Leaving home is a little different this year. Neighbors don’t stop by in person to say goodbye. Instead they text farewells. The pantry of the house trailer is a little bare; some items were unavailable from our grocery store. The family said goodbye to Grandma Jones at the Care Center over the phone while we stood outside a window, hands pressed against the glass in lieu of hugs. Everything we did seemed affected by COVID—everything, except wheat harvest.  Not even a pandemic can put it on hold.

With some pre-move equipment shuffling, everything managed to get packed and loaded without too much effort. It’s a long drive to Oklahoma, and everyone has to readjust to pulling wide loads and long trailers. If leaving is the worst part, then the start of the journey may just be the best. We spend two nights on the roadside, sleeping with a few boxes still piled on the beds, and a floor cluttered with belongings not in their final summer storage spot. The drive to Oklahoma goes really well, with only one flat tire and a plugged fuel filter causing a minor delay.

We arrive in Oklahoma right on time. Only a few wheat samples have been brought to the elevator yet. It’s hot and windy, so we know it won’t be long before we get started. We unload equipment and check one final time that the machines are ready to go. The next morning we head out to check some fields to see where we might be able to start. We are surprised to find a field ready to go. We are one of the first crews to get started in the area. It’s always a big relief to harvest those first few bushels and see that the combines are working and adjusted correctly.  

It’s always a great relief to arrive safely in Oklahoma. Moving wide loads such long distances takes a lot of planning, and safety is always a top priority. With the long move behind us, now the real work begins.

Of course, our first day of harvest is cut short by a 10% chance of rain. That small chance turns into a powerful line of storms that sweeps across the area. To be honest, we don’t really care. We are exhausted and go to bed early. Everyone is sleeping a little better knowing our hard work has paid off.