Harvest 2019

It is the start of December and most have switched over to Christmas mode, which is evident in the number of Christmas trees up and all the various twinkling house decorations. For most farmers in our neighborhood however there has been no switching out of harvest season. The combines are still rolling, daily dinners are still being made, and a full farmer is a happy farmer even if it is just a snack. The toolboxes have been restocked and stuffed to accommodate chains. This year a chain is the farmers new best friend. The fields are a little muddier than usual. More times than most care to admit, a chain is needed to help a spinning load of grain get to solid ground on the way to the gate. There are often big ruts in the field once it has been harvested and muddy tracks on the road showing which direction the equipment headed when it left the field.


Harvest 2019 is one we won't soon forget. The weather has made it a challenge all year long. Not only that but I think it is time to refill our toolboxes with those most important tools to get us through the rest of this extra long, stressful harvest season. I mentioned these earlier this fall but they are worth repeating. Patience. On some harvest days our patience can run pretty thin. Especially if that day consists of getting the chain out numerous times before noon because someone is stuck in the field again. Passion. This fall weather has made us question our passion for farming but it only takes a minute to realize there is nowhere else we’d rather be. Faith. Our faith reminds us that we will get through this, the end is in sight. 2019 is one to remember and one that truly tested our patience, passion, and faith. We might need to restock those inside of our toolbox for the years to come because we used so much of each of those tools this year.


My older brothers have been home for the past 10 days on their fall break from college. Brad has spent quite a few of those days in the combine. Todd has been a great help in the semi hauling grain. They’ve both been “broke to lead” with a chain. They have tested dad’s patience this fall more than a couple of teenage girls that just started dating. The teaching moments have been plenty and we have all learned a lot! Let’s hope that the next few weeks the weather will be in our favor, the chain stays in the toolbox, and harvest gets rolling along. I am certain that for farmers this year, seeing an end to harvest 2019 will shine brighter than any of the neighborhood Christmas lights! 

~ Kesley Holdgrafer