smoldering. A bearing went out and was causing the collected chaff and dust to ignite. As the belt was spinning, it was shooting fireballs to the ground.

Jim went after more water to put on the combine and I got back in the Beast and started cutting again. There wasn’t anything more I could do. Whew! That was enough excitement for me for a while!

The green machine would sit still the rest of the day and most of the next. When Denim returned the next day with the new part, he realized there was more wrong with the machine than he realized – way more wrong. To the point of not being usable unless he wanted to put lots of dollars into it. At the end of the second day of his harvest, he had a decision to make – either rent another machine or have us cut the entire crop.

Robin’s “wounded” machine.

I knew the next day would be our last if he chose to rent a machine. And I was okay with whatever he decided to do. But, I was secretly hoping we could cut the rest. I just wasn’t ready to walk away knowing there was wheat to cut. I know…it’s a sickness.

We were nearly finished with day three when we got the word to keep cutting.

Replacing the fire extinguisher the next morning.

Replacing the pin – hoping I never have to remove it again.

Morning service routine.

A little extra blowing this morning.

Pictures just don’t do it justice. Love, love, love this country!

Most people want to cut mile-long strips that are as flat as flat can be. Not me. I enjoy the challenge of the fields here! It makes for a more interesting day. The turns and curves and always sitting on the edge of the seat hoping to see a rock before it’s too late. Weird, right? The countryside is so very beautiful! How could you NOT enjoy cutting wheat up here?

This young bull was not happy that I had to make him move out of the road. He moved very slowly and then stood in the ditch and “bellered” at me as I drove past him.

Sunday evening. Haven’t been back since.

I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it! I was told it is a 1949 Studebaker grain truck. There’s just something about it that tugs at my heart.

The weather forecast showed 100% chance of rain on Monday (August 27). Yeah, right. 100% chance of rain for Jordan, Montana? We’ll believe it when we see it.

We saw it. It began raining early in the morning and continued all the rest of the day. In one of my earlier posts on the All Aboard Harvest blog, I mentioned how the residents of this lovely country catch rain in tubs and barrels to use for watering flowers and plants. You should have seen me catching rain from the roof of the Cottage. I was harvesting my own rain water! I ended up filling buckets and gallon jugs for future needs. Probably even more than I will need before heading home with my mobile flower garden.

My traveling garden.

We had one inch that day. A wonderful drink for a very thirsty land.

So, we’ve had a few days to catch up on what needed to be caught up on. Some necessary visiting took place – which required several pots of coffee. A trip to Miles City to get everything needed to change oil in everything just prior to making the long trip home (and a good meal). And more visiting with friends camped in Circle.

Rain day = coffee with Tom.

This catches you up to today. The sun is shining more brightly than it has in several weeks. The rain must have cleaned the sky of all the smoke that has been a temporary/permanent part of our days. The sunsets haven’t even been as pretty as they could be because of the smoke from the wildfires. The sky is blue and there is some good heat. We’re going to head out to the field after lunch and see where we’re at. We have about 4-5 days ahead of us before we begin the clean-up and move home, home.

According to the weather forecast, this is the last day of 80’s for the next two weeks. The days are getting shorter, the “fireplace” is being used more than the air conditioner and the end is nearing – of summer and the 2018 wheat harvest. Personally, I dislike fall because it means winter is just around the corner. I am one who will be waiting with great anticipation of spring!

If Jim has his sweatshirt on AND the hood up, you know it’s pretty chilly!

waiting…waiting…waiting

Jun26 by Nebraska Wheatie

Picture credit – David Luebcke

The stress level on Father’s Day gradually diminished with each day we were able to be in the field. The weirdness of the changes in the combine began to take on a comfortable feeling…one that felt good. It felt like things were falling back into a “normal” sort of state for harvest. For me. Jim, on the other hand, was (and still is) struggling with the changes to the hydro joystick. It is different but just like anything else, once you take it on and use it as it’s intended, it begins to feel more and more comfortable.

The first field we cut in 2018.

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today was father’s day

Jun18 by Nebraska Wheatie

Our goodbye picture. These little guys will sure change by the time we see them again.

A lot has happened since the last post on here. We went from unknown..to work. For a catch up on what the heck has happened, be sure to visit the All Aboard Wheat Harvest site. I don’t seem to get two blogs written very easily so it’s either one or the other. Just check both. 🙂

Today was Father’s Day.

We made it to Lyons, Kansas yesterday. It seemed like it took forever to gather up all the loose ends and get out the driveway. It was funny, though, how both Jim and I sort of finished up our gathering about the same time. The final item on my list was crossed off just about the same time Jim asked me if I was getting close. It was noon. And it was hot, humid and very hot! We stopped in Plymouth for fuel in my pickup and a bite to eat and then we never stopped again until we reached the farmyard. This was about 8:30 pm.

We quickly parked the Pete and The Beast, gathered up a few items and headed for Lyons to get the trailer house parked. The spot we had picked over a week ago had been taken – even though Jim called a couple of times to reassure the fact that we would have the space. But, no big deal. There was still room, just not under the tree. 🙂

We set up camp and decided we better see if there was a grocery store open. No such luck. But the Dollar General was. So, I ran in while Jim was on the phone and picked up a couple of necessary items – like water, bread and lunchmeat.

Today was Father’s Day.

I kept forgetting today was a special day. Grant (from Kiowa County Media Center) and I had been texting each other before we ever left home. He needed to meet up with us before we got the combine rolling in the wheat to install the HPJ Combine Cam equipment in the cab. The previous setup (what we were all used to) couldn’t work because the cab was all different. Nothing was the same as what we had all been used to. Some people relish in change and upgrades and some do not. I believe Jim and I are probably a few of the ones who do not. What we had before worked and was working just fine (sign of getting old?) so why change? One of the last texts I received from Grant last night was wondering what time he should be to the farmyard. Jim’s reply was the earlier the better. They decided on 8:00 because Grant reminded us that it was, in fact, Father’s Day and he wanted to be able to spend some of the day with his family. CRAP! I had forgotten (and then felt bad).

Today was Father's Day

Grant was at the yard well before 8:00. I’m pretty sure he had it installed within an hour or so and was back on the road, making the two-hour drive back to Greensburg.

All day, he and I played tag with texts trying to get the crazy thing going before it went live. I would be ready to do something and then he had to be away for a while. And then he would be ready to try something and I had to take the truck to town. Seemed like it went back and forth like this all day. Until Jim finally went after the Pete. Then I had a little more time. And we finally did get it set up and ready to go.

These are the sort of screen shots I would send to Grant and he would tell me what step to take next. 🙂

Today was Father’s Day.

The girls each took the time to call their dad – or text him. But he had no time. He was too busy attempting to get everything in the field and doing the job we were here to do. Had they been here with us, they would have been back at camp preparing a nice meal and making special goodies to bring him to the field. That’s how it used to be. But things change and it’s not like it used to be. Each one called and received the same sort of response…”I’m just too busy to talk right now.” But he was thankful they took the time but I know he would have rather had them here.

The stress of this business seems to have really played into how he was feeling today. He really hasn’t been the same since his road trip to Texas, Kansas and Colorado well over a month ago. I have seen him age because of it. It breaks my heart to see him struggle with trying to figure so many things out. Trying to do the job we started doing together 36 years ago. And even I begin to wonder if it’s worth it. And the idea of walking away from everything we both loved about this industry begins to creep into our souls.

Today was Father’s Day.

We had a crazy, stressful day. The first day now feels like it was a month-long. We lost the key to the shop trailer. The header wouldn’t go on the new machine quite as easily as the previous machine. Frank had a few things in the box that needed to be unloaded. Multiple trips were made from one place to another in the heat of the day. The combine had a minor issue (it fixed itself). And there were combines running all around us. We should have been here a couple of days earlier. But who would have known? The wheat ripened extra fast after we were here the first time. (Lots of 100 degree days and strong south winds did that.) About four days sooner than we had planned. And the stress could be seen in Jim’s eyes. I tried to do all I could but the mind can sometimes just make everything worse when you focus on all that has to be done. It’s overwhelming and you just want to walk away.

But we didn’t. We kept pushing and moving and doing and pretty soon, we were starting to get into a groove. Things were starting to feel “normal” again.

Today was Father's Day

I really do feel sorry for those who have never experienced the sweet smell of wheat coming out from the back of a truck!

Today was Father’s Day.

As I took the last load of the day to the elevator, I got really emotional. This way of life has been what I’ve known – what we’ve known. I looked at the lights of the combines, trucks and grain carts as I made my way to town and my heart swelled with love for what we do. What we GET to do. The coolness of the evening took me back to the days of being a young girl on harvest. The sweet smell of the cut wheat brought back a memory that involved young kids and babies and hauling meals and chasing parts and being a part of a team. Pulling into the elevator at the end of a long, stress-filled day gave me a sense of a job well done.

We made it through the first day!

Today was Father's Day

As I thought about all these memories and smells and sights, I felt like I really needed to try to soak it all up. But I just don’t know how to effectively do that. I know we’re getting older with each harvest that we meet head-on. I know our days are probably limited to getting to experience what harvest is all about and this saddens me. This is something I never thought about before. Not when we had so many years ahead of us.

Today was Father’s Day.

I didn’t get my Dad called because we were so busy. But I know he knows that. He knows what being on harvest and doing this job is all about. And I know he will forgive me. Because he knows that not everyone can take a day off work to celebrate – he’s lived it. I’ll just call him another day and wish him a late Happy Father’s Day. But…I’ll also tell him now. Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

My Dad.

harvest18…what’s in store for the zcrew?

May26 by Nebraska Wheatie

The yellow rose is blooming.

The rose-ometer is telling us it’s time to be heading south. Wishing we were joining those fortunate enough to have something to head there for!

In past years, this was the indicator that it was time to be packing the trailer house, getting equipment loaded and heading south.

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a throwback to july 1977

May19 by Nebraska Wheatie

throwback to July 1977 / nebraskawheatie.com

While looking for some pictures recently, I came across a gem of a throwback dated July 13, 1977. Marge Bale of the Sidney (Nebraska) Telegraph visited our camp while we were cutting wheat in the Lodgepole area to gather her “story”. I thought it would be a good treasure to keep on this blog and to share with you. My goodness…I see quite a few things have changed since then!

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the question of the day…when are you leaving?

May1 by Nebraska Wheatie

Celebrated Jenna last Friday night with a surprise 30th birthday party. Her sisters did a fabulous job of keeping the secret!

Seems I just need to start writing. Beware…you won’t know what you’re about to read until you get to the end.

“When are you leaving?”

Good question. And it’s the #1 question most people seem to think to ask me when they see me. My reply? It varies. How much do you really want to know? Is it just a brief question in passing? Seems the most common one goes something like this, “Good question.” Then, depending on the look on their face (whether or not they’re happy with that answer or I sense further questioning) depends on what additional information I provide.

It’s sort of like this. Last summer was a tough one. When it was finally over, we had the hope that 2018 would be better. Just a little better would be better. Right? It would be. Well, 2018 is setting up to be even more of a challenge (right now) than last year.

Harvesters are already experiencing the dreaded phone call from their farmers in the southern country.

Wheat acres are still lower than they have been since records began being kept in 1919. However, I recently read the number of acres planted for 2018 are 3% higher than last summer. That’s good, right? It seems Mother Nature is trying to weed even more out. Maybe just to make the harvesters concerned about how everything is going to fall into place? Guess what, she’s doing a pretty darn good job! Between the severe drought in the south, the late freezes (also in the south) and the late spring conditions in the North, 2018 is setting up for a shipwreck.

I hope not.

Our bank account hopes not.

Our lifestyle hopes not.

Jim’s blood pressure hopes not.

But, as I’ve explained to you many times before…when there’s no acres to cut…there’s no income for the harvester.

Why do we do it? Another good question. Just about as good as the one EVERYONE asks me, “What’s your favorite part of being a custom harvester?” Every time it’s asked, I struggle. So, these two questions can/should go hand-in-hand! Oh wait…let’s not forget the first one I mentioned. So, that’s three very good questions.

Easter Day – the only members of the Hermesch crew to join the rest of the family. The rest of them were home sick. They’ve had one heck of a winter with sickness!

Maybe everyone asks those same three questions because they honestly want to know. OR because they’re trying to figure out why in the world we have chosen this as our job. OR maybe both. I always try to tell them the positives – hoping they will outweigh the negatives.

We haven’t received “the call”…yet. Unless Jim’s not sharing. But I’m pretty certain he would fill me in. A lot of acres are being “zeroed” out in the Texas panhandle, Oklahoma, Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado. No rain. Nothing for months and months. Some places exceeding 200+ days without measurable rainfall. Not very much can struggle to live (let alone just exist) without a drink for very long before it just quits. Except weeds.

Another result of the lack of rain is the lack of severe weather. To be specific, tornadoes. I just heard both Kansas and Oklahoma had no severe weather during the month of April. I believe I heard the last time that happened was in 1980. The first thing I think about when I hear that year (besides it being the year I graduated from high school) is the June 3, 1980 tornado outbreak in Grand Island. Now, as I’m typing this, we are under a tornado watch (meaning conditions are favorable for something to happen). Sort of exciting. But, I’m hoping if something happens, it’s after I’ve returned kids home safely from the track meet I’ve been sitting at all day.

Am I rambling? I hope it doesn’t read that way because it feels that way to me.

Lincoln Children’s Zoo – celebrated Eli’s 5th birthday there.

Happy birthday, Eli!!!

So, as I mentioned, acres are being zeroed out. What does this mean? To a harvester, it means nothing to do. No work. No income. For a farmer, it means his/her crop is basically dead. Everything that went into that crop will have a zero ROI (return of investment). The insurance company will zero it out when there is no hope of it being harvested. The most recent report from Ron Hays with the Oklahoma Farm Report states:

Among the worries of the crop scouts across the state were the many acres that will not be harvested for wheat this year- many of those will be grazed out or have zero forage and will be zeroed out by crop adjusters. In southern Oklahoma- there are thousands of acres that continue to be shifted to cotton and in north central Oklahoma- there is significant freeze damage.

What will we do if we have nothing to head to Texas for? I guess stay home? I mean, if there’s nothing worthwhile to justify the expense of moving equipment that far away, why would we do that? It’s all so up in the air right now. What about Kansas? Who knows. Probably nothing to do beyond Kansas. A strong possibility could be Montana. They’ve had a tremendous amount of moisture over the winter. BUT they’re also at least a month behind in getting their spring crops planted. What a mess! Could it get any worse? That’s what we were asking last summer.

When two worlds collide – brought the welding class to Grand Island to tour the CNH plant and Hornady.

So, back to the original question, “When are you leaving?” I just have to shrug my shoulders because I honestly have no idea. I’m sort of believing this is going to be a summer of complete faith in God’s plan. Nothing we thought we had planned is panning out right now. So, I’m going to go with His knowing what’s ahead for us.

In the meantime, I will continue to drive the bus when needed, spend time with Eli, Nora and Ben when I can, get together with the girls when their schedules allow and just wonder what the day is going to bring…until I know that it’s time to begin packing the “cottage on wheels”. Am I concerned? Absolutely! Who wouldn’t be? Our entire livelihood exists on what work we can do with the equipment we’ve invested in for the last 36 years. But, God has provided every year and I’m expecting to see some amazing things handled again this year!

So…hang onto your hats – it’s gonna be a wild ride!

Nebraska Wheatie

Follow the Journey of a Third Generation Custom Harvesting Family

Tag Archives: agriculture

our unplanned raincation

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