11 Sep Laura: Time marches on

There’s always so much to catch up with upon our return from the north country. This evening’s chores found me in the yard, and I felt just a hint of coolness in the air as I worked. Despite a promising 10-day forecast, it’s hard to know if these pleasant conditions are here to stay or if a second summer will descend upon us later this month. It’s Kansas, and anything is possible.

Fall harvest is days away and commences almost immediately upon returning from the wheat run. Much of Kansas remains in a substantial drought, and our fall run has felt the direct effects of that. It remains to be seen exactly how it will all shake out, but we’ll be prepared to take it on.

Wheat was a different story, however. In terms of yield, after several seasons of weather-driven extreme highs and lows, this harvest was average. Were there some fields that had to be abandoned due to hail or drought? Yes. Were there some fields that were exceptional for their regional expectations? Yes. But across the run, with all things considered, it was an average, respectable harvest, and for that we’re thankful.

As I send off this final draft of the season, it’s hard to believe it will celebrate the completion of my 10th season sharing our version of the custom harvest story with the readers of the All Aboard Harvest Program. In some ways, it feels like yesterday that my reporting began. In others, it feels like I’ve lived a lifetime.

Over the past decade, we have seen so many transformations in all areas of the agriculture space and our personal lives, whether it’s been shifts in genetics that allow crops to be grown in areas traditionally held by wheat and other small grains, operations and labor policies, unpredictable weather patterns and grain markets, politics, technology both in and out of the cab or just the sheer size of the machinery. We’ve welcomed new friends and family members, watched babies grow up, and even said tough goodbyes to precious friends and family. As time marches on, this world changes fast, and it waits for no one.

In order to not just survive, but thrive, we need to continue to be eager students and be flexible as we navigate the future. At the same time, we must be willing to fight for our way of life through our stories of the importance of agriculture and why we must be able to continue to feed our families, communities, country and world.

We all have different callings in how we tell our stories. Maybe that’s at the statehouse or in Washington D.C., visiting with a consumer at the grocery store, social media posts, collectively through agriculture organizations or even with schoolchildren through field trips and classroom activities. There are so many ways to be involved, and it will take all of us doing our parts. There are no small stories.

What a privilege and honor it is to share our agriculture story through AAWH. It is something I have not taken for granted, and I hope you’ve had as much fun as I have with the program. While this chapter comes to a close, there is still much harvest to be had! If you aren’t already, I invite you to follow along on our social media channels at “High Plains Harvesting” and “Under the Flyover Sky.” Until we meet again, thank you for your support and God bless.

I am currently unable to access my AAWH email. If you have tried to reach me, I regret I haven’t responded. Feel free to reach us on Facebook or Instagram at High Plains Harvesting or Under the Flyover Sky. Thanks for your patience! 

Thank you to our 2024 All Aboard Wheat Harvest sponsors: High Plains Journal, Lumivia by Corteva Agriscience, Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc., Merit Auctions, Kramer Seed Farms, Shelbourne Reynolds and U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. Laura can be reached at laura@allaboardharvest.com.