05 Sep Christy: The heart of harvest

When we load up and head out each year, I’m a worrying mess. Did I shut everything down? Is all the garbage out? Are all the doors locked? There are so many things that go through my mind. Once I hit the road, and fall in line in our convoy, those worries disappear and a new set of worries set in. Will we make it okay? Will these new guys pulling our equipment be as cautious as we are? Will we be careful enough to keep everyone safe for when we return?

To me, the heart of harvesting is long days capturing the crops that feed the world. It’s much bigger than my worries; it’s a passion that encompasses all the hard work our farmers have worked for all year.

This year has been so very different than others. We had so many challenges with drought conditions, and incredibly high fuel costs. Crops overall did not average normal and many acres weren’t there to combine. But we’re blessed to still be here.

This season will stand out because our farmers, through all their obstacles, stuck with us. They kept us working. I don’t know how to relay all the appreciation our hearts hold. They truly are the heroes that fill the heart of harvesting.

Our sponsors this year have invested in us too to share about all that we saw throughout season. We’re grateful to them for affording us the opportunity.

Christy Paplow can be reached at christy@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.

(Four photos of best memories from this summer.)

The sunset this evening in Plentywood, Montana, was just amazing. It was a beautiful night to cut. (Photo by Paul Paplow.)

Drake and Reagan, our rattlesnake wranglers. The guys were pretty brave and proud to have collected all the rattlers in Fort Benton, Montana, this year.

We love hosting Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children. It’s a great opportunity to share our time and what we do with these kids.

Zoey’s favorite memory this summer is running combine by herself for the first time. It’s our favorite, too.