Respect Those That Feed You: Harvest 2016

As I have grown up on a farm my entire life, I am also surrounded by many family members and friends who are involved in the Ag industry as well. Because of this, I have great respect for farmers in general, but especially during harvest season.

As Harvest 2016 is right around the corner, it is important to point out all of the long hours and hard work our farmers do during this time. Many non-farmers don't realize what goes on during this time.

As soon as harvest starts, the farmers don't waste a single non rainy day out of the field. The priority to get the crop out of the field in a timely manner is above all. This means, many of their lunches are eaten in the tractor, or in a work truck. These lunches usually consist of anything that is able to be thrown into a cooler early that morning and ate later that day like a cold meat sandwich, chips, and a caffeinated pop to keep you awake. You must be good at multi-tasking when you are in the field!

Harvest is a family affair, where everyone helps everyone. Whether one person is running the combine, the other running the grain cart, and another running the semi or wagons back and forth, many people are involved in the process. There is nothing better then seeing everyone work long hours together. While everyone has their own duties and tasks, the days become long and they often enjoy company! As a girlfriend of a farmer who is in charge of combing 1,800 acres of corn and beans, I have spent many hours in the "buddy" seat bouncing around the field talking, singing, and sometimes even homework. This is also time for me to spend with my boyfriend, as many other people know, quality time with your loved one is limited during harvest season.

Also during this time, it is important to share the road with slow moving, large farm equipment. Be careful when passing and don't assume that they are able to move aside as there may be mailboxes in the way and the side many not be wide enough, or able to support the heavy machinery. Respect those that feed you!

Harvest season is the most important time of the year for farmers, it is a time when each farmer feels a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, that they made it through another year raising crops that puts food into the food chain for everyone to enjoy. So when you start seeing combines role in and out of the fields, take a minute and think of the farmers working their tails off to provide for you and I! I hope everyone has a safe and productive harvest!