19 Nov Christy: Throwback to 2018

Worthington, Minnesota — With harvest pretty well wrapped up for the year, I thought it might be fun to take a look back at the year 2018. This year was pivotal for Paplow Harvesting as it was the last season we ran John Deere combines and made the huge decision to switch colors that winter.

The change to Case IH combines came about with increasing equipment costs. The deal breaker was, when it came down to it, the cost of the machines. The amount of money that could be saved by switching far exceeded the desire to stay with the equipment Gary and Paul knew best at the time. It’s a decision that, six seasons later, they are glad they made.

This year was also very different as it was the last year I stayed full time on harvest. Zoey started pre-school, and we needed to be home to start school. It was the same then as it is now that we would come home from North Dakota, run back out at Labor Day weekend, then Paul would be home to start fall harvest in our area. Zoey was only four at the time, and I’m not really sure how much she remembers running green equipment.

I honestly don’t remember much about the 2018 season that stands out, with the exception that it was the year that our big crew camper made it back on harvest after burning the year before. The big camper was hand built by Gary and Paul, with the help of some of our crew. It was built in the winter of 2009 before the ’09 season. I believe it was June 2017 when some faulty wiring in an air conditioner ignited, and the camper burned pretty well completely inside. Thankfully, no one was inside at the time, and it did not spread to any other campers/vehicles. Windows were boarded up, and it was hauled home, then eventually repaired the following winter. It was a devasting fire, and I will not forget how scary that day was in Hobart, Oklahoma. I remember renting a U-Haul trailer to store what could be saved before the camper was hauled away. Some things you just don’t forget.

It’s always neat to take the time looking back at seasons past, the lessons we learned and all the changes that took place to get us where we are today. This last season marked my 15th year on harvest with Paul and his parents. It’s really hard to believe it’s been that long.

All our crew has made their way home, or off to other adventures with the exception of Patrick and Cameron. They will hang around for the winter, helping us get ready for the next year. It sounds like there are quite a few projects in the works for the winter, so hopefully the guys will get everything accomplished that they are wishing to do.

Equipment is still in the process of getting cleaned, but combines and carts are finished, and we just have trucks and headers to complete. It’s still a very strange feeling being done so early, but it’s also nice to be wrapped up before winter really sets in.