12 Aug Laura: Highlighting Memories of Harvest

Montana: I am so incredibly thankful that High Plains Journal has afforded me this platform to share High Plains Harvesting‘s version of the story of harvest. Showing the world agriculture through words, photographs and videos is one my of absolute favorite things. However, you and I know that there are so many other people too that have, are, or will make amazing contributions to this important industry.

There are so many amazing individuals and teams, at all levels and positions within the the harvest industry. In the past, I have shared some stories about other crews or harvest support professionals in the industry. I had intentions of continuing those articles this year, but between logistics and my responsibilities in life, I was initially disappointed that my vision had to take another turn. I turned to plan B, which is what we harvesters do on a regular basis, and put a call out on my social media platform, Under the Flyover Sky, and by word of mouth. Because I couldn’t make it around this season for individual interviews, I asked for women to share their favorite memories of harvest. To be clear, fellas, no hard feelings because your memories are great too. I just had to narrow down the pool a little bit for this project.

I think it was meant to be that plan A didn’t work, because I just love all the photos and quotes that came in. Thank you to everyone that contributed. It also allowed me the opportunity to showcase many more people than I could have with the other method. I hope you will enjoy reading them as much as I did. You may even need a tissue or two.

I’ll kick this off with a face that is very familiar to the All Aboard family. Tracy Zeorian and her daughters were a household name on the blog for about a decade before they retired as All Aboard Wheat Harvest bloggers a couple years ago. Tracy is still going strong on the harvest trail and continues with harvest advocacy and storytelling. Find her quote and those of others below.

“Someone once told me I gave my kids too much responsibility during the summer harvest. My response was, ‘What better way to learn life lessons than to experience life lessons.’ Harvest builds strong work ethic.”—Tracy Zeorian, Zeorian Harvesting

“Oh, I have a million hours in a combine cab, but last summer in Limon might’ve been my last for a while, and I miss it desperately. Terrible photo but precious to me—we went several rounds with my brother after the whole family went to a Rockies game last summer during a rain delay, and he left early to go back to work.”—Karen “Heil” Nelson, Heil Harvesting LLC

“My favorite thing each year is sitting back and watching in awe of what our kids have learned and are capable of at such young ages.”—Megan Klinnert, Klinnert Harvesting

“I have so many! I feel the most at home in a combine cab, with my dad’s voice over the two-way, and mom on her way to the field with supper.”—Karly Frederick, Frederick Harvesting

“One of my favorite things about our harvest business is the amazing people we have met along the way!”—Kylee DeBock, DeBock Harvesting

“Everyone (even kids/spouses/families) has role, and each role is important. The role may change through the seasons of life, but it takes everyone doing their part to make harvest happen.”—Janna Splitter, Splitter Farms

“The combine seat is my happy seat! Family time in a little cab.”—Karlie Neumiller, Neumiller Harvesting

“‘No place I’d rather be than harvesting a field next to you.’ The photo is Robin and Zach Rush, father and son—38 years and 15 years on wheat harvest.”—Dee Rush, Rush Farms & Harvesting

Thanks again to everyone who contributed memories. Keep up the good work and thanks for all you do to keep the world turning. We need each other!

Laura Haffner can be reached at laura@allaboardharvest.com.

All Aboard Wheat Harvest is brought to you by ITC Holdings, CASE IH, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, US Custom Harvesters Inc., Unverferth Mfg. Co. Inc., Lumivia CPL by Corteva Agriscience, Kramer Seed Farms, and High Plains Journal.