The Final Round of Job #1

The wind blew today. It blew so hard, it blew the mud flaps right off Frank! I believe the southerly “breeze” was blowing as hard as 40-45 mph. I faced my truck towards the east most of the day so that when it was time to roll the tarp, it was rolling with the wind. If I had it facing west and tried rolling it, the wind would catch the tarp, blow it up and probably tear it right off the box. I DIDN’T need that to happen! Sometimes, if I had to face Frank in a different direction, the grain cart driver would block the wind so the tarp wasn’t in jeopardy. It was warm again – 92 – but with the wind, it made it more tolerable being in the truck.

As I sit here watching the final rounds the combines are making, I feel sad. I’m sad because it’s a job that’s done. I’m sad because I’ve enjoyed being a part of another harvester’s crew (sort of makes me feel like a “real” harvester). I’m sad because the days get so full of doing the job, we don’t really take the time to enjoy it and then all at once it’s done. I’m sad because if we don’t get any additional work, I won’t get to visit with the girls in the elevator anymore. Now you know why I’m sad. The people who have been a part of my world the past week have become important to me – relationships have been built and memories have been made. These are just a couple of the reasons that makes this job one of the best EVER! We’ve worked together to complete the cycle of the wheat field for one producer. It’s now in the bin and he can breathe a sigh of relief. One more year of risk taking and praying for his crop that has come to an end…for a short period of time. As soon as we’re out of his fields, he’ll begin preparing the ground for next year.

If we don’t pick up anymore work, we’ll start the clean up process. Every piece of equipment will have to be cleaned. We’ll have to pick the larger pieces of wheat straw off the combine and head. Jim will use his air compressor to blow the majority of the dirt and smaller pieces of straw off. My job is to clean the insides of the vehicles. And, it’s usually 100 degrees when this has to be done. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Picking up corners. I have always LOVED this job because you can sit back in the seat (maybe put your feet up on the window) and relax…another field DONE!